HASTINGS JOTTINGS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 34, 12 March 1930, Page 4

HASTINGS JOTTINGS

BY "VIDI."

• SCCIAL , 8 Wrl? n anwmw a ■ hm _ ■ ^ w. - _

- — ■ »■ v NORFOLK 1SLAND Last Thursdav afternoon the members °f the Methodist Guild were greatly dehghted and interested in a talk about Isorfolli Island given by iMrs Joseph ^ ilson, of Cliarles street, Hastings, who has first recently returned isFand & months' trip to the „_^frs Cxbrow was chairwoman and spoke a few words in referenee to the ?! S titm gave those present to hay© Mrs Wilson with them and hear her views on Norfolk Island. Mrs Wilson proved a very interestmg speaker and had a store of memories to unfold and spoke as follows "I .i°ined the boat at Wellington and journeyed np to Auckland and trom there sailed for Norfolk Island. ihe trip occupied over 60 hours (the usual time), as we were caught in a .hurncane. It was a very unpleasant sensation to hear the luggage and ° ^I+ ATDgl ,^ol]Vlg abovi in the hold. . At Norfolk . there are two landing piers Cascade and Kingston, very suhnnnvt r7+ ?L ' a"d passengers are conveyed to these piers by whale boats and hghters. Manned by efficient Isianders, these boats provide a safe trip for the arrivals. 1 "Tlie heayy s&as of the Pacific break agamst high cliffs on all sides of the ' 1,slaJnd- which rises several hundred reet above sea-level. Crowds gather to see the passengers arrive and my first impression was that every thing was cld and dusty. This, I found out afterwards, was due to the dustv roads whicn cannot be properly formed owing to the pme trees, which send out huge roots. b +T,"°r? th®.islaild itself, which is called the Paradise of the Pacific, a wondertul scene unfolds itself, trees and palms, and flowers and hills. In the distance the roads look red. and at °r ?? tl,ines a hrown colour, the hark of the trees also has the same pecuIiar brown colour.' "At one time Norfolk Island was a conymt settlement, and there are on / .. . islaiid miles of roads that were built by them. n "The convict buildings are used for Court House, Post Office, etc. On the island is "the Cahle Station through which the newsof the world is sent to Austraha and New Zealand. This news ;«wJer 1nTparted to tke people on the island. The papers being their only source of news, one misses the dail'y mformation, as mails and papers d'o not arrive every dav

, trees on the island are tnany; X^li;V00d'a ^hicli grows ta]1 a"d t^g /?'nd- ,liard wood, the only wood on the island that is fit to use . for posts, etc. Lichen grows freely up the trees and is brightly coloured. i i-f i0a ?ree 0Ter there is very and covered with riotous n ?, n7n fln a pUlk sliade of flower ; even fiowers were to be seen on the ? lh® Pme trees look old and tawny and are full of rot. , ih® is a most health-giving place to live m and one .felt quite at home, for t^iere are manv Hawke's Bay people residmg there. -The hutter on" the island is quite hard and it may be due to a shruh the cows eat. TheV also eat a lot of lemons, for lemon tiees abound in plenty and are huge trees, with big branches like the oldashioned apple trees of long ago be* lora i the pruner was in such evidence. ihe people on the island depend upon the arrival of the Sydnevboat fof' their meat supply and encb liouseholder orders his own supply from ■the steward of the boat. The 'mntton wassimply dehcions, also the sausages. ihe fiowers on the island are gorSp?U+% vegetables grow large and plentiful. ^ There was a flower show while I was on the island and the judge was a Havelock North resident at one time. f"No taste was displayed in the ar*

f u i. -r,rue oecorative portion of the show. Flowers were just bunchea in close quarters in the vases with-°itn-nY artistic arrangement. Right out beyond the island one gazes at sombre rocks, ocean and 1 fuhp > IsJand. At Norfolk Island the best bathing spot in the world is to be found. An arm from the island liir Z1!* ? , Is,met V r°cks, making a delightful and bathing spot and safe from the sharks which abound in tiie sea around the island. The islanqers bathe here all the vear round. J "On one extreme point of Norfolk island, a man'and his wife have built their horne. At one time they resided in Havelock North. On the rocks below are hundreds of sea birds, mut ton. biras, that have ttfken possession Ih^y are called the Gliost birds, owing to the weird wailifig ery, like that of ?D cinj Ahey give when disturbed They are peculiar in other ways, for when making their nest they buriow under the sand like a rabbit and there the female bird has her nest while the maJe bird keeps guard at tbe entrance. On tbe island inany other birds are tq be .found, tbe Bisan bird, a tropical bird of beautifnl colourings, Quaver bird, parrots, Gre.y Wbistlers and the Kobin, with a red breast and a white tuxt on the head. Terns are plentiful on the island. and thev build a nest on a juttinH hranch of a tree, using a hollow on the branch for a nest. Tbe young tern sits on the braneh for nearlv three months before it can fly and the parent birds carry to it fisli in- their mouths They do pot disgorge like most sea .-birds.. . - . . .... . . . "The bananas grown on the island are the best I ever tasted. The trees are ra t her short, with large lons leaves like the canna lily. thev being : a.specie of the same family. The ban.v wardfr°W m.clusters and bang downAftqrnoon tea can be procured at two plaoes on the island. It is daintily served and there is plenty of-ifc,, ««* ? costs the patron sixpence. At night dancing is greatly the fasluon, and dancing continues all tlie year,_ as the temperature never varies and is never too hot or too cold but just a happy medium. The children are weli taught on the island, and are taught sewmg and cooking. . "The Mission Church on the island is one of the chief topics of interest. It is sitnated in the famous avenue of pT ne^ and is of wondei'fu] architectur©1 xhe carving is beautiful and rara! and many parts are. inlaid with mother oi pearl. There is a pipe organvin the church. In the church the seats are brranged so that the eongregation face one another. _ Trees. and shrubs grow 1 in profusion^ in the- valleys, . and ferns and quantities of blossoming hibiscus and other flowers.t : . "Spiders' webs are very strong so * sfrong that the weight of a bird can- i rot break them.' Norfolk Island is fouir - bundred miles from New Zealand and 1 eigbt bundred miles from Australia.'! J Mrs . Wilson enjoyed' every moment I

of her visit to Norfolk, a cheerful, airy and sunny plaee, and advises everyone to take a trip and find real delight in various paths over kilis, clad with ver-' feKife.6"9 ma maoy otl,er Mrs J. Pickering, on behaif of those present, returned a hearty vote of thanks to Mrs Wilson. The talk waas made doubly mterestmg because it was ulustrated with a hird's nest eg°- a twiggy branch, feathers, and pho'tographs. 1 GARDEN PARTY To mark the opening for the season the members of St. Matthew's Sewing Guild mvited the parishioners to a most enjoyable garden party at the Vicarage, wliere the garden made a most desirable spot for a garden party with its huge sheltering trees and eolourful fiower borders. The garden was enlianced with some small tables, and chairs painted to match, the red and pink set being greatly admired. A bowl of red roses on the red table looked very fascinating. The Rev. H. Speight made a neat speech of welcome to the guests. The weather was very fine with a blue sky overhead, across which floated soft downy-looking clouds. Tea, with choice accompaniments, was served in the garden and the hum of happy conversation hid the clatter oi cups and saueers. .Much regret was felt at the absence of Mrs T. Hogg, the popular secretary, who, through illness, was unable to be present. Those present included Mrs C. Mortimer Jones, Mrs Mortimer-Jones, Senr., Deaconess Mahel, Mrs Speight, Mrs F. de Lisle, Mrs J. -Colehourne, Mts A. Brooke-Taylor, Mrs BrookeTaylor, of Gisborne, Mrs Giorgi Mrs H. Burr, Mrs Rochfort, Mrs H. Brathwaite, Mrs Jones, Mrs Smith, Mrs Batley, Mrs E. Armstrong, Mrs H Fannin, Mrs A. Ballantyne, Mrs Hall Mrs Warwick, Mrs Von Dadelszen, Mrs Hull, Mrs Curlett, Mrs Hohhs, the Misses Edwards, Speight, Powdrell, Rainbow, Baird (2). K1TCHEN TEA

Mrs Charles, of Methven street, gawe a most enjoyable kitchen tea for Miss A. Partridge, who is shortly to be married. The room was most artistically decorated with hright yellow flowers. Mrs Charles received the guests and

was wearmg a dainty lemon georgette frock. Miss Partridge wore a dainty frock of lirae marocain, embroidered in mauve. ' a^berno°n hours were pleasantly whiled away with progressive five hundred. During a recess in the games, afternoon tea with choice confections was damtily served. At the ddse of the games the successful winners were Mrs G. Robinson, Mrs R. Camerou, Mrs F. Furness. . . * When the bride-to-be opened her nurnerous parcels many valuable' 'and uieful gifts for use in the kitchen were disclosed, for which the gueSt of honour returned thanks. Among the invited guests were : — Mrs Norton, who wore a smart crepe de chine frock in mauve and blue tones. Mrs Carr, in a navy blue model, smartly embroidered in red. Mrs Furness, in rose satin, embroidered in rose and gold. Mrs Cameron, in a navy blue and 'ed ,patterned silk frock. Mrs Robinson, in a smart silk and wool juinper suit. Mrs Chilton, in navy and fawn crepe de chine. ' ,. Mrs McMahon, in a tailored costume in coffee -brown colour. Mrs Harris wore coral Celanese. Many otliers were also present.

WOMEN IN THE THRONG Mrs Wenley leaves for England on the 15th of Marck by the Rotorua, also her son-in-law and daugliter, Mr and Mrs W. Russell. Mrs E. Grogan, sister of JMrs T. H. Lowry, also leaves l\ew Zealand by the same boat. * * !> Mrs Frank Fryer and her daughter, JMrs Wyvie Williams, left on Friday for Sydney, where they catch the Or-ford, which sails for England. Mrs Fryer and her daughter will be away from New Zealand for a few months. months. * * * Mrs Bachelor, of Wellington, is the guest of Mrs M. Wighton, York street. * * * Mrs and Miss Phyllis Candy have left for Wellington, where they join the boat for England. Mr Candy and Miss Lyndal Candy have gone to Wellington to see them off. * * * Mrs and Miss Cohr are leaving this month for England, and a visit is also intended to Denmark. * * * Mrs King, of Duke street, and her family are leaving Hastings to reside in Lower Hutt. * * * Mr and Mrs Robert Lawson, of Havelock North, are among the visitors at Morere. * * # Mrs W. Penlington, of Havelock North, has left on a visit to Auckland. * * * Miss A. Hewson has left on a visit to Taupo. * * * ' Miss Swan, of Auckland, is the- guest o-f her sister Mrs W. Georgetti, "Crissoge." * * * Mrs Albert Potter, of Remuera, Auckland, is spending a short holiday in Hastings. * * * The many friends of Mrs F. E. Bone will be pleased to learn that she is making a good recovery from her recent illness. * * * Mrs and Miss Collins, of "Omapere," Hastings, leave this week on a visit to the Homeland.

v * Mannequins in Paris' fashionable shops have been requested to get fat to fit the new styles in frocks. The doctors liave ordered them a diet of dumplings, potatoes, macaroni, pastry, mstead of shredded lettuce sprinkled with lemon juice. * * * Mrs W. H. Mackenzie and Mrs W. R- Mackenzie, of Hawke's Bay, are staying at Arundel, Auckland, * * * Mrs Nelson-Fowler has been on a visit to Wellington. * * * Quite a gloom overspread Hastings at the week-end, when the news was received that Mr James Landels, one of Hastings' most prominent business men, had passed. Mrs Landels and her owo'-daughters have 'thre" sympathy of the whole community.