Árdís - 01.01.1958, Side 43

Ársrit Bandalags lúterskra kvenna
41
were a great variety of different flowers coming into bloom during
the time I was there.
A trip interesting to me was taken to the Bay of Islands, near
Russell, the early capital of New Zealand, which was Zane Grey’s
favorite fishing ground.
While in New Zealand I had the opportunity of visiting two
different dairy farms owned by Ivan’s two sisters and their hus-
bands. The first dairy farm visited was termed small consisting
of 80 acres. However, on this small tract of land 60 milking Jersey
cows, a number of calves and 50 sheep thrived extremely well.
The farm was equipped with the latest in dairy equipment. No
outbuildings, except the milk shed, are necessary as the climate is
so moderate. The second dairy farm consisted of approximately
200 acres and had 130 milking Ayrshire cows, a number of claves
and around 100 hogs.
Rural living seems to be very modern with running hot and
cold water in every home, rural electrification as we have here,
fully modern equipment and machinery, and excellent roads
throughout the areas I visited. While it is possible that New Zea-
landers have a one track mind when it comes to choosing colors
for houses — 99% are painted cream with a red roof — one will
look for many a mile in city and country for a building that has
not been painted and kept in good repair.
While I merely glimpsed the Queen Mother during her visit
to New Zealand, I can now claim the distinguished honor of having
been presented to a Melanesian queen. My son-in-law, as Ade-de-
Camp to the Governor General arranged that I meet Queen Salote
of Tonga. You may remember the wonderful impression she made
on the public at Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation. She seems a very
cheerful, dignified person but yet extremely friendly. She is very
tall and quite regal. Queen Salote spends part of every summer
in New Zealand to escape the heat of her own country. She and
her people are Melanesian by race while the Maoris of New Zealand
are Polynesian.
Although Bella and Ivan were unable to convince me that I
should remain forever in New Zealand, I thrived perhaps too well
on their excellent cookery (all baking is done with butter at 29c
per pound) and their love and devotion to me during my stay. If
I had in the past any misgivings about my daughter marrying and