THE MAORIS The Maoris enjoy equal rights with the white people. Quite a I number are to be seen in the cities and towns, and there has been a certain amount of inter-marriage, but on no great scale. It would not be true to say that they are mostly to be found in any particular area, like Rotorua, for instance, but the greatest percentage is in the North Island. At Rotorua they maintain their own way of life and culture, which helps the tourist interest in that area. Incidentally, the Maori word for "white man" is "pakeha". The Maoris are a likable people and they have some fine songs and dances. Their carvings are really good. The museum in Auckland has the finest collection of Maori carvings in the world. I have visited there and seen some beautiful craftsmanship, one particularly fine piece is a war canoe eighty feet long with a high stern elaborately carved.
"AND SO TO KENYA" [The following account of her journey by air to Kenya by Mrs. Baird will no doubt be read with interest by her many friends among the readers of The Peterite.] In bright, breezy weather we left Croydon Airport about 9-30 a.m., due to arrive in Paris l+ hours later. However, we had to circle Paris for over an hour before we were allowed to land. An old friend met me at Le Bourget and we had dejeuner together. Loaded with magazines and good wishes, I climbed into the Dakota which was to take me to the end of my journey. We covered France pretty quickly, arriving at Marseilles; from there, skirting the Riviera, we flew round the head of Corsica, past Elba and Capri, finally landing in Rome 2+ hours late on account of had flying weather. It was lashing with rain and we had to go from tent to tent for customs and passport formalities. The passport officers seemed extremely chatty among themselves, but slow in dealing with us. However, we finally climbed into the bus, arriving at our hotel about 9-30 p.m. The hotel was most comfortable, and we had an excellent meal, getting off to bed about midnight, with the knowledge that we had to be up at 2 a.m. ! We all made it and soon were en route for the airport, where we had breakfast. We set off about 5-30 a.m. for Athens in bad flying weather, passing scores of small, barren islands in the wonderful blue sea, and in about 3+ hours were in Sunny Greece, where we re-fuelled and had cool drinks. Then on to Cairo, where we touched down about 3-30 p.m. As Egypt is at war, we were not allowed to move about the airfield unescorted. I was one of two who had an Egyptian visa and so was allowed into the city of Cairo, though they sent an escort with me for my own safety. The others, even the aircrew, were confined to the hotel, and two Italians had to spend the night at the airport under guard. They were not pleased. 37
