SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 234, 3 October 1931, Page 14

SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

The Druids' Hall, Newton, presented a bright scene on Wednesday evening, when the Thames Girls' Club gave an At Home. The hall was gaily decorated with coloured streamers and ladterns, and the stage with the club's banner and colours. The committee members present were:—Mrs. P. McGregor (president), Miss J. Aitken (treasurer), Mesdames T. Aitken, Andrews, Cordes, Gribble, Hubber, Mclntyre, McPherson, Nicholls, Stubbing and Wright. *•* * *

A gift afternoon was held on Wednesday afternoon at the home of Mrs. George McDell, at Mason Avenue, Otahuhu, when there were present 70 guests. The proceeds of the afternoon are to be given to the toy stall at the parish fair, which is being held next month. The hostess received in navy georgette. Solos were given by-Mesdames H. S. Turner, J. Jackson, E. Clark, J. S. Smith and P. R. Jones, and elocutionary items by Miss Betty Hyland. An automobile competition was won by-Mrs. F. Leslie, while Miss J. Masefield was, successful in the nursery rhyme competition. * * # *

An evening was held at the residence of Mrs. E. W. Porritt by the Hauraki Ladies' Bridge Club. The first prize was won by Mrs. A. J. Young, of Ketherton, and the hidden number by Mrs. A. F. Maude. Badges earned had been: Ambulance 5, writer 2, thrift 2, artist 1, needlewoman and swimmer 1. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Mrs. W. Marshall; vice-presidents, Mesdames W. Weadon, E. W. Porritt, R. S. Roberts, H. J. Hare and C. E. James; committee, Mesdames G. S. Talboys, V. J. Innes, W. McKenny, C. Gibb, Dickinson, Hobbs, and Little; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. S. J. Hedge. ■» * * *

A concert was given on Tuesday by St. James' Church chojr, assisted by members of the Aeolian Orchestra, Mount Eden Baptist Church Dramatic Club and friends. The hall was tastefully decorated with bowls of arum lilies and Iceland poppies. Under the leadership of Mr. Gerald T. Lee, both choir and orchestra gave items which were nmch enjoyed, particularly "Lady Nairn's Scottish Fantasia" and the "Welsh Battle, Song." Mrs. H. A. Kevin rendered the "Kerry Dance." Mr. Tom Harris added several humorous recitations. Songs by Miss May Rowbotham and Mr. Sidney Hislop were enjoyed. Two amusing sketches, "The Playgoers," by Mr. Vernon Drew and company, and "Between the Soup and the Savoury," by Miss Cattenach, Mr. and Miss Harries, were given. The proceeds of the concert are to go to the fund for the renovation of the church organ.

HllllllllllllHlllllllllllltJlllimilllltJllllllllllllUllllllllllllHllllllllllHHl A two days' bazaar in aid of St. 'Michael's and All Angels' Church at Belmont was opened on Friday afternoon by Mr. J. Guiniven, Mayor of Takapuna. Mr. Guiniven, who was . introduced by the Rev. J. Piggot, spoke of the valiant way in which church workers tackled their job in aid of their particular church and how much they deserved success. He complimented the stallholders on the appearance of their stalls and wished them a successful -ale. 1 hose in charge of stalls were:— Guild stall, Mesdames Codcl and Sharp; needlework and fancy stall, Mesdames Thompson and Coltman; magazine stall, Mrs. Cecil Eaton; wishing well, Miss Gwen Buckley; soft drinks, Noel Piggot; produce stall, Mr. Currie; sweet stall, Miss Holmes; tea rooms, Miss Grace Piggot and Miss Holmes; gas cooking demonstration and sale of cakes, Miss Brown (demonstrator) Mesdames Clark and Baldro. The bazaar will be, open this afternoon and evening. •« * * * *

A second performance of the three plays, "Dreamlight," "The Brown Paper Parcel' 'and "All a Mistake," was given in the Otahuhu Public Hall last Thursday evening. At the first performance "The Brown Paper Parcel," was presented by the Henderson Dramatic Society, but on this occasion the roles Were taken by local talent as follows: Mary (the maid), Miss Gladys McLeod; Miss Angelina Browne, Miss V. Brennan; Miss Arabella Browne, Mrs. T. H. Mitchell. The players in the other two productions were the same as in the first performance, with the exception that in the comedy "All a Mistake" Mr. E. Harvie played the part of "Jack Marsden," as Mr. A. Morgan was indisposed. Between the plays solos and vocal duets were, sung by Miss Doris Bransgrove and Mr Robert Simmers, while violin solos were played by Miss Grace Dyer, and pianoforte selections given by Miss K. Fen ton.

An "Old Folks at Home," an ■annual event held under the auspices of the Deyonport Methodist Ladies' Guild, was held in the Methodist schoolroom on Thursday afternoon and drew a record attendance. Addresses were given by the Rev. J. H. Haslam, who presided, and the Mayor of Devonport, Captain Meikle. Songs were contributed by Mrs. Prater (who also played the accompaniments), Mrs. Baulf and the Rev. J. H. Haslam, and Mr. Arthur Kay rendered a violin solo. Mrs. Haslam presented Mrs. Meikle, the Mayoress, with a bouquet, and asked her to present, on behalf of the guild, the following bouquets: Oldest lady present, Mrs. Willetts; oldest gentleman present, Mr. Hill; oldest married couple present, Mr. and Mrs. George Feltham. All recipients were SO years of age and upwards. All present received a buttonhole. Afternoon tea was dispensed. An interesting and enjoyable afternoon was brought to a close with the singing of the doxology. The hall was tastefully decorated for the function.

A novelty leap year d&n'ce, arranged by tlio Laurel • Rebekah Lodge, Avondale, was held in the Oddfellow's Hall on Wednesday. There was a crowded attendance of dancers, when Sister ¥. 'Howson was in charge of the dancing. Music was supplied by Sister D. Clement. The proceeds of the evening were in aid of the local lodge's unemployment fund. A card tournament was held in the supper room, and prizes were won by Mrs. G. Strong and Mr. M. Riley. Amor.g those present were:—Mrs. Howson, who wore red faille; Mrs. Fraser, sea green silk; Mrs. Sadgrove, blue crepe de chine; Mrs. Penberth, brick red ninon; Mrs. James, red corded silk; Miss Clark, pink georgette; Miss Willoughby, apricot georgette and satin; Miss E. Boxall, green georgette; Miss Tetley, midnight blue lace; Miss Parke, figured ninon; Miss Young, vieux rose crepe de chine; Miss Andrews, flesh pink georgette; Miss A. Willoughby, pink satin; Miss Hudson, red silk faille; Miss Warde, chiffon velvet; Miss N. Double, primrose'satin; Miss Eve, red velvet.

The annual sale of work in connection with St. George's Presbyterian Church at .Takapuna was held yesterday afternoon and took-the form of "A Springtime Fair." The decorations gave °i bright and spring-like appearance to the Gaiety Theatre, where the sale was held, branches of peach blossom and feathery bamboo being used for decorations. The stage -was done in yellow broom flowers and branches of kowhai. The opening ceremony was performed by Mrs. Julius Williamson, who, on being introduced by the Rev. Morgan Richards, expressed her pleasure at being invited to open the, sale, even though she was no longer in office as Mayoress, and after congratulating the workers on the pretty appearance of the stalls wished them a very successful, time as saleswomen. On the platform with her were:—Mr. Julius Williamson, Captain and Mrs. Algie, Mrs. J. Howie and the Rev. and Mrs. Morgan Richards. A bouquet of yellow and mauve flowers was handed to Mrs. Williamson by little Judith Mahon. The stallholders were:—Cake stall, Mesdames Dryden, Horrocks and Mahon; guild stall, Mesdames Hanna, Ruasell, McMurtrie and Lisk; soft drinks and ice creams, Nurse Froude and Mrs. Garlick; fancy stall, Mesdames Walker, Leyden and Shaw; flower stalh Misses Jackson and Robertson; Christmas gift stall, Mesdames Ewing and Graham Howie; sweet stall, Mrs. Colvin and the Misses Somerville and Weston; the dips, Mrs. Pearcey; apron stall, Mesdames Baldwin, Titheridge and Sim; produce stall, Mesdames Nicks, Steele and Gordon; electric cooking- demonstration (Miss Lovell) with cakes on sale, Miss ! M'. Fleming.

The animal fancy dress ball for pupils of Belmont School (Standards V. and VI. and composite class) was held on Thursday night in the Takapuna Boating Club's hall at Bayswater. These dances are some- of the prettiest held in this hall, which is, by reason of its lavish decorations, peculiarly adapted for such a function. This year the fancy -dresses were of a very high standard, old English dresses, p'ierrots, Spanish and Eastern dresses, follies, sheiks, all vieing with each other in brightness of colouring design and workmanship, which created a display of colour very charming to look at. There was. a large gathering of parents and friends of the school, who appreciated the interesting programme arranged for them. It consisted of school songs, "The Ballad Monger." "Killarney," and "The Bold Dragoon" (Standard VI.), "Oh Dear! What Can the Matter Be," "To a Miniature," "Marching Through ■ Georgia" (Standard V.) and "The Harvest Song," "The Brook" and "Funiculi" (composite class). Standards VI. and V. were trained by Miss Gillanders, and composite class by Mr. Craig. A girls' Swedish drill and a folk dance (Standard VI.), both trained by Mr. P. Keane (who was also organiser for the evening's entertainment and dance) were much appreciated by the onlookers. • Special guests of the evening included Commander Berthon, M.C., R.N., and Mrs.' Berthon, Mrs. J. Nettleton, Mr. and Mrs. Cox, Mr. Horsley, Mr. Forsyth, Mr. and Mrs. Duder, .and Mr. and Mrs. Roberts. During the evening the chairman of the School Committee, Mr. Leitch, announced that Belmont School had again won the Cox Cup, given for the prize essay, the successful pupil being David Roberts. Eight hundred schools competed, which meant about 2000 essays. He is a pupil,of Mr. P. Keane. Belmont School also supplied the runner-up, Miss Helen Cameron, a pupil of Mr. Craig's. At Mr. Leitch's invitation Commander Berthon made the presentations of the gold medal to David Roberts, and. a silver one to Miss Helen Cameron, also the silver cup to Mr. R. Harrison, the headmaster. The cup was won for the school last year by a brother of David Roberts.

On Tuesday afternoon the Mothers' Club, Y.W.C.A., held a meeting, which was presided over by Mrs, Mann and Mrs. Kasper (founder of the club) gave a talk on "Prohibition." Afternoon tea was dispensed by the hostesses.