UNIVERSITY WOMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 281, 27 November 1931, Page 10

UNIVERSITY WOMEN.

The Auckland branch of the Federation of University Women held a meeting in the women's common room of the University on Wednesday evening. After a sh'ort discussion concerning the delegates to be sent to the coiu'crcnoa. of the New Zealand. Federation to be held in Chnstchurch in January, the evening was spent in listening to an address given by Miss Lucy Cranwell, who is in charge of the botanical section at the Auckland Museum. She spoke on the subject of Maori clothing, arid wan greatly assisted by Mrs. Wellington, who by wearing the full dress of a Maori woman of old times, made herself a living representation of the manner in which the various - parts of the. dress were worn. Miss Cranwell pointed out what wonderful skill and patience were needed for the making of the Maori cloak and cape. The cape shown fell from 'the shoulders to the knee and completely enveloped the figure, yet it, was made in squares of black and white pigeons' feathers,-.each separate feather being tied into the knot of flax fibre which formed the body of cape underneath. The piu-piu, or Maori skirt, was made of fluted fibres hanging from the waist and making a musical sound when the wearer moved. Miss. Cranwell spoke of - the various dyes used by Maori women—the huiau, the kuekaua, both provided dye from the bark, while yellow dye was obtained by the piugau, a grass growing on the West' Coast of the North Island. The flax fibres were laid between layers of bark in wooden bowls, and all was steeped in water for several days; the fibre was. then taken out and left soaking in swamp water for another period until all the fibres became clear. There are not many books that can be studied by anyone wishing to pursue the subject further, but Miss Cranwell mentioned the works of Mr. Elsdon Best dealing with the domestic life of the Urewera Maoris, a book on Maori lore by Augustus Hamilton, which is now out of print, and chapters from Dr. Buck's book on Maori history. Dr. Buck's writ, ings require some study as they are rather involved; they deal not only with the customs and traditions of the Maoris as shown by their dress and weaving, but also trace the connection of the various tribes with other tribes of the Polynesian group through the connection in the ideas shown in the weaving. Miss Stewart presided, and the members of the committee present were? Misses Macdonald, Morrison, Shilledy, Mona Hay, Shenkin and. C. Gray. There were also present: Mrs. Mawson, Mrs. Coates, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Osborne, Dr. BuckleyTurkington, Dr. de Courcy, Dr. Gladys Rowley, Dr. Elizabeth ' Cole,* and the Misses Picken, Edgerley, Knight, Fraser, N T . Whitelaw, Cleland, Talbot, McCormack and Berman.

GIRL GUIDES.

A year of steady progress was shown by the report given at the eighth annual meeting of the Dominion Council of the Girl Guides' Association held in, the Dominion headquarters yesterday afternoon. An apology for absence owing to ill-health was received from the Dominion Commissioner, Mrs. W. R. Wilson, and her report was read by Mrs. R. M. Tolhurst, chairman of the council. The report referred to the effect of the visit of the Chief Scout and Guide, Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, stating that one of the results of their visit was a much happier co-operation between the heads of the Scout and Guide, movements, each realising that they could learn much from the other. The effect of Guiding upon the characters of Guides was shown clearly by the behaviour of the Napier and Hawke's Bay Guides at the time of the earthquake. The standard of Guiding had been well maintained, more all-round cords and more gold cords having been won than during any previous year. The Lady Bledisloe Cup for Rangers, competed for for the first time, was won by Marlborough. Another step in the progress of Guiding in New Zealand was the winning in England of the blue cord diploma by Miss Joyce Duthie, of Wellington. Trie withdrawal of all Government support, which had taken the form of a subsidy of £500 during the past two years, and a free railway pass for the Chief Commissioner, had caused grave concern as to the financial position. However, owing to the success of rallies held, the levy from the province, and the - .profits of the Dominion headquarters shop, they were still able to show a small credit balance. A great many of. the badges, uniforms, hats and general equipment were now being very satisfactorily manufactured in New Zealand. The need for more Guides was stressed and tribute was paid to those who had given of their time and services. The majority were girls who were workers and yet gave up their time in the evenings. It was felt that if only the leisured girls could realise the joy that could be got from the game of Guiding, more would join the ranks. The report of the executive committee dealt with the work done in the provinces, camping, lone Guides and post Guides. A very satisfactory year had been passed through by the lone Guides, their numbers now standing at 88 Guides in provincial companies and 15 Rangers. Speaking of the post Guide branch of Guiding, Mrs. Tolhurst said that it was doing the highest type of service of any in the movement, in linking up all'over New Zealand the sick and crippled children in private homes, hospitals and institutions and by means of monthly letters and visits. The Hawko's Bay Guides had been much disorganised by the earthquake, but satis- j factory progress was being made in spite, of the disaster. The Brownie report | was read by Mrs. Watson, and the Ranger report by Dr. Margaret Knight. The report on Otimai, the home in the Waitakere Ranges, presented to the ; association by Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Wil- j son and Mrs. Rov Wilson, was read'bv | Miss Freda Knight, jyho said that r>3"> ( Guides had stayed at Otimai during the l last 12 months. The sum of £76 had been earned and collected for the improvement fund during the absence abroad of the Dominion,. Commissioner. The work of painting the house had been done by the Guidcrs, with the assistance of Mr. E; McNair. The closing down of the Girl Guide Magazine, owing to the deficit of £226, was referred to in tho report of the general secretary. In place of the magazine a small monthly news-sheet was now being issued, and as a result the deficit this year had been | reduced to £04. A credit balance of £07 was shown in the financial statement. At the conclusion of the meeting votes of thanks were passed to all those who had rendered valuable services to the association.