SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 249, 21 October 1933, Page 12

SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

The Onehunga women's branch of the A.P.U.W.A. held its fortnightly social in the Coronation Hall. Several items were rendered, and dancing enjoyed. The "bring and buy" held recently in the Strand Building was a great success. It 'was organised to assist the unemployed wives and their families. * # * • The Grey Lynn branch of the League of Mothers met on Wednesday, when Mrs. Hyncs presided. The speaker for the afternoon was Miss Colebrook, who gave an interesting talk on social credit. Mrs. F. F. Porter was presented with a bouquet of flowers and congratulated on her recent golden wedding by all the members present. Afternoon tea was served by the hostesses, Mesdames McKenzie, Lar.d and Adair. * » » • A meeting of the Women's Progressive Club, Y.W.C.A., was* held at the clubrooms on Thursday. Mrs. Sullivan presided. After business the evening was given over to' the ncwly-fortned committee, who acted as hostesses. The following contributed items: Piunoforte solos, Mesdames Forrest and Story j songs, Mesdames Ifoifiler, Walker, and Appleby, while Miss S. Houston gave a clog dance. « » « • The Belmont-Bayswater League of Mothers held their monthly meeting at the Presbyterian Hall, Belmont, on Thursday afternoon, when Dr. H. Wilkie gave a talk on "Sex Education," which was very much appreciated by the members. Mrs. Reynolds provided a very amusing competition, which was won by Mrs. McCarthy. Afternoon tea brought the meeting to a close, and was served by Mesdames Armstrong, Ogilvie, Scott, C'ahill and Schulz. * * • * At a meeting of the Dcvonport W.C.T.U., when Mrs. Williams presided, the delegates to the recent convention gave interesting reports, and "Maori Day" M'as observed. A resolution was passed that the union notes Ivith pleasure that the Hon. Mr. Young has prepared a bill for presentation to Parliament giving New Zealand women who are British subjects the right to retain their British nationality on marriage to an alien, and urges that the bill shall become law during the present session of Parliament. » * • • The Mount Albert League of Mothers' branch held its meeting on Thursday last. Mrs. M. Turner presided. Mrs. Sharpies acted as hostess, and Mrs. Carruthers gave the thought for the month. A resolution of appreciation of Mrs. Bell's services was passed, and regret was expressed at losing her as a member, as she is leaving Auckland for Christcliurch. Mrs. Bell and Mrs. Harvey each contributed solos. Mr. Adair, from Y.M.C.A., gave a helpful address on the training of boys, and Mrs. Deacon, assisted by several members, managed tlie afternoon tea. » » » • A meeting of the Koliimarama-St. Helier's W.C.T.U. wits held in the Presbyterian Church, when Mrs. Hugh Kasper presided. Excellent reports of the recent district convention were given by Mrs. Parker and C. Phillips. The district president's address was also read. It was decided to send a letter of appreciation to the Hon. Cobb for his keen support to the bill, to raise the marriage ago to 10 years; also a letter to Mr. Fraser thanking him for bringing forward the bill re the nationality of married women. A donation was sent to" the Maori work department. Mrs. C. Phillips was the hostess for the* afternoon.

A special meeting, arranged by the Women's Christian Temperance Unidn, was hekl in the Methodist schoolroom, Onehunga, on Wednesday, when the president, Dr. Jeannie Craig, was in the chair. Musical items were rendered by Mesdames Compton and Craig, with Mrs. Hulett as accompanist. Afternoon tea was served, and then Sister Lewin gave an address on "Nursing Experiences in South Africa, Grave and Gay." The speaker received her training under Dr. Moffat, who was related to Moffat and Livingstone, of missionary fame, and she spoke of the very high ideals ho strove to inculcate in all nurses and probationers who passed through his hands, especially in regard to courtesy, advising tliem in their work to consider they were hostesses, and'their patients guests; the result of this training being so noticeable in amicable relationship and absence of friction that a lady was once heard to remark: "You make people so comfortable here, I wonder you ever have an empty bed." Mention was made of the children's ward in Somerset Hospital, which is decorated with handpainted panels, each donated by friends, many of them celebrated artists, depicting every variety of subject, but every one delightful in its own way. The speaker described many interesting personal experiences, and at the conclusion received hearty thanks from the aucEicnce.

Mrs. Heath Freest gavo a bridge party for the National Council of Woman at her charming homo, Lanarth, Reinuera. Mrs. 11. Colwill, Mrs. St. Clair Woollams and Mrs. A. Adeanc gave valuable assistance. Among those present were: Mesdamee Mouatt-Sniith, Grieve, J. J. Sullivan, S. Gardner, Buchanan, H. Wright, Black, W. Dickinson, Wakeman, T. Nevin, R. L. Birks, Watson, Dixon, Pcwley, Millar, Neumegen, Niels, Nielson, J. H. Gcraght'y, N. Davenport, E. M. Savoury, F. H. Hobday, Allen, Newman, Smytlie, Stntttion, Bowden, A. E. Macartney, I'roud, Somerville, McCall, Misses M. Cameron, B. Colwill, L. Stanawpy, E. Thomson, Pountney. ✓ • • • • The English Public Schools Club concluded its popular series of winter entertainments with a well-attended dance in the club rooms oil Wednesday last. Items were given by Messrs. Dan Flood and Geoffrey Laird. Among those present were: Mesdames Hamilton, Arniitagc, Lucina and Woods, Misses R. Collins, I. Wood, M. Pocock, O. Berry, Margaret Young, Honor Sim, Deano Jeffreys, Joyce Martin, Mary Leah, Avis McNeill, Lois Sherriffe, Bobbie Slierriffe, Kaie Girr, Pat Irving, D. Williamson Smith, M. Wilkinson Smith, Gwen Ivenrick, Phil Beswick, Nancy Rogers, Joeelyn Wilkie, Norali Mountain, Yvonne Locke, J. Connett, J. Campbell, R. Munro, A. Thomas, M. Jackson, J. O'lieilly, G. Staples, A. de Gauge. The Y.W.C.A. Overseas Club held a successful social evening in the assembly hall- on Wednesday, when over 100 young people were present. Games and old-time dances occupied the first part of tlie programme, the next being taken up by a 40-minute farce. This was excellently rendered by a small- but enthusiastic Overseas Club dramatic group, who showed distinct improvement since their first production last year. The little Scots maid, as portrayed by Miss Flo Sinclair, # left littlo to bo desired in clever acting. The liall was effectively decorated, and supper was served from a buffet. The club hope to have one more social evening before the close of the year.

The Helensville Badminton Club held its wind-up dance in the Lyric Theatre, Helensville, on Thursday evening last. During the evening trophies won. during the season were presented. The winners of the Monte Carlo were Miss Maida; Screaton and Mr. L. Vercoe, and the winners of the ring dance were Miss Joyce Grey and Mr. L. Torbett. Among those present were:—Mesdames T. Cohen, C. G. Sandin, L Brock, E. Eames, I. Blrnie, H. Venablcs, A. Plummer, M. Steadman, find Misses J. Narbcy, Edna Paton,' E. Eddleston, Seta Hunt, E.' Raines, M. Nicholls, Betty McLeod, Lorna Smith, S. Nicholls, Eva Coutts,' Jean McLeod, Phyllis Megson, J. Dwerryliouse, Betty Coutts, Mary Ellett, Nancy Screaton, Edith Grey, H. Gallagher, E. Creadon. » * » »

The official opening of the lawns of the Grey Lynn Croquet Club, which was postponed from last Saturday, took place on Thursday afternoon. Mr. W. Curtis, president of the Grey Lynn Bowling Club, welcomed members and visitors, congratulated the club on last year's achievements and wished it every success during the coming season. The president, Mrs Moran, before playing the first ball, welcomed Mrs. Badeley and Mrs. Keesing, president and secretary of the Auckland Association, both of whom in very happy speeches replied to the. words of welcome. It being by happy coincidence the birthday of Mrs. Newton, an esteemed member of the club, Mrs. Moran, on behalf of tlio numbers, expressed their loving greetings and presented her with a beautiful bouquet and birthday cake. This was cut at the sumptuous afternoon tea, and" the opportunity was also taken to present a brown leather bag., to , Mrs. Burrell, another valued member, who is leaving the district. Progressive croquet was played, tlie winners being: A, Mrs. Percy; runner-Hip, Mrs. Whitfield; B, Mrs. Hutchinson, runner-up, Mrs. Burrell. In additiou to club members, the following visitors were present: Mesdames Badeley, Keesing, Finch, Crookbain, Whitfield, Boden, Clark, Rowden, Young, Hutchinson, Wilson, Mullins and Burrell, and Misses Young and Quin. /«•.

On a recent evening the Mangere Literary and Debating Society held their annual banquet in the Mangere East Hall, when there was a good attendance of members and friends present. Mr. Bullen, the president, welcomed the visitors, and toasts were proposed by Mr. Ross Burns, the president and vicepresidents. Mr. Fred Tidmarsh proposed the Indies, which was replied to by Mr. R. Monteith and Miss Gladys Newson. During the evening items were given by Misses Cruicksliank, Arlington, Berry and Messrs. Harvie and Moore. • After the banquet a pln.v was performed by Misses Stein and Kerr. Amongst those present were: Mesdames Massey, Gillies, Kerr, Jones, Tate, Pheasant, Saussey, Striekctt, Ellison, and Misses N. Thompson, A. Eade, L. Pheasant. I. Pheasant, M. Arlington, Cruiekshailk, Berry, P. Kerr, M. Stein, R. Reynolds, I. Thompson, B. Reynolds, M. Kay, and D. Hagan.

An entertainment of an experimental nature was given in aid of the Community Sunshine Association at the Holy Sepulchre Hall last Thursday evening to a large and appreciative audience, when Wynfrida Spiers presented "La Poudre aux Yeux," an amusing coined}' by Labiclie-Martin. The play, which was given by a cast of 15, was all in French, and was well patronised by the leading secondary schools. The story was> how two bourgeois families cach schemed to impress the other with their assumed wealth and position in order to induce the other to give a large marriage portion to their respective son and daughter. Miss Mary Pilkington made a charming heroine, and her lover was well played by Mr. L. 11. Thomass. Her father and mother were played by Mr. J. A. Mackenzie and Miss Eileen Johnston (at very short notice). The lad's mother and father, Madame and Monsieur Ratinois, were taken by Madame P. Hall and Wynfrida Spiers. L'oncle Robert, whose common sense anr' l humanity prevent the parties, through their foolish ambition ar.d vanity, making shipwreck of the young people's . lives, .was played by Mr. Douglas Woolcott. Other roles were taken by Mr. A. Mayhill its the maitre d'hotel, Mr. P. Costcllo as the tnpissier, Mrs. R. Watson as Alexandrine, Miss K. Harvey as Josephine, Mary Spiers as Sophie the cook, Master Cecil Hall the negro, and two footmen Mr. Storey and Mr. A. Thomas. The evening was an outstanding success. Great interest was shown in the! play, and before' each act the story of what was taking . place was explained I to those whosp knowledge of French was not sufficient to follow the thread of the tale. Mrs. W. Spiers was in charge of the evening. '