GOLDEN JUBILEE

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22894, 15 December 1939, Page 2

GOLDEN JUBILEE

FIFTY YEARS OF USEFULNESS “The Old Girls’ Association, with its usual thoroughness, has discovered that early next year we must celebrate the golden jubilee of the school,” said Miss Ethel Gibson, headmistress of Rangi-ruru, speaking at the prize-giv-ing ceremony yesterday. “Though the moment is not very propitious for jubilation,” Miss Gibson continued, “we do feel, with the old girls, that something should be done to mark the fiftieth birthday of the school,” Miss Gibson recounted that in January, 1890, two of her sisters had taken over a small school of 15 girls, occupying a room in a house in Papanui road, two doors from Holly road. Two years later Captain Gibson had built a house at the corner of Webb street, and his daughters had carried on their schofal there. The name was suggested by a very old Maori friend, who seeing a big house going up in a bare section, said: “You must call it rangi ruru, a big sky shelter.” ‘As rang 1 implies something high and lofty we have always kept its metaphorical significance before the girls. I hope with some result,” said Miss Gibson. Gradually the number of pupils increased, boarders were taken, and the school outgrew its home. In 1923 a move was made to the present site in Hewitt’s road. . Important developments in the school’s history were the publishing of a school magazine, first issued in 1923. and the formation of an old girl? association the next year. Miss Gibson paid tribute to many faithful friends of the school, particularly mentioning Miss Paul for her work in supervising the magazine and Mrs Stokes, a member of the staff for many years. PRE-WEDDING PARTIES MISS BETTY SMITHSON ENTERTAINED Mrs M. A. Fox was hostess yesterday at an afternoon party given in honour of her niece. Miss Betty Smithson, whose marriage to Mr P. Byrne will take place soon. The party, which was held in a private room at Ballantynes, was a “pink” party, the decorations being carried out in pink, and each guest bringing a pink gift for Miss Smithson. Mrs Fox’s guests were Miss Smithson and her mother, Mrs G. W. C. Smithson. Mrs A. E, Byrne. Mrs E. A. Summers. Mrs F. C. Wooler, Mrs R. W. Anderson, Mrs R. A. Bagshaw, Mrs R. T. Tosswill. Mrs E. H Clark, Mrs Cecil Bonnington, Mrs James Morrison. Mrs W. Andrew, Mrs H. P. Brown, Mrs H. J. Quarrell and Miss Nora Quarrell. Miss N. Williams, Mrs Alan Smithson, Mrs John Mosley and Mrs Denis Anderson. At her home in Rossall street last night Miss Jean Wilson entertained a number of friends in honour of Miss Smithson. Mah-jong was played by the guests, each of whom brought a gift of handkerchiefs for the guest of honour. . ' Those nresent were Misses Betty Smithsom Nora Quarrell, Joan Williams, Pat McKenna, Neroli MeClatchie, Marjorie Field, and Beryl Brown. ENGAGEMENT NOTICES The engagement is announced oS Elaine Lilian, only daughter of- Mr and Mrs A. L. Cropp. Gloucester street, to Lieutenant Edgar Hargreaves, Royal Tank Regiment. England, only son of Mr and Mrs E. H. Hargreaves, Durham street, Christchurch. The engagement is announced of Rodney Thornhill, only son of Mr and Mrs Claude A. Cooper, Sea View road. New Brighton, to Joan Noeline, third daughter- of Mr and Mrs Reg. Mason, Elmwood, Okain’s Bay. The engagement is announced of Joyce, elder daughter of'Mr and Mrs J. H. Shier. Beckenham, and Maurice, only son of Mr and Mrs G. Neave, Cashmere. The engagement is announced in Wellington of Nenise, daughter of Mr and Mrs G. T. Thurston, Cashmere, Christchurch, and Lieutenant Russell de la Cour (New Zealand Staff Corps), Fort Dorset, Wellington. The engagement is announced of Joan Winnifred. twin daughter of Mr and Mrs N. P. Digby, Glandovey road, Fendalton, to Albert Ernest (Bert), elder son of Mr and Mrs A. E. G. Lyttle, Leinster road, Merivale. The engagement is announced of Leslie Frederick (Bob), eldest son of Mr and Mrs W. Wood (Sockburn), to Noeline Eltha, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs F. Hill, Papanui. The engagement is announced of Gladys Jean, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs J. Feather, Cust, to Edward, second son of Mr and Mrs G. E. Thompson, Darfield. DINNER AND DANCE ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION The Christchurch Architectural Association celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary at a dinner party and dance held in the National Party club rooms recently. The first president of the association (Mr G. A. J. Hart) presided. It is believed that the association has the best record of any similar association •in the Dominion. Mrs G. A. J. Hart presented, the prizes for the year, which were;— Senior: First challenge cup, A. L. Gabites; second (equal) R. A. Heaney and J. A. Hendry. Junior: Miss NanCy Rogers 1, Miss Anne Hunt 2. Mr Gabites. who is shortly leaving for Wellington, was presented with a token of goodwill from fellow- students. Later, dancing was enjoyed. Those present were Mr and Mrs G. A. J. Hart, Mr and Mrs Cecil Wood. Mr and Mrs G. D. Griffiths. Mr and Mrs S. T. Townsend. Misses Annette Sellars, Mary and Edith McDonough. Eileen Rose. Anne Hunt Nancy Northcroft. Nancy Rogers, Kathleen Harley, Sylvia Ragg. June Miller, Annette Thompson, Betty Margaret, and Sylvia Hart. Mina Goodman. Barbara Neal, Messrs R. S. D. Harman, Paul Pascoe, R. C. Munro, John and Allot! Gabites I. Mensance, J. B. Coe. T. McKneight. O. McDonald. H. Wakefield, I. Loughnan, R. A. Heaney, A. F. Flanagan, and John A. Henery. AFTERNOON PARTY Miss Marie Raven, whose marriage to Mr Donovan Walker will take place after Christmas, was the honoured guest at a pleasant party given yesterday afternoon by Mrs Alex. McDonald at her home in St. Albans. The guests, each of whom brought a gift of a cup and saucer for Miss Raven, were Mesdames M. Prendergast, Harold Goggin, W. P. Clarkson, J. E. Prehdergast. B. J. McKenna, D. McCormick. W. E. Simes. F. L. Horne, A. J. Wills, and J. Manning.