CURRENT NOTES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23802, 23 November 1942, Page 2

CURRENT NOTES

Sister Smale, who has been serving with the New Zealand forces in the Middle East, where she became, ill, returned to Patea last week. At the Y.M.C.A. rooms in Cambridge terrace, yesterday, members of St. Giles’ Presbyterian Church provided and served tea to 170 members of the armed forces. After tea a musical programme was enjoyed. Air Force Relations, at its depot at 1 the corper of High and Lichfield streets, now has a good stock of wool for knitting, and Mrs G. S. Hodson, who is in charge of the depot, would be grateful if knitters would call foxsupplies and return the finished garments as soon as possible. With the extension of the Air Force she finds that demands upon the depot are very heavy, and she and her helpers would welcome any new knitters who would undertake the making of comforts for men of the Air Force. As the work of the Welcome Club becomes better known and its value is more widely appreciated,'many additional organisations are offering to exj tend hospitality at the club to men of the fighting forces. On Saturday, for the first time, members of the Automobile Association, Canterbury, were hosts for afternoon tea and tea, which was served to 600 men. A dance followed, and members of the Papanui branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union .were responsible for supper. Yesterday the attendance at the club was about 450, and for these St. Albans war workers provided afternoon tea, tea, and supper. A concert programme was provided in the evening. Mrs Emily May Chapman, wife of Mr C. H. Chapman, M.P., died in her sleep on Friday morning at her home in Kilbirnie, Wellington. She was a devoted worker for welfare societies in Wellington. From 1929 to 1941 she . was a member of the Hospital Board, and she was an original member of the Wellington Red Cross Society, which was set up in 1919. Her interest in the Red Cross Society, of which her husband is chairman, was centred particularly in the work on behalf of the blind, the Red Cross cafeteria at the hospital, and the work in regard to relief of distress. She also identified herself witli the work of the Plunket Society, the National Council of Women, the Wellington Boys’ Institute, and the League of Nations Union. A Christchurch resident who celebrated his twenty-first birthday last : week received a novel present. , A woman who frequently contributed to patriotic funds called at the City Council Chambers and gave Miss M. Orbell, treasurer of the Mayoress’s Parcels Fund, £l, receiving in return an official receipt and two cards similar to those enclosed in soldiers’ parcels sent overseas by the Patriotic Council. She explained to Miss Orbell that she was going to a coming-of-age party and she intended to give to the guest of honour, not a present, but the two cards. She- would ask him to sign them and return them to the City Council Chambers, where they would be enclosed, one in each of two soldiers’ parcels. She felt that the young man would rather be responsible for. sending gifts to men serving overseas than receive a present for himself. Nationalist Club members are urged to note the holding of an important meeting to be addressed by Mr S. Gi Ho'.land, M.P.. Leader of the Opposition,' at the’ Radiant Hall on Friday next, at 8 p.m. —8 WEDDING CAKES. Ethne Tosswill is happy to be able to announce that she still Has stocks available of everything necessary for the complete Wedding Cake. Order yours early at Ethne Tosswill’s, 123 A Cashel street, —6 TWO ANNIVERSARIES That the Parents’ National Educational Union will continue and, if. pbssible, extend its work for patriotic purposes was announced at a large gathering of members of the union held on Saturday at the home of the president, Mrs Norton Francis, Desmond street, Fendalton. The branch, it was explained, had, during the year, helped at the Welcome Club, had contributed to the Mayoress’s Parcels Fund, had knitted for men on active service, had helped in the sale of health stamps and in many other useful works. The gathering on Saturday was arranged to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Miss Charlotte Mason, the founder of the union’s methods in education, and also to mark the twenty-first birthday of the Christchurch branch of the union, which was formed at the home of the late Mr and Mrs Arnaud McKellar, Park terrace, on November 21, 1921. Amongst the many who were welcomed by Mrs Francis were present and past members of the branch, those who had delivered lectures at the union’s meetings, former teachers and former pupils of the Parents’ Union School in Christchurch, and all who had shown practical interest in the affairs of the branch. Short addresses were given by Mrs Francis, who has been president of the branch since its foundation, Mrs H. Wyatt, and Mrs L. C. L. Averill.