For WOMEN

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24151, 10 January 1944, Page 2

For WOMEN

CURRENT NOTES

Miss Mabel Orbell, honorary secretary of the Comforts Circle of the Patriotic Fund Board, has returned to Christchurch after spending a few weeks at Kakahu, South Canterbury. The Welcome Club, Lichfield street, has been very popular with servicemen during the last few days. On Saturday, 420 men were the guests of T. J. Edmonds, Ltd., for afternoon tea and tea, and supper was served by members of the City Mission. Yesterday the Christchurch Registered Nurses’ Association were hostesses at afternoon tea, tea, and supper at the club, where more than 450 men were present. The concert programme last night was presented by Mrs Jones’s party. The Navy League’s wool room in the Chamber of Commerce building will reopen to-morrow, when knitters may receive further supplies of wool and return completed articles. Mrs Henry Wyatt, president of the Women’s Auxiliary, and Mrs G. W. C. Smithson, honorary treasurer, returned to Christchurch yesterday after spending a few weeks at Tekapo. Saturday was a red-letter day for the children at the Sunlight League’s health camps at Sumner and at the South Brighton School. After spending the morning bathing and playing on the beach, the children had a rest after dinner and then received a generous supply of raspberries and cream, the gift of Miss C. Wilding. In the evening, at Sumner, a concert programme was provided by Mr and Mrs R. J. McLaren and Mr Cyril Smith, and at the school at South Brighton, yesterday, Mr Smith and others entertained the children.

After proceedings lasting less than 10 minutes, the film star, Deanna Durbin, was granted a divorce from Vaughn Paul, says a message from Los Angeles to the “ Herald,” Melbourne. She testified that her husband’s constant criticism of her film and radio work kept her in a constant state of nervous distraction.

As is usual during war time, smart revues and musical comedies play an important part in the entertainments provided by London’s theatres, says a London writer. Prominent among the revivals is the unkillable “Merry Widow” of Lehar, with Cyril Ritchard as the gay Prince, and his wife, Madge Elliott, as the Widow. Neither of these artists made any pretence to be a singer of leading parts in Britain or Australia, though both could dance well and act with a certain air, but Lehar’s music does demand voices. George Graves is the comedian—as unctuous as ever. Two musical comedies which are doing well are “Something in the Air” (with Jack Hulbert and Cicely Courtneidge) and “Sunny River,” at the Piccadilly, with Evelyn Laye, Dennis Noble, and Edith Day. Of comedies, “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “Blithe Snirit” are both in their third year in London. Large numbers of children, ranging in age up to 12 years, have taken advantage of the organised recreational activities which have been conducted at the children’s playground at St. Kilda, Dunedin, by the Physical Welfare branch of the Department of Internal Affairs. Each afternoon from 2 o’clock to 4 o’clock Mrs Wilson, of the Physical Welfare branch, has arranged ball games, skipping, and other recreational activities. The scheme will be continued throughout the school holidays.

ENGAGEMENTS

The engagement is announced and the wedding will take place shortly of Margaret Ingram, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs-J. I. Email (Christchurch), to Captain St. George Wynston, only son of the late Mr and Mrs G. A. Chapman, Wellington.

The engagement is announced of Gwendolyn, second daughter of Mrs M. Smart, and the late Mr E. S. Smart, Riccarton, Christchurch, to Pilot Officer John Francis, elder son of Mr and Mrs J. V. Hanna, Highgate, Dunedin.