CURRENT NOTES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24984, 19 September 1946, Page 2

CURRENT NOTES

Mrs A. R. Cutler, wife of the High Commissioner for Australia in New Zealand, was the guest of honour at a very well attended morning reception, held at the Canterbury Women’s Club yesterday. Mrs Cutter, who was welS? me T d president of the club, Mrs J. P. Rickard, gave a vivid account df her experiences during the four years she served with the Australian Women’s Army Service, which she entered as a private and in which she rose to the rank of lieutenant She was stationed near Albury where there had been established the biggest vehicular park Australia, *- accommodating 25,000 vehicles and employing 200 Women and 600 men. Before tea was served, vocal trios were sung by Mesdames A. Ledsham, D. E. Chistiansen, and L. for whom Mrs J. C. Cullman was accompanist.

.A very pleasant party, at which the blind of Christchurch were the honoured guests, was held yesterday afternoon at Jellicoe Hall, gaily decorated for the occasion. An interesting proBram8 ram me was provided by the violinist, liss Romala Griffiths, now of Havelock North, who is paying a visit to Christchurch, Miss Vonnie Wilson (accompaniments), Misses Muriel Stanley and Doreen Jones (piano duets), Mrs W. H. Collins /elocutionary items), and Squadron Leader J. M. Checketts, who gave an account of a journey he had made in, 1944 by aeroplane from Northumberland to Northern Italy and back to Britain. Mr W. T. Woods thanked the speaker and th? artists, and also those who had provided transport for the blind to and from the party, and the women members of the local advisory comnfittee of the New Zealand Institute for the Blind, who prepared and served tea. Mr H. Sweney, chairman of the committee, who presided, made appreciative reference to the “Clothes Shop,” from the proceeds of which coal had been supplied during the winter and spring to needy blind persons in the city.

Mr Edgar Stead was the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Riccarton Garden Club, which was held at the home of Miss Rainey, Harakeke street. The subject was. “The cultivation of rhododendrons and azaleas.” Mrs W. Milne Shand presided. Competitions resulted ,as follows:—decorative class A: Mrs N. S. Cramond 1, Mrs C. J. Williams 2; cut flowers, class A: Mrs J. R. Templin 1, Mrs W. Milne Shand 2; decorative, class B: Mrs H. M. Taylor 1, Mrs S. M. Steel 2; cut flowers, class B: Mrs E. Beaven 1, Mrs H. M. Taylor 2.

Miss G. Widdowson, lady superintendent of the Christchurch Hospital, after a conference with matrons of those institutions that are dealing with public maternity hospitals and training schools, feels that the shortage of staff for the maternity annexe at the Burwood Hospital * and at other maternity homes may continue for a considerable time. For this reasqn a plan has<been evolved for giving instruction in maternity work to women and senior girls, who would then be able to help at the maternity annexe at Burwood Hospital and possibly later take, maternity training. The Red Cross and St. John V.A. departmentfr are cd-operating in the scheme and are willing to help in enrolling suitable candidates, who may receive further particulars from Miss Widdowson, Christchurch Hospital, or from-Miss Sparkes. St Helens Hos- <■: -v. . •. .. r ■ ■-■JU"...- . •• AntWst 'miters to Christchurch for the golf championship meeting to be played at the Shirley links next month will be Mrs L. R. Curtis and Miss Judith Taylor, of New Plymouth, and Mrs P. R. Glanville, of Te Awamutu, who will have Miss Rosemary Hodges, of Auckland, as her partner in the championship foursomes.

Miss Frances Ogilvie, a former student of Canterbury University College, who has spent 22 of the last 26-years working for the Presbyterian Church in China, was the speaker at a meeting of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Federation of University Women, held in the federation’s rooms, Montreal street, last, evening. Miss Ogilvie was first in charge of a girls’ boarding school, which in 19314 was. handed over to Chinese leadership. She remained as a part-time teacher at »the school, and at the same time carried on her work amongst women and girls in the town. In 1937, after furlough, Miss Ogilvie travelled through Japan .and returned to China, to train leaders fg>r work amongst 'the Chinese. When Japan struck against China, she was teaching theological students in Canton, and, with the students, helped to conduct refugee camps. In this work, she said,, a fine spirit of international and interdenominational fellowship. was developed. Four days after the declaration of war between Britain and Japan Miss Ogilvie was taken prisoner and spent three and a half years in Stanley internment camp, where, she said, shj and her 2000 fellow prisoners did not get used to being hungry. Although she spent four and a half years under Japanese rule—one year as a neutral and three and a half years as a prisoner, Miss Ogilvie hopes to leavg on her return to China in January next. Mrs C. Malthus, president of the branch, presided at the meeting. Miss A. Croft thanked the speaker. Hostess to 500 New Zealand, Australian, and British servicemen at her home in New York during the war, Mrs L. T. Bell arrived in Auckland on Tuesday by Pan American Airways Clipper Kathay from San Francisco. She is pn her way to Australia, Where she intends to stay with friends. Women and senior girls, 17 years and over, who are interested in mothers and babies, and who would be prepared to give full or part assistance at the Maternity Annexe, Burwood Hospital, are invited to take a short course of instruction which has been arranged at St. Helens Hospital. No other training is necessary. Apply to—Mrs Wales Red Cross’Centre, Cashel street, Christchurch, 10 a.m. to 12 midday, Mondays to Fridays. Telephone 38-806; or Mrs Poulton, St. John V.A. Department, Peterborough street, Christchurch. •Telephone 34-935. Advt. Smart new Spring and Summer Millinery in all new shades being opened up every day at Constance Gee, Ltd., 679 Colombo street Call in and choose your new hat from our large stocks. . Advt. PRE-COOKING preserves that Delicious Nutty Flavour in “HOLLY” OATMEAL or Rolled Oats. Your grocer stocks delicious “Holly” Oatmeal—the new breakfast cereal—cooks in two minutes. Advt. c'p.EAM OF TARTAR BACK AGAIN. Good news for housewives—Cream of Tartar is again available. Ask your grocer for genuine. Cream of Tartarnow available from grocers everywhere. Advt.