NEWS FOR WOMEN

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25090, 23 January 1947, Page 2

NEWS FOR WOMEN

CURRENT NOTES At the course in English for postprimary school teachers, which will open at the Teachers’ Training College, Christchurch, this morning, lectures on different aspects of the teaching of English will be given. Amongst the lecturers will be four women—Miss R. O. iVlason (Gigborne High School), Miss J. Stevens (Teachers’ Training College, Dunedin), Miss N. M. Dickie (Girls’ High School, Christchurch), and Mrs D. M. Shrimpton (Christ’s College, Christchurch). Amongst visitors to the conference of members of the New Zealand Federation of University Women, which will open in Christchurch to-morrow, will be Mrs R. R.,Gibson, wife of the headmaster of the Cathedral Grammar School. Mrs Gibson, who is the only daughter of Dr. and Mrs Frank Gwynne, of Auckland, gained the diploma in music at Auckland University College. . Miss Mariejean Edmonds (Monck’s Bay) has left for the North Island to attend a music refresher course at Cambridge. About 60 members of the North Canterbury Federation of Women’s Institutes, representative of districts as far north as Balmoral and The Peaks and as far south as Kaiapoi, attended the federation’s annual picnic, held yesterday in the Botanic Gardens, Christchurch. In the morning members were taken on a conducted tour of the hothouses and potting houses, and in the afternoon they attended a lantern lecture on “Early Canterbury” given by Mr E. R. Webb, president of the Canterbury Pilgrims’ and Early Settlers’ Association, and visited the “Early Canterbury” room at the museum. On behalf of the visitors, Mrs J. Rennie (president of the federation) thanked Mr B. P. Mansfield (director of the gardens) an? his staff and Mr. Webb for their kindness in making the outings most interesting and enjoyable.

Mrs Patricia Turner (better known in musical circles as Patricia Newson) has been advised that she has been awarded a scholarship which will enable her to continue the study of singing at the Conservatorium of Music, Sydney. She hopes to leave for Australia by the Dominion Monarch at the beginning of February. One of the passengers by the Wanganella was Miss Gwen Court, a former principal of Ponsonby Free Kindergarten, who has returned to Auckland after an absence of five years in India. She is to take up the position of assistant-principal of the Wellington Free Kindergarten Association. She left New Zealand in December, 1941, for India, where a position awaited her at the Uatnedral Girls’ High School in Bombay. She remained for three years teaching in the kindergarten department of the school. From Bombay Miss Court went to Naini Tai in the Himalayas, where she spent another two years training, students for kindergarten work at All Saints’ Training College. Miss Joan Rattray, a member of the Auckland City Council, who attended the International Women s Assembly in New York a few months ago, has returned to New Zealand after an absence of six months. As a member of the Metropolitan Youth Council in Auckland she was particularly inter-’ ested to see how America was dealing with the question of recreation for the leisure time of youth. In many States she found that this was a real problem to the civic authorities, particularly where the 40-hour working week had been introduced. Efforts were being made to provide recreational facilities for young people who suddenly found themselves with more leisure time than they had been used to and with little knowledge of how to use it. The use of psychiatrists for all kinds of institutional work in America, such as child delinquency prisons, mental hospitals, and social welfare work, impressed Miss Rattray very much. These psychiatrists were almost part and parcel of every walk of life, she said, and their services were invaluable. She thought that the introduction of more of these specialists in New Zealand would be highly beneficial. Reputed to have been 108 years of age, Mrs Kaa Simeon Popata has died at the home of Mrs Loui Noble at Pamapuria, in the Mangonui County. Mrs Popata was born in the Far North, being a member of the Aupouri tribe. Her husband died 34 years ago. She is survived by three daughters. Miss Louise Logan, the first member of CORSO’s No. 2 relief team to return from Greece, has been spending some time in Auckland and left Wellington yesterday for her home town, Dunedin. “UNRRA’s greatest contribution was to prevent an epidemic in Europe,” said Miss Logan, “and our work was mostly on the preventive Side.” Her team plied among the islands clustering around Syros in the Greek Archipelago. There were Your of them. Miss Logan (welfare worker), Miss Wood (assistant-nurse), Miss McGregor (nurse), and their leader, Dr. Athol Patterson. She says that the Greeks are incredibly poor. but. as they have been having UNRRA food rations for three years, they are better off than they were. Olives, and bread made from barley flour, form their principal diet. Only a few can afford cheese. Miss Logan is a New Zea-land-trained St. John Ambulance driver and a Karitane graduate. Sister Olive Coleman, who is known to a number of New Zealand Methodists, is now attached to the Methodist Central Mission, Pritchard street, Johannesburg. South Africa. She has written to the “Methodist Times,” sending greetings to New Zealand friends, and states that she would be glad to look up any New Zealanders in that city if names and addresses are sent to her. She would particularly like to hear from acquaintances and friends with whom she worked during her term in New Zealand.

The lady editor of “The Press” wishes to thank two frjends, who wish to remain anonymous, who have generously responded to her appeal made yesterday for a pram for the baby of a mother jn distressing circumstances. One has offered to give a pram, and the other has expressed willingness to pay for one. She also thanks a friend for an umbrella for the sanatorium; and Bruce James. Burnham, and several other readers for gifts of magazines stamps, and cards. The high cost of preparing for a wedding in England at the present time was mentioned in an interview ! at Timaru yesterday by Mrs Mackie, wife of Squadron Leader Evan Mackie, of Waihi, one of New Zealand’s ace fighter pilots, who recently returned to the Dominion. Nearly all the items necessary for a wedding were difficult to obtain, said Mrs Macfie. She gave as an example the high price of flowers for her own marriage. Modest .bouquets for herself and her two bridesmaids and a spray of three flowers for her mother cost £l5. Mr and Mrs John Oakley and family will arrive from Napier to-day to make their home in Christchurch, where Mr Oakley will take up a position on the staff of the School of Art. At a reception held at the Mayfair last evening to entertain delegates and visitors who are attending the annual conference of the Society of Registered Music Teachers of New Zealand, which opened in Christchurch yesterday, Mr Ernest Empson, president of' the Christchurch branch, offered the felicitations of all members to Sir James Hight on the honour of knighthood recently conferred upon him. Sir James Hight. Mr Empson said, had always taken the keenest interest in the society, and had ever been ready to advance the cultural life of the city. Owing to the illness of Miss I. F. Milnes. Dominion president of the New Zealand Federation of University * Women, the garden party which was : to have been held at her home. Banks ' avenue, to-morrow (Friday) is can- ’ celled. A business meeting of con- ' ference. will be held to-morrow, after : which the presidential address will be < delivered. Advt. <