CURRENT NOTES

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25589, 2 September 1948, Page 2

CURRENT NOTES

Lady Kippenberger (Wellington), who accompanied her husband to Christchurch yesterday, will spend a few days in the city, and will return north on Saturday. Sir Howard Kippenberger will return to Wellington to-day. Dr. W. Gordon Rich and Mrs Rich (Fendalton) are expected to return to Christchurch to-day from Australia, where Dr. Rich attended a medical conference in Perth, and later visited Melbourne and Sydney. Miss Jean Begg, director of welfare services in Japan, will return to New Zealand next year, via America and Samoa. She will fly from Kure, Japan, soon, to attend the International Congress on Mental Health to be held in London : 7 -

The placing, of. four stone, seats, to be named after the First Four Ships, near the pioneer women’s memorial at the junction of the Summit road and the Bridle Path, was proposed, said Mrs G. H. Watts, president of the Women’s Citizens’ Association, at a meeting of the association held in the Chamber of Commerce hall yesterday afternoon. She added that arrangements had been made by the parks and reserves department of the Christchurch City Council to take several members of the association up to the memorial to ascertain where members could plant ornamental shrubs to the best advantage. It was hoped to have these improvements made in readiness for the centenary of the province.

In an effort to raise funds to establish a kindergarten students’ training college in Christchurch the Kindergarten Association is arranging a kindergarten floral festival to be held in the middle of November. The carpet of flowers is to be 30 feet by 22 feet, and Mrs A. Keith Hadfield (president) and members of the association are appealing to garden lovers and garden clubs for help in providing the necessary flowers.

Whether the children’s playground which the association intended to equip at Anberley Park, would spoil the charm and quiet of the park which was frequentea by many elderly people, as well as children, was a question raised at a meeting of the Women’s Citizens’ Association yesterday. The president (Mrs G. H. Watts) said that the paddling pool would be built on the site of tne old tennis courts; no trees would be destroyed, and the beauty of the park would not be spoilt. Tne association had decided to equip a playground there, as Elmwood Park and St. Albans Park, where facilities were available for children, were too far away for parents in the Abberley Park district to take their children to. The £3O given by the association some time ago towards equipment of a playground had been used for the purchase of three small see-saws, which had cost £5l. Mrs Bertha M. Jenkins, of New York (formerly Miss Bertha Harris, of Christchurch), gave an interesting talk on her life in the United States to members of the Christchurch Business and Professional Women’s Club at their meeting this week in Hay’s lounge. Members were particularly interested in her account of theatrical designing, which is done on a large scale, and fashion designing. Mrs Jenkins spoke of the part women had taken in service clubs and in the business world. New Zealand women could always get along in any country, and always pull their weight, she said. Songs were sung bv Mrs R. E. Voller, accompanied on the piano by Mrs W. E. Olds. Mrs C. G. Schumacher presided, and the hostesses were Mrs J. S. Cook. Mrs T 7 D-dziel, and Miss F. A. Black. Mrs V. Ledgerwood thanked the speaker.

The number of bridges across the river in Christchurch—49—was greater than the number over the Seine in Paris, said Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon. when making suggestions for beautifying the city at a meeting of the Women’s Citizens’ Association vesterdav afternoon. Many of the bridges over the Avon had outlived their useful life and some of them were not safe, he said.

Miss Helen Keller, who recently visited New Zealand, has agreed 1 to become life patroness of the Dominion Association of the Blind. The president. Mr F. E. Robinson, of Auckland, has received a typewritten letter from Miss Keller from Australia, in Which she also thanks the association for a paua shell tiki and an address presented to her while in Auckland.

A trip by air to Norfolk Island mill be made by the Thames-Hauraki Plains District Federation of Women’s Institutes, which has chartered an aeroplane seating 14 to leave Auckland on November 14. It is expected that the party will consist of members of the executive of the federation and a concert party. The stay at Norfolk will be for a week. The objective of the trip is the improvement of knowledge of and relations with places overseas.

The ball held by the ScargillMotunau branch of the Plunket Society in the Scargill Hall recently was the most successful held by the branch for many years. The hall was decorated with streamers. Chinese lanterns and balloons to give a gala effect, and a grand march, led by a piper, was an innovation that won general approval. The Amberley Band provided music, and Messrs J. Gardner and A. M. Stewart were masters of ceremonies. Supper was supplied by members. Mrs H. Lee (president) thanked the patrons and all who had assisted for their support. About £2O was raised for branch funds.

Delegates who attended the recent conference of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children in Wellington gave a full report on the work of the branches and remits submitted to Ministers of the Crown at the monthly meeting of the Christchurch branch of the society. Miss E. Cardale presided, and the secre-tary-treasurer (Mrs L. I. Cattell) reported on the general finances of the society. The advisory officer (Miss D. Campbell) gave a report of several urgent cases which had arisen during the month.

A travelling library for children who live on isolated farms in the western district of Victoria, Australia, has been founded by Mrs Lindsay Nicholas (Miss Hepzibah Menuhin, the pianist sister of Yehudi Menuhin, the violinist). Mrs Nicholas is keenly interested in children and her love of books is second only to her love of music. When her children’s governess spoke to her of the value of children’s libraries Mrs Nicholas decided that the 200 children on isolated farms in the district should have their own library. With the assistance of a neighbour she organised a ball on her property which raised £2OO for the purchase of books. The Education Department gave its approval to the scheme, and Mrs Nicholas’s husband and her neighbour’s husband agreed to lend trucks for the transport of the books. Eight hundred books suitable for children between the ages of four and 15 were purchased and m#de attractive and more durable, and the travelling library service was started. Mrs Nicholas and her neighbour and governess travel in the trucks to the six local schools in the district once a fortnight in a circuit of about 100 miles, which takes two days to cover. Teachers say that on library day the children are almost too excited to work. The scheme has proved so successful that a branch library has been started.

Miss Joan Elliott Dew, of “The Joanne” Hairdressing Salon, Fendalton Tram Terminus, has returned from Australia with the'latest hairdressing, including the Jamal and Cassaol Lustreol Perms, which are the foremost methods overseas. Advt. Visit the Georgette Millinery, 122 Cashel st., and see our interesting range of Spring Felts and Straws in every wanted shade. Also at Ashburton. Advt.

TO CLEAR WHOOPING COUGH and BRONCHIAL ASTHMA. For real relief of these distressing complaints chemists’ quality “Three Carboys Brand” CRESYLENE used in conjunction with the “Three Carboys” VAPORISING LAMP, can be thdroughly recommended. Restful sleep results, and the ailments rapidly clear. From your chemist. H. F. Stevens, Ltd., Manufacturers, Christchurch. Advt