CURRENT NOTES

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26409, 1 May 1951, Page 2

CURRENT NOTES

Sir Ernest Andrews and Lady Andrews visited the Mayor of Ashburton (Mr E.' C. Bathurst) and Mrs Bathurst yesterday morning. “We have to be good New Zealanders, but we should not forget the traditions and history of our homeland,” said Mr P. J. M. Noidus, president of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Dutch Club, at a function held by the branch last evening to celebrate the forty-second birthday of Queen Juliana of Holland. About 60 or 70 members of the branch sang national songs, took part in games and listened to items by some of their number. Among those present were Professor and Mrs C. Weststrate.

The engagement is announced -in London of Peter Bernard Alexander, the son of Sir Wilfrid Sim, K.C, Wellington, and the late Mrs Sim, to June Valerie, the younger daughter of Colonel and Mrs P. L. Vining, of Park Hill, Farm House, Shire Hampton, Bristol. It is expected that the wedding will take place in England in June, and that the , couple will leave for New Zealand in July. They will make their home in Wellington. Mr Sim is in England on holiday. Mr N. J. O. Makin, retiring Australian Ambassador to the United States, who had been expected to arrive in Auckland by air at the week-end, is now expected in the Aorangi on May 22. He will be accompanied by his wife and will spend two months on holiday in New Zealand before going on to Australia.

The following officers were elected at the annual meeting of the Christchurch branch of the Colomba College Old Girls’ Association, which was held at the home of Mrs W. A. C. McDonald, Chapter street: president, Mrs L, R. Webley; vice-presidents, senior, Miss Marion McCrostie, junior, Mrs W~W. Thompson; honorary secretary, Mrs R. de G. Robilliard; treasurer, Mrs L. R. R. Denny; committee, Mesdames McDonald, P. G. Ellis, E. H. Chapman, A. J. McCurdie, J. Clayton, and G. M. Robertson. A demonstration on the making of shoulder sprays was given by-Mr C. G. Bellworthy, who was the guest speaker at a meeting of the women’s group of the Risingholme Community Centre. After the demonstration several members made some attractive sprays which were later sold to augment the funds for the Austrian child sponsored by the group.

A paper on "The Hymns of Isaac Watts” was read by Mrs Hodder at the April meeting of the Papanui Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Mrs Elliott presided. A report on mental hospital visiting was given by Mrs Thornton.

The honorary secretary (Mrs A. E. 0. Turner), who is leaving the district soon, was bidden farewell at the annual meeting of the Linwood-Avon-side sub-branch of the Plunket Society. The following officers were elected: patron, Mrs H. Ayers; president, Mrs E. P. Mowatt; vice-presi-dents, Mesdames N. Beveridge-Davis, W. J. Edginton, and P. C. Browne.; honorary treasurer, Mrs M. Clarkson; committee, Mesdames R. A. Stacey, H. J. Fleming, F. J. Ashworth, W. L. McIntosh. C. D. Sealey, C. Fox, R. W, Bellringer, E. E. Bumstead, E. P. Sanders, F. Rabbidge, R. East and Miss Skipworth; mothers’ club representative, Mrs C. F. McKechie.

A satisfactory report on the activ|. ties for the year was given by Mrs M. C. Coursey, who presided at the annual meeting of the Sydenham subcentre of the Red Cross Society. During the year members had sent a donation towards \the British nurses' memorial, and clothing had been sent into the headquarters for distribution overseas. The following officers were elected: president, Mrs Coursey; secretary, Mrs T. H. Piper; treasurer, Mrs Mentrom; committee, Mesdames Cox, Mann, and Gabb. The annual report of the Hororata sub-branch of the Plunket Society showed a successful year. Nurse McIntosh, in her report for the year, said there were 32 new baby cases. 325 visits to babies. 122 babies had visited the room, and 36 babies and 63 preschool children were under supervision. Officers elected were:—president, Mrs G. Gregg; vice-presidents, Mesdames T. B. Jones, G. Derrett, K. Hall, W. Stone, and F. Wright; honorary secretary and treasurer, Mrs J. Ballagh; auditor, Mr Hanson; committee, Mesdames T. Clucas, W. Thwaites, H. A. Oliver, C. Bruce, A. Halliday, G. Smith, K. Kellaway. E. Gray, Alan Oliver, W. Oakley, S. Hunt, Youngman, Templer, P. Derrett, J. 3. Thwaites. G. H. Hall. B. Halliday, Collins (Lake Coleridge), P. Isherwood, H. Grigg, Patterson, T. Hight, C. Stockdale, H. McKellow, G. Green, M. Ballagh, J. Locker, and A. Davis (Glenrqy).

Two of the New Zealand Presbyterian missionaries recently evacuated from Communist China to Hong Kong arrived in New Zealand on Friday. They are Miss Alice Cook, of Invercargill, chairman of the Presbyterian Mission Council, and Miss Flora Wilson, of Nanier. The missionaries travelled from the Far East in a Curtis Commando aircraft, one of three flown to New Zealand to carry freight across Cook Strait. The veteran nurse, Miss Annie I. James, is still in Communist China. She has not yet been able to obtain an exit permit from the Chinese authorities, and is at Kaai Hau, where she was in charge of a mission hospital.