THE VICTORIA LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 225, 16 June 1908, Page 5

THE VICTORIA LEAGUE.

A USEFUL INSTITUTION.

There was an interesting little gathering . yesterday afternoon at the residence of Mrs. Rankine-Brown, secretary of the Wellington branch of''the Victoria League,- when members'of the League met to hear from Miss Richmond something of what she had seen of'. the Victoria League and its doings / when at Home. Afternoon'tea was served in a room prettily \ decorated with' spring flowers: ,ana foliage,'arid afterwards, the fuests adjourned to tho drawing-room, where liss Richmond delivered a charming speech. Among 'those present were Lady Ward (pre- » sident of the-Wellington branch), Mesdames Hislop, Rhodes, Gray, Hursthouse, Grady, Luke, Harris, Beauchamp, . Stott, Harcourt, Tuckey, and Nathan, and Misses Holmes, ' CoateSj M'Lean, England, and, Baber. i Speaking of the large number of peoplo ' who go Home every year from this distant ' colony. Miss Richmond 'pointed out' that * the' Victoria League is able to do a very great deal to help them make the most of the time they havo to spend in England. It is of great value socially. Through its means people obtain invitations to houses 'to lyhich they would not otherwise readily find access, and they meet people they might \ otherwise never,know. It was through the •' league that Miss Richmond spent a delightful afternoon with' Mrs. Humphrey Ward, and: she obtained many other invitations sho would have very much liked to accept had her stay in London been longer. It was a member of a Boston branch of the leaguo who gave her introductions to many of the finest schools and colleges in tho States, and it was through the league that she obtained admittance to the Sergeant-at-Arms Gallery in the ; British Houso of Commons. Tho leaguo is, of. great assistance in business ways, and Mites Richmond had. heard of several cases where the secretary, Miss Talbot, had found business positions for young • 1 men from tho colonies. Indeed she thought that any young man going Home and wanting a little guidance in his affairs could not 'do better ' than join the .'league in New ' Zealand, and on arrival in London seek a personal interview with. Miss Tnlbot, an interview being much moro satisfactory than any correspondence. Those visitors from New Zealand who havei met her speak in very high terms of Miss Talbot's qualifications It. is largely due to her efforts that the League has already ; been ab!o to do so much for; visitors to England,, and for those it .seeks , ! .to help further afield. Miss Richmond had brought with her some magnificent .. - examples of brushwork 1 dono in English schools, exhibiting the life history of several J \ plants. These were sont by tho leaguo to bo shown in New Zealand schools with a request that some of the' schools here,would send similar pictures of the life history of . some New Zealand plants. Miss M'Lean'also gave a short account of the help given to her by tho-Victoria . • League during'her recent visit to England, and told how some members of the league had expressed a wish'that a girl from tho '•New Zoa!and schools, might be sent to enjoy -. the advantages of an English college, and that this might be arranged by the league. Mrs. ltankinc-Brown, speaking of the work of the Wellington branch, said that they had sent books to several school libraries for three months, after, which-, they would bo sent to other schools,.as the leaguo cannot at present give the books to any'one school. Through the league several English schools had corresponded with three schools in New Zealand, and she had had a letter from ono headmaster in Wanganui expressing the greatest satisfaction with tho effect of this correspondence.upon his pupils. Other English schools aro now asking for New Zealand correspondents, and it is hoped that arrangements will be made for this, as it is of great educational value.