SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1940, 24 December 1913, Page X

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

For tlia Kinciargartens. Their Excellencies the Governor and the Countess of Liverpool wore present at an afternoon which was given yesterday by j\lrs. Mas'scy, i'or tho purpose of placing before people the aims mid tho work accomplished by the Hiehmoiul J)'rco Kindergartens.. i"'or some timo past Miss Richmond and the Kindergarten Council have i'cit ,t.hat it was necessary for tho continuance of their iv'ork that it should be recognised by tho Government, and that their students should receive certificates for examinations held by tho Government. With this object in view, they have made opportunities of placing matters before the Government, and yesterday al'torirbon might almost be classed as One of them. Incidentally, it waa hoped that Hie kindergarten' ivorli, when fully explained, Would enthuse pcopSe to help 111 a practical fashion. It was when tea .was over that the real business,of the afternoon was approached, and Sirs. Gil!, tho president of the Kindergarten Council, spoke of the added' weight it would be if they had Government recognition, of students' work iii examinations. . She though!; that girls of leisure would find much to interest them in kindergarten work. To spend a year or so as a student in their schools Would bo doing valuable Work both for themselves and for others.

Miss Richmond said tliat athough they wanted tho- Government's assistance, they did Jiofc want the l;ind«» gartens-to pass out- of their control.' They should still remain in women's hands, she thought. The tendency of education was to make women an imitation of men, to cultivate their bfains at ■the. expense of their hearts. If every girl were 'to spend some time in kindergarten Work this tendency would he modified, and tlio softer side of her nature would bo preserved. The average girl was left quite outsido in tho schemo of things. She did not cafb about abstract questions." What she did cafo about was children, doing things ill the house, and for other people, and so on. they were tho girls who had to be provided for. iSliss Richmond then went on to speak of ftoance, and said that the Government gave them a subsidy of £200 011 the attendance at the schools. The rest, a sum of about £500 a year, they had to get as best they could. It was a very difficult matter.

Mrs. A. R. Atkinson was . the next' speaker. She thought that, if kindergartens were made general all over the Dominion, there would, bo less heard of strikes, because tho children learned in these • schools that each one, with iiis or,'her work, was a part of the. whole, and, if they withdrew out of tho game, tho whole thing fell to pieces.' 'Ilio lesson, onco lerinfecl, would stay with them, mid they would apply it as they went through life. She said also that, whilo the little girls were encouraged to be motherly, tho boys, too, were taught that they also should do their part m helping with the cares of a family.

The lion. H. D. Isell spoke of the interest with, which they had listened that afternoon io what- had been said in regard to . kindergarten work, anil of its difficulties in Wellington. He thmight that such admirable work mer'itotl assistance. 1 He. was not altogether inclined to agree with Miss Richmond ■in her criticism of tho educational methods which'had. up to how, been largely in tlio hands of men. Each man had his own recollections of the best woman in tlio whrU, and, having that recollection, the.v could riot condemn the system which had produced her. Miss Richmond was a member of the Board of Governors of the Girls' College, and it might be that opportunities would be given her there to bring her ideals into practice In regard to the education of girls. In the mcantitno she h.-td his sympathy with the work, and, if the financial difficulties were So great, ho thought that something should bo done to assist tho work.

Sir Robert Stout thought that the kindergartens did a great deal to train and influence the patents. Ho also thought that much nsorc might ho done in the way of serial service in this country, and this was onn of the ways in which it might bo given. Sir John Findlay was another speaker, and he also expressed his sympathy with the work.

In addition to those alreaiy mentioned, there wore present: Lady Stout, Mrs. 11. D. Bell, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) an/1 Mrs. 'Lake, Mrs. Heard, Mrs.' Campbell, Mrs. Beauehamp, Mrs. Seddon, Mrs. T. 0. Macarfhy, Lady Findlnv," Mrs. Ward, Mrs. Ponsonby. Sirs. Fait Cohen. Mrs. Winder, Miss Yonng, Miss Archibald, Mrs. Dall, Miss Harcourt, Mrs. Eichelbaum, Mrs. W. Young, Dr. Coliius. Mr. Martin Chapman, and several others Weddins af Hatailai. On Wednesday, December 17, at the Hataitai Methodist Church. Miss Ellen Harrison, fifth daughter 'of Mr. and Mrs. It. Harmon, was married to Mr. Haroid Muir Thirkell, second son of Mr.' and Mrs. F. G. Thirkell, of Oriental Bay. The bnde, who- was given away by her father, wore a gowji of ■:'iearn draped satin, elaborately trimmed with pearls, the beautiful veil falling in graceful folds over the court train, which was caught up with sprays of orange blossom. The bridesmaids, Misses Nance (chief), Molly and Francos Harrison (asters of thfc' bride), wore cream. satin Juliet dresses, anil pearl and sijver Juliet caps, the only colouring being their shower bouquets, which wore of the faintest shade of pink. Their only ornaments were gold bangles, the gifts of the bridegroom. Mr. It! 0. * Cooper was best man, and Mr. W. Thirkell and Mr.. E. Thirkill (brothers of the bridegroom) and Mr. \V. Harrison (brother of the bride) groomsmen, A reception was held at the Hataitai Bowling Club's pavilion. Mr. and Mrs. Thirkell left for the Sounds. The bride travelled m a brown costume and brown Tagel hat. The Bev. C. L. Carr performed the ceremony at the wedding.

Mrs. and Miss Blakesioy (Orient's) Bay) leave to-day for Piaton, where they will lift tV.o guests of Miss Eva Western.

Miss Violet Mills loft for the south last evening. where slio joins a camping expedition ta the Boaiey district.

Tlio Hon. A. L. Hc-rdman and Mrs. Hordman intend leaving this week oh a tamping expedition to the Waimarino Plains.

Miss Doris Ball left- yesterday for Fordell. '

The many friends of Mrs. S. A. Cminingliame, lavP of t'iw .Elito Registry Office, Lambum Quay, will regret, to hear that slio is at; present a patient in the Wellington Hospital, preparatory to undergoing a serious operation.

Eor Weddings.—Appropriate Bouquets for either large or small weddings being continually desisnsd, and embody the unique distinction of all Miss Murray's creations. Flowers for nil occasions forwarded to any part of the Do. minion by Miss Murray, Vico-Krora! Florist, SO Willis Street.—A'dvt. ,