MENUS IN WAX

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 204, 26 May 1938, Page 4

MENUS IN WAX

An Unusual Art The visitor to the studio flat of Mme. Mary Newberry in Melbourne must tread warily lest he trip over roast fowl or bring down ripe peaches and tomatoes in an avalanche to the floor I Her particular task, states an exchange, is to model in a kind of wax any foodstuffs for display, and she has been much complimented on the lifelike appearance which she obtains by her patented process. Working out dozens of menus for a section at the exhibition of school children’s work, she actually cooked them all. “It is useless to say you can carry the colours of a baked fowd in your eye,” she remarked as she ran her practised finger over the carefully modelled legs tinted to a succulent shade of golden brown. Naturally she is rticent about the process, but it works as well with joints as with custard tarts, and she has just made three hundred bundles of sausages for the window display of a chain of provision shops. They are so like the originals that even Mme. Newberry has difficulty in saying which is which. Mme. Newberry has had no training for her extraordinary art, and has never had a lesson in modelling, yet her lobsters, tinted the correct shade, look out with cold and frosty expressions from their beds of imitation lettuce, seeming to demand just the addition of a little mayonnaise to make a tempting meal. Mme. Newberry, who was born in England, but spent 25 years in New Zealand, will leave this month, for England, will tour the Continent, and then go to the United States, where she will meet her son, Mr, Reginald Newberry, who is a singer, living in New York. As a lad he toured Australia and was one of the late Dame Nellie Melba’s “discoveries.” In the United States Mme. Newberry will go to Hollywood, where she hopes to obtain modelling work for film studios.

Manawatu District W.D.F.U.

The annual general meeting of the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union (Manawatu district) was held recently at Levin, delegates being present from Shannon, Levin, Ohau, OtaklTe Horo and Paraparaumu. A very satisfactory report and balance-sheet was presented and adopted. Mrs. McLeavey was re-elected president and Mrs. Bartholemew secretary and housekeeper-secretary. A special vote of thanks was accorded to Mrs. Bartholemew for her work throughout the year. The housekeeper-secretary has a very arduous task, and Mrs. Bartholemew has filled the very difficult position in a most efficient man ner. It was reported that 38 house, keeper positions had been filled, many letters of appreciation having been received from those helped in emergen cies. However, owing to tlie shortngt of suitable women, many applications for housekeepers had had to be turned down. . . The remits to the Dominion comer once were discussed, and each branch presented an account of its activities for the year. A meeting of Trehtham Women's Institute took place recently., when Mrs. Kitchen presided over a good attendance of members. The opportunity was taken to present a small token of appreciation to the retiring president. A very full and comprehensive report of the Hutt Valley Federation Council meeting was given by the delegate, Mrs. Foubister. During the afternoon Mrs. Hines demonstrated the making of wool rugs, and was warmly thanked by members. The results of Hie competitions wore:—Plain scones, Mrs. McGrath, 1; Mrs. Mabey, 2. Best 'darned sock, Mrs. Mabey,