TOPICS FOR WOMEN

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 74, 28 March 1930, Page 15

TOPIC S FOR WOMEN

Miss Jean Begg, Auckland, is in Wellington, and is leaving this evening to visit the farm ;it Tcmpleton, whore some of the special school boys arc located. Miss Lilian Edger, who lias been visiting her sister, Mrs. W. A. Evans, is visiting; Christchureh. Tho Misses Forbes have returned to Wellington after.a visit to Mrs. Masters, Stratford. Mr. and Mrs. L. Milner, Wellington, havo left for a visit to Greymouth. Mrs. H. Morrison, Masterton, is visiting Christchurch. Mrs. J. B. Donald has returned to Auckland from Wellington. Mrs. G. W. Forbes and the Misses Forbes have returned to their home at Cheviot. • Miss F. Gillies, Wellington, is tho guest of Miss Pratt, Christchurch. Miss Marjorio Sheridan, who has been the guest of Mrs. Cyril Ward, is returning to Sydney. Mrs. Alfred Bell and Mrs. W. B. H. Brewer, Waveriey, who have been tiie guests of Mrs. Eric Diehl, Papanui, Christehurch, have returned to Wellington. Mrs. W. K.S. Brewer is spendiug a few days in tho city before returning to Waveriey. Sir James Parr and Miss Parr have been touring in Malaga and Granada, and have much enjoyed their travels, states our London correspondent, writing on 18th February. Sir James is now at Hyeres, on the French Biviera, and Miss Parr is staying in Gibraltar with friends. Lady Parr, whoso health has greatly improved after so long and tedious an illness, has'been staying at Seaford, Sussex, to bo near Miss Christine Parr, who is still at school there. Lady Parr will probably move on to South Devon presently, and return to London in time to meet Sir James when he comes back from the Biviera. Dull Colouring. Few Londoners who go about a great deal can remember a season when the women looked so drab and so colourless as they do just now, says a fashion writer. Five women out of every six seem to have determined to wear black, or clerical grey, or a nondescript tweed in which there are traces of snuff brown and beige. Not even a wedding will lift them out of their colourless rut. The "private view" at the Royal Academy last week was so dull and so exceedingly dowdy that one woman cried out in a kind of triumph whenshe saw another woman wearing a scarlet coat: "Oh! how nice to see a splash of colour." The congregation at St. Margaret's Westminster, for fashionable weddings might be there for memorial services—there are so many black coats and hats. Even at a children's party a few days ago most of the mothers had elected to wear black. This reaction from the lovely colourful years which followed the war is almost overwhelming. Miss Megan in Rumours. Eumour is busy with the name of JMiss Megan Lloyd George just now. So I far, she has escaped being reported "engaged" every time she has stayed Sat'a country house where there was a iparty of young people, or while she has | been travelling abroad with her father says a London writer. Nor has she given" ithe gossips any political material upon which to work in tho short time that she'^has been a Liberal jwomau M.P. Now, a pretty story of a Liverpool romance ia being noised abroad. Miss Megan went up to tho Northern city before Christmas to attend a Bachelors' Ball with a party of friends, and her vivacity is said to have. captivated. a prominent business man who was one of her partners, an/1 he lost his heart to her. Friends of both parties are said to be expecting an interesting announcement very shortly. Eoyal Knitters. The Prince of Wales has given mauy proofs of his versatility, and by now Iwe should not be surprised at any fresh [manifestation of his capabilities, says a London exchange. Still, it did come las rather a surprise to hear-that he is quite a good knitter, and that some of his work has been sent to the Queen's London Needlework Guild! All the members of the Eoyal family .tiike [great interest in tho guild, and send 'garments to it- every year, but it is a new thing for the Prince actually to make his own gifts. Prince George has followed his example, too, and the brothers have sent, in mufflers which they made themselves. Tho Prince knitted two mufflers, one blue and the other red, with mittens to match, and he also crocheted a scarf, finished at the ends with fringe. Prince George also sent three sets- of scarves and mittens, but ho crocheted two and knitted only oiie. The King and tho Duke of Gloucester sent gifts to the guild, although they did not do tho work themselves. Princess Mary knitted several woollen pullovers, and seat them in, together with maternity outfits and outfits for girls and women, and the Queen crocheted delightful cot covers in pink and bluo wool. She always makes these cot covers, but this year she has had more time on her hands, and has been able to double the number she usually sends. A Fine Achievement. The Wai' Memorial Library League in Auckland, which is under tho patronage and management of the, Mayoress, has just had a most successful year. The report presented by the secretary, Miss Alice Basten, stated that during the year a very appreciable contribution to. tho shelves was received from the various city libraries and from the Leys Institute. These contributions enabled the league to find employment for a number of incapacitated soldiers who rebound the books, the fuuds being provided by a contribution from the Poppy Day funds by the R.S.A., subsidised by the Auckland City Council. Literature was supplied to the relief camps for the unemployed, the parcels being greatly appreciated. Continued calls were being received from tho T.M.C.A. for military camps, the provision of reading matter for these being considered an important item, rhe figures for the year constituted a record output for any one- twelve months, and indicated growing appreciation of tho benefits attached to the league's activities. Thcjigurcs Cor the total output of literature during the year wero as follows: —Hardbound books, 5035; magazines, S878; jhildren's books, and magazines, 1445; school books, 200; scrapbooks, 270; mlendars, .208; good Christinas cards, 7f>s; old Christmas cards, 1500; papers istiuuited at about 17,500; 440 miniature ?crapbooks; parcels of illustrated papers to Islands, 98; booklets and views, Christmas parcels, 250; toys, paper caps, md crackers, 630. The balance-sheet showed a balance in hand of £154 15s 3d. &. Hospital Visitor. The Wellington branch of the British Sailors' Society, in its annual report, •efers to the wonderful work done by a nember, Mrs. Craig, as hospital visitor. Mrs. Craig has now completed her quar;er of a century iv hospital visitation >n behalf of the seamen. On no occasion has she missed visiting the men aid taking comforts in the way of :ruit, eggs, tobacco, and cigarettes, bolide many little homo-made delicacies ,o those who are laid aside with sick[ess. Their grateful thauks, states the oport, testify to the good work done >y this visitor.

A Bridge Party. The girls' branch of the Navy League held a successful bridge party at the Pioneer Club, in aid of the naval clothing fund. Those who arranged tables ■were Mesdames Firth (patroness of the branch), Brown (president), Bryden, Oamond, Kendall, Sandliam, Vickcrman, Chapman, Misses Christie, Eose, Frazer, Willcoeks, Meadows, Pownall, Paul, Nielson, Grubb, Bussoll, and Cramond. The committee members helping included Dr. Helen Bakewoll, the Misses Iredalc, Turner, Mona Brien (hon. secretary), and Mr. B. Darroch. _ The prizes wore donated by the president and secretary, and were won by Miss P. H. Grubb and Miss Dcnliani. Obituary. Many friends will- learn with regret of the" death of Mrs. John Holmanllevitt, at "the ago of 88 years, which occurred this morning at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. C. A. Marris, of Kelburn. The late Mrs. Kevitt was a well-known figure both .in Wellington and Auckland, and was for many years one of the Northern city's leading professional singers. Twelve months after the death of her husband iv 1877, Mrs. Kevitt came out to New Zealand from England in tlie ship Chimburazo with her four daughters. She took up residence in Auckland, adopting music and singing as a profession, and was very successful until her health gave way, compelling her to come to Wellington, where she resided during most of the past twenty years. The late Mrs. Revitt is survived by five daughtersMrs. C. A. Man-is (Wellington), Mrs. J. S Johnson (Wellington), Mrs. K. Bailie (Wellington), Mrs. D. Cardalo (Auckland), and Mrs. W. Patrick (England). There are also living eleven, grandchildren and four great-grand-children. Successful Recital. A putricularly interesting dramatic recital was given in the Trades Hall, Vivian street, last night in aid of the Taranaki Street , Free Kindergarten, when an excellent programme,was onjoyed, the production being under the charge of Mrs. Crutteudon (of London and Melbourne). Lady Myers was patroness of the function,.which was arranged by the Taranaki Street Mothers' Club. Supper was served. There was a good attendance, and the results are regarded as being very satisfactory. League of Motliers. At the invitation of Mrs. Page the animal meeting of fiio Karori Branch of the League of. Mothers "took . the form of a garden party in her most pleasant grounds. The executive consented to retain office, with Mrs. Guthrie again president, and 'the former committee was reappointed, with a few additional members, these arrangements giving much satisfaction. The secretary and treasurer presented good reports, showing that both membership and finance wore in a very healthy condition. Bach member received a copy of a pamphlet written by Lady Alice Fergusson. After the formal business the afternoon was passed in social intercourse, with afternoon tea and a butterfly hunt. Miss Powell succeeded in catching the largest number of butterflies, and Mrs. Guthric presented her with a dainty prize. Mrs. Page was- warmly thanked for her kindness and hospitality. It will give the many branches of the League of Mothers much pleasure to learn that Her Excellency Lady Bledisloe has' notified the Dominion president (Mrs. J. S. Elliott, Wellington), that she will accept the office of honorary president of the league throughout New Zealand. Brooklyn W.C.T.U. . , The Brooklyn Branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union met in the Methodist Church recently, when Mrs, Biradinet* presided over a good gathering. Mrs. Goring gave a very helpful and interesting address, for which she received the, thanks of the gathering. At the close of the meeting afternoon tea was served by tho Methodist, ladies.