TOPICS FOR WOMEN

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 112, 14 May 1930, Page 15

TOPICS FOR WOMEN

ENGAGEMENT.

CROSS—WING. The engagement is announced of Sidney, only son of Mrs. J. Cross, llai Valley, to Bo we 11 a (Ena), second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.'. P. Wing, Island Bay.

Mrs. W. E. Eendnll, Palmcrston North, has been a visitor to Wellington. Miss D. Scott, Wellington, is the guest of Mrs: G. Canicron, Palmerston North. . ■ ■.■■■■ Mr. and'p. C. Pearcc, Wellington, arc visitors to Christchurch. Mrs. J. A.' Doctor, Wellington, is the guest, o'.' Mrs. J. B. Templin, Christchurch. . ■ ■ Miss Stops, England, is the guest of Dr. Siedeberg M'Kinnon, Dimedin. Mrs. W. E. Betlmne, Wellington, is visiting Auckland. Mrs. and Miss Hansford, Wellington, are visitors to Auckland. Professor Sa/rnond, and Miss. Nancy Salmond, Christchureh, are among tlio visitors to Wellington. Mrs. J. M'George has returned to Wellington from Dunediu. Mrs. P."Fulton, Wellington, who has been the guest of Mrs. Edgar Haslett, Dunediu, is returning to Wellington. Mrs. P. B. Hanna, Dunedin, is arriving in Wellington for a visit. . Miss Maude Corbctt and Mrs. D. Mansfield, New Plymouth, the the guests of Mrs. Barakj Earl's Court, Wellington. ' , ■ ' Mrs. 11. Jauncey, Karori, is the guest of her sister, Mrs. Cairne, St. Albans, Christchurch; ' ' ■ ; "'.-•■■ Mrs. G, Haggitt, Palmerston North, has been spending a few days in Wellington. ' ' Mr. and Mrs. Sawel, ■Waiuiate, are spending the holidays in' Wellington. Miss Lorna M'Kay, Wadestown, is leaving for Auckland; to connect with the Tofua,' and will pay a long visit to her. brother, Mr. C. M' Kay, Administrator of Staff, Samoa. Mrs.,M'Kay will accompany her daughter as far as Auckland. The death occurred at Ciiristchureh last evening; after a brief illness, •of Mrs. Alexander Boyle, 0.8. E., president oij the women's branch of the Canterbury centre of the Bed Cross Society, president of the women's branch of the Navy League, and president and foundation member of the Ciiristchureh Ladies' Golf Club. Mrs. Boyle is survived by two sons and two daughters^ Commander A. D. Boyle (Timaru), A. P. Boyle (Waimate), Mrs. Algar Williams, and Miss Phyllis Boyle (Christchuich). , A New R01e.,, • The Bey. O. do Blogue, rector of Bishopstoke, has' revealed himself as a handcuff king, says ,an English writer. At a parish concert he appeared in the garb of a Bumanian Gipsy. Ho allowed two members of the audience to chain and padlock his wrists and place irons on his legs. After a brief period behind a screen on the : stage he cast his shackles from him.- The rector also allowed himself to be tied in .a sack, from which he escaped without apparently disturbing the original knots. Mr. de Blogue,. chaplain to the Actors' Union, was >formerly naval padre and English Archdeacon in Brazil. Court Presentations. Ordinarily the Court presentations of the Dominions . (states a Press Association calple message from London to-day) are undertaken by the wifo of the Secretary' of "'State,"but Lady Pass-1 field refuses to adopt the title or to attend Court. Lady Parnioor is carrying out the duties. Those who will be presented at Court on 15th May include Mesdames Wilfprd, Leiteh, Addison, and MacCartneyv Mrs. Wilford will present Mesdames H. E. Davis, J. L.; Mndlay, Misses Sheila Dumbleton, Stella Murray, arid Meta.-Npon (of Christehurch), Mesdames Hubert Nathan; and Bruce .Bennie (01-Welling-ton), Misa Joan Kelly (Napier), Miss Elena Helrnore (Timaru), and Miss Virginia Nichols (Otago). Mrs. Hubert Nathan will present her daughter Joyce at the fifth Court on 1-tth July.. Charity Ball! ■One of the most important Catholic events of the year is the big charity ball which is hold annually in the Town Hall. Over the last two or thrue years this funetipn has been launched on most ambitious lines, and in each case has lieen an • unqualified success. ' Last year the, St. Vincent de Paul Society benefited to the extent of £375 as aresult of the ball. A meeting in connection with this year's function, which will take place in June, was held in the crypt of , St. Mary of the Angels' Church, Boulcbtt street,' on Monday, when there was a large 1. and enthusiastic attendance. Strong committees were set up. As in past years, it was decided that during the function a number of debutantes be presented to his Grace the Archbishop, and in this respect it was announced that all prospective debutantes should communicate with the hon. secretary, Mr. P. D. Hoskings, 63, Dixon street, as yearly as possible. . '■ Special 'arrangements were made so that this ceremony might be as impressive as possible.: The following were appointed.». conveners of the various sub-committees: Hall committee, Messrs. T. B. Gusscott and A. B: Guise; supper committee, Mr. Ben O'Brien} decoration committee, MivC. W. Torley; finance committee, Mr. W. 11. Walsh; invitation committee, Mr. H. L. Byan; publicity committee, Mr. Pat Lawlor. • ■ - . ' ■ - He Knows the Trick. A recent paragraph, reprinted, in "The Post," stated that needle-thread-ing was the latest indoor sport in a' Washington city, and that an Abcrdouian expert challenged the world to equal his record of threading twentyNo. 50 cotton threads through the eye of one needle. A local resident, while ho does not venture to throw down the glove to such a" doughty champion, came to the "Post" to-day, and demonstrated that he could put seven threads of fairly coarse cotton through an ordinary ■ needle's eye. His method was to engage his "subject" in tying the two ends of cotton' left hanging when, a needle is threaded, while he dexterously pulled the threaded needle through another part of the thread, thus forming a circle. By carefully pulling the right thread he was able to coax seven strands through the eye, and so prove that he had not forgotten a trick he had learnt in boyhood., It would be interesting to kno.w if such simple technique is followed by the man from Aberdeen. The cheapness of the "sport" must, of course, remain unquestioned. Will Scotland yet see "Possibles v. Probables" matches to decide what manly bosom shall sport the thistle as international needlethreaders? Ked Cross Gifts.' A ..number of gifts are gratefully acknowledged by the Bed Cross authorities. These include eases of peaches, apples', oranges, also grapes, cigarettes, ■vegetables, .cakes, ham, fowls, jam, Easter eggs, illustrated Melbourne and London papers, books, and flowers, from Lady Myers, Hon. Dr. Collins, Botary C'liib, Queen Margaret College, Wellington "Women's Club, Mesdames ' Hart, M'Bao (Nelson), C. V. Vallancc, Bonson, Eichelbaum, 11. Kose, Morlcy, A. C. Thomas, Mr. Beeves, Misses King, M. Low, Price, Poole, Jucobscn, J. Morland, Gardener (Porirua).

Women's Borstal Committee. A meeting of the Women's Borstal Committee was held recently at the room provided by the Dominion Farmers' Institute. -A; number of. reports were received of. probationers, and from the Borstal Institution. Dr. PlattsMills handed in a donation of one guinea from a friend who was interested in the work. It was mentioned that the Thursday evenings for the girls, at which needlework is taught and music onjoyed, were going on satisfactorily, much kindness being shown by the committee 's associates as well as by others. Mesdames Tait, P. Eraser, O'Shea, and Coventry were asked to mako the arrangements for the committee's party to bo held' at the institution. A vote of thanks was passed to Miss Hill Jack, of Dunedin, with an expression of regret that she was unable to continue her kind assistance to the committee. Thanks were also given to Mrs. George Roberts (Dunediu) for much kind help with girls who had returned South. Mrs. Eostcr-Barham (Nplson) was accorded'a liear.ty vote of thanks also for her kindness to several ladies, and a,resolution of sympathy with her in the sad loss of her son iv England, as the result of an accident, was passed. Accounts were passed for payment, as the committee has had expenses on -account of girls travelling from one place to another, when their own" resources were not sufficient for their expenses. Students' Dance. A successful dance was held by the Technical College Old Students, with Mr. E. Lander as M.C. The party was held at the Cafeteria,- and baskets ot lovely flowers, donated by Mr. C. Odlin, formed the decorations, with streamers and greenery. There were about ninety couples present, and with balloon and novelty dances added to the programme a very pleasant and amusing time was spent. Mr. V. Evans (president) was present, with Mrs. Evans, who wore ap : ricot velvet and georgette; also Mr. H. Paul (vice-president) and Mrs. Paul, the latter wearing a black laco frock. The committee included Misses C. Hansen, E. Layeock, G. Campbell, E. Brigden, L. Dick, M. Layeock, Messrs. W. Stephensqn, B. Lander, T, Manahi, J. Scarratt, P. Franklin, E. Lauder, H. Gribble. ' ■ - A Courageous Girl. " ' ■ • To satisfy her desire for adventure, and to relieve her impoverished par; ents,;a twenty-year-old girl revealed to the "Sunday Chronicle" that she had tramped '2000 miles to get a job as stewardess on board a Soviet ship. She is Serifima Plutnikova, and her boat, the Yushaiyis on its way back to Russia, after a trip to the London docks. Mile. Plutnikova arid an officer's wife are the only women on board the ship, which has a crew 'of 15. Sho knows no fear, and is regarded with groat esteem, by the male members of the crew. "We love and respect her," said the boatswain, '' and would do anything for her. Bhe is the most courageous woman I have ever met. One of her pet jobs is to paint the top of the funnel. We regard her as our mascot. She joinsin all our games, and is always masculine in Ker'outlook. She plays men's games, sings inqn's songs, and thoroughly enjoys herself. On our last journey we struck a bad patch of weather in midocean.' The crew not on duty were ordered below. Sera, as she is known to us, insisted on making coffee for us and taking it to the crew on duty, fearless of the huge seas sweeping, overthe decks. Mile. Plutnikova has one ambition in life. This is it, in her own quaint English: 'I become captain — maybe, yes?' " Lecture on Cancer.' Attention is drawn by advertisement to the lecture on "Cancer," which will be given by Dr. J. S. Elliott (president of the Cancer Besearch Fund Campaign) at the Concert Chamber to-mor-row evening at 8 o'clock. As well as .an interesting and informative lecture on this subject, which, ia of great moment to all people, there will be a brief programme of excellent music. Mrs. Wilfred Andrews haa consented to sirig, Miss Pauline Bodg'ors will give piano- solos, and Mr. S. E. Rodger, an English baritone, will-sing also, and the items may bo anticipated with great pleasure. The lied Cross has arranged the lecture and concert. Therq will be no charge for admission. A "Substitute" Delegate. Miss May Holman, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia, who has been apointed a' substitute delegate to the League of Nations •Conference for Australia, is the daughter of the secretary of the Timbers Workers of Western Australia, and is an Adelaide University graduate, says "The Leader." She is one of thp ablest figures in the Western. > Australian Labour movement, and has been of the greatest assistance to the organised timber workers. She has, since the days of her early schooling in the western developed great powers of organisation, but has latterly been somewhat handicapped by indii>. ferent health; A cablegram from Perth states Miss Holman was apparently re-elected in the West Australian election for the Forrest seat.. . Croquet. ', .-. . ' A delightful afternoon was held recently when the president (Mrs. Babbidge), assisted by her daughter, entertained the members of the Lyall Bay Croquet Club at her. residence, Wha street, Lyall Bay. The afternoon took the form of a "welcome home" to Mrs. Moran, hon. life president and foundation member of the club, who has just returned from a holiday trip to' Sydney. The rooms were decorated with bronze and yellow chrysanthemums, the same colours being used iv the handsome posies presented to the guest of honour and to Mesdames Babbidge (president), Budkin (captain), and Liddell (secretary). The early'part of the afternoon was devoted .to cards, resulting in Mesdames Stephen, Moran, and Deare annexing the prizes. Delicious afternoon tea was served, after which occasion was taken to present the various trophies won during the "season, which were as follow:—Club champion (Mrs. Moran's trophy), Mrs. Budkin; B Grade champion, Mrs. Stanford; C Grade champion, Mrs. Deare. Handicap singles, Mrs. Collier; runnerup, Mrs. Sloightholme. Yankee singles (Mr. Reid's trophy), Mrs. Rudkin. Johnstone Cup, Mrs. Budkin. Senior break (Miss Babbidge's trophy), Mrs. Budkin; runner-up, Mrs. Collier; Junior break, Mrs. Deare. Subseqently the president voiced the appreciation and gratitude that all members felt towards their secretary and captain for their unselfish services rendered during the season, and on their behalf handed to each a charming gift, a ceremony which was accompanied by musical honours. Among the guests present werp Mesdames Halliwoll, Stephen, Manton,, and Bhodes-Williams. During the afternoon Mrs. Bhodes-Williams congratulated the members on the progress made during the season, especially among the juniors, and spoke of her aim in endeavouring to bring the 'official handicaps and those of the club into a more workable relationship. Mrs. Moran thanked her for hpr interesting explanation. As a mark of appreciation the president received a handsome presentation, the work of one of the- members of tu6 club. The passing of a hearty vote of thanks to Mrs. Babbidge and the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" brought a pleasant afternoon to a close.

Wedding Fancies. ■ At a -pretty wedding in London recently the little pages —among whom were thu sons of Lady' Bidley and Mrs. Euan Wallace—were dressed as hoi-alds, in ' suits of hydrangeablue tissue shot with silver, says an English correspondent, Each carried a silver trumpet that could ,1-eally blow (and didn 't everyone know it, too, after the wedding!) But, alas for human nature, that always wants something it hasn't, got—the smallest herald wept because he wanted a Union Jack as well! The little bridesmaids wore dresses of bluo tissue touching their toes, with haloes composed of tiny blue flowers made of crystals, and they carried sheaves of silver lilies and silver palms held upright like sceptres. The bride was all in bluo—the colour of frozen water; —from her veil to her satin slippers. A Maori Delegate. . , For the first time in the political history of this country a-Maori woman went to a party conference as a delegate las'- Easter (says the "Wanganui Chronicle"). Mrs. Rewa Bennett, or Parnoll, represented the Point Chevalier branch at tho Labour Party's big conference —certainly a step which paid honour to the Maori women of this country. There is a report that Mrs Bennett may be the Labour candidate ■for the, Northern Maori electorate, and as she has proved a successful and enthusiastic member of the Auckland women's branch of the Labour Party, such a contest would be most interesting to watch. It would bo rather a; queer situation " (remarks the "Herald") if a Maori woman became a member of the House before any pakelta, woman had achieved that chstinction—so prospective Parliamentary ladies had better' furbish up their swords and shields., Obituary. Many friends will hear with regret (»f tho de.at,h of Mrs.. Alexander Boyle, 0.8. E., of Christchurch.. Mrs. Boyle was a member of one of the best-known early families of- Canterbury, l>«ug a> daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Michael Studholme, of The Waimate, South Canterbury. She was a woniau of great charm and kindliness, and tools: a leading part in the many good works which originated in Christehurch during the war.' Mrs. Boyle was president or the women's branch of the Canterbury Centre of the Bed Cross Society, president of the women's, branch o±, the Navy League, and president, and foundation member: of the Christehureh Ladies' Golf Club. Mrs. Boyle^is survived by two sons and two daughters Commander A. D. Boyle (Timaru), A. P. Boyle (Waimate), Mrs. Algar Williams, and Miss Phyllis Boyle (Christchurch)'. , - .-