A CORDIAL FAREWELL

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 11, 14 January 1932, Page 15

A CORDIAL FAREWELL

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

. There" was an: exceptionally pleasant gathering of members of various Women's Institutes at the Pioneer Club yesterday afternoon, when Miss Stops, the1 popular voluntary Organiser of the institutes of New Zealand, was entertained at a farewell tea party before her departure &r England. The estimation in which the guest of honour is held may be gauged by the fact that representatives were present from Christchureh and other South Island centres, and from Sanson, Eongotea, Paraparaumu, Tinui, Belmont, Otaki, Silverstreain, Pahiatua, Manakau, Eketahuna, Stokes Valley, Hamilton, Linton, Wainui-o-mata, and tho Pioneer Club circle. There was a lady from Wales present. Miss Stops is a member of the Northampton [W.L A telegram

of greeting and farewell was received from Ashburton.....

Miss A. Kane (president of the club) spoke of the regret felt by all at the departure of Miss Stops. Her work had been beyond praise, and all wished her the very best for the future. The earnest hope of all was that she vould come back to New Zealand and meet her many friends again. In the meantime they wished her ion voyage and a happy re-uniting with her family and friends at home. Miss Kane then made a charming presentation from the members of the Hutt Valley Institute, which took the form of a gold chain and greenstone pendant, also a greenstonehandled fruit knife. These were given with many good wishes..

Miss Stops then donned the necklace, which gave a delightful .finish to her floral' frock, which was in tones of cream, green,. and black, worn with- a shady, beige straw hat. :

Mrs; West, who was formerly honorary secretary of the Wellington Federation of Institutes,- added a cordial tribute to the good work done by Miss Stops, and said that she felt it was not necessary to recapitulate -what had been. done, for the work of Miss Stops in connection with the Women's Institutes was known/from one end of New Zealand to the other. Miss Stops had had many adventures, but theyi only added to the interest of life, and sho must have realised the admiration and affection of her.many friends who appreciated her work. CO-OPERATION OF WOMEN. In her reply, Miss Stops expressed her appreciation of the great kindness shown her throughout the Dominion, and specially thanked the Hutt group for their charming present, which would be valued always'-as a memento of her kind friends in New Zealand. In referenc.e to the work done, Miss Stops said she could hot possibly have accomplished so much without the co-opera-tion of the women. The backblock women had done ivondors, and she could not sufficiently admire them, for, as soon as an institute was started, they banded together, set to work, and "carried oh" with an admirable efficiency and spirit. "We learn from everyone wo come across," said Miss Stops, and she told an amusing little story against herself. She remarked to an old lady friend in this country that she had learned a- great deal since she came out to New Zealand, and the reply was, "Oh, yes, wo thought you had improved a great deal!" However, Miss Stops saw the quaint side of the remark, and enjoyed the joke.

In: reference to the institutes, Miss Stops said that she wished that the members would regard them as their property and to be done the very best with and for on all occasions. Sho recalled that in Wanganui she had seen at the entrance to the park the words "Citizens, this is your property. The common good is tho common care. All must help, /if all must share." "Wo possess the earth and the fulness thereof," said the speaker, and urged the duty of doing the best possible with tho inheritance. "The people who'share, are tho people who do and who give," and Miss Stops showed the joy of both. Sho mentioned also that some people aro unready to help ori account of a kind of bashfulness which makes them keep back because they are new members, or not '.official,-and-for-'all sorts of small reasons that do not count at all. EACH SHOULD TAKE' HEE PART. A great deal of good work and thought was lost in that unnecessary way, and she would have each member tako her part and do her best from thd start of her connection with the institutes. "Those who are ready to be at the service of all really servo the best of all. A little French peasant once said, 'My religion is never to grow hard, never to do mean things, and to remember that our gardens are mir- 1 acles, and ,that nothing happens by chance.'" This appeared' to her to be a fine summary, and she handed it on1 as such. Miss^ Stops said that she felt deep interest aud affection for New Zealand, and. bade all a cordial farewell.

There was'a little music later. Mrs. Mitchell and /Miss Lundon (Auckland) sang delightfully, with accompaniment by Mrs. Luudius. Afternoon tea was served, and many Jiad the opportunity of bidding a personal farewell to Miss Stops. Mrs. Cowlam (Ekctahuna) proposed a .vote of thanks to the Pioneer Club group, which was carried enthusiastically' with musical honours.