"MOTHERS' AND SONS' " EVENING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 49, 26 August 1938, Page 14

"MOTHERS' AND SONS' " EVENING

(From "The Post's" Representative.) Early rhododendrons, japonica, and narcissi made charming decoration in Knox Church schoolroom when the Knox Ladies' Guild met yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Thompson Macky presided over a good gathering, and following tea and pleasant conversation, Miss Winifred Mather, delegate to the World Student Christian Fellowship Conference, which was held some time ago in Batavia, spoke on her travels in the Far East and particularly of the life and customs of the native people of Java. "Java," said Miss Mather, "with its tropical climate and luxuriant vegetation is an island of great beauty, and in a single gorgeous panorama one can see vivid green paddy-fields, plantations of coconut-palms, and the dark green of the jungle leading up to high volcanic peaks bounding the horizon." She gave vivid descriptions of many ancient temples and mosques illustrating the life of the original Javanese people and of the Mohammedans who over-ran and held the country until the coming of the Europeans. In the Borobudur temple, built about 900 A.D., some of the two miles ol carving depicted" ships very similar to the galleons of Spain built 600 years later, which showed that a high level of civilisation existed in Java at a much earlier date than in Europe. Today, however, there was a great contrast of old and new for the Dutch have superimposed upon the ancient native life and customs their modern Western ways. Wonderful colonisers, they sent out some of their finest specialists to work in every department of agriculture and industry and the country prospered uriSer their efficient administration. „ Miss Mather exhibited some beautiful specimens of Javanese native work including delicate buffalo-hide fans, the . famous " batik-work or hand-dyed materials of intricate pattern, and tortoiseshell and silver ornaments, as well as many pictures and photographs which gave additional point to, her talk. She was cordially thanked for her address and presented with a charming posy. V.M.C.A. Social Party. The board of directors and fathers' of the Hutt Valley V.M.C.A. were hosts last night at a most enjoyable social evening, their guests of honour being the mothers and sons. After a welcome extended by Mr. C. G. Hedge, chairman of the board, the programme was opened by a clever ventriloquist (Mr. B. Burridge), whose entertaining exchange of repartee with "Sam" (resembling the well-known "Third Form at St. Michael's," with Harbottle, minor, of radio fame) evoked great merriment. Mr. Steinmuller, with conjuring tricks, maintained the rapt attention of the audience. Mr. R. M. Brasted (national secretary for the V.M.C.A. in New Zealand), prefacing his talk by an appreciation of mothers generally, said: "We are all in the university of hard knocks and mothers are wonderful people for protecting us from the knocks if we will only heed them." Continuing, he said there were 10,000 young people in the V.M.C.A. gymnasiums of this country, which were not only doing a great deal for the health of the coming generation, but were also aiming at the objective of "a sound mind in a strong body." In addition to this, classes for boys and girls were operating in sixteen centres and in twentyeight public works camps, and meetings for fathers and mothers, similar to their own, were also held in these out-of-the-way spots. He thanked the mothers for their sympathy and support. Community singing under the leadership of Mr. O. Kibblewhite, M.C. for the evening,. and an appetising supper served by the fathers brought the entertainment to a close. R.S.A. Dance. There was a large attendance last night at the popular dance given by the Returned Soldiers' Association of Lower Hutt. The comfortable clubrooms provided a cosy contrast to the chilly atmosphere out-of-doors, and had simple but effective decorations of bright streamers and stands of pussy-willow. Mr. G. F. Page was M.C., and a good orchestra gave the dancers an enjoyable evening, which was completed by a tempting supper provided by the ladies' commitee. The committee comprised Messrs. A. E. Pattinson (president), H. Edwards (vice-president), E. Wilton, G. F. Page. W. Poad, L. Hook, J. O'Meara, W. Garrett, Mrs. A. Robins, convener of the ladies' committee (wearing mermaid green and silver blistered cloque), and Mesdames F. Stedman (olive green crepe), G. Shand (blue georgette with diamante accessories), W. Evans (green chenille velvet), E. Wilton (ciel blue matt crepe), H. Edwards (cherry red taffetas), J. O'Meara (azure satin). j