HERE and THERE-

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 112, 15 May 1939, Page 14

HERE and THERE-

American Novelist Visitor. Miss Faith Baldwin, the well-known American novelist, arrived in Auckland on Friday by the Mariposa, states an exchange. "I am not going to write a book on New Zealand," said Miss Baldwin almost before she was asked.

"I have known Englishmen," she continued with a laugh, "who have ! written books on America after five I days' visit to the country. I am going Ito stay in New Zealand 27 days, but I still think a book would be a little impertinent. I shall, however, write an article on your country." A Hundred Guests Entertained. Mr. and Mrs. A. Longmore gave a five to seven sherry party at their home in Brougham Street on Saturday evening to celebrate the twenty-first birthday of their son, Mr. Ken Longmore, and to bid farewell to their daughter, Miss Claire Longmore, who will leave for England next week. There were about 100 guests. Lovely flowers were arranged in the reception rooms. The hostess wore a jacket of embroidered brocade over her frock of black cloque, and her daughter was dressed in a figured blue frock. , Kelburn Plunket Work. The work of the Kelburn Plunket Society has been steadily maintained, states the twelfth annual report of the sub-committee. Much appreciation had been shown by the mothers of' the valuable assistance given by the nurse, who reported that visits to homes had numbered 749, and that 700 adults, 693 babies, 55 new babies, and three older children had visited the Plunket rooms. The resignations of Mesdames Morgan and Martin had been accepted with regret as they had been loyal workers for many years, and would be greatly missed. Thanks were extended to the Anglican Church "committee for the use of the schoolroom once a week, and the ladies who had provided cars and driven the nurses when necessary. Three jumble sales and a bridge party had been held dixring the year, the net result being £100. The following officers were elected for the coming year:—President, Mrs. H. R. I Thomas; hon. treasurer, Mrs. R. Gold-

[finch; hon. secretary, Mrs. H. B. Tomlinson; committee, Mesdames C. E. Maudsley, A. Park, A. D. Briggs, K. C. Morpeth, L. C. Blundell, Castle, E. H. Edwards, A. Jones, and E. H. Walcott. | Dance at Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Returned Soldiers' Association held a dance in the club rooms, Cleveland Street, on Saturday, when members and their friends spent a very enjoyable evening. Mrs. Hood was hostess and Mr. Troughton master j of ceremonies. Among others present were Mr. and Mrs. Spence1, Mr. and Mrs. Mead, Mr. and Mrs. McCrome, Mr. and Mrs. Troughton, Mr. and Ms. Mainland, Mr. and Mrs. Webb; Mesdames Wilkinson, Mong, Stokoe, Ambridge, Rowntree, Neale; Misses Hood, Makin, Harwood, Wilkinson, Burns, Wilson; and Messrs. Davidson, Flynn, T. Troughton, Makin, Coe, V. Hooper, A. Hooper, Forsyth, Levy, D. King, and F. Bletherwick. Members' Sympathy. Mrs. A. R. Dallard, president of the Central branch of the League of Mothers, made feeling reference at a recent meeting to the deep sympathy of the members with Mrs. Kerridge in the great loss sustained by her in the death of her husband. Reference was made to the interest and help which Mrs. Kerridge had always shown in the Central branch's activities. It was resolved on the motion of the president that a letter be sent to Mrs. Kerridge conveying the deep sympathy of the branch as a whole in her bereave-! ment. Mrs. Chisholm (hon. treasurer) and Mrs. Pumphrey (choir mistress) referred to the unfailing kindness and assistance which was always forthcoming from Mrs. Kerridge in connection with the annual party and the work of the choir. Mrs. Dotson also spoke briefly. A vote of sympathy was also passed with Mrs. Lawrenson, who had lost a much-loved sister. British Drama League. Miss Elizabeth Blake (Mrs. Natusch), founder of the British Drama League in New Zealand, has resigned from the league because of her impending departure from the Dominion. At a meeting of the league's council, held recently in Wellington, a resolution was adopted putting on record the debt the league owed to Miss Blake. A.R.P. and Keep Fit Lectures. An interesting address on air-raid precautions was given by Miss Rui Van Staveren at a recent meeting of the Wellington Central branch of the Townswomen's Guild. Miss Van Staveren, who qualified for an English A.R.P. certificate, demonstrated the use of a civilian gas mask. This mask, she explained, would protect the wearer for two hours in a concentrated area of gas. Mrs. James Pow, who presided at the meeting, said that it was gratifying to find public-spirited women such as Miss Van Staveren generously giving her time in explaining to people the fundamentals of A.R.P. Mrs. Pow also thanked Miss Meredith-Jones for an interesting "Keep Fit" lecture, accompanied by exercises especially adapted for "the daily dozen of the older woman." Two items were given by the singing circle, the members being Mr. Ken Fowles (leader) and Mesdames Campbell. McKendry, Gray, Pownall, Andrews, and Satherley. Afternoon tea was served by the hostesses, Mesdames Knox Gilmer, Campbell, A. Burt, Wakelin, and Miss Craig. Apollo Women's Club. There was a very large gathering at a recent meeting of the Apollo

Women's Club. Mrs. H. Rands, vicepresident, was in the chair. A threeact comedy, produced by Mr. Cedric Gardiner, was read, and provoked much merriment. The readers taking part were Mrs. Cedric Gardiner, Misses N. Whiteman, V. Wilson, D. Longworth, and Messrs. Cedric Gardiner, H. Steptoe, B. Morton, and R. Hutchens. Supper was served by Mesdames Daniell, Lane, Poynton,. and Tilley. Pioneer Club Institute. At a recent meeting of the Pioneer Club Centre, most of the nearby women's institutes were represented. Mrs. W. J. Ross presided, and welcomed all present. Miss A. Kane, Dominion president of the Women's Institutes, gave an interesting account of her visit to the Hokianga and Bay of Islands Federation's half-yearly council meetings. Miss Kane also visited institutes in the far north, where, in some branches, the Maori members predominated. Songs were given by Mrs. Wiltshire, with Mrs. Fauvell playing the accompaniments, and Miss Sybil Williams entertained with a number of elocutionary items. A vote of thanks was accorded the entertainers, after which tea was served. Veterans' Card Party. The fortnightly card evening held by the Wellington South African War Veterans' Association, held at the clubrooms, Lambton Quay, on Saturday night, was fairly well attended, and a very pleasant evening was spent by the guests. Mrs. L. Knox and Mr. P. Boolieris won at bridge; Mrs. E. Harris and Mr. C. Tasker at "500"; Mrs. J. Taylor and Captain J. J. Clark at euchre; and Mr. G. d'Emden, a competition. Supper was served by the ladies' committee during the interval. To Form a Local Committee. Miss A. L. Loudon, M.A., headmistress of the Epsom Girls' Grammar School, Auckland, who has been attending the conference of secondary school principals, is staying with Miss Muriel Wylie, Heretaunga. Miss Loudon is president of the New Zealand Women's Food Value League, an organisation of over 3000 women, whose object is to stimulate interest in food, its production and health value. While in Wellington she will set up a local committee to further the interests of the league. Miss Kershaw's Travels. Miss Kershaw gave an address on her travels in Central Europe at a recent meeting of the Central branch of the League of Mothers. Some very poignant pictures of the troubles and suffering of the people were drawn by the speaker who stressed the need for the Christian sympathy of those whose lives were free and happy towards their fellow-human beings whose lives were clouded by fear. Miss Keishaw also spoke most interestingly of her visit to Lady Alice Fergusson at Kilkerran, Ayr. Sir Charles and Lady Alice and Mrs. Harland, their daughter, were deeply interested in the news of the League of Mothers and of New Zealand generally. They assured Miss Kershaw that their term of office in New Zealand was one of the happiest perioda of their lives and they cherish many New Zealand plants, a kauri which grows through the roof of their hothouse being a great treasure. A hearty vote of thanks to the speaker was accompanied by a dainty posy of pink roses. Miss Amie Bennie, who sang, accompanied by Mrs. Strong, also received a posy.