DIAMOND WEDDING

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 104, 29 October 1940, Page 12

DIAMOND WEDDING

MR. & MRS. R. S. ABRAHAM

The diamond wedding of Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Abraham was celebrated on Sunday at their home, "Risby," Bath Street, Palmerston North.

On October 27, 1880, they were married in St. Mary's Church (now the pro-cathedral), Parnell, Auckland. Mrs. Abraham is a daughter of Dr. Philson, who was a widely-known and greatly respected figure in the medical life of Auckland for over half a century. Mr. Abraham, who is the third son of Canon James Abraham, Rector of Risby, Suffolk, and a grandson of Lord Chancellor Westbury, received his education at Haileybury and Keble College, Oxford, and came to New Zealand in 1874.

Throughout his residence in Palmerston North Mr. Abraham has taken a prominent part in public and social activities. He took part in the formation of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association, the Manawatu Racing Club, the Manawatu Golf Club, and also the Polo Club, and the English Public Schools Association of other years. At 89 years of age he is still chairman of his company and takes a wide interest in the affairs of the Manawatu.

Mrs. Abraham's interests have been concerned mainly with her family, her home, and her garden. Incidentally rings of daffodils which excite much comment from persons seeing them in spring along the drive to Massey College were planted by Mrs. Abraham when the property belonged to the family and was called "Tiritea." Mr. and Mrs. Abraham had seven children. The two sons. Messrs. H. EAbraham and R. P. Abraham, died some years ago, as did also the eldest daughter, Mrs. Francis Hewitt. The surviving daughters are Miss Ethel Abraham, and Mesdames A. N. Barraud (Palmerston North), J. R. L. Stanford (Marton), and L. A. P. Sheriff (Taihape). The ten grandsons of eligible age have all enlisted for overseas service with the Forces.

Auckland Farewell to Mrs. Parry.

Members of the women's committee of the Auckland branch of the Navy League were entertained by Mrs. W. B. Parry, wife of Commodore Parry, C.8., R.N., Chief of the Naval Staff, last week, prior to her departure for Wellington, states the "New Zealand Herald." Mrs. Parry has been a member of fne ladies' committee and of the council of the league for some time. Mrs. Parry, who left on Saturday for Wellington, where Commodore Parry now has his headquarters, will reside at Government House Lodge. A number of private farewell parties ,have been given for Mrs. Parry recently by some of the many friends she has made during her residence in Auckland. Informal Reception in Christcnurch. In the . pleasant, tree-shaded grounds at College House, Christchurch, on Saturday afternoon, Canon and Mrs. Stephen Parr held an informal reception in honour of the Rev. S. E. Woods, of College House, and his fiancee, Miss Sybil Williams, of Napier, who has been paying a short visit to Christchurch and who stayed at Bishopscourt. Mr. Woods and Miss Williams are to be married in December, and early in February they will leave for the West Coast to make their home at Hari Hari. Mr. Woods, since his

arrival in Christchurch from England, has taken a lively interest not only in church work, but also in education and music, and many of the guests shared these interests. These included Archbishop West-Watson and his sister, Miss West-Watspn, and his daughter, Mrs. Stephen Lester, Dr. James Hight, rector of Canterbury Uni- j versity College, and other members of the professorial staff, Dean and Mrs. Julius Dean and Mrs. Warren, Mr. Algar Williams, a cousin of Miss Sybil Williams, and Mrs. Williams, Mr. R. J. Richards, headmaster of Christ's College, and Mrs. Richards, Mrs. C. L. Young, headmistress of St. Margaret's College, Mr. H. A. H. Insull, headmaster of the Cathedral Grammar School, and Mrs. Insull, and Mr. Foster Browne. Killed in Air Raid Shelter. "The Post's" London correspondent states that Mrs. Dunn, a New Zealander, who was a member of the Women's Royal Naval' Service, was -killed late in August during an air raid on Gillingham, when the shelter in which she was taking cover received a direct hit. Mrs. Dunn's father, Mr. J. Dripps, resides at Graf ton, Auckland. Mrs. Dunn's death is believed t~> be the first W.R.N.S. casualty of the war. Forces Again Entertained. Men of the Forces again attended the National Club in large numbers at the weekend and on Saturday were entertained at the usual tea dance by girls of the National Union. '■> Miss Josephine Russell was in charge on Saturday, assisted by Misses Rona Heinemann, Joan Vander Berg, Billy Haslett, Celia and Ruth Pavitt, and Mesdames A. V. Taylor, K. Gunn, and C. Joplin. Mrs. H. E. Avery, of the Wellington East electorate, was convener of a large band of helpers on Sunday, those assisting her including Mesdames A. S. Morley, H. J. Martin, E. G. Arnold, M. J. McArtney, J. O'Callaghan, J. F. O'Leary, J. W. Thompson, and Miss M. McKenzie. Mrs. O'Callaghan played the piano for community singing on Sunday. Card Players' Farewell to Airman. Leading Aircraftman J. Atkinson, who will be leaving shortly for service overseas, was bidden farewell on Saturday night at a card party held by the Wellington South African War Veterans' Association. Prior to joining the Air Force Mr. Atkinson had been a very popular secretary bf the social committee. The monthly report of the social activities of the association, states that the weekly Saturday card parties are well supported, and the executive appreciates the interest taken by patrons. On Saturday night Mr. and Mrs. J. Muir won at bridge, Mrs. M. Stewart and Mr. J. Bamber at "500," Mesdames C. Carberry and D. Dunn at euchre, and Mr.' J. Atkinson a competition. The executive will entertain the staff of the Wellington Gas Co on Wednesday night, and an excellent social programme' has been arranged, with the assistance of Mr. E. Dean and artists Party for Nurses Going Overseas. Members of the Returned Army Nursing Sisters' Association and the Registered Nurses' Association held a morning tea party in John Court's tearooms, Auckland, recently in honour of the Army sisters who will shortly leave New Zealand for service overseas, states the "New Zealand Herald." The joint hostesses were Mrs. P. J. North and Mrs. C. W. Knight, respective presidents of the two associations. Miss Comrie, matron of the Northern Command, was also present and gave a brief address. Mrs. Knight presented

each guest of honour with a gift on behalf of her association, while Miss A. Bagley presented gifts from the Returned Army Nursing Sisters' Association. The guests were Sisters A. J. Goldsmith, R. M. Black, H. M. Coldicutt, M. E. Taaffe, G. H. Thompson, M. Preston-Thomas, , R. G. Spensley, W. Hood, P. Donovan, R. M. Caughley, I. L. Skegg, and G. Piggott. Another guest was Sister Kathleen Thompson, a New Zealand trained nurse, who is visiting Auckland after having accompanied a party of refugees from Shanghai to Australia. Flower Show at Karori. The flower and handcraf t show, organised by the Karori branch of the Dominion Federation of Townswomen's Guilds to raise funds for the war effort proved to be most interesting. The flower section especially was of a very high order, much of the floral work equalling that of the annual flower shows in the city. A dainty floral figure with a gown of double primroses, a shoulder spray of pink roses, a Victorian posy in wallflower shadings, a bowl of golden sparaxias and ixias, and a lovely basket of petunia colouring were prize-winners which attracted much admiration. A popular knitting section showed some clever stitches. On the cooking table, cakes, scones, pikelets, and preserves

made a tempting array, an outstanding entry, twenty different small cakes with a shortcake foundation, showing much ingenuity on the part of the cook. Dressmaking consisted of a competition for a frock not costing more than ss. In the handcraft exhibit, smocking, embroidery, moccasins, basketwork, pewter and brass, feltwork, and an article not to cost more than sixpence were shown. Entries were judged by Miss A. short programme was' followed by afternoon tea, the singing and playreading circles giving items. At the October meeting of the guild ,the feature of the afternoon was a talk by Mrs. Wood on life and conditions of living in England. Captain Bailey Retires. Captain F. E. Bailey, chairman of the A.N.A. Club since its inception, is retiring after over a year's service and on Friday evening the executive met to wish him well in his new sphere of military service. Mr. R. C. Burton, vice- chairman, presented the captain with a leather case fitted out with chromium, and, on behalf of the executive expressed appreciation of his sterling work since the club's foundation. Captain Bailey, in acknowledging the good wishes and the gift from the club, expressed his regret that other important duties precluded him from remaining with the executive. He thanked members and the club for loyal co-operation and wished the organisation success. Miss Coad Sees Active Service. Miss N. E. Coad (Wellington) is an air-raid warden at Hampstead, where she has seen much "active service" recently. As a member of the Imperial Relations Trust Subrcommittee, she has been helping to select non-theatri-cal films for distribution i.i New Zealand and Australia. The sub-commit-tee meets at the cinema of the Imperial Institute, South Kensington, where it collaborates with the Director of the British Film Institute. Large Sum From Bridge Party. As a result of its last fortnightly bridge party the Oriental Bay-Rose-neath branch of the Women's National Reserve made the sum of £11 11s for its patriotic funds. Mesdames Gillespie, Gledhill, and Millar were in charge of the tea arrangements, and Mesdames Duncan and Bowater controlled a cake and produce stall. Members of the committee among the card players were Mesdames Walshe, Burton, Stringer, Parkinson, Kissell, Turner, Jordan, Duncan, Bowater, and Longmore. Ngaio Mothers. Members' Day was celebrated at the October meeting of the Ngaio branch of the League of Mothers. Mrs. M. Martin presided over a large attendance of members and friends. The speaker for the afternoon, Dr. Lynch, took as his subject "Exploded Fallacies About Disease." He quoted two outstanding examples, malaria and diphtheria. Fallacies in regard to diet were also dealt with. A short musical programme was provided by Mes- | dames Fouhy, Doogan, and Miss Pat McGowan. Two Dances This Week. Tomorrow evening, from 7 o'clock till 11, Miss Phyllis Bates will entertain at her weekly supper dance in her ballroom, 33 Willis Street. Her Saturday Night Dance Club will go into action again at the end of the week with a dance on November 2 and this will again be held in the ballroom. An orchestra will be in attendance at both dances.