HERE AND THERE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 113, 8 November 1940, Page 11

HERE AND THERE

To Help Air-raid Victims. Mrs. Rossiter, Hataitai, entertained friends recently at a coin afternoon organised in aid of Mrs. Langston's fund for air-raid victims in London. A varied programme was presented by Miss Dorothy Seymour and Mesdames Charles Mclntyre, and George Castle (recitations), and Mesdames Walter Duncan, A. Bryan Simpson, and B. C. Ash win. Soldiers' Addresses Wanted. Congratulatory speeches were made to the president in the Masonic Hall, Berhampore, when the hundredth parcel was posted to Berhampore-Island Bay soldiers serving overseas. The sending of these parcels has been undertaken by the Berhampore-Island Bay branch of the New Zealand Union of Townswomen's Guilds (Inc.), a number of members meeting each Wednesday to pack parcels. There are 84 names on the list, and a parcel has been sent to every address and a start

made on the second round. The undertaking has assumed such proportions that at a recent committee meeting it was decided to appoint a convener with a-committee of four to be responsible for this work. Credit is duej to the president, Mrs. L. Smith, who has given much time and energy to the ■ task,' and to the members who have given. up their Wednesdays for the past two months. Any addresses of local soldiers, sailors, and airmen overseas not already on the list may be forwarded to Mrs. A. H. Tomlinson, 383 a Adelaide Road, SI. Gift Tea at Home of Compassion. Many hundreds of people look forward each year to the annual gift tea at the Home of Compassion,,lsland Bay, when acquaintanceships with inmates are renewed, and the work of the Sisters of Compassion 'fnspected and admired. Tomorrow afternoon those who have never seen the home, as! well as the regular visitors, will have I an opportunity of inspecting the build-1 ing. The sisters find that the nursery has a strong fascination for visitors, who are always enthusiastically received by the small boys and girls. The function on Saturday will be purely informal, visitors being given full freedom of the house. Afternoon tea will be provided free of charge. Musicale for Patriotic Funds. A musicale at the English-speaking Union on Wednesday considerably benefited funds for the furtherance of the union's war work. The programme, which was arranged by Mrs. James Bennie, was' presented by the Lower Hutt Liedertafel and assisting artists, and was one of the most successful yet held at the E.S.U. Items were given by Master Warwick Keen (bracket of songs), Miss Ruth Reid (violin solos), Miss Marjorie Bennie (bracket of songs), and Mr. Rodway (piano solos). The items .were interspersed by the Liedertafel, and the accompanists were Messrs. Rodway and Sharp. Miss Bennie sang twice with the choir, the programme concluding with a fine rendition of "God -Defend New Zealand." Mrs. J. T. Martin presented posies and buttonholes to the performers and Mrs. Bennie was given a posy by Mrs. R. Preston (chairman of the women's auxiliary). Mr. R. A. Glen (chairman of the E.S.U. executive) presided' at the concert. Residential Nursery. Mrs. L. O. H. Tripp presided at the recent executive meeting of the Resi-, dential Nursery (Women's National I Reserve), Queen Street. The matron's report stated that the nursery was full to capacity and a large number of children were on the waiting list. Sincere thanks were expressed by the committee for many monetary gifts, including one of £25 from Mr. L. O. H. Tripp. Mrs. Porter presided at the meeting of the nursery's management committee. The inner working of the nursery was fully discussed. Encouraging reports of the efforts of the various branches were given, the chairman expressing appreciation that the

normal activities of the reserve were being sustained as well as the enthusiasm for patriotic work. The need for the normal activities was even greater than ever, she said, and meant solid endeavour. Gifts in kind were acknowledged. Cercle Francais. The annual report and balance-sheet of the French Club showed a very satisfactory state of affairs. The membership was 166, the programmes of the meetings had been of uniform excellence and - balance of £114 odd was carried on to next year. The various offices were filled as follows for next year:—President d'honneur, M. A. Pouquet; patroness, Madame A. Pouquet; president, Dr. Marshall Macdonald; vice-presidents, Mme. Bendall, Dr. A. D. Carbery, and Professors Boyd-Wil-son and Miles; hon. secretary, Mme. Finlayson; assistant . hon. secretary, Miss F. Huntington; hon. treasurer, Dr. A. R. F. Mackay; committee, Mesdames Betts-Vincent, de Filippi, dv Chateau, Logre, MissC. Smythson, Dr. Keys, and Messrs. Griffin and Wells. After the business two short plays were produced by Mme. dv Chateau, "La Lettre Chargee," in which Mr. Wells and Dr. Danielow appeared, and "The English Lesson," acted by Mme. Finlayson and Mr. Griffin. Mme. Betts-Vincent played two piano solos and sang several songs. Mme. Bendall received the guests. A Common Aim. Miss Nelle Scanlan vividly described London in the early stages of the war at a recent meeting of the Karori branch of the League of Mothers, at xvhich Mrs. Urquhart presided. Miss Scanlan explained the incendiary bomb and how it acted, the. attitude of the people to emergency measures j such as the preparation of their attics for the stifling of bombs, and their changed outlook since intensified bombing raids. Property, riches, etc., | were pooled to benefit the common cause. Three million surplus women were doing war work, most of which was voluntary, but the rate of pay amounted to £3 a week for men and £2 for women. From the highest to the lowliest in the land all were on the same level in their great effort and common aim of life and liberty. Miss Scanlan was given a box of flowers. Visitors from other branches were at the meeting as well as members of the Mothers' Union. Items were given by Mrs. Mclntyre (recitations), Mrs. Pointon (songs), and by the choir. Mrs. Ward-Parrant was the soloist in "There'll Always Be An England," and Mrs. Field in Elgar's interpretation of the National Anthem. Apollo Women's Club. The making of floral sprays and bouquets, and the arranging of flowers for decorative purposes were demonstrated by Mrs. Billman at a recent meeting of the Apollo Women's Club. Mrs. Billman also gave some helpful advice on the growing of various shrubs and flowers. Songs were given by Miss Joan Wallace and Mr. Weller, their accompanist being Mrs. Fauvel.