SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Evening Star, Issue 19274, 12 June 1926, Page 20

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Mrs Statham has gone to Wellington for the session. Mrs Rodgerson is northward bound also for a week or two. Miss Stock has gone to Wellington, where she will stay with her sister, Mrs Falla. Mrs H. H. Driver left yesterday on a visit to India, where her eon, Dr A. H. Driver, of the L.M.S. Mission Hospital at Jammalahadugu, Madras, is to be married at the end of August to Miss Kathleen Shepherd, 8.A., of the Girls’ High School, Madras. Mrs Driver will take the Naldnra at Melbourne for Colombo. Miss Ethel Driver, late girls’ superintendent at the Y.W.C.A., left yesterday for a trip to Brisbane with her sister, Miss Grade. They expect to be absent until the end of the year. At the beginning of the week the Play Reading Circle of the Otago Women’s Club gave a successful reading of Noel Coward’s ‘Hay Fever,’ the cast including Mesdaraos Gilkison, Statham, Eastgate, Gardner, Hervey, and Bagg, Misses Dutton, Heywood, Statham, and Aslin.

Viscountess Lewisham and Lady Alexandra Palmer have launched out, in that they are trying the experiment of a communal farm. The husbands are running the stock and crop farms, fruit farm, and outside affaire, all on the latest scientific lines, while the ladies run the house and gardens with duo regard to economy and profit.

The Otago Homo Economics Association will hold the first of a series of discussions on ‘ Child Training ’ on Tuesday, when a study of habit training will provide rich material for an interesting and instructive discussion under guidance from Professor Lawson, who has generously consented to bo present.

Two intrepid young girls, the Misses Gwen and Mollie le Bas, have had the unique experience of crocodile hunting in India, and are none tho worse for their adventures. Miss M. Le Bas has earned distinction also in sculpture, having exhibited at the Academy.

Miss Roberts, who has so successfully grown hothouse tomatoes, gave a most instructive talk on Tuesday to the Gardening Circle of the Women’s Club. Miss Martin was chairwoman for tho afternoon, and Mrs Blues proposed a vote of thanks at the end, which was carried with acclamation.

Next Wednesday the Women’s Club will hold a flower show, and a fine selection of chrysanthemums aud other blooms Is promised. Those who care to send plants or flowers are asked to have them at tho club by 10 a.,m. on Wednesday. Snch contributions will be for sale, the proceeds of which will go towards the cup competition for Otago railway stations. It is not often that the members of the Cercle Francais have found the room somewhat small, but such was the case last Monday, when seating accommodation was taxed to the utmost, so steadily have the numbers grown. Dr Thompson gave a very amusing paper on ‘Doctors in Fiction,’ based chiefly on Moliere’s immortal plays. This great actor and playright ns is perhaps generally known, hated doctors and their profession, dubbing them charlatans, and some or his finest, plays are written on this theme. Moliere’s death was in a way singularly appropriate, for he expired practically on tho stage when taking the part of the patient in ‘ L© Malade Imagmaire.’ Supper then concluded a most successful evening. The fact that the Duke and Duchess of York did not take Mrs Hoffman’s house in Gxosvenor square, but instead aro temporarily installed at 17 Bruton street with Lord and Lady Strathmore, has again directed attention to the dignified and fashionable street leading from New Bond street to Berkley square. Lord Strathmore’s house is whore the late Lord Stratheden and Campbell lived many years. It has only recently been occupied by Lord Strathmore, who until a few years ago owned, in St. James’s square, a fine old Adam mansion, with ceilings painted by Angelica Kauffmann. Tins is now the offices of a firm of auctioneers and estate agents. Next door to Lord Strathmore, at No. 16, live Mr J. F. and Lady Evelyn Mason, who own a really historic abode. - It was here that John Duke of Argyll lived, and probably it was to this house that Jeannie Deans walked barefoot to plead with the Duke for her sister Effie, as related in ‘ The Heart of Midlothian,’ It has grand reception rooms and a splendid staircase, on which is (or was) a ducal escutcheon. Though not <so stately as No. 16 Bruton street, Lord Strathmore’s house is a handsome one, with a wonderful ballroom, lighted by great chandeliers, and capable of accommodating between 400 and 600 dancers.

The Women’s Club birthday was celebrated with due honor on Wednos- [ day night at the Tudor Hall, the lounge at the club not being big enough , to accommodate such a large number ns gathered there. Lady Ferguson, in her presidential speech, mentioned that this was the twelfth birthday, and that ; the club was still growing rapidly. The : members now numbered 800, with a I waiting list of 160 —figures which show ■ conclusively what an important part the club plays in Dunedin’s social life. I In outlining the history of the past year, Lady Ferguson naturally referred Ito the club rest room, and to the 1 Women's Section at the Exhibition—- | both of which were a ancial success, i For the first time a cup was awarded by the Gardening Circle for the bestkept railway station garden, and so successful and ably managed was the competition that inquiries were now to hand from Auckland and Invercargill, who wish to follow Dunedin’s good example. Special mention was also l ! made of the Motor Circle, which has | helped to relievo the tedium of convalescent patients at the hospital. And in connection'with this, tho president! remarked that less bridge and golf, and more community work would cause less boredom among devotees of these two amusements, the remark being loudly applauded by non-players. It is not generally known that the Women’s Section bought a picture from tho Exhibition Art Gallery, which is to be added to the town collection. Miss Webster then replied suitably, and congratulated the club on the only president it had ever had. A short programme followed, quite out of the usual, in that the various circles did not contribute as heretofore. Group dances were given by Misses Statham, Blomficld, Hey wood, Milne ; and Reid, and a Spanish dance by Miss Statham. bliss Hanrahan and Miss Tboomin contributed much appreciated songs, while Mrs Little and Miss Mary Fraser presided at the piano. The cake was then brought in, and joined the excellent supper that was provided. Many happy returns!