Pyjama Parade

Evening Star, Issue 23881, 10 May 1941, Page 16

Pyjama Parade

Bridge Drive. A very successful bridge drive, organised by the Gardening Circle of the Otago Women’s Club in aid of the railway stations garden competition, was hdd in the club, rooms on Thursday evening, and was very much enjoyed by all present. Y.W.C.A. Convention. Delegates from Dunedin who will attend the triennial convention of members of boards and committees of the Y.W.C.A., which is to be held in Auckland from May 14-21, include Mesdames .1, R. Fairbairn, C. Mackie Begg, Cyril Kerr, B. Kerr, and the. Misses H. K. Lovell-Smith, H. Nicolson, G. Farnie, Frances Ross, and Margaret Begg. At the convention Miss Delight Lynn, who recently returned to Now Zealand from Burma, will be one of the speakers, also Miss Agnes Moncrieff and Dr T. Z. Koo, of China. In Denmark. A letter has been received by her relatives in New Zealand from Miss May Barron, who was in Denmark when war broke out. She says; “ Since April last it has boon impossible to

leave Denmark, but am safe and well with Miss Gather. Glad to receive a Red Cross letter from you. Am being helped by the American attache.” The letter was posted in October, 1940, and is an answer to one sent through the International (Red Cross. Play Festival at Golumba College. The annual play festival by pupils of Colnmba College took place on Thursday in Constance Hall. There was a large and interested audience of parents and friends present and morning and afternoon tea were provided by the Parents’ Association. Miss Bessie Thomson, who acted as judge, complimented the college on the very high standard of drama and gave some helpful criticism to the performers. Miss Thomson placed 1 The Battle of Crcssy,’ by Forms I. and 11., as the prize play, with ‘ The; Nightingale,’ a Chinese play, by Form V., second. ‘ Fgly Duckling,’ by Standards HI. and IV.. assisted by the tiny tots in the kindergarten, was particularly mentioned by the judge as being a charming presentation. Young Contingent, Victoria League. At the annual meeting of the Young Contingent (the junior branch of the Victoria League), held in the Otago Women’s Club on Tuesday evening, the following office-bearers were elected for the coming year:—Chairwoman, Mrs Gerald Fitzgerald; secretary, Miss W. Johnstone, assisted by Misses Kathleen ■Fountain and Dorothea Campbell; treasurer, Miss M. Macandrew; committee—Mesdames J. Dodgshun, Guy Tapiey, Ralph Paterson, Denis Herrick, Reg., Dawson, Maurice Joel, and the Misses Ellice Briekell, Joan Ritchie, Betty Reeves, Barbara Dodgshun. Dorothy Hart, Joy Smith, and Eleanor Carswell. Letters of thanks were received from London for a contribution sent to the King George and Queen Elizabeth Club for members of the forces in London. Arrangements wore made for helpers at the “at home,” held by the Victoria League on Empire Day, and at the dugout on May 30, also for a garden party to be held at Miss Johnstone’s garden early in the spring and for other functions for raising funds to send to the league in England. Members offered their services to make tea at the Red Cross guild rooms on certain afternoons.

DUNEDIN TRAVEL CLUB Mr W. I!. Brngh presided at the morning: tea reception of the Travel Club, held in the Savoy on Wednesday, and introduced the speaker, l>r Elizabeth Gregory, dean of the Home Science Faculty of the University of Otago, to the very large number of members present. The subject of her address, ‘ Public Opinion in the U.S.A. Since the Outbreak of War,’ is one of which Dr Gregory has first-hand knowledge, having been resident in America for the first 16 mouths of the war period. It was interesting, she said, to notice the tremendous change that came over public opinion in that time, commencing, as it did, with an anti-Nazi j rather than a pro-Ally sentiment and a feeling that it was Britain’s affair to tidy up the European mess. Americans wore at the beginning mostly isolationists, just as Britain had herself been in the years immediately preceding war. A panicky hvsteria followed closely on the invasion of the Low Countries, which was exaggerated by the fall of France. leading up to the present feeling, which has resulted in the United States becoming a non-belligerent ally of Britain. It was interesting, said the speaker, to follow the workings of the American mind as seen by a Now Zealander living In their midst, and to be reassured that America is becoming more wholeheartedly pro-ally ns time goes on. Visitors to (he club included T.adv Wood (London!. Mrs Shield (Havelock North), Miss M. Macauley (MiddlemarchL Mrs C. IT. Johnston (Uliristchnrch Travel Club). Miss E, M'Kay (Invercargill Travel Club).

EX-HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS' CLUB ANNUAL BALL AND PRESENTATION OF DEBUTANTES The Concert Chamber presented a gay scene on Wednesday evening, when the Ex-High School Girls’ Club held its annual ball, at which the season’s debutantes are formally presented. This year 10 girls made their debut. The guests wore received by the president, Miss Lucy Morton, who was gowned in dark saxe blue satin featuring a halter collar, embroidered in crystal. The debutantes were each presented with a pretty Victorian posy—a gift from the club—by Miss Morton before making their bow to Miss M. King, patron of the club, who received them on the stage, which was decorated with bowls of chrysanthemums and shields from which hung streamers in blue and white. Miss King wore a gown of black and gold. The girls then returned to the hall to dance the lovely Destiny waltz with their partners. Debutantes. The debutantes were : Miss Shirley Ellis, who wore a dress of white not over taffeta. The skirt and soft gathered bodice were trimmed with box pleating of net and sprays of pink flowers ami finished with a softly swathed belt of georgette. Miss Rae Emslie wore a waltz froek with pointed lame pockets on the circular georgette skirt. The skirt fell in soft folds from a tight-fitting bodice of tamo with puffed sleeves and a squareshaped neckline. Miss Eileen Fraser wore a Victorian .period frock of white silk net over taffeta, with puff sleeves and full hemline of frilled not. Silver lame offset the distinctive heart-shaped neckline. Miss Margaret Gray wore a simple gown of cream hailstone net over cream taffeta, featuring a heart-shaped neckline with a fitting niched bodice and a lover’s knot of Valenciennes lace on the full flounced skirt. Miss Irene Johnston wore a frock of ivory embossed georgette over taffeta. The short puff sleeves had tucks to match a full tucked bodice which featured a tiny rousse at the neckline. The flowing skirt was finished with a soft bustle bow, and a dainty pearl necklace was worn. Miss Joyce Kay wore a picture frock of white georgette over satin, the very full skirt falling from a .fitting waistline. The bodice hqd a shirred top with a square neckline and puffed sleeves. Miss Alma Keenan wore a dress of white laec over taffeta, which was relieved by blue flowers and bows. The full skirt fell from a fitted waist, and the bodice had a square neck and pulled sleeves. Miss Noeline Parker wore a frock of white net over cream taffeta, with ruffled circles of taffeta on the skirt and sleeves. Miss Evan Pagonis chose a heavybrocade with a square neck back and front, and a shirred front panel. A sash which was brought from both underarms crossed the front and swathed round the waist. A white velvet bow worn in the hair completed the ensemble. Guests. The function was attended by the mayor and mayoress, Mr and Mrs A. H. Allen, the latter wearing a gown in turquoise blue, patterned in silver, and by Mr and Mrs R. A. Johnston, the hitter of whom wore a figured black gown. Other guests in the official party were: Vice-presidents—Mrs C. E. Begg. midnight blue with blue and gold coatee; Mrs J. Q. Thomson, Burgundy velvet; Mrs G. Stewart, black Continental crepe and Oriental coatee; committee —Mrs G. Wilkinson, floral georgette; Miss Daphne Morrison, apricot taffeta; Miss Pat M'Cracken, apple green georgette; the secretary, Miss Stella Bayley, navy threaded with silver, and representatives from other colleges, St. Philomena’s, Miss G. Toomey, pale blue taffeta; St. Dominic’s. Miss L. Carroll, blue velvet; and St. Hilda’s, Miss H. Parata, dull gold satin.

THE ST. JOHN LADIES' SEWING GUILD The annual meeting of this guild took place at the St. John. Ambulance Headquarters on Tuesday afternoon, when there was a large attendance of members. The report, which was submitted to the meeting, showed that the guild had passed through a time of unusual activity, and. that meetings had been held practically without intermission during the past 12 months. In addition to the ordinary work of preparing garments for the sick poor, members had devoted considerable attention to war work, preparing bandages and other articles for overseas, E. and other purposes. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Mrs G. Barclay, O.St.J., F. ; vice-presidents—Mrs It. D. Archer and Mrs L. Sanderson: committee—Mesdames W. A. Bowling, S. F. Aburn, and R. V. Collier, and Miss E. Daniels; hon. secretary, Miss M. Watson ; assistant secretary, Mrs W. L. Portman. Reference was made to the retirement of Mrs R. W. Glendining from the vice-presidency, which she has held with much acceptance for a number of years. The president (Mrs Barclay) thanked the members for their whole-hearted support during the past 12 months, and complimented them upon the Wonderful amount of work which had Been accomplished.

RED CROSS NEWS A.R.P. Lectures. Mr C. J. Hayward has kindly consented to give a course of lectures in air raid precautions to Red Cross members. This course will be more in the nature of general information regarding air raids, and we wish to urge all Red Cross members to take this opportunity of obtaining useful information. No examination need be taken unless specially desirecf. Names should be handed to the secretary, second floor, Queen’s Buildings, as early as possible. Acknowledgments. ' The following are thanked for work sent in during the week;—Mesdames MacGregor, H. Pellett, Nelson, Dodgshun, Menzies, L. Cook, Monday, Kenny, E. E. Williams (Oamaru), Misses Ross, Grieg, Errington, Tiny Clayton, Palmerston W.D.F.U., Knox College, Dalmore-Liberton Sewing Guild, Anonymous (Oamaru), Knox Church Ladies’ Sewing Guild, and subcentres at Anderson’s Bay, Opoho, Concord, and Oamaru.