SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Evening Star, Issue 25300, 7 October 1944, Page 11

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

fßy Diana.}

The Poetry Circle, tho Otago Women's Club, held its annual meeting on Tuesday afternoon, when the president of the circle, Mrs V. E. Galway, occupied the chair.. A satisfactory report and balance sheet was presented by the secretary. The following office-bearers were elected:— Chairwoman, Mrs L. E. Eichdale; vice-chair-woman, Mrs C. F. Roberts; secretary, Mrs I. W. Cowie; committee —Mesdames Wilkin, Brodio, Begg, Miss Bowling. Mrs Stewart presented a posy to Mrs Galway, the retiring president, end voiced the appreciation of the members for the valuable help she had given to the circle during her term of office. The monthly meeting followed, when John Masefield's long poem ' Dauber' was read. Miss Nelson introduced the poem. The committees of the Play Reading and Literary Circles of the Otago Women's Club entertained Lady Ferguson, the

judges, and competitors in. the recent original play-writing and short-story competitions, at an afternoon tea party in the club' yesterday.

The members of the Otago Ladies' Table Bowls' Club held a very pleasant wind-up party in the pavilion on Thursday afternoon, when a delightful afternoon tea was provided by Mrs Callender. Prizes for the oeason were won by Mrs McCrorie and Miss McGregor.

Navy League Notes. The women's committee held its October meeting on Wednesday. During the month 298 knitted comforts I'cr men had been received, 40 books, 152 magazines, 199 children's garments, including some quilts, six cot blankets, a. few packets of food, parcel of spun wool, a cake, one gift of fleeces, and some welcome monetary donations. Comforts sent away included 62 to eight individual men, 45 to men of a t Coastal Command; a merchant ship received 13 pairs sea boot stockings, 72 tins meat, 461 b cake, marmalade, and some miscellaneous foodstuffs, 40 books and 40 magazines. Forty-three tins of chocolate had been sent to ex-sea cadets on active service. It is known there are other ex-sea cadets, but their addresses have not, so far, been received. The spinning room workers had made 53£Ib of spun wool, and were very grateful for one gift of fleeces, as the store is getting rather low. The girls' auxiliary had given one evening's hospitality to visitin fc seamen, helped at the ServieV Club, spent one Saturday afternoon sewing, and helped pack the sea cadets' chocolate boxes, assisted with these parcels also being given by the Ross and Gleudining gown factory group. After the meeting, members packed blue bags, counted and tied up many dozens of garments ready f-j: despatch, and prepared cards for inclu.-.vn in the cakes for the New Zeiiiriil mine sweepers' Christmas parcels; The next overseas consignment will be packed bv the end of this month.

The speaker at the Travel Club next Wednesday will be Miss Margaret Ford, late of the Education Department. Her subject will be ' Experiences in Remote Districts in the North Island.' Tho hostesses will be Mesdames C. 0. Mathias and M. Mitchell. Nurse K. Richmond was entertained this week by her nursing friends to a delightful afternoon tea fit the Savoy. She was presented with an initialled writing case. Miss Richmond recently resigned from the Dunedin Public Hospital, where she has been nursing for the past eight years. The Punga Croquet Club held- its opening day on Wednesday. The president (Mrs Hogg) welcomed the visitors and members, and asked Mrs McGregor (Tainui) to speak on behalf of the Otago Croquet Association.

The Mayor (Mr D. €. Cameron) then formally declared the season open. After a delightful afternoon tea competitions were enjoyed. The prize-winners were: Lucky cup, Mrs Newall (St. Clair); names, Mrs Carrington; lucky number, Mrs Anderson .(Balclutha); lucky card, Mrs Hardy. St. John Ambulance Sewing Guild.

The St. John Ambulance Sewing Guild held its annual meeting on Monday afternoon, Mrs Barclay in the chair. The report showed that although owing to war conditions no flannelette has been aviu'abie for the last two years to replenish *' <ks for the ambulance nurses in their work amengst the sick poor they are still able to supply needy cases from a small quantity of garments held from a previous year. As the guild was unable to '•ontinue us usual activities, work this year wns wholly .for patriotic purposes, and as a resu.t 253 articles of clothing and 11 quilts were forwarded to the Lady Galway Fund, 154 face cloths, and three skull caps tc the Otago Patriotic, and a quantity of bandages made for the hospital. The following officers were elected: —President, Mrs Barclay, O.St.J., F.R.S.A.; vice-presidents, Mesdames L. Sanderson and V. Collier; secretary, Miss M. Watson; assistant secretary, Mrs W. L. Portman; committee—Mesdames W. Bowling, S. F. Aburn, J. F. Moodie, and Miss Daniels. League of Mothers.

Mrs Nelson presided over the monthly meeting of the Mornington branch, when a large number of members were present from Milton' branch. The speaker, Mrs Walsh, gave a very enlightening talk on her work amongst the Maoris. 'Ah Olden Tune,' sung by the choir, preceded a mannequin parade contrasting present-day styles with fashions of bygone days. This was arranged by Mrs Kilgour, and presented by members of the Mornington branch.

At the meeting of the St. Clair [ branch Mrs W. Rutherford presided, and I in her opening remarks extended a. welcome to Mrs Patrick, president of the Riverton branch. Mrs P. H. Jones was congratulated on her appointment as president of the Provincial Council. Delightful solos were given by Mrs Gilbert Black and Mrs Gordon Mills, and Miss Heather Smith entertained with elocutionary items. The speaker was Mrs Richdale, who gave a most interesting talk on ' Bird Life on Whero Island,' where she had spent a. month with her husband to study bird life there. St. John Women's War Committee. The annual meeting at the committee of tho. St. John Women's War Committee was held at headquarters on Tuesday, with Mrs A. A. Fairbaim in the chair. The annual report stated that 18 months ago orders were large and urgent, but in later months less had been required of the committee. No praise was too high for the large band of women who had so willingly rendered service to their country. The following list showed the amount of work that had gone forward to Joint Council Headquarters during the past 18 months: —Bandages 50 T.. 145 many-tailed, 24 stump, 6 hood, 12 head, 1.239 roller bandages, 805 swabs, 1,568 pads, 1,982 dysentery pads, 4 glove bags, 139 dressing gowns, 215 pairs pyjamas, 934 handkerchiefs, 627 face cloths. 57 flannel shirts, 77 bed pan driers', 16 plaster toe caps, 24 knitted eye bandages. Knitted goods: 419 pairs socks, 207 sleeveless pullovers. 57 lons-sleeved pullovers, 42 cardigans, 6 scarves. Red Cross Notes. Mrs Duthie is in Wellington attending the Junior Red Cross conference. V.A. Notes.—'Miss Doris Bizett, who returned on furlough from the Pacific, has left again for Wellington to report for duty. The St. Clair-Caversham Detachment had a meeting at the Stuart Street Rooms on Thursday. Miss Jessie McLennan was the speaker and the detachment entertained Miss Wilkin, Miss Ramsay, and Mrs Hunt. At the end of the meeting supper was served. Miss Moura Lennard, section leader No. 3 detachment, has gone to Waimate.

The British Red Cross has sent a consignment of liquid concentrated vitamin D to Jersey and Guernsey designed to supply every child with sufficient quantity for six months. This service to the Channel Island is a development of the plan whereby British and Dominion Red Cross Societies are providing vitamin D at a cost of £60,000 for' about 1,000,000 children in the occupied countries of Europe. Results of the recent examination In hygiene and sanitation:—Elementary section—Honours: Audrey Jean Morris, Gwendoline Mowat. Passed—Elizabeth I. Armstrong, Marie P, Blackie, Margaret Coard, Noreen Mary Fisher, Mrs Margaret Gilkison, Jean M. Hight, Jessie Hill, Doris N. Hogg, Shirley Honner, Mabel Jack, Mavis H. Kinross, Joyce Catherine Millar, Nancy Munro, Margaret A. R. Mackenzie, Kathleen McMaster, Edith A. Rivers, Mrs Hazel Smeaton, Nellie Stewart, Jean Elizabeth Thomson, Mrs Gladys Toms, Nancy Wales. Mrs Agnes Whiltinglon.

National Council of Women. Mrs A. A. Fairbairn presided at the October meeting of the National Council of Women, and welcomed Mrs Orr .Campbell, representing the Home Economics Society, and Mrs Dunn and Mrs Standage, representing the Presbyterian Women's Fellowship, a newly-affiliated society. The President reported on the outstanding success of the recent concert tea and bring-and-buy sale, and thanked all for their willing co-operation. The funds were raised in entertain visiting delegates to the Dominion Conference of the National Council of Women, which will be held in Dunedin from October 18 till October 20. Replies have been received from four members of Parliament regarding films for children, and reports were given by delegates ot interview!? with a local picture theatre manager. Much discussion followed and susgestiohs were put forward for consideration.

Remits discussed for the Dominion conference included those -on women police, nursery schools, scientifically-fitted footwear, medical inspection in schools, cinema, rehabilitation, domestic aids, women in essential work, temperance teaching, a Central Consumers' Committee, child welfare, size of school classes, housing, milk, and religious instruction. St. John Ambulance.

Women's Transport Division. —The annual re-examination of the division was held at headquarters last Thursday evening. There was a good attendance of members at a recent meeting of the division, when, Dr McAlister gave a most interesting address on 'Head and Brain Injuries.' The Edith Cavell Nursing Division paraded at headrniarters on Tuesday evening for Ihe annual inspection by officers of the district and corps staff. The officer iu

charge of the district complimented members on their splendid turn out. Members of all nursing divisions are at present busy practising for the annual competitions, which will be held on November 4. Girl Guide Celebrations.

A party was given in Wilson Hall on Thursday evening by the past commissioners and Guiders of the Girl Guides' Association for the present commissioners and Guiders, the present members of the provincial executive, and local committees, and any past member of the association interested. The guests were received by Mesdames A. Hebditch, G. A. Russell, R. C. Chivers, R. Dawson, and J. H. White, and Misses Lois White (Queenstown) Helen Wilson and Kathleen Standage, those not in uniform being presented with posies. The hall was delightfully decorated with spring flowers. The evening took the form of a Guide camp fire, at which part songs and exhibitions of folk dancing and oldtime drill were interspersed among speeches on the history of Guiding in Otago, given bv early members of the association —Miss Maud Reynolds (first divisional commissioner), Mrs.G. W. Beath (first district commissioner), Mrs Hebditch (first district captain), and Miss V. .M. Barron (provincial commissioner from 1931-1938). The final item brought back memories of Brownio revels and was followed by the appearance of a birthday cake. The 21 candles were lighted by Mrs J. Sutherland Ross (provincial president), Mrs White (Brownies), Miss J. Patrick (Rangers), Mrs Hebditch (past Guides), Miss Rewa Begg (Post and Lone Guides), Miss Helen Wilson (camping), Miss Barron (international Guiding), and Mrs F G Soper (present Guides). Provincial Rally to-day: Over 900 guides and brownies from all over Otago took part in the provincial rally this afternoon, which terminated the celebrations. Miss J. R. Wilson, divisional commissioner, accompanied the guides from Oamaru, Mrs C. Pringle came with those from South Otago, and those from Cromwell, Alexandra, and Roxburgh were with their captains.