GIRL GUIDES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 13 April 1929, Page 3

GIRL GUIDES.

MEETING oFTaITy SUPPORTERS. To augment the sadly depicted funds of the uul Guide movement, an organisation that justly deserves more local linancnil support, the Mayoress (Mi s Taeeyj threw open her home on Thursday aitoinoon to Uie members of the executive and their lady friends to a “fetch and buy - ’ afternoon. Mrs Pacey in her opening remarks pointed out liow necessary it was to have more money to carry on, and asked for all those that could to come forward and help. She extended a warm welcome home from the executive and those present to Miss D. Corrigan, and ashed Miss Corrigan to give an address on Poxlease. Miss Corrigan, upon rising, was accorded warm applause. Foxlease, said Miss Corrigan, was the home of guiding in South England, and was much farther south than she anticipated, situated in one of the most beautiful spots in all England. It was a large old country home in the heart of New Forest, exactly lialf-way between Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst, and of special interest to New Zealanders because of its proximity to Sling. Some years ago a wealthy American woman offered this ideal estate to the Guide executive for a centre to train guiders. Headquarters at first were a littlediffident about accepting the wonderful gift, as so much revenue would be needed for its upkeep. However, H.R.H. Princess Mary offered a large portion of her wedding dowry to help meet initial expenses, and has since taken a wonderful personal interest in Foxlease, paying it frequent visits. The house is large and spacious, and about 20 young women are usually admitted to train at a time. The staffchanges according to the type of training. Each room is named after the Guides who have furnished it. The I large drawing room where morning prayers are always read is Scotland. Flowers are in profusion everywhere, and in each room bowls of flowers to match the papers and chintz create the beautiful atmosphere one is conscious of as soon as one arrives. Thus, one large room named South Africa, overlooking the rose garden and papered in pink, had bowls of sweet jveas. Another, hung with rose-figured chintz, named Lancashire, had bowls of roses, and so on. The handsomest piece of furniture in the whole building, and which gave Miss Corrigan a proud feeling, is placed in the large bay window in the staff’s sitting room. This is a bureau of embossed, woods sent by New Zealand. Beyond the immediate flower and kitchen gardens are the woods, a constant source of delight to the woodcraft guider. In the heart of the woods, about three chains from the house, is a natural chapel. The guiders have placed a rustic cross above the altar, and fresh flowers are kept blooming at the sacred spot. In such surroundings guiders cannot fail to catch something of the right spirit, and it was in these surroundings that last year’s Imperial camp was held, when 300 guiders were under canvass and came from all parts of the British Empire, Canada, Australia, Barbadoes, India, Malta, South Africa, Malay, New Zealand and the Motherland. It was ail inspiration to meet- people from such distances doing much the same work and having much flin cmr»o. Tirnlilhinc Til /HIIIIVV WPTA T.llO

tbe same prouieins. in camp were me Chief Guide, Lady Baden-Powell; Miss Behrens, whom most New Zealand Guiders know; Miss Bayes, the Eagle Owl of Australia; Miss Rachel Heath, and many others well known to the guide world. Camp was conducted oil the group system, continued Miss Corrigan, and i here followed a number of amusing (details, including an account- of _ a Maori haka by New Zealanders, including Miss Corrigan, which gave great idea sure to the other groups. Miss Corrigan then handed round some interesting snapshots taken at Fox-lease, and also some photographs of the different distinguished persons she had had the pleasure- of meeting .there, including Princess Mary and Chief Gnider Lady Baden-Powell. Mrs John Houston (Commissioner) thanked Miss Corrigan on behalf of all present for the very interesting description. also wishing her a hearty welcome home from the Guiders, Rangers, Guides, and Brownies, all of whom, she assured Miss Corrigan, were most eager to give her a real Guides’ greeting at the first- available opportunity. Mrs Houston, continuing, said that one felt all the more eager to go on and make Taranaki province stand out. The movement was a helpful and instructive one for I our young women. So many things > necessary were being undertaken and mastered. In handing round for inspection some very beautiful nieces of sewing, Mrs Houston said that it gave here a very happy feeling to inform those present that the Taranaki Guides 1 1 :ul won the much coveted silver cup presented by Lady Alice Fci'gusson for sewing bv Guides under 16 years, winning the cup from the Auckland group, who held it last year. She was sure the mothers and friends would do their best to encourage- the girls in such useful competition. During the afternoon Miss Thomas contributed two pianoforte solos, and Mrs \Y. Strange a recitation. A beautiful afternoon tea for the small sum of sixpence and the sale of goods brought helped the funds considerably, and Mrs Pacev was cordially thanked for her hospitality.