HASTINGS WOMEN’S CLUB

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 76, 12 March 1932, Page 11

HASTINGS WOMEN’S CLUB

RECEPTION FOR MRS A. P. F. CHAPMAN. In spite of a very wet night a good number of club members were present on Tuesday evening last to meet their president’s daughter, Mrs A. P. F. Chapman, who is staying at Okawa. Mrs R. Bettington, from Sydney, Mrs Lowry’s younger daughter, was also a guest of honour. The rooms looked bright and cheerful with large jars of hydrangeas and howls of brown helenium, and many comfortable seats for the members. At one end of the room was a small screen on which were shown motion pictures taken by Mrs Chapman’s party during the tour of the English cricketers (of which Mr. A. P, F. Chapman was the famous captain) in South Africa. Mr. Lovell-Smith showed the pictures, the machine being lent by Mr. Ewan Campbell. Mrs Chapman looked very charming wearing her exquisite presentation gown of ivory satin and Carrickmacross lace, which was moulded closely, falling to the feet in graceful lines. A pretty scarf-wrap of the lace and satin was very becoming. Mrs Bettington’s frock was of ciel blue floral ninon softly ruched, with a little coatee. The pictures revealed a variety of scenes including some fine hotels in the towns and jungle scenes in interior Africa, where wild baboons ran ovei forest undergrowth, and where crocodiles lurked in dark pools. There were excellent pictures of the renowned Victoria Falls photographed from every possible point of view, and later on were scenes of bush-lined roads, glimpses of the Zambesi river, striking pictures of rocky coastlines and sea beaches, with entertaining interludes betraying the touring party at meals or in various informal poses. The pictures of the native war dances in which 600 natives took part were a rare sight. These were specially arranged for the reception of the cricketers. Some excellent musical items were given during the evening which were applauded with enthusiasm. Mrs Spinney sang “Down in the Forest,” and “Gentle Dame Priscilla”; Miss Williamson, L.R.A.M., played a piano solo by Leschetizky—“lntermezzo”— and as an encore “Reflections in the Water” (Debussy) ; Miss Russell as an encore for hei “Slumber Song of the Madonna” gave “E Pari Ra." Mrs Spinney played Miss Russell’s accompaniments. After the programme the members adjourned to the Pas-a-dena tea-rooms which were attractively arranged for supper. Each table for four had on it pretty crystal vases of pink roses, carnations and brown foliage and gay floral china, and the supper was savoury and dainty. The president thanked Mrs Chapman, on behalf of the members, for bringing her South African pictures to the club, and also thanked Mr. LovellSmith and Mr. Ewan Campbell for their help. Appreciative remarks about the fine music given by Mrs Spinney and Misses Williamson and Russell and a reference to the excellent supper supplied by the two ladies now managing the Pas-a-dena, concluded Mrs Lowry’s speech Those present included Mrs H. M. Bishop, Mrs G. Glenny, Mrs W. MacKenzie, Mrs Morris, Mrs H. Baird, Mrs Sanders, Mrs Eric Nelson, Mrs Lowry North, Miss Lowry, Mrs Rochfort, Miss A. Rochfort, Mrs A. Glenny, Mrs D. Robertson, Mrs A. E. O’Meara, Mrs de Lisle, Mrs Goddard, Mrs H. Small, Mrs Moss, Mrs Landels, Mrs Bailey, Mrs Webber, Mrs Bates, Madame Maunder, Miss Commin, Mrs Harvey, Mrs Hedley Harvey, Mrs Elder, Miss Elder, Mrs Curlett, Miss M. Curlett, Miss Glenny, Miss LovellSmith, Miss Langley; Messrs Morris, Lovell-Smith. S. Averill, H. Sanders, and others.