TOWNSWOMEN’S GUILD

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 275, 3 November 1933, Page 11

TOWNSWOMEN’S GUILD

MEETING IN NAPIER. MRS TURNER WTLU'.AMS’ ADDRESS Counter-attractions affected the attendance a little at the monthly general meeting of the Napier Townswomen’s Guild, held yesterday after noon in St. John’s Hall. Mrs E. A. \V. Henley presided over the meeting and Mrs J. 11. Oldham (co-chairwoinan) and Miss Rosa Dinwiddie (secretary) were on the platform. The Kaiwaka brass bowl, in which Mrs Harvey had arranged colourful cinerarias, was set on the president’s table. Mrs K. Holt brought for display on the stage a vase of King George oriental poppies, and the new double one of the same species named May Queen. A large and magnificent rose was displayed also, and rightly lias it been named Gorgeous. Both were much admired. The meeting opened with the singing of the National Anthem, followed by the guild ode, Mrs Rosewarne conducting and Miss Dean at the piano. It was announced that members who wrote competition odes were to send them in, and that a prize was to be given for the best music setting. The annual meeting and election of committee will bo held on the first. Thursday in March, 1934, nominations to bo sent to the secretary by the second week in February. Announced also was a sale of work for church funds on November 10, an inaugural meeting of the British Music Society in Napier and on November 14, the Napier Horticultural Society, which is re-organising, is holding a rose and sweet pea show, and to make it more successful the gardening circle of the guild is foregoing its show in order to help the society. FUTURE EVENTS. A. novel competition for next meeting will be “Old Christening Gowns.” The December meeting will be a party affair, each member contributing to the tea, and a good afternoon is promised.

The art and crafts circle announce a social afternoon on December IG, when there will be competitions for the bestworked sampler and prettiest coat coat hanger. Each member can bring 12 articles for the sales table, and a parade of old shawls will be seen, The literary circle has produced a splendid calendar at 6d a copy. There will be a bring-and-buy stall at the December meeting.

Mrs Henley paid a tribute to Mrs Baker on behalf of the whole guild, who greatly appreciated her work in the afternoon tea department during the past year. “To tea or not to tea” is a vexed question, and members will later vote on it.

The Christmas cake competition has yet to be judged. Mrs Rosewarne’s glee party gave vocal selections from the “Mikado.” Mrs Victor Roach accompanying. Mesdanies Gordon Madigan, Stevens and Tuck sang “Throe Little Maids from School,” the glee party assisting. Mrs Nicholson sang charm ugly the “Yum Yum” song from the ramo opera. At the last gardening circle meeting Mrs Holt showed members a newsprint of a parasitic fungus wnich grows at the roots of trees on Mount Ruapehu, and yesterday Miss Neill sent an actual specimen along. The piece of tree had the fungus on, and feeling it, one found

it hard and similar to the wood of the tree. The specimen had the appearance of wood carving. ADDRESS ON CEYLON. Mrs Tiirner-Williatns, of Haveloek North, was the speaker for the afternoon, giving a delightful and most interesting talk on her visit to Ceylon The travel impressions of two mouths there were well described, and manv amusing side-pictures brought out. She also mentioned Ceylon’s beauty of colouring, the numerous craft greeting a liner on arrival, the quayside with its quaint bullock carts, each animal wearing a long necklace of bells. Of course, being keen on women’s institutes, Mrs Williams soon wanted to know if Ceylon had such a movement, and on writing, received an invitation when up-country to spend a week-end in Colombo which she did, and while there attended a meeting of Lanka Mahila Samitas (Ceylon’s women’s institutes). ’This was held in a large hall with open sides. Spinning with flax and weaving was going on, and a school teacher was demonstrating on how to grow ginger. The meeting were pleased to welcome the New Zealand visitor. Mrs Williams was also taken to visit a baby creche, a workroom where silk embroideries and lace was being made, a baby clinic and a temple. She also attended a centenary meeting while there of the Y.W.C.A. WOVEN MATERIALS. Tho picturesque women of Cevloti were the next phase and saris of lovely woven materials for all occasions were shown and tho method of wearing demonstrated on members. The talk was fullv illustrated with pictures, photographs, bull bells, a model of a cart, a fan, flax weaving, caste combs and saris. The speaker received great applause on concluding, and a hearty vote of thanks was passed. Miss Dean, leader of the orchestra, had arranged a very nice programme to conclude tho afternoon, the orchestra rendering selections from the Merchant of Venice suite. Two German and a Tyrolese folk song were sung by Miss Kimball, the orchestra accompanying. Afternoon tea and social chat concluded an interesting afternoon.