EXHIBITION OF BANNERS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 158, 20 June 1935, Page 10

EXHIBITION OF BANNERS

Women’s Institute Work

TYPICAL DESIGNS All Women’s Institute members—and many other women, too—will be eager to seo the collection of banners at present displayed at the Wool Shop in Russell street, Hastings. There are fifteen of them, and each banner is a piece of community work, made by the members of the institute it represents, ami typical ot that institute. To take two or three a t random: llaumoana (which means “windy water”) shows a splendid galleon dancing over the sparkling, windtossed waves, with Cape Kidnappers away in the distance. Pakowhai, an orchard district, has flowering peach trees and garlands of fruit. Te Hauke (Maori) has a tui perched on a branch of flowering gum and a wonderful border of Maori design in red, white and black. Sherenden is a harmony of brown and gold, with its emblem, tho kowhai, and its three distinctive tabs; Pukehamoamoa and Ohurakura-Te I’ohuo both illustrate local legends; Waimararna-Maraetotara successfully combines the two districts in a delightful scene, with a great totara standing in the marae before a carved house, and Bare Island just visible out at sea.

All the banners are marvels of skilful, patient stitchery; in some cases the entire fabric is composed of crossstitch or petit point, and many of the tassels and fringes have been cleverly fashioned of the wool and threads used in the main design. The rods, too, merit more than a passing glance, for they are made of all kinds of native woods. In one case, honeysuckle is used; in another, rimu with kauri ends beautifully carved with kowhai flowers. Awatoto has hung its banner on a Maori taoroa, while yet another rod is painted with a design in colours, repeating the border on the banner.

Everyone interested in fine needlework should certainly made a point of seeing these institute banners.