STOKES VALLEY WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

Hutt News, Volume 9, Issue 15, 18 September 1935, Page 7

STOKES VALLEY WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

MONTHLY^MEETING-. The president, Mrs. Cording, presided over a large attendance at the meeting of the Stokes Valley Women's Institute held recently, and welcomed' a visitor from Marlborough. A most satisfactory and promising report was fiiven by the delegate on the conference recently held in Auckland. After unfolding the business pari of the conference, Mrs Hnrney gave lengthy details of various institutions they were privileged to visit, special mention being made of the Blind Institute, and the wonderful work done by tlieni. All were sorry that she had only a limited time for details. A hearty vote of thanks was awarded Mrs Humey. '['he president, in a happy speech then welcomed Mrs. Knox Gilmer who gave a very interesting and instructive talk oa "Our beautiful native bush, shrubs, lb '.vers, etc." Special mention was made by Mrs. Knox Gilmer of Dr. Cockayne, his ideas and aims as to gardening helping women and making life more wonderful. It was pleasing to hear that So per cent of our trees and shrubs were not found anywhere else in the world. Why not keep-them here placing our country amongst the show places of the world' Miniature pines, some growing only two inches high were examined and were of great interest. That we should cultivate our native plants and shrubs as is done in many foreign countries then to pass the opportunities on to our children, was Mrs. Knox Gilmer's appeal. A little garden in .Rome marked N.Z., three carved Maori houses in Germany, showed that N.Z. was not only a name. How to help prevent drought, floods, and sand storms was explained. "Mrs. Cording heartily thanked Mrs. Knox Gilmer for a most interesting and instructive lecture, asking her to accept a "Sweets Bouquet'' as a small token of appreciation. Mrs. Knox Gilmer then judged the miniature gardens, awarding first prize to Mrs. Morris, audi second to Mrs. Huse. Many artistic and quaint little gardens were displayed. A dainty afternoon tea was served, the meeting then closing with the singing of the National Anthem,