WOMEN’S WORLD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 172, 22 June 1926, Page 11

WOMEN’S WORLD.

WILLARD HOME

ANNUAL MEETING,

The annual meeting of the 'Willard Children’s Home Board of Control was held yesterday afternoon in St. • Andrew’s Hall, Mrs P. Crabb presiding. The sixth annual report as presented by the secretary, Mrs E. Birdsall, stated:—Steady progress has been made during the year. Although seemingly quiet, yet much useful work has been done. The sewing committee especially have been very alive, and as a result of their efforts the home is well, stocked with clothing, and £66 has been added to the funds by jumble sales. Again we are indebted to the T. G. McCarthy Trustees, also to the trustees of the Lissie Rathbone Estate, for furthef grants of £l5O and £IOO respectively, and to them we tender grateful thanks. We wish to record our thanks to the trustees of the late Mr Tristram for a legacy; to Mr Milverton for his . generous donation of £ll6 8s 4d, to the commercial travellers for their generous support; the Manawatu Rugby Football Union, Waldegravo Estate, “Manawatu Standard,” Borough Council, Palmerston North Drapers’ and Clothiers’ Association, W.C.T.U. branches, and our annual subscribers. All these bodies have helped considerably in lightening our burden, and kept us freo from financial worrv.

During the year the committee have been considering schemes to extend their efforts, and plans and specifications of a proposed new building have been submitted, but the matter is being held in abeyance, owing to part of the land being offered for sale, and not yqfi disposed of. At the present, the home is full, 1 ( J children being accommodated. During the year three children were admitted, and two discharged back to parents. Tho health of the children has been very good, with the exception of a mild outbreak of chicken-pox within the last few weeks, but under the good care of Matron Anderson and her able assistant, Miss Pearce, all have now recovered. Once again I am pleased to report upon tho thoughtful and loving service rendered by our staff, and it is owing to their management that tho home is so capably and efficiently run, and we tender to the matron and her assistant our grateful thanks.

We take this opportunity of conveying our gratitude to Dr. Barnott for his careful attention to the health of the children; to Dr. Hooper and Mr Tennent for dental service; to the picture theatre proprietors, the Manawatu Competitions’ Society and Orient Lodgo for entertainments; the Rotary Club, the Combined Motors’ Association, and Church of England Sunday school for picnics and pleasant outings; also to Miss Fitzherbert for motor rides; to Mr Langridgo for free carting of goods to and from tho raill way station; to he Ford Motors for i carting of firewood ;to the Cuba Street Girls’ Bible class; Congregational Sunday School for Christmas tea parties; to a kind friend for Christmas tree and tea, to the Mayoress (Mrs F. J. Nathan) and Mrs Cohen for Christmas treats and Santa Claus; to the numerous friends who provided Christ- * mas cheer, and to tho N.Z. I. Co. for presents of buckets and spades for the beach. Gifts of food, meat, clothing, fruit, vegetables, milk, toys, books, etc., coal and firewood have been received, and lor these donations wo have to thank the Manawatu Meat Co., Mr F. G. Parker, Mr Thwaites, Mrs Powell, Mr Owtram, Mr Swallow, Messrs G. H. Bennett and Co., Mrs Binns, Messrs Butzbach, Mason and Greavo, Boniface Bros., J. Ellis, Piccadilly cake shop, and the public generally, and our warmest thanks are due to the local press for kindly publishing the list of gifts each month. The board’s warmest thanks are duo to Mr M. H. Oram for legal advice; to the gentlemen of the Advisory Board for their interest and work; to Mr C. F. Spooner, custodian of old documents; to Miss Bryce, bookkeeper, and Mr H. F. Wilson for auditing. Again, our appeal for eggs was liberally responded to, and we heartily thank all those who helped to increase our winter store. "We gratefully thank the church socials and harvest festivals, for beautiful produce sent in.

This not only adds variety to the childrens’ diet, but is also eloquent of the kind thoughts of friends who think of our children, and who save the funds of the home to the extent of many pounds. The board desires to thank all those people near and far who have assisted in any way and rendered service to the home.

In speaking to tho report, which was adopted, Mrs Crabb referred to the good work accomplished by Mrs

Birdsall, who, in addition to secretarial work, performed a number of little odd jobs with regard to the treasury. She did double duty. The year’s work had been carried on very well. It now looked as if the proposed new building would soon eventuate. In that case there would be greater work to be carried out next year. Mrs Hodder also spoke to the report, stating that it was hoped that there would be greater activity next year. She also referred to the invaluable work done by the secretary. SATISFACTORY FINANCE. “Ever since we opened the home we have had a satisfactory balance-sheet. Wo have never been in debt; if money is wanted it is always to hand. I think that this is a great thing for any association,” stated Mrs Crabb when referring to the balance-sheet, which was adopted. I think the attraction of the home is that it is quite unsectarian; every child is welcome. We have money coming in from all sources and I think our prospects for the future are bright. The credit balance stands at £3Bl 12s 7d. Beforo the election, of officers Mrs H. E. Pacey took the chair and eulogised the work of Mrs Crabb. Mrs T. R. Hodder added an expression of appreciation of Mrs Crabb’s presidency, stating that thero was not one member of .the board who desired to see’ her vacate an important office. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Tho following officers were elected: President, Mrs Crabb (unanimously re-elected); vice-presidents, Mesdames Pacey and Hodder; secretary-trea-surer, Min Birdsall; accountant, Miss Bryce; auditor, Mr H. F. Wilson; board of management, Mesdames Crabb, Hodder, Barnett, Spooner, Kensington, Allman, Birdsall, McLeavoy, Bennett, McDonald, Pacey, Nathan, Collins, Burges, Gibbs, Billons, Sinclair, Coombs, Aitchison and McConnon. Tho auditor of tho home’s books, Mr Hugh Wilson, wrote expressing admiration of the manner in which tho books had been kept, stating that it reflected great credit on tho secretary, Mrs E. Birdsall.

WEDDING,

STUART—CHOWEN,

Oil Juno 15th, the Cuba Street Methodist Church was the scene of a very pretty wedding when Marjorie Emily, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs W. Chowen, 8 lvairanga road, was joined in bonds of matrimony to James, eldest son of John Stuart, of Methlick, Aberdeen, Scotland. Itev. H. T. Peat was the officiating minister and Rev. Green Hall presided at tho organ. The bride, who was given away by her father, was charmingly attired in a gown of ivory brocaded erepo-de-cheno trimmed with pearls and an embroidered tullo veil, held in place with a coronet of orange blossoms. Sho carried a beautiful bouquet of pale pink and white carnations, freesias and asparagus fern. Attending her was her cousin, «Miss Myra Burn and her niece, Miss Jean Sinclair, who wore pretty frocks of apricot gorgetco and pale receda green erepe-de-olienc respectively. In (the hair were worn trails of gold leaves and they carried bouquets of autumntinted flowers and leaves with ribbon streamers to match their dresses. The bridegroom was supported by Mr George Wagstaff as best man and Mr Roy Crockett as groomsman. The bridegroom’s present to the bride was a string of pearls and to tho bridesmaids dainty trinket boxes. The bride’s present to the bridegroom was a travelling rug. They were the recipients of many useful and beautiful .including several cheques. After tho ceremony Mr and Mrs Chowen entertained their -guests at the Balmoral tea rooms and later at their residence. The happy couple left for tho north in their own car, tho bride travelling in a coat frock of toast brown with hat and coat to | match. Mr and Mrs Stuart’s future I home will be at Naputalii, Pohangina. '

EMPIRE BUILDING. Under this beading recently the Yorkshire Post had the following article:—“The success of another scheme for tho benefit of ex-service men was illustrated a few days ago in a novel 'send-off’ given by Lady Cecil, Lady Goold-Adams, the Hon. Mrs Ivitson and Lady Strathcona to a party of young girls who sailed in tho lonic for the Antipodes. This scheme originated after the war through the decision of the sheepowners of New Zealand to devote certain profits on wool to tho assistance of officers and men of tho Royal Navy and Mercantilo

Marine incapacitated in the war as well as to provide for their families. Under this scheme 111 boys have already been emigrated and found training and employment in that Dominion, but it is a new development that similar provision is being made for the daughters of such seamen, those eligiblo ranging between the ages of 15 and 18. Those that have now gone out, a dozen in number, and others that may follow will be trained in housewifery and the lighter kinds of farm work such as gardening, fruitgrowing, poultry-keeping, dairying, etc., and will be under the care of the New Zealand sheepowners, their wives and a matron appointed by the Y.W.C.A. of New Zealand. Four of the contingent came from the North of England, four from Scotland, and the remainder from other parts of tho United Kingdom, and all were looking forward with pleasure and high expectation to their great adventure. It is proposed to send about a similar batch every three months to the training centre known as ‘Flock House,’ and the whole scheme promises to be of great benefit to all concerned.”

PLUNKET SOCIETY. COUNCIL GRANTS A SITE, DUKE-KING STREET SECTION, At the previous meeting of the Borough Council a deputation from tho , local Plunket Society attended with a ; request for the donation of a building site, that of the old museum being preferred. The council promised to favourably consider the matter and at last night’s meeting tho works committee submitted the following clause lin its report for consideration: “It was decided to recommend that, provided there are no legal difficulties, the council grant freo of all encumbrances the southern portion of Duke street section, being allotment 103 of section 124, and having a frontage of 66 feet to King street by a depth of | 66 loot, tho land to bo vested in tho < name of the Mayor and member of the district for the time being as trustees, and in the. event of the society becoming defunct at any time the freehold to revert to the council.” “I suggest that the gift be made freo of rates so long as it is in the hands of the trustees,” said Cr. Oram. | It was agreed to incorporate that condition in the necessary documents, the recommendation being agreed to.

A NOBLE WORK

LONG SERVICE RECOGNISED

PRESENTATION TO MRS GILL.

A pleasing little ceremony took place at tho meeting of the Borough Council last night when tho Mayor (Mr E. J. Nathan), acting on behalf of the nursing division of tho St. John Ambulance organisation-, 2 ,rescn ted Mrs Z. Gill, of the local branch, with a long service medal. In so doing, Mr Nathan stated that the presentation would have been made by the Governor-General had Mrs Gill been in Wellington or had His Excellency been in Palmerston North. Mrs Gill had joined the order in 1898 and had since worked in its interests with much credit to herself. The medal had really been due in 1913, and there were now several bars due to her. Tho presentation that evening was being made publicly in order that full appreciation might bo shown of her work for tho order, and personally ho wished to congratulate her on her long and useful service ryith the organisation mentioned.

At this stage Cr. Edwards presented Mrs Gill with a beautiful little bouquet as a mark of appreciation of tho public of Palmerston Noith. Replying, Mrs Gill referred to the work done by tho nursing division of the order, stating that its members were always willing to assist when their services were needed. During the epidemic and at other times, tho work performed by tho nursing division had been greatly appreciated, and at all times the members were ready to step into any breach and do what was required of them. The enthusiastic few who carried on the work locally went to a great deal of trouble and gave up much of their spare time to further the interests of tho order.

In addition, they drew on their own pockets frequently, bub, never, at any time, did they accept compensation for the work done. At Home the nursing division received assistance from public bodies, and sho was sorry that tho same state of affairs did not prevail here. Concluding, Mrs Gill made an appeal that tho borough would support the work of tho local branch as far as it could.

NEW DRESS MATERIAL

GERMAN SCIENTISTS’ CLAIM

BERLIN, June 20. Myriads of cockchafers, May beetles

and even lobsters may, in the near future, be the clothing of womankind, tccording to the claims of Professor Horzog and .Dr Kunicko beforo the Chemical Institute that they havo discovered a process whereby silk threat could be manufactured from chitin, an organic substance forming tho horny part of insects and Crustacea. They dissolve chitin and spray it into the air, where if forms silk threads of extraordinary strength. It is suggested that, instead of exterminating locusts and similar pests, it will soon pay to breed them. —A. and N.Z. cable.

An application for the dismissal of a divorce petition was made in the Auckland Supremo Court by William Gilbert, of To Kuiti, who was cited as co-respondent in tho petition by William Johnston against Hilda Olivo Johnston. Counsel for petitioner opposed tho application and said that tho delay in tho petition’s hearing was duo to petitioner’s lack of moiiey. Respondent had left homo and deserted two young children. Every effort had been mado to locate her, but it was believed that she was travelling under an assumed name. Counsel said that ho suspected the co-respondent knew where respondent could bo found. It would bo improper to dismiss a petition at a co-respondent’s request. The caso was adjourned for fourteen days.