TOWNSWOMEN’S GUILD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 154, 1 June 1937, Page 12

TOWNSWOMEN’S GUILD

ADDRESS ON JEWELLERY. Mrs A. E. Mansfofd presided over the monthly meeting of the Palmerston North Townswomen’s Guild, which was held in the Empire Hall yesterday afternoon, there being a large attendance. An interesting programme was presented, the feature of which was an address on “Jewellery” by Mr J. B. Fleck. The correspondence included a letter from the civic circle of the guild recommending that a meeting of women’s organisations be called to discuss the proposal that a building be erected in honour of the Palmerston North women pioneers in conjunction with the jubilee of this city and the centenary of New Zealand celebrations.—Received.

Pleasure was expressed in the fact that the City Council is to provide two additional lamps in Fitzherbert Avenue, at a cost of £ls 10s, in response to a recommendation by the

#yild. A letter to this effect was re ceived.

The City Council is to be thanked for granting the guild free use of the Opera House supper room for the making of white roses.

Sympathy is to be conveyed by letter to Mrs W. Mouldey and Mrs Hart, two members who are ill, and flowers sent to them from the gardening circle. New members welcomed were Mesdames E. Holder, E. Garner, D. Withers, N. Wiggins. C. N. Niven, H. G. Drake and J. H. Hughes. , Circle reports were presented by Mrs G. Lyne (gardening), Mrs Spraggon (drama), Mrs E. IV. Drake (aits and crafts), Mrs C. L. Turnbull (civics), and Mrs A. J. MeNeilly (music). The secretary reported on a meeting of the New Zealand Union of Townswomen’s Guilds, held in Wellington in April, at which she and the president represented the guild.

THE SOCIAL SIDE. Tlic stage presented a most attractive appearance with a profusion of greenery, flax leaves, holly berries, hydrangeas, and chrysanthemums, as well as other flowers, and the hall tables were adorned with vases of Iceland poppies. The ladies responsible for tlie decorations were Miss Keats and Mesdamcs G. Lyne, IV. S. Woodroofc, L. Gold and H. Gillott, who were accorded a special vote of thanks for obtaining flowers at a time when there is a scarcity. The door hostesses were Mesdames V. Stagpoole and E. IV. Drake. Delightful vocal solos, “Bird Songs at Eventide,” “Trees,” and “Villia,” were contributed by Mrs K. Jones, her accompaniste being Mrs MeNeilly. Miss Cranston explained that next month there would be a parade depicting famous women, a prize to be given for the best costume. Mrs J. W. Davidson was welcomed back after her recent; illness. Air Fleck, at the outset of his address, said all loved jewellery. There were three reasons: Because of its beauty of colour, form, or workmanship ; the romance and history attached to it; and its commercial value. Even in the early days when men could hardly speak, quaint or coloured stones were living round their necks, Mr Fleck explaining the significance of this. If the possession of that stone brought some fortune it was invested with charm and there began romance; seeking to become possessed of the stone brought bargaining and the realisation of commercial value. Through all the ages personal ornaments had been v ery much suught after, and were closely related to modern jewellery. As soon as men had begun to work metal they had made ornaments alter first making weapons, copper, gold, and silver having been followed by iron. Iron and bronze ornaments had been of great value, gold as a metal having no commercial value as it- was too sort, and up t»ill recent times silvei licicl been more valuable. Gold, liowevei, being scarce, gradually crept into tavour for ornaments. The making of jewellery had been evolved centunes aero, and cities which had existed years before Biblical times had been unearthed and jewellery lvad been found there had been no such things as buttons in early days, and so brooches had been useful for fastening purposes. Lo give an indication of the size of some of these brooches, Mr Fleck said that in early Irish history there was mentioned a law that if anyone were hurt by the pin of a brooch projecting beyond the shoulders ho was entitled to a recompense. The Queen’s crown had been made of platinum, which was a valuable metal, priced at £3O an ounce, although lm could remember when it was 30s; but in his personal opinion it was second only to silver m beauty. Wedding rings were still being made with crystal mixed with tlie gold, and to both the wedding and engagement ring there was a history attached. Seal rings vised to affix seals on documents had to-day drifted into the form of signet rings. Episcopal rings had been worn by Church dignatories, steel or iron rings by the early people,, including Vikings; posy rings had originated iii medieval times as more suited to be presented to ladies; poison rings, for a more sinister purpose, were referred to Mourning rings were now out of date; rings used to contain hair weie not now seen. There vvas a wonderful romantic history attached to fin^ei 11 Lip till fifty years ago the woidananship of jewellery was hardly d ffcreiit from that of 500 years ago, except that better instruments and more precisioi were utilised. Even to-day an okl-time artisan would, in a few weeks be proficient in the use of modeln plant. the last fifty years jewclleiy had become a mare mechanised product, designs had improved, and jewelleiy las now more beautiful than it lvad been in the last 100 years, although not Touch worn. Wonderful work had feHajasrsk:'!?* 1 ILrvl were diamonds, rubies, sapnhires and emeralds. A good diamond panes, the most brilliant Su.foS.rtrV'l “ “1“' >™“ |J lb lTot b Sr£.k to Mr Fleck, to Mm D • James for arranging a competition (which will be concluded at next meeting), and to the contiabu om ancl hostesses, was carried on the motion of Mrs Stagpoole. The ladies who served tea weie Mes dames IV. G. Black and A H°pwood (conveners), Kenyon, Langford, Lee, and F. Lucas.