OVERSEAS LEAGUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23218, 12 December 1938, Page 4

OVERSEAS LEAGUE

CHRISTMAS PARTY ENJOYABLE PROGRAMME ♦ MAORI ITEMS FEATURED Bowers of tree ferns and manuka, and streamers of white and red, tlier colours of the Overseas League, transformed tho lounge of the Overseas League on Saturday night, when the seventh annual 1 Christmas party was held by the league members. Funds from the party will bo donated toward the cost of the canoes which Princess Te Puea is planning for the centennial celebrations. Tho league colours were also the keynote of tho dining room decorations, where a profusion of scarlet roses among bunches of holly and sprays of mistletoe festooned the walls and ceiling. In the library, white Christmas lilies and the scarlet and green of puriri branches formed a striking background for the gaily decorated Christmas tree. The guests were received by Mrs. J. M. Melville, wife of a vice-president. She was wearing a frock of navy chiffon and was assisted by .Mrs. H. C. Smart, wearing black embossed- velvet; Miss A. Sutton in delphinium blue lace, and Mrs. E. L. Burton (convener of the committee), in parchment lace. Other committee members present were:—Mrs. G. E. Sharood, Mrs. V. Whitford, Mrs. AJT. R. Golden, Mrs. E. S. Weare, Mrs. J. T. F. Mitchell, Mrs. Skcons, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Foster, Mrs. E. A. French, Miss Willoughby, Miss A. Walker, Miss M. Harty, Miss J. MeClymont and Miss E. File. Mr. C. M. Rattray acted as chairman. Prior to the commencement of the programme, Judge Acheson, president of the league, gave a short address on the work which had been undertaken with regard to tho canoes, and conveyed to the members Princess Te Puea's thanks and an invitation to visit her model farm at Ngaruawahia when the first canoe was launched.

The first item of the programme was a display by .'SO pupils of the Kowhai Intermediate School, comprising Maori hakas and dances. This was given under the direction of Mrs. Chisholm. Other items were recitations by Miss Betty Birch, songs by Mrs. N. V. Le Petit, Mr, L. Paul, Mr. Tea Hapi and Mr. Frank McKnight, monologues by Mrs. D. Pool, Miss Anita Webster ami Mr. R. Graham, dances by Pat Davys and choir items in Maori, arranged by Mrs. V. Bosworth. The accompanists were Mrs. M. Towscy and Mrs. W. Beniams.