PERSONAL AND SOCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21446, 22 September 1931, Page 13

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL.

By Phillid.v

The marriage is announced foom London of Miss Alkon Grant, New Zealand poetess and journalist. Miss Grant, who is now Mrs Hugh Robinson, was widely known through her verse, and was children's editor of the New Zealand' Tunes and Evening Post, Wellington. About two years ago she left for England, and has been in London most of the time since then. Mr Robinson is a merchant in London, and the marriage took place after Miss Grant had returned from a visit to Spain.

“ Fashions in the small night restaurants in Paris change as quickly as fashions in hats ” (states a writer to the Daily Mail). Now there is a craze for negro singers, together with as many pianos as possible. At one place two performers play at a huge double grand, with a third player at an upright piano behind it. But for ingenuity commend me to the proprietor of a narrow room with the absolute minimum of dancing space. Here the two grand pianos are piled one above the other! ” * * *

On Friday afternon Mrs W. B. Taverner entertained the Ladies’ Committee of the St. Kilda Unemployed Relief Fund at afternoon tea in Mr W. C. Taverner's board room. Owing to unavoidable circumstances, the invitations were tent out at somewhat short notice, and a large number of apologies was received. The tables were nicely decorated with flowers sent from Wellington, and a very pleasant hour was spent. Mrs Taverner made suitable reference to the good work this committee was accomplishing, and wished it success in . its undertaking. Amongst those present were Mesdames W. Wright, J. Simpson, D. H. Hastings, HH. Leary, D. M. Lister, Rust, D. Telfer, A. J. Brown, R. W. Hall, and Lenz.’ Misses Conn and Halsted.

The W.E.A. women’s class will conclude its series of lectures on September 25. ■ The course has been successful in every way, and the enthusiasm of the members has been fully sustained. The tutor (Mrs W. N. Bemon) lias dealt with the early history of China, studying in detail the “ Chou ” dynasty, when Chinese social and political life crystallised into the form it has maintained until very recent times. Incidental to the historical study, the gradual evolution of family life, of art, and of literature has been followed. Members of the class have made individual or group otudies on special topics such as the Chinese festivals, the teachings of the early philosophers, and family and court life. The papers and selected readings resulting from these studies have been presented to the class as a part of the routine study. The final afternoon will be conducted by members of the class, when papers will be rend on early Chinese art. poetry, and songs, and there will be a display of Chinese treasures.

Mention is made in the Southern Cross Log of the death of Mrs Selwyn, who married Bishop John Selwyn, of Melanesia, about 45 years ago. It is stated that she' was a very lovable personality, full of sympathy, generosity, and Christian faith, all forming a very beautiful character. Her death took place recently, and Melanesia will miss her ever-roady interest and thought for all present in the Islands, so much loved by her husband in his lifetime. Mrs Selwyn was the daughter of Mr Thomas Mort, of Sydney, one of Australia’s greatest mob. She had many sorrows in her time. The loss of her only son, an Eton boy of great attractiveness, who mot with an accident while riding a motor cycle delivering Christmas gifts from his mother to the poor in the district, was followed later by that of a younger daughter, who died_ in New Zealand after only two years of married life. Mrs Selwyn's surviving daughter, Mrs Will Spens, wife of the master of Corpus Christ! College, Cambridge, had the pleasure of the company of her mother in Cambridge since the death of Bishop Selwyn in 1808. He was the' master of Selwyn College, and there his wife’s funeral took place, attended by many friends.

There was a large gathering in the Clyde Town Hall on September 18 when the Clyde branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union celebrated its first birthday. Visitors from the Cromwell and the Alexandra branches were present, and birthday greetings were received from the Omakau branch. The hall was beautifully decorated -with streamers in division colours and spring flowers, and an enlarged reproduction of a president’s badge (the work of Miss Joan Bould) wrfs much admired. The proceedings were opened by n pianoforte duet by Misses Holt and Mona Hanning, after which the president (Mrs Annan) welcomed the visitors and gave a brief resume, of the branch’s activities for the year, especially stressing the wider bonds of friendship and helpfulness the Women’s Division lias created in the district. Then followed u programme of songs and recitations, interspersed with dancing to the excellent music of the Whoopee Jazz Band, who kindly gave their services free. Those who assisted with items were Mesdames Iversen and Tucker, Misses V. M'Eiroy and George Stevens (songs), Miss Bould (recitation). Misses P. Anscombe and R. Stevens (humorous sketch), and Mr Westhegd (violin solo). Miss Tucker rendered artistic accompaniments. Items which caused much mirth were the impromptu speech, “My ideal Wife ” (Mr W. K. George), “My Opinion of the Rising Generation” (Mr R. Kinnaird), “Spring Cleaning ” (Mr E. W. George), and “My Opinion of the W.D.F.U.’’ (Mr Bould), each of the speakers dealing ably with his subject. Mrs Bodkin (president of the Alexandra branch) spoke of the benefits the Otago and Southland country women were receiving from the Home Science Extension Service by lectures and box lectures, the W.D.F.U. being the medium through which these lectures are available. The supper tables, which were decorated with spring flowers, were centred by the birthday cake adorned with its one candle. Following supper, Mrs Smith (president of the Cromwell branch) cut the cake and wished the Clyde branch every success in the future. Votes of thanks were passed on behalf of the visitors by Mrs Iversen, and, on behalf of the Farmers’ Union, by Mr M'Ginnes.

The Tahatika branch of the Womens Division of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union celebrated its first birthday party in a very jolly and festive spirit on the evening of September 9 in the Tahatika Hall. A very large gathering was present for the occasion, and the interest displayed bore eloquent testimony to the place occupied by the division in local activities. Mrs M‘Nab (president of the branch).• before welcoming all present and speaking on the progress made by the branch during the year, called on Miss F. V. Finlayson (provincial secretary) to read the creed of the division. A song, composed for the occasion, was then sung by the Tahatika division members who were assembled on the stage, in which " husbands, brothers? friends, and sons ’ were all exhorted not to “ sit and talk of club root, rust and blight,” but to “ come along and celebrate.” This was followed by an Irish sketch by Mrs M’Gimpsey. Musical items wore, contributed by MissCraige, Mrs J. Morris, and Miss E. Laughton. Two plays, “Men’s and Women’s Rights” and “The Bashful John’s Blunders,” occasioned much merriment among the audience and the “ Red Cap Band” also contributed to the gaiety of the proceedings. During the evening Miss F. V. Finlayson spoke on the present and future activities of the division, whose membership had grown from 180 to over 1000 in a little over a year. Greetings were conveyed'to the Tahatika branch by Mrs Logan (president Owaka Women’s Division Farmers’ Union). Mrs G. S. Wilson (president Glenomaru Women’s Division Farmers’ Union), and Mr M’Nab (president Tahatika Farmers’ Union). Community singing concluded a very enjoyable programme. Mrs Jewell was responsible for the excellent arrangement of the programme and Mrs Finlayson was a very able accompaniste. The first birthday cake, made by Mrs Thomson, and iced by Mr C. Roger, was then brought in. Its solitary candle was lit by Miss Finlayson and the cake cut by Mrs Thomson during the singing of “ Auld Lam; Syne ” by those present. The guests of the Tahatika branch of the division then sang “For They are Jolly Good Fellows” and three rousing cheers for the division were given. Supper was then served and this was followed by dancing. During the evening Mrs Thomson and Mrs Capon, the first president and secretary of the branch respectively, were presented with small gifts from the members.

( Eveblack, says an authority, is not 1 needed on deep-sot eyes, but it gives to prominent eyes the luminosity they may lack. And the best eyeblack can be made 1 at home and costs nothing. Pass a saucer j backward and forward over the flame of a candle until you have a good smoky I patch. Then—when the candle-black is i cool —mix it into a paste with a spot of ! olive oil. Smooth this very lightly on the upper lids with your forefinger, and on your eyebrows if they are very light. Then anoint your eyelashes. The oiive oil will not only make your lashes look long and silky, but will make them grow.

The King has granted permission to Margaret Jane Fitzroy and Mary Rose Fitzroy, aged la and 13 respectively, daughters of the late Viscount Ipswich, who was killed while flying in 1918, to hold and enjoy the same title, place, rank, pre-eminence, and precedence as would have been due to them had their father lived to succeed to the title of Duke of Grafton. The girls are sisters of the present 16-year-old Duke. The Fitzroy family traces its descent from Charles 11. The eighth Duke of Grafton, grand father of the present Duke, died in January, 1931.

News has come to ‘hand this week of Dr and Mrs Eric Shand and their little daughter and Mrs D. T. Shand, of Taieri, who left the Dominion last year on a tour abroad. After a tour through Scotland, the south of England, and Wales, and visiting the English lakes, they arrived in London in Juno with the intention of settling down at Kensington until towards the end of the year, when they intend to return to New Zealand. Both Mrs D. T. Shand and Mrs Eric Shand were guests at the recent garden party given at Buckingham Palace by their Majesties. * * *

Mr and Mrs Con B. Daly, who are well known in Dunedin, with their family, left for England early this year, and have settled in a picturesque village in Bedfordshire for a time with Mrs Daly’s parents. “Colette,” composed by Mrs Daly and published by Boosey, has become a popular number over the air. Mrs Daly gave a 30 minutes’ recital with the British Broadcasting Company in London recently. She completed a short time ago an opera for which the story of Rohm Hood provided her with a theme. Patsy and Honor, young daughters of Mr and Mrs Daly, have been placed at school in England.