TWENTY YEARS OLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22295, 22 June 1934, Page 14

TWENTY YEARS OLD

BIRTHDAY PARTY OF THE OTAGO WOMEN'S CLUB.

Lady Ferguson, addressing the huge audience in the lounge of the Otago, Women's Club on Wednesday evening, when the twentieth birthday of the club, was celebrated by a party, disclosed some interesting facts in her opening speech. The club, she said, had the largest mem-, bersbip in New Zealand—B2s;—and nine flourishing circles, the influence of which was beginning to extend out into the community as could be seen in the case of the Gardening Circle which, as a result of encouraging the beautifying of iailway station gardens, had brought itself under the notice of the General Manager of Railways with gratifying' results to the men who had worked at the gardens. There were now 14 gardens to judge annually, and in Southland, the Southland Women's Club had followed Otago's example and also was concerning itself with railway statiou gardens. Lady Ferguson congratulated Mrs Wakefield Holmes and Miss Dorbthy Clark, two club members who had been in the A certificate winning play at the British Drama League Festival, and then went on to speak of the conference of women's clubs recently held in Dunedin and represented by 22 clubs from all over New Zealand. Each club had submitted a remit regarding the education of girls, with the result that the Minister of Education had written to ask' the opinion of women's clubs on the subject of the training of girls in homecraft and mothercraft in the schools. Describing the gradual development of the Otago Women's Ciub, and its present status, Lady Ferguson finally spoke of her hopes regarding its future progress and ended with a warm expression of thanks to the executive for the : able manner in which it supported her. She was a gracious figure as she faced her audience, her gown of hunter-red velvet being charmingly ofiVet by diamond ornaments and the bouquet which, on behalf o"f the Gardening Circle, had been presented to her by Miss Betty Allan. Her programme was a gift from the Arts and Crafts Circle. Later, when Madame Winnie Fraser, on behalf of the club, addressed her in congratulatory terms for presiding for the twentieth occasion at the birthday party, the affection in the speaker's voice was only an echo of that felt by the audience who received Madame Winnie's words with acclamation. The programme for the evening was a very attractive one,' each circle contributing in some way. The Bridge Circle led by Mrs G. W. Reid. who wa s supported by two members in red and two in black, bearing aloft huge, cards, presented Lady Ferguson with a large gold box, which was found to contain a gift of cushions for the ciub from the circle'. The Play-reading and Literary Circles combined with a dashing presentation of portions of ''Rivals." Mrs Robert Ewiiig introducing the play, which was staged so as to give a convincing impression of an eighteenth century drawing room. Mrs Morrcl!, in pin-pie brocade, was a splendid Mrs Malaprop, and an amusing foil to Miss Mary Jolly, who, as Lydia Languish, in rose-pink petticoat with pale pink panniers, was all that could bp imagined of that pretty, pampered, and romantic young miss. Mrs Earl Johnson, as Lucy the maid, was surprisingly convincing, and the " men " were admirably portrayed by Miss Farnie—Sir Anthony Absolute —and Mrs J. G. Young —Captain Jack Absolute—each of whom < captured the goodwill of the audience. J

The Poetry Circle contributed a colourful scene inside a potter's shop, with Mrs Campbell as Omar Khayyam and Mrs Cowie as the potter, other members of the circle being engaged in painting the pots that were ready for attention; and the Civic Circle an uproarious farce written by Mrs Porteous and Mrs 'Williams,

and cnfitled "What is Wrong with New Zealand?" Behind the ridiculous aspect created by Britannia (Mrs Mackie Begg), John Bull (Mrs Portcous), Zealandia (Mrs Williams), the milkman (Mrs Hervey), and Bernard'Shaw the doctor (Mrs Taverner), to say nothing of the cow, there were real wit and humour, and the item stood out as being one of the best of the whole evening. ■ The French Circle's contribution was a bright little scene, written by Mrs Sutherland Ross, and depicting a theft on the Paris-Geneva express. Mrs Ross herselt took the part of the superior Mrs Smith Waltains, Mrs Earl Johnson that of her less magnificent rival, Miss Vida Reynolds, the tall, complacent waiter, and Mrae. Saldaigne the excellent inspector. Mrs Garrett introduced this item, the others having been introduced by Mrs Wakefield Holmes or Mrs Richard Hudson. Tlu Music Circle contributed by means of selections between items two part songs conducted by Miss Meda Paine, a solo by Airs Penman, two 'cello solos by Mrs Join MofTctt, and two songs and an encore by Madame Winnie Fraser, all being of c high order of merit. Finally, after a bright little militayj. dance performed by Misses Sheila Neilson, Billip-Mitchell, and Mama and Beryl Service, and a topical song sung by six Pierrettes and picrrots—Mcsdames Wake-, field Holmes, Beaumont, A. C. Stephens, and Hill and Misses Fentou and Morrison—the birthday cake was brought in by the four military dancers and cut b? Lady Ferguson before being distributed to the members in the dining room during supper. ■;