PERSONAL AND SOCIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23201, 27 May 1937, Page 16

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL

Mrs J. Sutherland Ross and Miss Mavin Ross are visiting Timaru. * * * Mrs R. C. Young is at present staying in London. During the summer she will tour in Scotland. * >'.• # Mrs Ivan Bond-Fleming, of Wanganui, is spending a short holiday with her mother, Mrs T. J. Blackman, of Dunedin. * « * Mrs Douglas Ramsay was hostess at a luncheon party at the Otago Women's Club yesterday, given in honour of Mrs Walter Raymond, of Timaru. Her other guests were Mesdames H. Dodgshun, Donald Reid, Colin Holmes (Otaki), Garth Gallaway and Edgar Hazlett, and Miss Theomin. * * * Intimation has been received that ftie King has been pleased to sanction the appointment of Mrs G. Barclay, of Dunedin, as an officer (sister) of the Venerable Order of St. John. For a good many years, Mrs Barclay has rendered valuable assistance to the St. John Ambulance Brigade in New Zealand, of which her husband is the chief commissioner, and the recognition thus extended is well merited. Mr and Mrs Geoffrey Cox, of London, will leave next month to take up their residence in Vienna. Mr Cox is the son of Mr and Mrs Sandforcl Cox, of this city, and has been doing interesting journalistic work in London, He will act as correspondent for the Daily Express while in Vienna', and cover the Central Europe territory. * # * The Logan Park Croquet Club held a pleasant function in the Vedic Cafe, when it entertained two of its members at afternoon tea. The president, Mrs Smith, welcomed all present and congratulated the guests on their play in the last tournament and of the winning of the Briggs Cup and M'Donald trophy. A small competition was later held, and won by Mrs Campbell and Mrs Gain. The members of the St. Clair branch of the Home Economics Association met at the home of Mrs Cumming, Alma street, on Tuesday, for their monthly ■ meeting. Mrs M'lndoe presided, and during the evening a demonstration of cushion-making was given by her. Cushions in various stages of completion were displayed to enable members to follow each step of the work. Mrs M'lndoe had also brought finished cushions in many delightful designs, with patterns of each for members to copy. Miss Florence Adams, of Timaru, has booked her return passage by the Nestor, leaving Liverpool on July 31 (writes our London correspondent on May 5). She was to remain in London until after the naval review, at which she was to be on the New Zealand cruiser Leander. Towards the end of May, Miss Adams will motor through to Scotland to visit friends in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. During June she will be in London, when she will attend, among other functions, the Aldershot tattoo and the royal garden party. After that, the Continent will be visited, particularly Germany. In July, Miss Adams will attend the Nurses' Congress in London, and, of course. Sister Mitchell and herself will take part in the Coronation procession.

Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret are pleased that Buckingham Palace is now their home, for the spacious grounds provide them with lots of amusement (says an exchange). There are flower beds to watch and nesting birds to be seen along the wooded paths and ducks on the little lake that willingly come to the side to be fed with a packet of corn. The Princesses' ponies have just been brought to town from Windsor, so that they can enjoy a canter in the big riding school which you can see when you go along Buckingham Palace road. Princess Elizabeth will also be making use of the Palace tennis court this summer. Her governess is teaching her the game now, but it was the King who first showed the Princess how to wield a racket. He is a first-class player himself, with a fast left-handed game, and once competed in the championships at Wimbledon when he was the Duke of York. A gift afternoon was given to Miss Mavis Johnston (who is to be a June bride) by Mrs J. Abbott in the Astor Tea Rooms. Those invited were: Mesdames Johnston, S. Dove, J. Dove, Burnside. Hungerford, Forrester, J. Abbott. Bills. Muir, Brookes, Meade, Beecher. Goodman, Kydd, Morris, Rendell, Paterson, and Walker, and Misses Mavis Johnston, E. Johnston, Bills, Muir, Lang, Hungerford, Gilmore, and Goodman. After tea, Miss Johnton was presented with a floral bouquet and a kewpie bouquet by Miss Goodman. Competitions were then indulged in, the prize-winners being Mesdames Johnston, Dove, Brookes, and Muir. During the afternoon songs were contributed by Miss Johnston and Mrs F. J. Forrester, and a pianoforte solo by Mrs E. M. Burnside. Miss Johnston was the recipient of many gifts. Mrs Mowbray Tripp, of Geraldine, while a guest of Lord and Lady Fisher at Kilverstone Hall, attended the Newmarket meeting and saw the One Thousand and Two Thousand Guineas. She is greatly interested in these important classics, and, of course, saw some of the best thoroughbreds in England. She is looking forward to taking her sons to see the Derby. Mrs Tripp is, like most New Zealanders, receiving invitations to a great many interesting functions. With the Royal Empire Society's party, she and her sons were to enjoy a five-days' cruise at the naval review, seeing this spectacle from the Duchess of Montrose. Later, they will tour England in their Lanchester car to pay a round of country visits. Last week (our London correspondent wrote on May 5) they were the guests of Mr and Mrs Robin Barclay, at Gaston House. Mr and Mrs Barclay are well known in New Zealand, having recently been out with the Chamber of Commerce delegation. During July. Mrs Tripp and her sons hope.to visit Germany and Austria. Return passages have been booked by the Oronsay. leaving on August 26.

On Saturday evening the Strand Salon was the scene of a social function held by the Australian Society. The president (Mr A. A. Paape) welcomed the guests. Dancing was enjoyed by many, while others joined in games and cards in the lounge. The rendering of vocal items by Mr E. Tuckwell, accompanied by Mrs Tuckwell, and elocutionary items by Miss Ngaire Glue were appreciated. A Monte Carlo dance was won by Mrs Orton and Mr D. Brickell and Mrs F. Andrews and Mr R. H. Martin. Among the guests present were: Messrs and Mesdames H. M. Mackay, F. G. Paape. A. Glue, H. A. Newall, J. Stoddart, F. Andrews, J. R. Scwell, G. Andrews, J. H. Clements, E. Clayton, D. Cunningham, A. H. Gallagher, T. L. Huggins. Reg. Paterson. F. Parker, Davies, Orton, Wallace, Horn, J. A. Robinson, and E. Tuckwell: Mesdames A. M. Myles, Pywell, A. Martin, C. A. Thompson, Sutherland and Stewart; Misses Weaver, Clements. M. Fairweather, Muriel Hare, Ngaire Glue, Thelma Newall, B. Harlock, B. Snowball, M'lntosh, J Leith.W. Thompson, Stewart, Gaynor Paape, J. Martin. P. Griffiths and Doris Gubbins; and Messrs A. A. Paape, R. C. Connell, D. M'Kay, J. Temple, R. H. Temple, N. Freeman. C. Andrews, A. Reid, D. R. Brickell, E. Stoddart, J. M'Garrigle, H. Marsden, Standage, Kimber, W. B. Newall, L. Myles, A. Pywell, R. Clements. Stewart, and P. Walker.

Mrs J. Malcolm gave a tea party yesterday afternoon in honour of Mrs R. Ewing. Mrs F. F. A. Ulrich, of Timaru, is the guest of Miss Ulrich, Cumberland street. Miss Judith Gallaway gave a threetable bridge party on Tuesday evening at her home in Albert street, in honour of Miss Doreen Raymond, of Timaru, who is at present her guest. The other players were:—Misses Eleanor Carswell, Margot Mac Lean, Cecily Jones and Sheila M'Donald, and Messrs S. and G. Cook, S. Raymond, J. Ramsay, H. Dodgshun and D. Hoggans. On Tuesday afternoon, at her home in Albert street, Mrs Garth Gallaway gave a tea party as a farewell to Mrs R. A. Ewing, who will leave next month, accompanied by Miss Janette Ewing, on a tour abroad. The hostess wore a frock of brown wool georgette, and her daughter, Miss Judith Gallaway, nigger brown checked i.et. with collar and cuffs in white pique.. After tea was served Lady Sidey read a letter from Miss Nancy Parsons, of Christchurch, who is at present travelling in America on a Carnegie Fellowship in connection with kindergarten work, after spending some time at Columbia University, New York, and who will leave shortly for England to complete a postgraduate course in kindergarten practice. The other guests present were Lady Hutchison, Mesdames A. M. Cameron, J. Mollison, Richard Hudson, G. Batham, D. Phillips, J. Shand, W. Evans, Gerald Fitzgerald, E. Theomin, A. Duncan, J. A. Jenkins, J. R. Glendining and R. W. Brickell. and Misses Scott, Kelsey and Calder.

The Duchess of Northumberland, whom the Queen has selected to be her Mistress of the Robes, holds a unique record among the peeresses of her rank, inasmuch as she is the daughter, widow, and mother of a duke. Her father was the late Duke of Richmond and Gordon, KG., and her husband the late Duke of Northumberland. In the past, she has not been a very wellknown figure in London, as she greatly prefers her country home at the ancient Border castle of Alnwick. She is extremely fond of all outdoor pastimes, and during the minority of the present Duke of Northumberland assumed the mastership of the Percy hounds. As Mistress of the Robes she is the official head of the Queen's Household, and was in bygone days responsible for the conduct and general behaviour of the maids of honour, sometimes a thankless task, if history may be relied upon! She will be seen in her official capacity for the first time at the first evening Court of the season. * * if The fortnightly meeting of the St. Clair Women's Club was held on Monday evening. After Mrs Robson had entertained the audience with a song, the president introduced Mr D. A. J. Rutherford, Director of Education in Western Samoa for the past 18 years, who was the speaker for the evening. He first provided a background for his address by sketching lightly the geography, history, and mythology of Samoa, then went on to describe his work and experiences in the schools, with the change from German to English methods in 1918. He exhibited valuable mats, kava bowls, and models of houses and canoes, and explained various methods of weaving and dyeing in vogue in the islands for hundreds of years. He mentioned the Samoan love of music and harmony, and sang several of their songs. Altogether the evening was both entertaining and instructive, and gave everyone present a truer understanding of the habits and customs of this interesting race. A hearty vote of thanks to the speaker was proposed, and carried with enthusiasm.

Miss Peggy Ewing is the guest of Mrs Walls, of Wellington. Miss Peggy Brewer returned on Tuesday from an extended holiday in Hawke's Bay. The Dominion executive of the Plunket Society gave a dinner party in the Otago Women's Club on Tuesday evening in honour of Mrs James Begg (newly-appointed Dominion president), and Mrs Joseph M'George, who recently returned from England and is a Dominion vice-president. After dinner the guests went to a picture party. Thev were Lady Sidey, Mr and Mrs ■James Begg, Mr and Mrs Joseph M'George, Dr and Mrs Andrew Begg, Mr and Mrs L. Tuck, Mr and Mrs A. C. Cameron, Mr and Mrs C. B. Barrowclough, and Mr and Mrs Sandford Cox. An enjoyable social and dance was held in the Warrington School to bid farewell to Miss A. Borthwick, who is leaving to take up a position in the Mornington School. Mr Kemp contributed a sailor's hornpipe. After supper speeches were made by Mr Milne (chairman), Mr Inglis and Mr Findlay referring to the good work that Miss Borthwick had done in the school. She had earned the respect of the children and the esteem of the parents. In presenting Miss Borthwick with a handbag and gloves, Mr Milne wished her every success in her new work. Miss Borthwick, in a few well-chosen words, thanked the parents for their gifts. A successful evening was brought to a close with "Auld Lang Syne." •v. V * The Ravensbourne branch of the Mothers' Union was well attended last week, when Mrs Hamblett was the speaker and held the interest of all with her talk on the Coronation ceremony, and the archbishop's re-call to religion. Mrs A. G. Thomson, who presided, expressed the cordial welcome of the members, and Mrs Jones returned thanks for her enjoyable address. The Mothers' Union choir rendered the following numbers, "In this Hour," "Neapolitan Boat Song" and "All Thro' the Night." At last months meeting special interest was aroused by the announcement of the formation of a link with St. John's branch, Cheshire. England, and a delightful letter

was read by the secretary (Mrs Westwood), from Mrs Evans, head of that branch in the Motherland, expressing their pleasure at being linked up with Ravensbourne, and trusting it would result in a real spirit of friendship and fellowship between the two branches. The Literary Circle of the Otago Women's Club held an interesting evening on Tuesday, when Mrs R. D. Nimmo gave an address on the Queen Anne period as portrayed by Thackeray in " Henry Esmond." The speaker picturesquely described London at the time of Queen Anne, the coffee houses and the wits who frequented them, and, dealing with Steele and Addison in connection with the Spectator and the Tatler, and with Pope and Swift as writers of the period, gave opportunity for the reading of three interesting extracts from " Henry Esmond," by Miss Frances Ritchie, Miss Holland, and Miss M'Dougall. Mrs Nimmo's concluding remarks dealt with the worth of " Esmond" as an historical novel and were both forceful and convincing. The evening was brought to a close by the reading of a scene from " Viceroy Sarah " by three members of the Play-Reading Circle—Miss Dutton as Queen Anne, Mrs Eastgate as the Duchess of Marlborough, and Mrs A. C. Stephens as Abagail, the Queen's ladv-in-waiting. The scene was realistically portrayed and allowed the audience to carry away with it a visual impression of the period Mrs Nimmo and her assistants had previously been describing to it. * * * Included in a party of New Zealanders who arrived in Southampton recently by the Royal Dutch liner Christiaan Huygens was Miss* Elsie K. Morton, of the literary staff of the New Zealand Herald, who is visiting England in the course of a world tour. Travelling from Sydney by the K.P.M. liner Nieuw Holland, Miss Morton made a tour of the Dutch East Indies. She disembarked at the Isle of Bali, and spent five days there, visiting all the principal points of interest. A rail and motor tour of Java followed, in the course of which the ancient Hindu temples of Borobudur and Mendoet were visited, also the beautiful mountain resort of Garoct, the capital city, Djokjakarta, and old Dutch capial, Batavia. From Singapore the next point of interest was Sumatra, two days being spent at the lovely little island of Sabang and at the capital city, Maidan, a beautifully-laid-out modern Dutch town. The voyage to England was completed via Colombo and Suez, at which port Miss Morton, with a parly of New Zealanders. left the ship to visit Cairo and the Pyramids, resuming the trip again at Port Said Visits to Genoa and Algiers were full of interest, and the vessel's passing through the war-disturbed area of the Straits of Gibraltar and Ceuta was given a touch of excitement by the presence of Spanish aircraft. British destroyers, and the Huygen's escort, a Dutch'submarine and warship. Immediately following her ai'rival at Southampton. Miss Morton journeyed to Hempstead, in Essex, where she spent several days as the guest of Mr Hector Bolitho. at Boytons. the New Zealand author's charming old Tudor homestead. Miss Morton also visited Windsor Castle, and with Mr Gordon Bolitho was the guest of Dr Baillie, Dean of Windsor, at luncheon. Immediately following her return to London. Miss Morton left for Holland, where she remained two weeks, visiting the famous bulb fields of Haarlem and Sassenheiros, also Amsterdam. Utrecht, the quaint old village of Volendam. and many other points of interest. On her

return to England she was a guest at a Coronation dinner party given in the Washington Hotel, Mayfair, by the London Siroptomist Society—a woman's organisation similar to that of the Rotary Club. After the Coronation festivities are over Miss Morton intends to visit the Norwegian f jiords.