WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24483, 17 December 1940, Page 10

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

Reports of meetings of branches are requested but they should be furnished promptly, for the publication of reports that are not supplied within a week from the date of the meeting cannot be promised

The December meeting of the Janefield Institute was held in the garden at the home of Mrs J. Read where a large Christmas tree was laden with gifts which could be obtained by a small charge. Mrs Sproule presided and £1 was sent to the Spitfire Fund and £1 to the London Relief Fund. Mrs Densern gave a talk on “ Home Nursing,” and the afternoon was concluded with a treasure hunt, which was won by Mrs Densem. The hostesses were Mesdames Peat, Dryden, Milner. Pugh, and Roberts.

The final meeting for 1940 of the Clinton branch took the form of a “ Christmas cheer month,” at which Mrs Bateman presided. The postmaster, Mr Martin, spoke, on the “National Savings Scheme,” and the Rev. J. Caughey gave a talk entitled “ Opportunity.”' Mrs J. McCormack made a report on the half-yearly council meeting. Christmas carols were sung by a choir of institute members. The competitions resulted:—Christmas gift costing not more than one shilling—Mrs Morrison 1, Mrs West 2. Mrs Pannet 3; biscuits—Mrs West 1. Mrs West 2. Mrs Morrison 3: bloom—Mrs McDonald 1. Mrs Steele 2’. Mrs Corbett and Mrs Steele (equal) 3. The hostesses were Mesdames Robertson. Evans, McDonald. and the motto was “ Spend a little, send a little to another, door; give a little, love a little more.”

The monthly meeting of the Taicri Women’s Institute was held last Thursday, and took the form of a social evening, at which Mrs Taylor presided. The programme for the evening was as follows: —Misses N. and G. Williamson (piano duet). Miss Margaret Stewart (song), Mrs Johnson (recitation), and Mesdames Brough and Beale (vocal duet). A cleverly-ar-ranged tableau representing “ Canada ” was given by members of the institute, the accompanying solo being sung by Mrs Sproule. At the conclusion a presentation was made to Mrs Stewart, and gifts were also given to Misses Margaret and Betty Stewart.

Mrs Tansley presided at the most recent meeting of the Papatowai Institute. “ What place in New Zealand you would most like to visit for Christmas ” was the roll call, and “Thinking well is wise, planning well is wiser, and doing well is wisest of all ” was the motto. Mrs Adams gave a demonstration on the making of organdi sachets, and showed a beautiful sample of her work. The competition, “ Miniature garden on a dinner plate,” resulted: Mrs Peterson 1, Miss Zita Latta 2. Mrs T. V. Latta and Mrs Peterson were the hostesses for the evening.

Mrs Ferguson presided when the Waitati Institute held its monthly meeting on Tuesday afternoon. The motto was, “We may live without friends, we may live without books, but civilised man cannot live without cooks and the roll call was “A song or a recitation.” Mrs Milne (Seacliff) gave an address on “Life in Kenya.” The sum of £6 had been collected by members of the district for the Blind Institute. Prizes for improvement were again sent to the school by the institute and by individual members. The hostesses were Mesdames Adamson, Cranston, and South.

Mrs Taiaroa presided at the final meeting for the year of the Karitane Institute, which was held on Thursday. - The motto was, “Be loyal and the roll call, “ Where I would like to spend my holidays.” The competitions resulted; “Christmas gift to cost one shilling ’’—Mrs Taiaroa 1, Mrs Kennedy 2; “ bloom ’’—Mrs Patterson 1, Mr s Tubman 2. Mrs Tubman gave a report on the Mid-Otago Council meeting held at Naseby. Mrs Olsen accepted a gift from members for her daughter, a late member of the institute, who had recently been married. A guessing competition was won by Mr D. Brown. The hostesses were Mrs Te Tau and Mrs Tubman.

Mrs Soper presided at the monthly meeting of the Clydevale Institute. The motto was, “ Peace on earth, goodwill toward men.” and the roll call, “ What I would like for Christmas.” Mrs Cooksley gave a talk on home nursing, and Mrs Andrews gave a demonstration on how to crystallise flowers for decorations, and Mrs Grant spoke on Christmas in other lands. Miss Dick sang two Christmas carols, accompanied by Miss J. Cross. The competitions resulted: “ Present costing not more than 2s fid” —Miss May 1, Mrs King 2, Mrs Cooksley 3; “hand-made Christmas card ” —Mrs Birss and Miss May (equal) 1, Miss May 3, Mesdames Andrews, Cooksley, Birss and Soper (equal) 4 “Bowl of roses,” Mrs Soper 1. The hostesses were Mesdames Chapman and Muirhead.

The Waiwera Institute met on Tuesday, when Mrs J. Taylor presided. The motto was. “Turn your face to the sunshine and the shadows will fall behind.” The best bloom competition resulted: Mrs J. A. Anderson 1, Mrs J. Taylor ... Mrs W. Sutherland gave a talk on her walk through the Milford track to the Milford Sound, and arrangements were made for a children’s picnic. The hostesses were Misses C. Dunn and J. Taylor.

Thursday, December 12, was a redletter day for the children of Waipiata, when Mrs Sparks presided over the annual Christmas party given by the institute. The programme arranged by Mrs R. East included an amusing sketch, “ Mrs 'Arris and Mrs ’Ohlmes go a-Marketing,” and ‘"The Christmas Epilogue,” presented by Misses A. Thompson, M. Mathias, V. Tregonning, A. Roberts, and I. Rapson, and for a happy climax Father Christmas, who presided for the remainder of the afternoon, presented each child with a gift from the Christmas tree. The competition, “ a Christmas gift costing no more than two shillings,” resulted: Misses A. Thompson and A. Roberts (equal) 1, Mrs J. Roberts 3

Mrs Kennard presided on Friday at the final meeting for the year of the Milton Institute. Sympathy was extended to Mrs Kenny, .vho had suffered a bereavement. The motto was, “ When sliding down the bannisters of life, may you never meet a splinter.” and the roll call, “Hints on jam-mak-ing.” A letter from Captain J. B. Gray, “ somewhere in England,” was read, thanking members for parcels received. The competitions resulted: “ Girdle scones ” —Mrs Gray 1, Mrs Olver 2; “oven scones” —Mrs Gray 1, Mrs Donnelly 2; “ premier bloom ” —Mrs Porter 1, Mrs Donnelly 2, Mrs Olver 3. The hostesses were Mesdames T. Scott. H. Wilson. F. Kennard, and Porter.

On Thursday the Palmerston Institute held its final meeting for the year, which took the form of a grandmothers’ day. The motto was, “ Do your best, ana rejoice when others do better”; and the roll call, “A way of dealing with flies.” Mrs Pringle gave an account of the council meeting at Naseby, and Mrs Mcßae reported on patriotic work. A letter from a soldier in England was read, in which he thanked institute members for a parcel which they had sent to

him. Mrs Stevenson gave a report on the card evening held during the year. There were 16 grandmothers present and two great-grandmothers, each of whom received a posy A game was won by Mrs French. The following contributed items; Glee Club, Miss Smith, and Mesdames Jones and Smith. The competitions resulted: Felt work —Mrs Dowie 1; shortbread— Mrs Stevenson, Mrs Cowan, Mrs Rhodes; bloom (a rose)—Mrs Appleby. Hostesses were Mesdames Dowie, Mcßae. Chalmers, Miss Diack.