WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14246, 14 March 1917, Page 5

WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE.

MANUTUKE BRANCH

The annual meeting of the Manutuke branch of the Women's National Reserve was held at Te Arai on Tuesday afternoon, there being a good attendance of members. Mra T. Preston, the president, presided. The secretary (Mrs R. Hepburn) read the report which was as follows : —

Ladles.— l have much In submitting to you the annual report and balance sheet of our first year's operations. I can heartily congratulate the Reserve, both Irani a financial and working point of view. The total receipts were £:>SO 13s Id, working expenditure £82 15s 7d. . leaving a surplus of JE467 17s Cd, which must be considered very satisfactory. The. fli\st meeting was convened on December 17, 1015. After the aims and objects had l»een explained it was unanimously decided to form a branch of the Women's National. .Reserve at Manutuke. Members were duly enrolled, committee! formed, and oflicers duly elected. These! oincers and committee have endeavored] to carry out the wishes of members generally ,and it rests' with you now at this, our annual meeting, to endorse or condemn the actions of your committee. We -commenced 'With' a membership of 11, and the Reserve has steadily, grown, and at the present time we have 36 members,, which I think is very creditable to the district. 1 might say that the work .done* throughout the ypar^.has been a i great pleasure to us alt knowing as we do that the little we have done has helped to alleviate m a small way the great disti'ess caused by this terrible war. To our brave boys who have volunteered for active service ' this -.year, my > committee arranged .social evenings to bid them God speed, and we hope and trust that they may be spared to come, back to us. To the parents arid relatives of our brave and noble boys who have , fallen for honor's cause we extend our deepest sympathy. One of the most important bran^ht^ -of activity this year has been the sewing that has been done, quite a number of garments having been made. The .ladles have worked "• together m ; a most whole-hearted manner. During the year we held 65 sewing days, and the results of our. combinefl efforts enabled us to forward into. the. Women's Patriotic Guild 161 pairs pyjamas, f>7 pillow slips. 37 waistcoats. 87 handkerchiefs, 12 hotwater bags. 84 milk jug covers. 41 pairs slippers, 17 cushions, 36 pairs mittens, 2 hemets, "3 balaclavas, 7 scarves,: lu-, pairs bed §pcks, 47 face cloths, 18 shirts, 14 bed • suits, 2.4 treasure bags.^ ,W6 also made the foUoWlhg arilcles for tire tfrave Beldans: 30 children's dresses, 20 pairs bloomers, 27 petticoats^' 32 pairs trousers, r» coats. 4 ! Varsity suits,; 17 boys' suits, i;» boys' llannel < shirts, :. and 3 -dozen faco cloths; aso the following Articles for: the sick : children m the Gisborne hospital, ncr Women's. Club: 32 'girls'- tnightgowns, 11 pairs ' combination suits, 14 pairs tfyjama suits: :i , pairs .soldiers' slippers. Another important branch of our work has been to provide parcels for our brave boys' at the front, as- a <small token to show thenr how nluch .we apreciatc what they are doing for its. .To raise funds for this- purpose we Inaugurated a series of jnonthly euchre parties and' socials, which has enabled us to i forward £5 per month to the Lady Liverpool, fund. We also ') sent direct to our Manutuke boys on active service 40 parcels, and would like Jo keep .this part of our -work- going-. Great enthusiasm was shown by our members on packing day, one and all working together on their laßor of, love. We, also decided to -extend our ' Gyrations to raise a fund foi\;wounded -soldiers. I this xespect we decided toy make a special effort to raise money, and i so held a bazaar ami gift auction, which was very successful, •; <?nabling us to derive-- -a net profit of £400, which is now m the P.O. Savings Bank, and. my committee,, deoidM tb^forward it to the Citizens' Defence Committee, to be . spec^iaLUy marked, for the Manutuke boys; The committee desire to 1 thank all the 'resident* $* tb.6 district for their loyal and kind support with- money, donations. .Stock, etei.jiWithoiit which' we could Ynot have attained such! success. In .time to come-jwe may expect-h eavier demanil&j on qur funds,,, but wo know as In the past «qur district will "be with us, .and" so enable ,us <to carry on oiir work., .Wo desire to spec-, tally thank the committee of tlib' prosbyte^ian Church for the, u^e, Qf their.building for our sewing 'meetings: !*MrsDauli ton for the use of the rhall;' tli© T6 Arjii school committee for use of school for s6clals; and to Mr Fred Kirk who .has always supjted music for us gratis; also to Mrs WiUson for use of n sewing macblncj Mr T. Ada4r. for euc^ro ,..* prj«es; Primrose and teslio for w^x<.,erids; . ($Sr t borne Club for , playing carfls^ Buckley ,'^C. Gibson, #y,i E. R6b.etts. T.. Prcaton.'Sind J. E-'DaiUtoh who 'always give. -us 'gfifot assistance when required, l also have: to thank the members and secretary of my ' Committee for ; the cordial mAnner m which' they 'have 'assisted me. during my term of of&oe. ahd-trtist that the incoming • CBTiwnJttee • will uso i their best endeavors to carry on the gwd work. J#&,u& ali-,wish Jor an earJy and victorious .termination of this dreadful \vaiv in, fftvor. qf\sk AUJes. v . , ■ - • Tho reno» was' Copied, ,. arid apmoyal ex^ss^Tof the good work done during the yem. * Officei-B lor the ensuing.year were cleqtr ed as .follows :— President. Mi%,?. -BcwlOh; yice-pre«i4pnt, Mr^ Buc^y ; secreW pivty ; • co-nmibte^ Me^aaapes •E. RobertK, C Gibson, R. Preston, Figg, and Miss Sherwood. It wa» decided to hold a garden fete on Easter Mgnday m the Te Arai domain for patriotic purposes, and arrangements were put m hand for the function. •