WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18528, 15 October 1934, Page 12

WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

POVERTY BAY FEDERATION HALF-YEARLY MEETING GATHERING IN WAIROA (Herald Correspondent.) The first half-yearly meeting of the Poverty Bay Federation of Women’s Institutes to he held in Wairoa took place on Friday in Osier’s Hall. The large gathering was presided over By Mrs. A. Wright, Motu, and the delegates were representative of the whole of the federation’s area from Wairoa to Cape Runaway. Sister May Gardner, president of the federation, was unable to be present owing to the illness of her mother. The meeting opened with the singing of the institute song, after which Mrs. Wright welcomed the delegates and hoped that all would have a happy time. The reports of delegates were made, covering the membership, social service, mutual improvement, reading, _ gardening and dramatic efforts, competitions, and demonstrations, all disclosing a very healthy tone. The delegates present were: —Waingake, Mrs. F. Shanks; Ormond, Mrs. Sherriff; Motu-Motuhora, Mrs. Arthur; Rakauroa, Mrs. Hutchinson; Wairoa, Mrs. C. Nolan; Te Karaka,, Mi’s. H. Allan; Tiniroto, Mrs.. Cameron; Pulia, Mrs. Dyntock; Takitimu, Mrs. Keiha; Opoutama, Mrs. C. Foster; Makaraka, Mrs. Lange; . Nuhaka, Mrs. Richardson; Ruakituri, Mrs. S. Spence; Marumaru, Mrs. Hinckesman; Wharerata, Mrs. Berthelsen; Porourangi and Ruatoria, Mrs. Wicksteed; Whangara, Mrs. Brosnahan; Waimata, Mrs. G. McCliskie, for Mrs. C. Mazengarb; Manutuke, Piercey; Patutahi, Mrs. Howarth; Otoko, Mrs. Honey. The president’s half-yearly report, which was of a satisfactory nature, was adopted, after the president had stated that the visit of Mrs. Kelso had been a great incentive to the federation, and they hoped to get her again. The finance report was also adopted, the secretary adding a few details regarding the payments to headquarters. Addressing the meeting on the reports, the chairman touched on the heavy cost of transport generally, and said that in these matters no one member paid more than another, and each had the interests of the institute at heart. She referred to the handiwork and commended it to the branches. For the first exhibition there were already 16 entries, and for that, there should be one good article from each branch in the competition for quantity, quality and variety. The secretary, Mrs. W. G. McCliskie, added that there would also be a sales table for any number of exhibitors. Auckland was to hold an exhibition o( arts and crafts in 1935, and it would probably be an annual function. The St. John Ambulance needed help financially, and the 1 branches could assist on Flag Day by selling flags for them. She commended an effort by Manutuke to prevent the overlapping of shows where the districts were contiguous. At this stage the chairman made a presentation from one of the branches in Poverty Bay of a handsome basket of flowers to Mrs. C. Nolan, president of the Wairoa branch. Mrs. Nolan, in thanking the president for the handsome gift, said she had only been too pleased to help in the work which lay close to the heart of so many. Mrs. Wright gave interesting details of the work of the federation in her district, showing what women could do when they made up their minds to do something, and to this end they were pleased to visit Wairoa, even if Wairoa could not attend so far north later. The Women’s Institute was not a place, as some may say, where they only met to drink tea. "They worked for self-im-provement, and all through they could get some fun, too, out of the institute, but it was mostly work. The secretary explained what women could do in finance when they set their minds to it.

A remit from Manutuke providing against the clashing of shows and exhibitions among branches in close proximity to each other was carried unanimously, and also another to provide that when help for bus fares by the federation was needed application should be made and the final decision reached by headquarters. After Mrs. Lange said she had a pleasing duty to perform, and that was to mark their sense of the valuable work done by Mrs. McCliskie in connection with the conference; she asked her to accept a silver cake basket. The recipient, in reply, said she had only been too pleased to do .what she could. A concert programme was presented, items being given by the following: Wairoa branch, song, “To a Miniature,” Miss Freshner; Ruakituri branch, a tragi-comic sketch,; Nuhaka Maori girls, duo poi dance; Wairoa institute, sketch, “0.H.M.5.,” by Mrs. O’Loughlen, Misses B. Good, B. Hill, Audrey Andresen and Anne Harrison, and Mrs. Bannister; Nuhaka institute, an exposition of the ancient stick game, given by two native girls. The competition, something for a Christmas present, not to cost more than 2s 6d, resulted: —Wairoa institute, cushion, 1; Takitimu, handbag, 2; Mrs. Wright, Motu, 3. Maori novelty.—Mrs. Pinomana, flax vase, 1; Mrs. Te Kani Te Ua, basket, 2. There was only one prize in each provided for, but Mrs. Wicksteed provided the others, A vote of thanks to the Wairoa institute for the splendid arrangements made, and for the entertainment, was carried amid applause, and the singing of. the National Anthem closed the proceedings. There were over 200 present, and of that total about 80 came from Gisborne. All returned home the same evening.

TUAI INSTITUTE A mooting of the Tuai Women's Institute was held in the Tuai Hall last Tuesday. The attendance was only fair, although the day was fine. Mrs. McDonalcf presided in the absence of Mrs. Munro, who is still in hospital recovering slowly but surely. The sewing competition, beat petticoat, resulted as,follows;—Miss Burgis, 1; Mrs. Gordon, 2.- Cooking, layer cake: —‘Mrs McDonald, 1; Mrs Lylian, 2.

Airs. Gordon showed how to do the icing on a large fruit cake. A dainty afternoon tea was served by the hostesses, Airs. Shannon and others. “God Save the King" brought the meeting to a close.