WOMEN’S WORLD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19777, 3 November 1938, Page 16

WOMEN’S WORLD

Flag' Five-Hundred

On Tuesday evening a /lag fivehundred was held in the Scout Hall, Mangapapa, in aid of Scouts going to the Sydney Jamboree. Fourteen tables were needed to accommodate the card enthusiasts. Before play commenced Mr. F. R. Bean, chairman of the Mangapapa Scout Committee, thanked those present for attending, and mentioned briefly what the funds of the evening were for. Mr. Mclvor carried out the duties of M.C. in his usual capable manner, and a tasty supper was provided and served by an energetic ladies’ committee comprising Mesdames Aston, Biggar, Mullooly, Mclvor, Carter, Turnbull, and Ritchie. Mesdames Sutcliffe and Hudson and Messrs. Sutcliffe and Hudson were at the winning table, while Mrs. Sutcliffe and Mr. J. Booth won the prizes for most clips. Miss N. Peyton was the winner of the consolation prize. Each of the winners was presented with a suitable gift.

A Wedding 1 Anniversary Dinner

A very enjoyable dinner party was given by Mr. and Mrs. Keith Smith at their home in Albert street on Monday night to celebrate tile Second anniversary of their marriage. 'Beautiful roses and other spring flowers, artistically arranged, adorned the rooms in which the guests were entertained. The dinner table was prettily decorated with a green horseshoe of dainty mixed flowers. After dinner novel competitions provided amusement, the winners being Mrs. A. C. Coleman and Mr. Gordon Heigh way. and delightful vocal solos were rendered by Mrs. A. C. Coleman and Messrs. R. Sloan and K. Smith.

The hostess welcomed her guests wearing an attractive bottle green dinner frock. Among the guests were Mr. and Mrs. R. Sloan, Mr. and Mrs. P. Burton, Mr. and Mrs'. A.' C. Coleman, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Heighway, Miss R. Henley (Auckland), and Mr. Hale. Gisborne Repertory Society The Gisborne public are invited to attend the forthcoming presentation of three one-act plays by the Gisborne Repertory Society on Monday night at the society's rooms in Turanganui Chambers. The entertainment, which will mark the close of the present season, promises to be of a high standard, and will provide variety and excellent acting. A comedy, “Between the Soup and the Savoury," is being produced by Miss Jill Williams, and a topical play, “Peace in 'Our Time," by Muriel and Sydney Box, will be presented by Mrs. W. A. Bowie, who is taking a small part, the remainder of the cast comprising • Mesdames R. G. Crawford and G. Burns, Misses M. Scott, June Irvine, C. Mead, C. Oman and L. Godfrey. The third play is a drama to be produced by Mr. Seddon Hill with a competent cast. Tiie plays have, been carefully chosen witji a view to pleasing a representative audience, and will be presented by capable and versatile members of the Repertory Society, while the furnishing and decoration of the stage will be attractively carried out. Silver Wedding Anniversary On Saturday night a number of relatives and intimate friends paid a surprise visit to 'Mr. and Mrs. F. T. Hall at their home in Tukura road to offer congratulations on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of their marriage and to celebrate the event with a jolly party. The visit was a complete surprise to the host and hostess, who had made no formal preparations for celebrating their silver wedding. Their wedding took place on October 29 25 years ago, and was the first marriage solemnised at the then new Presbyterian Church —St. Andrew’s 'Church, Cobden street—after the building had been completed, the marriage service having been conducted by the Rev. Mr. Grant, who later lost his life in the Great War. Mr. F. T. Hall is the eldest son of the late Mr. Frederick Hall and Mrs. Hall, of Gisborne, and is managing director of F. Hall and Sons, Limited. Mrs. Hall before her marriage was Miss Dorothy McColl Ferguson, eldest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Ferguson, the former previously a fanner of Otautau, Southland, and latterly of Gisborne. The visitors numbered abtmt 40 in ail, and comprised relatives and intimate friends of Mr. and Mrs. Hall. Mrs. Hall’s brother, Mr. D. L. Ferguson, acted as chairman during the evening. Congratulatory speeches were made, and good wishes were tendered to Mr. and Mrs. Hall for good fortune and happiness in the next 25 years. Numerous silver gifts were received by Mr. and Mrs. Hall, who had also been delighted with another surprise .gift earlier in the ayening -in the shape of, a very nice wedding cake presented by their sons, Messrs. Randal and John Hall. A number of toasts were honoured during the evening, the health of the bride and bridegroom being proposed by Mr. George Douglas, a brother-in-law, in a suitable speech. Mr. Hall responded, and said he hoped later on to be able to return the compliment to Mr. Douglas and his wife. A happy feature of the evening was the presence of the bridesmaids and flower girls who had attended Mrs. Hall at her marriage. The bridesmaids were Mrs. Jessie Mason and Miss Margaret Ferguson, sisters of Mrs. Hall, and the flower girls Misses Nell Ferguson and Tui Bain, nieces of Mr. and Mrs. Hall. A toast in their honour was proposed by Mr. C. O. Hansen, and a toast to “Absent Friends" by Mr.'D. L. Ferguson. Among the guests assembled to congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Hall were several Hawke’s Bay visitors, representative of various sporting circles. As both Mr. and Mrs. Hall’s families have always been actively interested in many forms of sport and are wellknown in sporting circles, their presence was much appreciated.

THE DAILY ROUND

Truby King’ Clinic in London

Started as a clinic in the heart of London bv the late Sir Truby King and the late Miss Pattriek, the Mothercraft Training Centre now takes care of 2GO babies a week. So successful were the two founders, in spite of opposition from some of the London clinics, that they soon found it necessary to obtain larger premises and eventually the present beautiful home at Highgate was established as a mothercraft training centre. Miss Pattriek later returned to New Zealand, where she was appointed Director of Plunket Training. Miss Liddiard was appointed to carry on the work in London as she had trained there under Sir Truby King and Miss Pattriek. A Bank for Women A woman who believes the time .s coming when women’s banks will be among the most important financial institutions in every country, recently retired after 30 years of banking. She is Miss Julia Meyer, of Rotterdam, managing director of the first European Women’s Bank. It was one of Holland’s greatest banks, which decided a few years ago to open a branch for women only.

“A woman speaks more easily with another woman about money matters," Miss Meyer said. “A man can never explain such things to a woman in a womanly way, so that she really understands.’’

Infant Welfare in Australia The system of baby care carried out in Victoria was described by Mrs. C. O. White, a justice of the peace, and for 15 years the honorary secretary of the Victorian Baby Health Centres, who arrived in Auckland on Friday on a brief visit to the Dominion. “In Victoria/ we have followed no particular system of baby care, but have taken the best out of every system, and adapted it to our own conditions,” she said. “There is a branch of the Plunket Society in Melbourne, but, although we have incorporated imany of its features into the work in our Baby Health Centres, we find that it is not suitable in its entirety to the conditions in Victoria. The memorial chosen at the centennial to honour the pioneer women of Victoria had been a travelling caravan, equipped to carry out infant welfare work, continued Mrs. White. This was the first of its kind to be used in the British Empire. The caravan travelled all through the districts in the north, and visited every town once a fortnight. “Conditions in this part of the country are very bad, and it was not until 1 visited them myself that I had 1 any idea of the hardships endured,” sue said. "The children in the district were a pathetic sight, for the mothers had very little knowledge of baby care. The two nurses in charge of the caravans are, however, doing all they can to enlighten them.' A Novel Hallowe’en Party

One of the most original and wellarranged parties ever held in Gisborne was organised by members of the Junior Nurses’ Association and held at the Nurses’ Home at the Cook Hospital on Monday night to raise funds for a library at the home. lne date chosen was the night of October 31, Hallowe’en, the eve of Alt Saints’ Day, and the party was planned to follow the customs and rites of Hallowe’en, which is associated, especially in Scotland, with certain superstitions. Unusual decorations and appointments of an eerie nature, all excellently carried out, transformed the nurses’ home into a place somewhat resembling a witch’s habitation or chamber of horrors. The evening provided original entertainment with much fun and laughter, and was greatly appreciated by the guests, all of whom were womenfolk, numbering over 80. As the invitations had advised guests to wear old clothes, the frocking was suitable for the occasion, which did not lend itself to the display or wearing of evening gowns.

Six witches in realistic costumes stood in the darkened doorway to receive the guests, who were then led through a dark corridor and introduced to ghosts. There each guest was required to shake hands with a ghosllly clammy hand, these being later identified as frozen inflated gloves. An initiation ceremony followed, six tests being provided. These included a walk over the bones of ancestors (crushed eggshells), a look into a mirror to find the face of one’s beloved which revealed a skull, and other weird experiences. Witch dances, fortune telling, and a search for charms followed, after which a “ghostly trail” by following a rope in the darkness over unexpected obstacles and past horrifying objects led upstairs to the verandah, where bobbing for apples and pea-nuts, and eating treacle-buns tied with string offered further amusement. Clanking chains, a witches’ cauldron and weird chanting were other features of the programme.

Returning to the sitting-room, the guests were entertained with a witches’ dance and the ceremonial cutting of the parkin, which was handed round. A proper supper was served later from board tables without cloths, set in appropriate and fantastic manner in contradiction to the usual style. Pot lids and pans took the place of plates and dishes, cabbage leaves served instead of lettuce, and witches’ broomsticks, /ours, and charms of a quaint and unexpected nature were used for decorations. The organisers were heartily congratulated on the success of the evening and complimented on the excellence of the scenic effects.

Presentation to Matron A presentation of a wireless set was made recently to the matron of the Masterton Public Hospital, Miss K. I. Barnett, who is resigning from the position. In making the presentation, the medical superintendent. Dr. Archer Hosking, spoke appreciatively of the work carried out by Miss Barnett. In addition to the members of the staff, on whose behalf the gift was presented, there were present 27 former trainees from various parts of I the Wairarapa. 1 Peace Influences Fashions A cable from Paris indicates that the peace-making efforts are already reflected in the fashions. Hats are appearing trimmed with feathers resembling doves of peace, and other modes are trimmed with feathers in the shape of a bishop’scrozier. 'Suede is making topcoats, boleros for, evening, jackets, gloves, bags, hats, and even head bands this season. , L \ cherry red suede jacket, cut square from the shoulders to hips, for sports wear. Ballooning like a bathing tent is the skirt of Stijfbel’s zebra-striped silk jersey frock, darted at the waist to a corset-like silhouette. With it wear black above-the-el'bow length gloves and his flat straw sailor. Londoners’ Calmness During Crisis A tribute to the people of London for their attitude during the recent international crisis was paid by Mr. and Mrs. Allan G. Menzies, Remuera, who returned to Auckland a few days ago after eight months’ visit to England and the Continent. Although London people showed a natural concern about the state of affairs in Europe, their coolness under the circumstances was outstanding, they said.

The precautionary activities, particularly in respect of air-raid protection, were in fairly full swing in London when Mr. and Mrs. Menzies left, but the orderly manner in which everything was carried out and the complete absence of panic among the people was a feature which considerably impressed the Dominion visitors. While visiting Munich Mr. and Mrs. Menzies found the atmosphere to be very martial and definitely tense. The populace showed friendliness and hospitality to British visitors, but the war clouds which were then gathering over Europe were very evident in Munich.

„„ B THF DAILY ROUND |

Long' Service Rewarded

It is a fitting tribute to Mrs. F. Greenway Middows, of Elizabeth Bay, Sydney, that she has been promoted to a Commander of the St. John Ambulance Association,. after serving the association for more than 50 years, states an Australian paper. Mrs. MicVdows, who arranged the first annual meeting of the association in Sydney in 1887, is the secon.d commander (sister) to be appointed in Australasia, the first one being Sister A. B. Parry, organising secretary of the centre. N.Z. Singer in New York

Many New Zealand listeners will recall the delightful singing of Miss May Lander, Ohongai, Hawera, who on many occasions during the past two years has sung over the air. They will be interested to learn that acting on the advice of Mr. Lawrence Tibbett, Miss Lander has settled in New fork, where she will study. Mr. Tibbett was attracted by her voice and her musical knowledge, and predicted .hat she would go a long way in the art of singing. Miss Lander was a pupil of the Hawera Convent, from which place many fine singers have come from time ta time. Miss Nelle Scanlon Returns Miss Nelle Scanlan, well-known New Zealand novelist, arrived from England by way of South Africa and Australia in the Awatea from Sydney au Saturday. She brought a motorcar with her and proposes to spend at least the whole of the coming summer motoring in both islands and at the same time writing her next book. "I have come for a breath of New Zealand again,” said Miss Scanlan. “I have recently motored 25,000 miles in Great Britain and thought I would like to do the same in my own country. I will also write my next book while I am here. I have not started it yet, but hope it will be in the publisher’s hands by the end of the summer.” Miss Scanlan left London on August 1 and spent a few days in South Africa on her way. “I was struck by the evidence on all sides of the

Science Notes appear on page 3.

growing influence of the Afrikans there,” she said. “To enter a British Dominion and .And the majority oi the people speaking a language I could not understand was something of a shock to me. . It has been made a rule now that all civil servants must be able to speak Afrikans, and the result, is that the Afrikans will soon completely dominate the public service.”

The journey to New Zealand was broken again in Australia and Miss Scanlan said she met many old friends there and was very hospitably treated. She is keenly looking forward to her coming sojourn ir. New Zealand. Her heme is in London, and she has met there many New Zealanders who have made names for themselves in various branches of art and journalism. Many of them, she said, had expressed their intention to visit New Zealand during the centennial celebrations. Life in Iceland

Some interesting impressions o, life in Iceland are contained in a letter received in Auckland from Miss Peggy Beaumont, Devonport, who visited the island in September. She is spending several months touring Europe and Great Britain with her parents.

Miss Beaumont commented upon the fact that the Icelanders spoke the old Norse language and were the descendants of the original Vikings. At their secondary schools the students were taught the Danish. English, German and French languages, as well as Latin. Most of them knew Swedish as well.

The girls Miss Beaumont described as being very pretty and up-to-date, while they dressed exceedingly well. Many of the well-to-do families went abroad for a few years. There were no railways or trams in Iceland, but there were plenty of motor cars and so similar were the people ir appearance and dress to those in New Zealand that she found it hard to believe she was in Iceland instead of the Dominion. Even the weather was like the Auckland climate in winter. "We went to a flower show ir Reyjavik, and it was most surpris’ng to see that many of the flowers'

vere of the same kind as those that mow in the Dominion,” wrote Miss Beaumont. "Of course they were grown in greenhouses which are heated by hot mineral springs.” “The people,” she added, “are not very pleased with their Government, which has made extraordinary mles about imports and exports. For instance no fruit is allowed to be imported, and as very little is grown in Iceland the people simply have to do without it. Like the Germans they may not send money out of the country.”

Mrs. G. J. Winter, Fox street, is the guest of Mrs. Tuck, Napier.

Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Cotterill, Makarika station, Tokomaru Bay, are arriving in Gisborne on Sunday next for the A. and P. Show.

Mr. J. S. Muir and Mrs. Muir, members of the China Inland Mission, who have been in the Dominion for the past six months on furlough, left by the Aorangi on Tuesday for Canada to visit Mrs. Muir’s relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Muir will return to Kansu Province, China, in about five months. Mr. Muir is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Muir, of Gisborne, and is a graduate of the New Zealand Bible Training Institute, Auckland.