IN TOWN AND COUNTRY

Southland Times, Issue 21431, 27 June 1931, Page 16

IN TOWN AND COUNTRY

(By

“Drindella.”}

Miss Nancy Strettcll will return from Dunedin on Monday. Mr and Mrs J. R. McLeod left on their return to Geraldine on Tuesday. Mrs Henry Hall left on her return to Wellington on Tuesday morning. Miss Betty Reeves, of Dunedin, is the guest of Miss Nonie Story at Venlaw. Miss Asher, Forth Street, went up to Dunedin on Tuesday for _a short holiday. Miss Sheila McLean, of Hamner Springs, is the guest of Miss Molly McGregor at Mt. Linton.

Mrs E. Abbey Jones, who went up to Burwood last Saturday, returns to town on Monday.

Mrs W. L. Cunningham, of Castle Downs (Dipton) who came into town yesterday, returns home to-day. Mrs E. R. Wilson, Grey street, and Miss Shelagh Wilson spent a few days in Alexandra during the week. Mr Mark Hambourg, the famous pianist, and Mrs Hambourg, arrived in Wellington from Australia on Tuesday. Miss Norma King, of “Tynree,” Benrnore, spent a few days with Mrs A. Hamilton, Browns, during the week.

Mrs R. A. Anderson and Miss. Kathleen Anderson motored back to Victoria Park on Sunday after three weeks in Christchurch.

Mr and Mrs James McQueen and their two children, of Waikaka, spent last weekend with Mrs John McQueen, Dalrymple Road.

• Mrs A. Rodie and Miss Rodie, of Christchurch, -who have been the guests of Mrs P. A. Price, North Road, returned north on Tuesday.

The Hon. A. F. Hawke, M.L.C. and Mrs and Miss Hawke left their Duke Street home on Tuesday morning on their return to Wellington.

Mr and Mrs F. C. Rowley and Mr and Mrs Spencer Rowley are expected to return from their motor tour through Central Otago on Monday. The Rev. J. N. Goodman and Mrs Goodman and their small daughter Nanette, of Stewart Island are the guests of Miss May Goodman, Thames Street.

Miss Nancy Bond, of Dunrobin Station, who has been the guest of Mrs Percy Elworthy, Gordon's Valley, is now the guest of Mrs Elworthy, Timaru.

Dr and Mrs J. Torrance, Mr and Mrs J. L-. Cameron and Mrs J. H. Watson motored through to Dunedin yesterday afternoon. They expect to return on Sunday. The engagement is announced of Mavis, third daughter of Mr and Mrs C. Edwards, Berhampore, to John L. T. Bell, of Christchurch, second son of T. J. Bell, Invercargill.

A “snowball” afternoon in aid of the Central Methodist Church’s Solomon Island missions was given by Mrs D. J. Wesney on Wednesday afternoon at her home in Thomson street. A jumbled name competition Was won by Mrs T. Walker. A. duet, “Farewell to Summer” was sung by Mesdames Wesney and Ayling, and Miss Mavis Wesney played a pianoforte solo. Others present were: Mesdames Stanley Brown, A. Noble, C. H. Olds, Noble (senior), A. S. Froggatt, Varcoe, C. Barham, Greenwood, Blakeley, J. McCurdy, Robertson, Knuckey, Fraser, Anderson, Copp, J. Kennedy, Clark, J. Lindsay, Yates, Aburn, J. E. Taylor, J. Bird, Treeby, Hay, Steele, A. Pearce, S. J. Perry, A. N. Lindsay, and Miss Ibbotson.

There was a good crowd of dancers at the Dixieland Dance Club last Saturday evening in Smith’s Hall, where the Dixieland Dance Band played. Old and new dances were indulged in. A lucky spot w’altz was won by Mr Massey, Bluff (patent leather shoes),’ and Miss L. McAra (satin evening shoes), Ihe prizes being generously donated by Mr A. Wachner. Amongst those present were: Mesdames McNeilage, Quested, Abernethy, Carter. Misses D. Thompson, D. Townsend, P. Sloan. D. Crozier, E. Cairn, R. Woods, J. Heaps, P. Adams, L. McAra, A. Donald, G. Gilfedder, G. McArtney, A. Veint, M. Wilkes, L. Wilkes, J. Simms, J. Ayto, A. Wohlers, J. Irvine, M. Ardath, M. Hislop, L. Devaney, J. Flynn, D. Crosbie. Messrs J. Wilson, L. Eastlake, E. Kelly, J. Kelly, W. Ferguson, J. Hughes, G. Wybrow, D. Martin, L. Roberts), W. Adams, L. Cannie, A. Yeo, J. Martin, W. Hodge, L. Waterson, W. Davis, A. N. Lake, A. B. Mahoney, E. N. Climo, Stroud, J. Climo, E. Luscombe, J. McDonald, Massey, I. Crosbie, and others.

On Saturday evening there was again a jolly crowd of dancers at the Country Club cabaret, when the warmth and brightness of the surroundings and the excellence of the orchestra left little to be desired in the matter of entertainment. Amongst those dancing were: —Mr and Mrs H. B. Farnall, Mr and Mrs J. R. McLeod (Geraldine), Mr and Mrs R. Stout, Mr and Mrs 11. J. Macalister, Mr and Mrs L. B. Hutton, Mr and Mrs W. L. Bows, Mr and Mrs G. Blaxall, Mr and Mrs R. Barnsdale, Mr and Mrs H. H. Brown (Gore), Mesdames Ashley Evans (Honolulu), E. 0. Thomas, Daugherty. Misses L. F. Watson, Steedman (Selkirk, Scotland), Betty Reeves (Dunedin), Nonie Story (Venlaw), Kitty Wilson, Prue Smith, D. Patterson, Bessie and Mollie McGregor (Mt. Linton), Sheila McLean (Hanmer Springs), Edith Bews, Olive Holloway, Phyllis Cunliffe, Lou Lawrence, Mavis Veitch, Lorna Hallamore, Ailsa Brass, Nessie Nisbet, May Mahoney, May Witting, Mae Souness, Vera Kidd, May Ward, Fraser, I. M. Lange, G. Whiteman, Dr. David Jennings, Dr. Eric Gibb (Dunedin), Messrs M. H. Mitchel, N. L. Watson, C. R. Story (Venlaw), A. Dunlop, J. Dundas, C. Rout, J. Sinclair, T. McGregor (Mt. Linton), J. H. Grace, G. Burk, D. McDonald, Macalister (2), G. C. Broughton, I. M. Buchanan, A. Kingsland, K. Broad, G. Ferguson, C. Cassels, A. Oughton, R. Walsh (Dunedin), G. McHarg, H. Edginton, S. W. Jones, A. J. Shaw, A. D. Smillie.

Despite last night’s inclement weather there was a good attendance of members at the Music Circle’s evening at the Women’s Club. The first part of the programme consisted of a eurythmic display by Miss Nancy Basstian and her pupils. The rest of the programme was devoted to music, in the following programme: Pianoforte duet—Mesdames C. R. S. Barrett and L. B. Rowe (Ist and 2nd Movement Clock Symphony—Haydn); Song (“My Curly-Headed Baby”-—Clut-san) Miss E. Mehaffey; Pianoforte solo (“Intermezzo”—Brahm) Miss E. O'Byrne; Song (“The Wind” —Charles Gilbert Spross) Miss P. Pilcher; Glee ("Sunshine” —A. N. Moore and “Goodnight”—C. Jenkins) Mesdames J. Johnston, C. C. Munnings, A. Derbie, Misses M. Crofts and H. Brookesmith; Song (“Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal”—Quilter) Miss O. Llollowaj; .Pianoforte Solo (“Waltz Caprice”—Schubert Liszt) Mrs L. B. Rowe. Among those present were: Mesdames C. R. S. Barrett, E. W. Howorth, Smythics, Nicholson, L. B. Rowe, J. Collie, H. G. Brass, C. S. Longuet, Clark, Israel, G. I. Moffett, D. H. Thomson, J. T. Prain, C. C. Munnings, A. Cutt, J. McCrostie, B. C. Basstian, Rewi Kingsland, D. M. Scandrett, F. J. Robinson, A. C. Ford, C. E. Just, S. Brown, W. Drummond, W. Randle, J. Johnston, H. Gibson, S. M. McDonald, D. W. McKay, Misses Hamilton, P. Pilcher, E. O’Byrne, L. Henderson, Crofts, K. King, H. Brookesmith, E. Mehaffey. Perrin, Taylor, E. McKay, W. Thom, if. O’Byrne, L. B. Price, M. Clark

Miss Molly Pears, of Etalvale, came into town yesterday and is the guest of Mrs W. A. Oliver, Holywood Terrace. Mrs S. R. Seavers, of Sydney, is spending an extended holiday as the guest of her mother, Mrs S. C. Holmes, Leet street.

Dr. Phoebe Mac Diarmid and her small son came south on Tuesday and are th? guests of Mr and Mrs A. L. Adamson, Litfey street. Miss Kitty Wilson, who has been spending a few days with Mrs T. Menzies Watson at Morven, returns home to-day. On Thursday evening a surprise party was arranged by Mrs Andrew Wilson for Mrs Percy Meek, Spey Street. Hostesses for bridge during the week included Mesdames J. Chilwell (Underwood), J. F. H. Alexander, F. J. Robinson, H. D. McHugh and J. D. Mitchell. The engagement is announced' of Aileen Joan, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs M. Halpin, Bay Road, Invercargill, to Stanley, youngest son of Mr and Mrs A. L. Lawson, of Opoho, Dunedin. Miss Kitty Hazlett returned to Burwood yesterday after visiting Christchurch and Dunedin. She was accompanied by Miss Dorothy Napier, of Waimate, who is her guest.

Guests at the Grand Hotel during the week include:—Mr and Mrs J. Becker (Dunedin) ; Mr and Mrs T. W. Vickery (North Island) ; Mrs W. Menlove (Castle Hill Station, Athol). Mrs F. M. Corkill, Gala street, entertained the members of last year’s anti this year’s committee of the Women’s Club Play Reading Circle at her home on Wednesday afternoon. Mrs F. G. O’Beirne, Esk Street, entertained guests at morning tea last Saturday •to meet her, sister, Mrs Hall. Others present were Mesdames Denniston Cuthbertson, L. Webb, R. J. Gilmour, J. G. Macdonald, E. Abbey Jones, F. A. Webb and Miss I'ynesClinton.

The prize for highest score was won by Miss Perrin at the Women’s Club on Monday evening, when there were nine tables for bridge, while Mrs E. V. McKeever won the hidden number. On Wednesday, when there were six tables, Misses Perrin and McKay won the prizes. On- Wednesday afternoon Mrs F. Joyce, Kelvin Road, entertained a number of friends in honour of Mrs F. H. Hall of Dunedin. Others present were: Mesdames J. J. Purvis, C. H. S. Pasley, C. Broad, W. G. Clark, R. Pollock, D. M. Scandrett, J. Hensley, A. P. Taylor, W. G. Tait, C. C. Munnings and A. Derbie.

The first of a series of “vanishing teas,” held in connection with All Saints Church, was given by Mrs K. D.. Andrews-Baxtei at the Vicarage, Filleul street, on Wednesday afternoon. There were six guests, and I understand that these six in their turn will each ask five people to tea, which will make thirty hostesses to four people, 120 to three, 360 to two, and 720 to one, making a grand total of 1440 people giving and taking teas —a nice question of mental arithmetic, but an excellent means of adding to the church’s funds.

The opening night of the newly-formed Play Reading Circle of the Southland Girls’ High School Old Girls’ Association was held in the Women’s Club rooms on Wednesday. Miss May Manson, the convenor, in welcoming members and friends present expressed the pleasure of the committee at the large, attendance, especially in ' consideration ot the fact that there were so many counterattractions that night. It augured well for the success of the circle that such interest and enthusiasm were shown. She asked the audience to bear in mind' that the readers were inexperienced, for many of them it was their first appearance as readers in public and hoped that they would not be too critical on this first occasion. In referring to the difficulties of casting plays she went on to stress the importance of the smallest part. A chain was only as strong as its weakest link and a reading only as good as the poorest part. Team work was what counted, the readers of the small parts could make or mar the play and those entrusted with the main parts could not give their best without the cooperation of all readers. Also in casting, the committee had to consider suitability of persons cast for the various parts and the enjoyment of audience had to be considered also. Three half-hour plays were read. “The Maker of Dreams” with the following cast:—Pierrot —Miss K. Macpherson ; Pierrette—Miss M. Strang; The Manu-facturer-Miss G. Bath; Chorus—Miss Manson. “Elizabeth Refuses” with the following: Elizabeth—Miss B. Manson; JaneMrs Munnings; Mrs Bennet —Miss E. B. Pay; Mr Collins—Miss D. Washer; Lady Catharine de Burgh—Miss M. Manson. The cast of “The Old Bull” was: Charles Elmitt —Miss E. Mehaffey; James Elmitt —Miss M. Wesney; William Smithson —Miss R. Bird; Tom Bones—Mrs A. Derbie; Sarah Tinsley—Miss I. Smyth. All were much enjoyed, the “Old Bull” with its broad humour being most popular. The date of the next meeting was fixed for July 22, when “Ariadne” by A. A. Milne will bo read.

Members of the Garden Circle of the Women’s Club were taken graphically to many lands on Thursday evening, when Mrs W. Quinn spoke to them of the numerous flowers and gardens she had seen abroad. Beginning at Nice, in the South of France, she took them over the border to Italy to view the famous Mortola Gardens, their 100 acres cultivate by the . late Sir Thomas Hanbury, and said to rank third amongst the famous gardens of the world. Then she went back to France in the spring, where the orchards were flushed with blossom from peach, cheery and plum trees, while the long avenues of older trees, many fully fifty feet high, glowed with yellow catkins. Then across to Devonshire, the Riviera of England, special attention being drawn to the New Zealand flax and cabbage trees that grow there so plentifully, brought to England by captains of cargo boats in the early days. From there the tour of gardens and flowers proceeded through Yorkshire and on to the world-famed gardens in Edinburgh. These were not passed without reference to the statuary, which recalled the wonderful Danish art treasures, so that the audience was whisked over to Copenhagen and allowed to dwell in beauty there for an appreciable time before going on to Sweden and Norway, among some of the world’s most beautiful wjld flowers. Then Holland and Belgium in the ' spring, pausing awhile in wonder at a spot between Leyden and Amsterdam, where acres of narcissi of every conceivable shade covered the ground as far as the eye could see, with great smudges of purple and rose hyacinths—a marvellous sight. As the spring was late, the traveller missed seeing the tulips in the fields; but it was tulip time at every street corner, the blooms, many hothouse grown, from rose and yellow descending to rarer shades of gray, brown and black. In Belgium flowers bloom profusely in the soldiers’ cemetery, the gardens tended by British ex-service men, known and unknown alike, wonderfully guarded and honoured in peaceful loveliness. They brought to mind the cemeteries of the Danish and Norwegians, wonderfully kept, beautiful, truly “God’s chosen places.” Those privileged to hear the address expressed a very deep gratitude to Mrs Quinn, not only for consenting to speak, but for continuing for over two hours, no simple achievment. The post-cards she handed round illustrated much of what she said, and it was with regret that her audience heard her talk come to an end, bringing them into the present out of the colour and sunshine of many glamorous lands.

- Nurses E. Smith and E. Marshall, of Southland Hospital, are spending their annual leave at “Mountview,” Tapanui, and later at Paretai, Balclutha. Mrs Garfield Crawford, and her small daughter, Myra, left on Wednesday for Wellington, where they will stay with Mrs Crawford’s sister, Mrs David Allan. Mrs Basil Thompson and her daughter, Miss Jocelyn Thompson, of Wellington, arrived in Invercargill on Tuesday to stay with Mrs Roland Taylor, Compton road. On Wednesday afternoon Mrs Roland Taylor entertained a number of friends at her home in Compton road to meet her guests, Mrs and Miss Thompson. On Saturday evening Miss Mavis Wesney was hostess at a Progressive 500 evening at her parents’ residence,. “Amuri,” Thomson street. The prizes .were won by Mrs lan Shepard and Mr Fraser Baillie. Those present included: Mr and Mrs D. J. Wesney, Mr and Mrs lan Shepard, Mesdames J. H. Macdonald, W. E. McLean, J. Bird. Misses A. Ibbotson, G. Fraser, R. Bird, P. Miller, E. and R. Wesney, Messrs I. D. Mclvor, F. Baillie and R. Wesney.