WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

Southland Times, Issue 22348, 13 June 1934, Page 11

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

DOINGS OF THE MONTH FEDERATION NEWS. The executive of the Southern Southland Federation of Women’s Institutes met on May 26. Mrs Ramsay presided over a full attendance. After discussion it was decided to send a delegate to the Dominion conference, Mrs Ramsay being elected. Congratulations are extended to Ohai for carrying off first prize for the display of handcrafts at the Winter Show, also to Wairio who gained second place. Ohai’s display was excellent and contained a great variety of work. Wairio’s display was also very good, as were those of the other institutes. The manner in which scraps of “waste” materials were utilized to make new articles was an outstanding feature. Ohai are to be congratulated on their success in the federation’s recent drama festival, and also Limehills, who were second. The executive hopes each and every institute will endeavour to be represented at the Dominion conference. Will Psgsss correspondents please note that all notes for the ensuing month’s column must reach the federation correspondent not later than the 28th of the month. MONTHLY MEETINGS. WAIRIO. The monthly meeting of the Wairio Women’s Institute was well attended. Mrs Laytham presided. After several new members had been welcomed the ode was sung and the creed read. Business and correspondence were dealt with, and final arrangements were made in connection with the bay at the Winter Show. The roll-call for the evening. “A washing day hint,” provided some useful information. The delegates to the half-yearly council meeting in Invercargill gave a report which was listened to with much interest. The competition for the best hand-made handkerchief resulted: Mrs Dodds and Mrs Laytham (equal) 1, Mrs Dickson and Mrs Flynn (equal) 2. Mr H. Gazazrd. of Nightcaps, was present and gave a most instructive demonstration on dressing and trussing a fowl, also an interesting talk on flower and sweet pea culture. At the conclusion Mr Gazzard was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. WAIANIWA. Mrs Mason presided at the monthly meeting of the Women’s Institute, 26 members attending. Seven new members were enrolled and welcomed. The roll-call. “Beauty Hints,” was well responded to, some good hints being given. The competition. “Best plate of plain and fancy biscuits,” resulted as follows: Mrs M. Milbum 1, Miss J. Ronald 2, Miss R. Ronald 3. Miss McNaughton acted as judge. An instructive demonstration on rug-making was given by Mrs Bowmar. of Ohai, for which she was accorded a vote of thanks. LONGBUSH. Mrs Hughes presided over a good attendance at the May meeting of the Longbush Women’s Institute. The motto was, “All the world’s a camera, so keep smiling.” The roll call, A funny story,” was well responded to and caused much amusement „ The competition. “Best oven scones,” resulted: Mrs Cleine 1. Mrs Hughes 2, Mrs Elliot 3. Two new members were welcomed. A demonstration on wool work was given by Miss Hughes and appreciated by all. NIAGARA. The first meeting of the nowlyformed Niagara Women’s Institute was held in the school room, Mrs Moss presiding over a good attendance. After a brief address members enjoyed a demonstration on seagrass stool-making by the president, after which a vote of thanks was accorded the demonstrator. The competition, “Best article from a sugar bag,” was won by Mrs Moss (shopping bag). Miss Robertson (shopping bag) was second equal with Miss Voice (apron). The roll call, The task I most dislike,” was answered by all, washing dishes and separators proving most unpopular. An amusing competition, “Children’s games,” was won by Miss M. McColgun. OREPUKI.

Mrs Summers presided over a small attendance at the May meeting at Orepuki. Owing to the prevalence of sickness in the district many members were absent, the president expressing the hope that members and their families would soon be on the way to recovery. Miss McAllister gave a report of the council meeting she attended as delegate with Mrs McCaw. It was decided that members knit peggy squares for a quilt to be donated to children’s health camp. The roll call, “The talent I should choose and why, was well responded to, music, writing and nursing being the most popular. The competition was, “Best article from one yard cretonne” and Misses Johnstone and McAllister were first equal. A social competition by Mrs English was won by Miss Johnstone, Mrs Menpes being second. Votes of thanks were passed to Mesdames McCaw and Barraclough for wreath made for memorial on Anzac Day, to Mrs Ericson for gift of flowers, to Mrs Menpes for gift of spoons, and to Mrs Crowther for gift of teapot to the institute rooms. A vote of thanks, earned by acclamation, was accorded Mesdames McCaw and Barraclough for the creditable manner in which they arranged the bay of exhibits at the Winter Show. The remainder of the meeting was taken up with the study of a home science box on lampshades, loose covers and humpties. Owing to illness the team entered in the drama festival at Limehills was withdrawn.

FORTIFICATION. Mrs M. Fallow presided at the May meeting of the Fortification Womens Institute which was well attended The roll-call was, “Something I want to know,” and was answered by members. The competition, “Best telegram from the word ‘coincidence,’ ” proved most amusing, Mrs Fallow being successful. Cane-tray making occupied the remainder of the evening, this taking the place of a demonstration. KENNINGTON. The postponed meeting of the Kennington Women’s Institute was held on May 16, Mrs Maxwell presiding over a smaller attendance than usual, owing to inclement weather. The roll-call, “Something our grandmothers did without,” was well responded to. The competition, “Best use of an old felt hafi resulted: Mrs R. Paterson 1, Mrs G. Mathieson 2, Mrs Collins and Mrs J. Mathieson (equal) 3. Owing to pressure of business the demonstration had to be abandoned. A donation of half a dozen teaspoons for the use of members from Mrs G. Mathieson, was accepted with thanks. A delegate was nominated to attend the Dominion conference in Wellington, although the three other units of the grouping scheme have to be consulted as to the final selection. NIGHTCAPS.

Mrs Cook presided over a good attendance at the monthly meeting at Nightcaps. Several visitors from the Wairio Institute were welcomed. The motto was, “Never worry worry, until

worry worries you.” The roll-call, “The task I dislike doing most,” was well responded to. The competition, “Best four biscuits,” was won by Mrs Lobb. Mrs Burgess was second, and Mrs and Miss Dockerty (equal) third. An interesting demonstration on Chinese matting was given by Mrs Laytham, of Wairio, who was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. A vote of thanks was passed to the members who took part in the drama festival at Limehills. It was decided to have an exhibition of arts and crafts at the Nightcaps Winter Show, to be held in June. Mrs Cook gave a report of the half-yearly council meeting held at Invercargill, which she attended as delegate. Two new members were welcomed, and two nominated. After the business was dealt with, dancing was indulged in until supper was served.

OHAI. There was an excellent attendance at the May meeting of the Ohai Women’s Institute. It seems that the supper room will soon be too small owing to increased membership. The roll-call, “Could women govern the country better than men?” was well answered and proved very amusing. Mrs Porteous, delegate to the council meeting, submitted a report for which she was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. It was decided that this year the birthday celebrations take the form of a social evening. The sick visiting committee reported visiting several sick members. A letter of thanks and appreciation for the Poppy Day campaign was received from the local R.S.A. Complimentary tickets for the reunion were also received. While the members appreciate the honour, they feel they are in only a small way returning some of the sacrifice made by the returned soldiers. An interesting demonstration on poker-work was given by Mrs Ramsay, who also exhibited some splendid specimens of her work. An amusing competition, “The greatest number of articles in a match box,” resulted: Miss C. Porteous 1, Mrs Haggerty 2. LIMEHILLS. In the absence of the president, Mrs W. McNaught, vice-president, presided at the monthly meeting at Limehills over an attendance of 28 members. The motto was, “Be very slow a pledge to make, but slower still your word to break.” Before business commenced members stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Mrs H. Harris, and the late Mr Wilson. A letter was received from the secretary of the Southern Southland Federation thanking the Limehills members for the arrangements made in connection with the recent drama festival. Members were asked to commence working for a sales stall at the A. and P. Summer Show in Invercargill. It was decided to contribute a shilling a member towards the institute funds. It was also decided to send a delegate to the Dominion Conference at Wellington this year. A report of the half-yearly council meeting held in Invercargill was given by Miss N. Crowe. Two new members were nominated. The rollcall, “My favourite winter tea dish,” showed that bacon and eggs was the most popular. An interesting demonstration was given by Mrs W. McKenzie, of Winton, on making articles from old felt hats and silk stockings. A varied display of the demonstrator’s work was on view. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mrs McKenzie for her instructive demonstration. The competition, “Best six afternoon tea-cakes,” resulted: Mrs Nicol 1, Miss N. Crowe 2, Miss M. McHugh 3 During the social half hour, Miss M. Cowie won the competition, and also contributed a humorous recitation. DIPTON. Miss Stewart presided at the monthly meeting of the Dipton Institute. Members responded to the roll-call, “Where I met my husband.” The competition, “Best six oven scones,” resulted: Mrs Thompson 1, Miss W. McCurdy 2, Mrs L. Whitaker 3. It was decided to send a delegate to the Dominion conference at Wellington. Members agreed to donate ingredients for a cake for competition to raise funds towards delegates’ expenses. Miss K. Shand, delegate to the council meeting, submitted a report and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. It was unanimously decided to donate the peggy square quilt knitted and made up by members, to the committee of the children’s health camp. An instructive demonstration on tatting was given by Mrs L. Whitaker, who was accorded a vote of thanks for her interesting demonstration. During the social halfhour a motor-car competition was won by Miss K. Shand.