The Social Round

Southland Times, Issue 23768, 16 March 1939, Page 15

The Social Round

The lady editor will be pleased to receive for publication tn “The Social Round” each day items of social or personal news. Such items should be sent in promptly and should be fully authenticated. Engagement notices must bear the signatures of both parties. Correspondence is invited on any matters affecting, or of Interest to, women.

Miss Gwen Morris, Dimedin, is the guest of Mrs M. M. Macdonald, Kelvin street.

Mrs A. J. Molloy, Christchurch, is visiting Mrs T. Molloy, Bath street, Riverton.

■ Mrs Owen-Johnston, who has been the guest of Mrs A. C. McKillop, Bluff, is expected to return to Invercargill today. Mrs Nisbet Smith, jun., arrives from New Plymouth this evening to spend a few weeks with Mrs C. R. Hart, Albert street.

Mr and Mrs Robert Crompton, Suva, who arrived in New Zealand about two months ago, are at present staying at the Grand Hotel.

The Hon. T. O’Byrne and Mrs O’Byrne, Dalrymple street, leave Invercargill today for Wellington where they will stay for a few days before going to Russell and the Bay of Islands. Mrs Jessie King, J.P., of Winton, a vice-president of the Southland Justices of the Peace Association, is at present in Timaru attending the conference of the Federation of Justices of the Peace.

Mesdames A. Walker, J. H. Boyd, J. D. Cameron and Miss V. Jamieson are delegates from Southland for the Women’s Christian Temperance Union annual convention being held in Wellington.

Mrs Angus Macdonald, Plains Station, is at present staying at the Rocks, Riverton. Her brother and sister-in-law, Mr and Mrs R. Cunningham, arrive from Waimate today to be her guests. TROPICAL FRUIT AND FLOWERS LIFE IN SUVA DESCRIBED An interesting comparison between life in Fiji and New Zealand was drawn by Mrs Robert Crompton, who is visiting Invercargill. In Suva, the social life centres round Government House, and although European women are relieved of domestic worries, they are by no means idle, but ate keen gardeners and take plenty of exercise. Annuals are grown in winter, from June to October. The golden shower tree, pink acacia, oleander and frangipane are I some of their beautiful shrubs, while j hibuscus, which lasts for one day only, and gardenias, are but two of the lovely native flowers. The shops in Suva open at 8 a.m., ate closed between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and close again at 5 p.m. Most of the Europeans, Mrs Crompton said, dress in cool colours, such as white, green or blue, while the natives choose gayer hues, such as red and orange. A new road has been made round the island of Viti Levu, which enables cars to travel 300 miles along the waterfront. A new 18-hole golf course on flat ground is also being laid out, although matches are always played over only nine holes. The reason for this is partly the heat, and partly that the club membership is made up mostly of office girls and they have not time between five o’clock and the early sunset to play more. The caddies are mostly Indian boys, who are very interested in the game and invariably bet between themselves on any game in progress. They are paid sixpence for nine holes and a shilling for more. One visitor had an amusing experience when, after holing out, she saw the ball rise into the air again. On investigation it was found that there was a toad in the hole. Six of these giant toads were imported from Honolulu and there are now literally thousands in Fiji. Mrs Crompton said the servants are mostly Indians and, if treated reasonably, are very good. They are apt to be unreliable, though, as was proved one Christmas Day when the cook was instructed to serve the plum pudding in lighted brandy. Thinking it to be a waste of good liquor, the servant drunk the brandy and poured kerosene over the pudding. Very palatable fish, peculiar to the Fijian group, is caught at the islands and has such fascinating names as nuqu, a species of flounder, walu and saqu. In the Fijian group of 250 islands, the population is made up of about 90,000 Indians and the same number of natives, while the Europeans number 4500. The native companies of the defence force, and members of the band, mostly magnificently built men, strike a picturesque note in their dress by wearing scarlet tunics and white sulus, which resemble skirts. With his bare feet and head of bushy hair the Fijian soldier makes an arresting figure. Mrs Crompton said the women interest themselves tremendously in welfare work and a great deal is done for the children on the islands. ST. MATTHEW’S LADIES’ GUILD On Wednesday, March 8, the members of St. Matthew’s Ladies’ Guild held their annual meeting, the hostesses being Mesdames Fowler and Luker. The president, Mrs Benfell, asked the members to pass a vote of sympathy to Mrs Barker in her sad bereavement. The minutes for the last annual meeting were read and confirmed, also the report of the year’s work and balancesheet, which last showed an exceedingly satisfactory state of finance. A letter was received from the vestry expressing appreciation of the guild’s efforts during the past year and hoping for a continuance of the same. Apologies were received from Mesdames Applegarth, Metzger, Haszard, Budd, MacDonald, Waddell, sen., and Goodall. Votes of thanks were accorded Messrs J. Vincent (staining floor of porch), W. F. Cameron (tank), Phillipson (work in connection with tank). Mrs Benfell stated that in view of her impending departure she could no longer hold-office. Mrs R. Spencer eulogized the work of Mrs Benfell who had spared no effort to make the undertakings of the guild successful. She regretted her departure, but hoped her stay in Bluff had been a happy one and that she would find pleasant conditions in Petone.

Mrs Benfell thanked the ladies for their co-operation and asked for the same help for her successor. New officers elected were:—President, Mrs Burtenshaw; vice-presidents, Mrs Fowler, Mrs L. B. Edwards, Mrs E. Barnes; secretary, Miss Sinclair.

W.C.T.U. GARDEN PARTY AT WAIKIWI On Tuesday afternoon more than 30 members of the South branch of the Women’s Christian- Temperance Union held a garden party at Belgravia, Waikiwi, the home of the Misses Todd. Tea was served on the lawn and during the afternoon Mrs Goring, of Georgetown, spoke of the work of the missionary, Mary Slesson, when she was stationed in various parts of India. Three new members were initiated and the president, Miss McCallum, thanked the Misses Todd for their hospitality and the use of their grounds. COUNTRY NEWS BLUFF Mrs H. A. Young and Miss Margaret Young, Christchurch, are the guests of Mrs E. A. Nichol, Morningside, until Monday, when they will join the Maunganui en route for Sydney. Mrs Owen-Johnston, Invercargill,' is the guest of Mrs A. C. McKillop, Bradshaw street. Mrs J. R. Woods and her daughter, Jocelyn, Duke street, Invercargill, are visiting her parents, Captain W. D. Schofield and Mrs Schofield, Boyne street. Miss Lucy Carr, Wairarapa, is the guest of Captain R. J. Hamilton and Mrs Hamilton, Bandon street. Miss Pamela Edwards, Riverton, visited her parents, Mr and Mrs L. E. B. Edwards, Barrow street, during the week-end, Mr and Mrs E. Carter, Otira, are at present the guests of Mrs,’ Carter’s mother,- Mrs J. Woods, Blackwater street. ' ■ . . Mrs A. Wilson, Gore street, is spending a holiday in Christchurch. Mr and Mrs M. Esperson, of Wellington, have been the guests of Mr and Mrs T. Driscoll, Barrow street. Miss Joyce Huffadine, Invercargill, was the guest of Miss Sylvia Skeggs, Gore street.* Mr and Mrs J. C. Lewis and their children, Green Point, have left to live in Central Otago. Mr and Mrs W. J. Irwin, Marine Parade, left early in the week for Wellington. Miss Spring-Brown, Double Bay, Sydney, who visited Captain R. J. Hamilton and Mrs Hamilton, Bandon street, left by the Maunganui en route for Wellington. Captain N. Haszard and Mrs Haszard and their daughter, Robin, Spencer street, left early in the week for a camping holiday. Mrs H. W. Newman and Miss Margot Newman were passengers by the Maunganui for Wellington. Mrs George Taylor and Miss Ngaire Taylor, Masterton, who have returned to Masterton, have been the guests of Captain R. J. Hamilton and Mrs Hamilton, Bandon street.

Mr and Mrs L. Marshall, Gore street, spent the week-end at Centre Bush. Mrs C. Crighton, Shannon street, is •spending a few days at Riverton. Miss Ivy Small, Invercargill, spent the week-end with Miss Gwen Johnston, Tone street. WINTON Mr and Mrs H. Graham, Great North road, and Mrs J. Mcllwrick, Arthur street, were visitors to Cromwell at the week-end. Mrs J. Nimmo, New road, was a visitor to Nightcaps last week. Mrs J. Lawrence, Great North road, has returned from a holiday at Stewart Island. Miss D. Cowan, of Drummond, stayed the week-end with Miss J. Nimmo, New road. Mrs C. Cocoran, Grange street, was a recent visitor to.Wreys Bush. Mr and Mrs A. Hunt, of Lake Waitaki, have been the guests of Mr and Mrs D. Robb. Mrs R. H. Irwin, of Browns, left recently on a visit to Sydney and Melbourne. Miss L. McFetrich, of Invercargill, stayed the week-end with Miss R. Chrystal, Lochiel. Mr and Mrs A. Nicholson, of Rotorua, were recent visitors to Winton.