WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3822, 16 October 1936, Page 6

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

TE AWAMUTU BRANCH HAS ITS EIGHTH BIRTHDAY.' Te Awamutu branch of the Women’s Institute celebrated its eighth birthday with a party in the Parish Hall on Friday, and there was a very large assembly of members and friends. Mrs H. A. Burchell, the president, tendered a very hearty welcome to all the visitors, and hoped they would have a hapy time. Other Institutes represented were Kio Kio, Te Kawa, and Pirongia. A telegram expressing good wishes was received from Arapuni branch. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Mrs Robson (Pirongia), president of the Federation; Mrs F. H. Barnett (Ngahape), secretary of the Women’s Division; Mrs H. Y. Collins (Auckland), a former president; and Mesdames W. F. Woodward, J. T. Young, F. W. Bevin, J. F. Brooks, V. J .Pryor, and M. Oldham. All conveyed best wishes for a happy birthday. During the afternoon a bright concert programme, which was much enjoyed, and each item encored, was contributed as follows: Pianoforte solo, Mrs T. Nicholson; duo play, “ Institute Husbands” Mesdames Scown and Parker, of Kio Kio; musical monologues, “ Breath ” and “ Two Little Girlies and a Lad,” Joan Webber; recitations, Mrs T. Nicholson; national dances, Valerie Richards; humour, Mrs W. McCready; community singing with Mrs R. Stewart at the piano. A very attractive afternoon tea was served and the tables were charmingly decorated with pink and blue by Mrs L. Nicholson. Savouries and cakes were a feature of the spread. Then came the ceremony of cutting the birthday cake, which had been contributed by members and made and decorated by Mrs W. Finlay. Mrs Downes, the second president, lighted the eight candles, and Mrs H. A. Swarbrick, the third president, blew them out, following which Mrs H. A. Burchell, this year’s president cut the beautiful cake. The whole ceremony created much interest and evoked warm applause. The secretary was instructed to forward tile Institute’s best wishes to Mrs W. Jeffery, a past president, who is at present a patient in a local private hospital, regretting her absence from the birthday party and expressing sincere wishes for her complete restoration to health.

The meeting closed at about 4.30 p.m. with the singing of “ Auld Lang Syne.”