WOMEN’S DIVISION

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1934, Page 19 (Supplement)

WOMEN’S DIVISION

MATAPU BRANCH EVENT. SECOND BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED. An enjoyable evening was spent in the Matapu hall on Wednesday on the occasion of the second birthday of the Matapu branch of the Women’s Division. Entertainment was provided by the Stratford Scottish Society and Stratford Pipe Band. The artists were Messrs. P. Aitken and A. Sextus (songs), Mrs. Crabb, Miss H. Grant, Miss McCormack and Miss Luvan (songs), Miss Eva Longstaff (elocution), Miss Margaret Lawrence (Irish jig and sailors’ hornpipe). Mr. C. F. Vincent led community singing and Mr. Joe Morrison was master of ceremonies. The chieftain of the Stratford Scottish Society, Mr. Tom Smith, was present and expressed pleasure at visiting Matapu for the first time. He thanked the artists for so willingly offering their services. Miss Galbraith played the accompaniments. Mrs. C. Benton, president of the South Taranaki executive of the Women’s Division, congratulated the Matapu branch on its second birthday. A large birthday cake was cut and handed round, and a posy was presented to Mrs. Benton. The president, Mrs. H. Calder, expressed thanks to the visitors and representatives of surrounding branches for their attendance.

Dance music was played by the Thistle Orchestra with extras by Misses M. Guy and B. Seed. A Monte Carlo was won by Mr. D. McCallum and Miss M. Guy and competitions by Mr. H. T. Riddick and Mrs. B. Barclay. Mr. W. Curd and Miss McCormack were the winners of the paper hats. The hall was nicely decorated with rhododendron, camellias and daffodils and an excellent supper was provided by the members of the branch. Awatuna: The monthly meeting of the Awatuna branch was held last Tuesday when there was a large attendance. Mrs. Coxhead presided. A competition was held for the best knitted article and sewn article for a child. Mrs. Rumball, who judged, made the following awards: Sewn articles, Mrs. Lind 1, Mrs. Cassidy 2, Mrs. Smith 3; knitted article, Mrs. Davison 1, Miss Duckett 2, Mrs. Corbett 3. Mrs. Rumball commented on the high quality of the work. All the articles and another peggy square quilt are to be sent to the Kaponga Red Cross for the needy. The president gave as a hint the use of soap and water as a disinfectant when nothing else was available. Mrs. Benton gave an address on the recent conference.

Cardiff: The monthly meeting of the Cardiff branch was held on Wednesday, there being a very good attendance presided over by Mrs. D. Brunton. It was decided to sell £2 worth of goods made by the returned soldiers. The competition for scones was won by Mrs. J. Steiner with Mrs. A. O’Sullivan second. Hostesses for the afternoon were Mesdames Hoskin, Rollings and Steiner.

Hurford Road: The monthly meeting was held last week with a small attendance of 15. Mrs. Marfell gave a demonstration on using up oddments of wool.

Inglewood: The branch held an enjoyable afternoon in the parish hall on Wednesday. Mrs. Marsh presided and competitions for scones and floral decorations were held.

Fraser Road: A well-attended meeting of the Fraser Road branch was held recently. The roll-call, “the task I like least,’’ produced some interesting replies. The report of the annual conference was discussed and the programme for the next three meetings drawn up. Mrs. A. Trewick was appointed to arrange the establishment of a branch library. Mrs. Trewick gave a very interesting demonstration of the making of lampshades. Articles made by disabled soldiers were exhibited and a large number sold. A competition for a plate of pastry tarts was won by Mrs. S. Death. Afternoon tea was served by the hostesses, Mrs. Jennings and Miss Coleman.

Ratapiko-Manganui: At the monthly meeting recently a good attendance was recorded. The president read the report of the conference and also of the central executive. A peggy square quilt brought in £2 4s for the community chest fund. The members appreciated a lecture given by Dr. Armstrong, Stratford. Waverley: The monthly meeting was held recently, Mrs. Macfarlane presiding. Arrangements were made for the holding of the birthday party next month. '■

Okato: Mrs. Andrews presided over an attendance of 20 members at the monthly meeting on Tuesday. Two new members were enrolled and a welcome extended to two visitors, Mrs. Baily and Mrs. Harris, Oakura, Mrs. Harris gave an appreciated talk on the remits at the annual conference. Mrs. Crossly, a member who is leaving the district, was presented with a sup, saucer and plate by the president, who' commented on the help given by Mrs. Crossly. Mrs. Crossly replied. A competition for darning a man’s heavy working sock was won by Mrs. McGill with Mrs. Gibson second. Hostesses were Mrs. Eustace and Miss McFetridge.

Kapuni: The monthly meeting was held last week. There was a good attendance presided over by Mrs. Paterson. Arrangements were made for a dance and progressive five-hundred evening. It was decided to have a demonstration on soft toy making and a competition for the best worked apron next month. Mesdames Kissick and Barriball were hostesses.

Pembroke Branch: At the monthly meeting of the Pembroke Road branch on Thursday the president, Mrs. Belcher, presided ovei- an attendance of 16. Two members of Stratford branch were entertained. Invitations to visit Cardiff and Stratford branches were accepted. It was arranged to take three car-loads of members to visit the Ratapiko branch in October. The branch arranged to procure two of the essays read at the Pan-Pacific conference. A report of the entertainment committee’s activties disclosed a satisfactory winter session. Arangements wer.e made to help with the sewing for tne school concert. An excellent and helpful demonstration on the art of pastry-making was given by Mrs. Trotter, president of the Stratford branch. Winners of the competition judged by Mrs. Lamplough, Stratford, were: Mrs. H. A. Hunt 1, Mrs. Belcher 2. Hurworth: The monthly meeting was held recently, Mrs. Baker presiding. Owing to an unusual amount of sickness in the district only 29 members were present. Leather goods sent on behalf of the Blind Institute were disposed of during the month. Nurse Peterson gave an address on the beginnings and aims of the Plunket Society. Mrs. Weston, who accompanied Nurse Peterson, also gave a shoi-t address, thanking the people of Hurworth for their help in the past. Hostesses for the afternoon were Mesdames Pepperell, Gilbert and Miss N. Gilbert. Matapu: The monthly meeting was held on Wednesday, when Mrr. Calder presided over an attendance of 13. Competitions were won as follows: Scones, Mrs. Robertson 1, Mrs. Bolger 2. Mrs. Webby 3; article from yard of cretonne, Mrs. Robertson 1, Mrs. W. A. Guy 2, Miss P. Robertson 3. Bell Block: The September meeting of the branch was held at the home of Mrs. H. D. Macdonald on Thursday afternoon when there were 20 members present. The senior' vice-president, Mrs. A. M. Hill, presided. Motions of sympathy were expressed with Mrs. A. H. Grover and Mrs. F. Holmes in their illnesses.

Preliminary arrangements were made for a euchre party, social and dance to be held in October to celebrate the branch’s fourth anniversary. The president gave a resume of her visit to conference. Afternoon tea was served by the hostesses for the afternoon, Mrs. Macdonald and Mrs. Collins, after which a social time was spent with competitions, etc. The tennis wedding competition was won by Mrs. Oman and Miss French.