SOCIAL NOTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18613, 8 July 1930, Page 4

SOCIAL NOTES.

Mrs P. J. Rolleston, LeCren’s Terrace, left yesterday on a visit to Wellington. Mr and Mrs H. E. Wright, Mayfield, arrived yesterday to spend a few days at their home in Craigie Street.

Mr and Mrs J. P. K. Jamieson, “Kinnoull," Tycho, have returned from Christchurch.

Miss June Batchelor, Dunedin, who is the guest of Mrs Herbert Elworthy, Craigmore, will return home to-day. Mrs Charles Buchanan, Christchurch, who is the guest of Mrs Thomson, Bidwill Street, will return home to-day. Miss Jill Hislop, Geraldine, has returned home after a visit to Mrs James Innes, Haldon Station.

Miss Margaret Todhunter, Lake Heron, who was the guest of Mrs Colin Douglas, Waimate, left on Saturday for the north.

Mrs Mendelssohn, California, is staying with Mrs Sutherland, Hassall Street. Mrs Mendelssohn is a daughter of the late Mr Moss Jonas, a former Mayor of Timaru. Among the recent Timaru callers at the High Commissioner’s Office, London, were Mr and Mrs E. G. Kerr, Mr and Mrs R. B. Bell, Mr and Mrs J. H. McPedries, and Mr W. W. Coughlan. Mrs Clive Crozier, who had been staying with Mrs T. W. Satterthwaite, Elizabeth Street, has returned to Christchurch. Captain and Mrs S. M. Satterthwaite, Dunedin, will motor home to-day.

The engagement is announced of Beatrice Margaret, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs J. K. Russell, “Mahorall,” St. Andrews, to Leslie Herbert, second son of Mr and Mrs H. W. Bishop, “The Laurels,” St. Andrews.

On May 21st, at the first meeting of the Junior Red Cross Committee, over which the Countess Northcote, C. 1., D.8.E., presided, Miss Sybil Nathan, the New Zealand delegate, had the honour to present a waka huia from the New Zealand Juniors. In handing the Maori casket to Lady Northcote, Miss Nathan said the New Zealand Juniors sent the gift with a very warm feeling of love and friendship, and although many thousands of miles divided them, they felt they were very closely bound to the British Juniors under the banner of the Junior Red Cross. The gift was received with applause. Miss Nathan was asked to convey the thanks of the British Juniors to their friends in New Zealand.

Special interest attaches to three of the customs observed at a Chinese dinner. The passing round of the bowl and napkin in the East is a common practice of great antiquity. Reference is made to it in the Second Book of Kings, when Elisha offers the bowl and towel to Elijah. Between courses, toward the end of the meal, the chi-moee game is played. Two diners simultaneously raise a hand and at once call out how many fingers are extended. The loser has to drink, not stand, a bowl of wine. Much as the game looks like chance, a Chinese nearly always beats a foreigner at it. A variation of chimoee is found in which the two diners take it in turn to hold up a hand, some fingers being closed and some extended. The man challenged has to make an instant guess as his neighbour’s arm shoots out. In the Beni Hassim temples and the frekco paintings at Thebes, ancient are shown playing this game. Later it passed on to Athens, and to Rome. Peasants play it in Italy to this day.

VISITORS’ LIStS. Recent visitors at the Grosvenor were:—Mr and Mrs P. W. Johnston (Christchurch), Mr and Mrs J. Thomson (Central Otago), Miss Coleman (Christchurch), Miss Smith (Dunedin), Dr. A. Kidd (Waipiata), Mr J. E. Macassey, Mr H. McDougall, Mr Les. Murray, Mr R. D. Welsh (Dunedin), Mr R. A. Long, Mr D. Stronach, Mr J. A. Kirkland (Central Otago), Mr and Mrs C. W. Hamilton (Fairlte), Mr and Mrs J. Dodgshon, Mr J. A. Grigg (Dunedin), Mr L. J. Clark, Mr J. G. Hawkins, Mr A. Mitchell (Wellington), Mr W. J. Sim (Christchurch), Mr S. Loughlin (Wellington), Mr J. R. Oliver, Mr H. W. Wilkins (Dunedin), Mr W. P. Tracy (Christchurch), Mr D. C. Halley (Wellington), Mr J. Vaughan (Christchurch), Mr C. Macdonald, Mr A. Thomson (Wellington) .