WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19360, 8 December 1932, Page 11

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

BLUECLIFFS. The monthly meeting of the Bluecliffs Women’s Institute was held in the hall on Wednesday afternoon, there being only a fair attendance. A considerable time was taken up in arranging for a carnival dance to be held at the end of December. This is to take the form of a plain, fancy and hard-up dance, masks being optional. Strong committees were set up to arrange for various parts of the programme. The competition for the day, a Christmas gift for 1/-. was won by Mrs Stewart and Miss Ward, Mrs Weeks, Miss J. Beattie, Miss M. Risk. Mrs Hendry and Miss Mac Gibbon, all being third equal. After afternoon tea had been dispensed by the hostesses—Mrs Joines. Miss B. Morris and Miss Risk, a very amusing competition, entitled "split proverbs,” was enjoyed by all, the winner being Miss H. Collier. A vote of thanks was accorded Mrs Stewart for having had copies of the opening ode typed. A bring and buy stall did brisk business, and added quite a few shillings to the Institute’s funds, while a largesized toy elephant, kindly given by Miss Collier, was won by Master Douglas Cocks. Tbe singing of the National Anthem brought the meeting to a close.

ARUNDEL. The monthly meeting of the Arundel Women’s Institute was held in Howard Hall on December 6th. Mrs Pithie presided over an attendance of about 40 members. Miss McCully was welcomed as a new member. The question of joining up with the depot in Timaru was discussed, and on a show of hand It was decided unanimously to join up at onoe. Mrs Pithie announced that the country dance had been placed fourth in the competition held in Geraldine; also that the birthday party was to be held on December 16th as previously arranged. Miss Bowen offered to put on an item by the school children. Mr Upritchard offered to arrange the Christmas tree. —These offers were gratefully accepted. Mrs Pithie announced that the picnic would be held at Peel Forest, and it was decided to ask Commander Denniston’s permission to hold it on his property, also to send an invitation to the Geraldine Band. Mrs Pithie then introduced Mr McCully, who expressed pleasure at being able to be present as he was very much in sympathy with the aims and objects of the Women’s Institute. It gave him great pleasure to know that the Maoris also had their Women’s Institutes. Mr McCully gave an enlightening talk on Maori curious, and displayed primitive tools found in France and England and New Zealand to show the resemblance that these tools bore to one another. One reputed to be four thousand years old (found in France), bore great resemblance to one found at Pareora. Mr McCully then showed a huge club (presumably used by the moa hunters); also tools shaped to make the finer weapons used in warfare, and for finer carving. To the inexperienced eye. many of these tools appeared to be just pieces of broken boulder, but after Mr McCully showed the different edges and shapes, and the uses they could be put to, it was evident that they were not mere accident. Mr McCully also showed a hook and sinker found at Chatham Islands; a method used by the Maoris to catch birds; and some valuable greenstone.

Mrs Pithie proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr McCully for his very interesting talk. She was especially interested in the Maoiis. as her grandparents had lived amongst them. Her father was the first white child born in Ashburton. The sales table was well stocked with articles. The hostesses for the day were Mesdames Ambler. Cormack, Thew, Waller, and Miss McCoomb.