WOMENFOLK

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18946, 17 December 1929, Page 12

WOMENFOLK

A CHRONICLE OF SOCIAL EVENTS.

By

"STELLA."

Miss Jessie Taylor, Timaru, is staying with Mrs A. Taylor, “ Grasmere,” Cass. Mrs J. Hensley, Invercargill, is the guest of Mrs Richards, Avonside. The Misses Bennett, of Takapau, are visitors to Christchurch. Mr and Mrs J. Walsh and Miss Madge M Rae, Dunedin, are the guests of Mrs J. J. Vincent, Bishop Street, St Albans Rev and Mrs E. C. Crosse, Christ’s College, will leave at the end of the month on a holiday visit to Rotorua. Mrs H. Scott and her daughter, Eunice, are Wellington visitors to Christchurch for the Parkes-Britt wedding. Mr and Mrs Goulter (Wellington) and Mr and Mrs C. M. Benzeman (Oakland, California) are at the United Service Hotel. Mr and Mrs Macfarlane (Parnassus), Mrs Trevor (Ashburton) and Miss Jennings (Ashburton) are at Warner’s Hotel. Mrs M. E. Begg is leaving for Sydney, where she will be the guest of Mr and Mrs W. J. Taverner, prior to her departure for England. The engagement has been announced of Ruby, only daughter of Mr and Mrs J. H. Jacobs, of Spreydon, to Cyril, eldest son of Mr and Mrs H. W. Bullivant, of Riccarton. Mr and Mrs John Montgomery and family and Mrs Maitland Rich will leave this week for a holiday on Mr Montgomery’s farm, “ Braelangwell,” Longbeach. Miss Florence Thomson was a pas. senger for Wellington on Monday evening to join the Tahiti. Miss Thomson intends visiting friends in Sydney and Melbourne before proceeding to England. Miss Jessie Hardie, who has been a teacher at Punjaub, India, for the last five and a half years, and who is home for eighteen months’ furlough, has been on a visit to Mrs Lapthorne, Springfield. Miss J. E. C. Hope, who has resigned from the Rotherham School, is leaving for England next week. Miss Hope intends breaking her journey and spending some weeks in Sydney and in Ceylon. Later she hopes to visit Egypt and Palestine, after which she returns to Canada. At the Public Service shorthandtypistes’ examinations held in Christchurch last month, the following students of Miss ' Digby’s Commercial School were successful in passing the various sections of the examinations:— Special examination, shorthand, 150 words per minute—Eileen Chaplin (the only successful candidate for Canterbury). Intermediate examination, shorthand, 130 words per minute— Eileen Chaplin and Mary Garbutt (the only successful candidates for Canterbury). Senior examination—Francis E. Dallas, Eileen Chaplin, Julia P. Brosnahan, Margaret N. Gibson. Junior examination—Ngaire R. Templeton, Jean E. Howie, Gwen A. Main, Doris T. Mattinson, Jean O. Jameson, Viola Haigh, Evelyn W. Webb, Margaret J. Hood, Winifred Thompson, Winifred D. Watson, Leila F. Andrews, Edna R. Slade, H. Mavis Carter, O. Betty Orsborn, Kathleen T. Reddington, S. Edith Norton, F. Jean Sewell, Iris C. Threlkeld, Rose I. Butler.

Free Kindergarten. Miss Hull addressed the parents before the annual party began yesterday afternoon at the Linwood North Free Kindergarten. She thanked the local committee and the parents’ committee, for their valuable help during the past year. The children (there were fiftyeight on the roll) then came into the room in single file and took their places in their chairs, forming a circle, and sang a song of welcome. Other songs, dances and games followed, all arranged with a view to teaching in a pleasant way. Nothing could have been more natural than the “bunnies” in the “Bunny Song,” nor the brownies, mice and owls, who, by the light of the moon, came out to play under the trees, while the “Brownie Song” was sung by the rest of the children. Appreciation of music was shown by the children drawing on the blackboard the notes Miss Martin played on the piano, and also by their recognition of notes printed on large cards. In uniform of swords, belts and caps, the children went through mechanical drill. A pretty number was the pigeon house, when four grey pigeons fluttered in and out of a pigeon house formed in the centre. Then a diminutive Father Christmas made his appearance down a chimney with his sledge. After a song about Santa Claus, the curtains of the prettily decorated stage were drawn back, and revealed a life-size Father Christmas, who handed each boy and girl a toy, after first shaking hands with Miss Martin, the director, Miss Wade, her assistant, and Misses Shanks, Lane and Selby, student teach ers. Tea was handed round. Among the visitors were Mrs H. T. J. Thacker,. Mrs T. E. Taylor, Mrs J. R. Evans and Miss Alice Jones:

Miss Margaret Stevenson (Fendalton) is visiting Mrs Paul Thomson, North Canterbury. Miss Hester Wigley (Highfield). who is spending a few days in Christchurch, will return home to-day. Mrs. W. H. Helmore, “Koromiko,” Wai-iti Road, Timaru, has returned from Christchurch.

Mr and Mrs Wardrop (Christchurch), who spent the week-end with Mrs A. S. Elworthy (Holme Station), returned to the north yesterday. Miss Nancy Orbell (“The Croft,” Timaru), who has been spending a few days in Christchurch, has returned home.

Mrs J. P. Newman (“Clovelly,” Nelson Terrace, Timaru), who has been visiting Christchurch and Wellington, returned home on Saturday. Mr and Mrs E. Spain (Alexandra) and Mr and Mrs Littledike (Brisbane) and the Misses Littledike are guests at Warner’s Hotel.

The first woman to hold the post of chairman of the Socialist Party is Miss Susan Lawrence, M.P., who will preside at next year’s party conference. She was elected to the position by the new national executive. A number of friends last Monday afternoon paid a surprise visit to the home of Miss Elsie C. Smith, whose marriage takes place early next week. Each lady took a gift of preserved fruit. A pleasant afternoon was spent. Those present were: Mesdames S. C. Smith, H. Adams, Herron, Manning, Robinson, Yellowlees, Bockman, Cook, Weston and Miss E. C. Smith.

A notable feat was performed by Mrs A. T. Mortensen when, after the death of her husband, the contractor, she completed the reinforced concrete bridge over the Vaal River, near Klerksdorp, which links the Transvaal and Orange Free States. With the aid of her daughter, Mrs Mortensen superintended and organised the completion of the work on her husband’s plans, and for eight months they lived on the site. The bridge has eleven spans, four of which are 60ft long.