AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 12, 22 March 1911, Page 63

AUCKLAND.

- March 17. Opening of the Girls' Club. I WENT to rattier an interesting function on Wednesday afternoon —the opening of t'he Girls’ Club. The rooms tare on tihe top storey of Spod'ding’s new buildings in Customsstreet. One could not help thinking that ■if tiheie was such a great need for such a club, the rooms are much too small, but then again comes in the question of expenses. Now, my-very 'best friend has never been able to say that 1 am in the least a businesslike sort of a woman, but I could not help tlhinking: What 'is the ■sense of having so many clubs and such like, all under different headings. Surely this is a mistake. Why not have joined ithie G.F.S., and let there be one head, and have branches where needful?—have a paiid stall', and work the thing on a business basis. Miss Stillwell, the secretary for the Y.W.C.A., told us they were providing the funds, and the

management of the Girls’ Club were running it, and marking the fact that it was in no way a religious club, as it appears that a large number of girls would not join the' W.C.T.U., but ■would join just an ordinary "ciub. Most of the mere men •’speakers seemed ill at ease,’ hardly knowing 'quitei huxw to treat the subject.- Mr. Bagnall; Mayor of Auckland, bold us hetwas glad to know such clubs were being started for women, as he had always .understood that men’s .clubs were considered to be very selfish ■institutions. Mr. Parr was most daring. He said he was old-fashioned enough to regret the necessity for such clubs, as he Still thought, the. “home” woman the best—and, mind you, he was surrounded by stern womeil , bread-winners —and Mr. Parr quoted “Becky Sharpe” and Thackeray. I must confess “Becky” was a woman I have a lot of sympathy for. I always think it was such truth her saying: What a good woman she could have been on £looo’ a year. I would be perfectly charming. Mr. Entrican was in a very happy frame of mind. He said he wias delighted to come from a Harbour Board meeting to the opening of a women’s club. As he was thinking of taking a trip to England shortly, he had made up his mind to arm himself with a framed copy of the rules and regulations of the Women’s Club, so that when he came face to face with a real live suffragette he could wave it in her face to show he was of ■the right colour. Miss Stillwell made quite a chainring speech, being quite at home with her subject. Then Miss E. Melville, the hon. secretary of the club,, made a few remarks, and I am quite sure both these speakers convinced any doubters that ■women workers were. “out of the picture” to reconstruct their ideas. As the latter speaker said: What were they to do when there were so many more women bh'an men? Mrs John Burns, executive President, received the guests, who then passed on and made a tour of inspection of the pretty rooms. After the speeches a delicious tea was handed round to the guests. Among those present I noticed: -—Mrs Arthur Myers, honorary President; Mrs Louis Myers; Mrs Napier, Mrs R. A. Carr, Mrs McDowall, Mrs A. W. Ferguson, Mrs Colgrove, Mrs W. Coleman, and Miss R. Coleman. Miss Binks Mrs MeK. Geddes, Miss Alison. Miss Bagnall, Mrs T. Mahoney, Mrs Buttle, Mrs H. G. Fountain, Mrs S. T. Asley. Mrs C. Smith, Mrs Spedding. Mrs J. W. Stewart, Mrs J. C. Macky, Mrs W. S. Wilson, Mrs H. S. Dettman, Misses E. M. Jones, C. Fleming, E. Melville. E. F. Courtney, Cox, Cousins, A. Kennedy, L. Fleming, J. Buttle.

A Farewell Dance. Mrs J. Walker of Epsom, gave ft charming dance on Monday last, ag a farewell frolic for her son Jack, who left for India on the Moldavia. Airs Walk* er’s house has a delightful garden, and as the night was beautifully fine and moonlight this resort was much in request, between dances. Mrs Walker received her guests in a handsome black toilette. Miss Judy Bai nett, who made her debut at King’s College dance a few days before, wore her pretty white frock, also Miss Isidore Cumming who also made her debut at the same dance, was admired in a lovely frock of ivory satin charmeuse draped with exquisite old lace and pearl embroidery. Miss Bobbie Taylor, Cambridge, looked pretty in white and silver; Miss Elaine Buchanan wore a dainty pink crepe-de-chuie; Miss Alary Foster looked charming in white ninon over charmeuse, the drapery caught up with palest pink chiffon roses; Miss R. Coleman looked particularly well in a pretty pale blue picture frock; Miss Ruth Horrocks, Aliss Thelma Hanna, wore a pretty white frock; and a number of other guests. Off for tlic Coronation The Queen-street wharf was th rouge with a gay crowd of people seeing the Moldavia oil. There was a large number of passengers leaving from this poit, all of whom seemed to have crowds of people seeing them oil’. Mr ami Mrs Joe Stud, holme were among the passengers, and nnumber of their friends Were seeing them off, among whom were Airs T. C. Williams, Mrs Hope Lewis, Mr and Aire Ernest Bloomfield. Mr Jack Walker had. a large number of “farewellers.” Airs Carr Rollett. so well known as hon. secretary of the Victoria League, is off tc London. Mr Alfred Nathan returned to England to join his family, and numbersof folk were off to Australia, among whom were Mr and Airs Percy Upton. The ship’s band played at intervals, anq as the huge vessel moved from the whar. the strains of “Auld Lang Syne” floated on the air, silencing even the band o» very noisy “farewellers” who were their best—or their worst—in the way ol weird “calls” and cheers. A Round of Parties. There has been ground of parlie* given for Mrs Savage andi Miss Cooper and Miss Ethel Alartin, all of whom left Auckland on Monday, the first two for London, and the latter for South Africa. Aliss Vera Duthie had a bridge party on Wednesday. On Thursday night the Misses Gorrie, Three Kings, gave a very jolly dance. The additions to their house, which includes a fine hall room, wore very much admired, and 1 he party was a great success. On Friday night these gaieties culminated with a charm-

Ing party given by Miss Jessie Reid. There were about forty guests, so the room was not unduly crowded, and as the night was simply perfect, the whole place bathed in moonlight, and a lovely breeze, “sitting out” was not one of the least attractions. Supper was served in the dining-room, and the table looked charming decorated with vieux rose shaded dahlias and Michaelmas daisy, arranged in silver bowls and vases. Mr Archie Denniston, in a bright speech, proposed the health of the guests of the evening, Miss Cooper and Miss Ethel Martin, which was drunk with enthusiasm. Mr Ted Dargaville responded (much to everyone’s disappointment “the toasts” of the evening shirked their duty) and with much merriment and laughter this jolly part of the evening's fun came to an end. Miss Reid and her two brothers made delightful hosts, and everyone had a good time. Mrs Reid wore a handsome black toilette, with a touch of pale blue velvet over white lace on the bodice; Miss Jessie Reid looked charming in a pretty white frock; Miss Chapman wore a cream frock; Miss Cooper looked unusually well in a rather deep shade of pink charmeuse veiled with dew spangled chiffon, and a black aigrette in her hair, which was most becoming; Miss Ethel Martin wore a very pretty blue charmeuse frock veiled with paler blue ninon, which suited her admirably. Croquet Tournament.

The wind-up of the croquet tournament, which 1 was not able to tell you of in my last letter, was that in the finals of the championship. Mrs’Smith, without much difficulty, defeated Miss Workman, whom, 1 hear, was handicapped by ill-health. So Parnell has "scooped the pool." Mrs Smith winning the single championship, and, partnered by Mrs C. Brown, won the double championship, and Mrs Thornes and Mr Hill are the combined champions for the year, so Parnell have every reason to feel proud of their representatives. Tenuis At Home.

The West End Club gave an “At Home last Wednesday, and the lucky players who were there had no end of a good time. There were two grades, and pretty prizes were given for each. In the A grade Mrs Cooper and Miss G. Gorrie tied, and in the draw Miss Gorrie W’on. In the B grade, Miss Brown and Miss M. Hesketh tied. The West End treated their guests in a delightful manner. The arrangements for the matches were in the hands of Mrs Earl, assisted by her club_mates. Some of those present were: Mrs Kent, Mrs Fee, Mrs Swan. Miss Handley. Misses Bagnall (2). Miss' Mamie Hesketh. Miss Mab Rice. Miss Abbott, Miss Metcalfe, Miss Foote. Mrs Cooper. Personal.

Mrs W. R. Bloomfield and Miss Hilda Bloomfield, who have been on a trip to Gisborne, returned in the Wimmera on Sunday. Mr and Mrs D. Cumming, accompanied by Miss Ethel Martin, left for Sydney, en route for South Africa, on Monday, Bailing in the Wimmera. Mr and Mrs Mallace Alexander and the Misses Alexander, who have been spending the summer in Raglan, returned to town last week, and are Irvine at “Arundel.” ° Miss Sybil Greig, who for the past year has been in Wellington on the staff of the Wellington Hospital, is on holiday leave, which she is spending with her parents. Mrs O’R. Younghusband, of Napier, is paying a short visit to her uncle. Sir .Wauriee O’Rorke. PHYLLIS BROUN.