SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 238, 8 October 1928, Page 12

SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

The Birkenhead Labour Party held their weekly whist drive in the Victoria Hall on Saturday night. The prizewinners were:—Ladies: Mrs. Daly 1, Mrs. Davidson 2. Gentlemen: Mr. McNeil 1, Mr. Culpan 2. A special ladies' night will be held next Saturday. is-.' • • • • ,~Mesdames Partington and Hodgson were the hostesses at a gift afternoon held in the Jubilee Hall, Kingsland, on Thursday. Gifts were received for the Rainbow Fair and sale of work' to be held next week. Songs were rendered by Mesdames Patterson, Craig, Hulse and Rogers and Miss Herbert. The pianist was Miss Pickering. Recitations nwre given by Mrs. T. Clark, Mrs. Ryland and Miss Bessie Missen. Two amusing competitions were won by Mrs. Kyland and Miss Shortland. A large number of ladies were present and aftern6on tea was seiVedfrom small tables decorated with ferns and spring flowers. ■la • •./ : . ifj.. > . • -J- ' ..,**/' J t The Ponsonby Croquet Club, opened its season for play on Saturday afternoon, when perfect weather prevailed. There was a large muster of members and honorary members. The president, Miss Brown, in a few well-chosen remarks, welcomed the ladies, and after playing the first ball declared the lawns open for the season. Miss Brown was ably assisted by Miss Burton, vice-president. These two ladies provided a beautiful afternoon tea. and the prises, Progressive croquet was played during the afternoon, and the prizes were won by Mesdames. Hilton, Bell, Gall, Noton and Vaile. A,;,hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the president and vice-president for their hospitality. t

. Perfect weather was enjoyed on Satur day afternoon for the opening of th< Takapuna Croquet Club. The lawns which never looked better, were gay witl flags which lined the surrounding greet fence. The club was declared open b] the president, Mrs. C. Cutler, the first ball being played by the Mayoress, Mrs J. W. Williamson. Mrs. Cutler wel **.. corned those present, old and new mem Iters, taking it as a good omen for th< success of the coming season that then were so many there. A game of pro gressive croquet was arranged, the win nerS being Mrs. A. White (A grade), anc Mr. A. Allen (B grade). Afternoon tet was served in the bowlers' pavilion which was decorated in an attractive ant novel way by Mesdames feiddell ant White. Yellow and white, the club col Ours, were used, overhead yellow aero Sh 5-? atles < 12 ) of many sizes were bus pended amidst yellow and whiti ' streamers. The tables bore broad fringed yellow and white streamers am bowls of Iceland poppies and ferns. Th Mayor, Mr. J. W. Williamson, on behal of i, the visitors, thanked the presiden and club for their hospitality and wishei the club a prosperous season. Mi Audley voiced the thanks of the Bowlin ,/ Club (many members being guests fc the afternoon). Amongst those presexi Were: The Mayor and Mayoress, Mn Davies (hon. secretary), Mrs. J. Haydei Mr«. Audley, Mrs. Smith, Mr. and Mri Barnes, Mrs.. Taylor, Mrs. Borland, Mri Hunt, Mrs. M. Thompson, Mrs. Gitto Mrs. Elliott, Mrs. A. White, Mrs. Riddel Mrs. Peter 8, Mrs. Winter, Mrs. Allei Mts. Nagel, Mrs. W. White (Bayswater Smvt. Cooper, Mrs. Best, Mrs. VVaugl Mrs. Brinadcn. Mrs. Salmon, Mrs. J unavoidabl ead fromtheHbn. B.' ? A. Harris,MJ>.

The monthly meeting of the Te Atatu Women's Institute was held on October 4. This being a members' meeting, they took possession as soon as the business formalities were finished. A most enjoyable programme was provided. It com 4' prised: Pianoforte solo, by Mrs. Pauling; dress parade (the dress to be made by the wearer, costing not more than 4/); exhibition of Hindu work and cooking utensils, by Miss Shepherd; recitation, by Mrs. Walters; exhibition of war trophies and soldiers' work, by Mrs. Adamson; a humorous reading, by Mrs. Brokenshire. The meeting was closed with the singing of the National Anthem. A few days previously Mrs. Paton, the president, invited all the Women's Institute members to morning tea to meet Mrs. Dorman, the president of the Auckland Provincial Federation, and a most enjoyable time was spent.

Miss Mabel Johnson, of Remuera, gave a pupils' dance demonstration on Saturday afternoon in her ballroom at Omahu Road. Senior and junior children, ranging from three years old, gave dainty old world dances and several classical numbers. Afternoon tea was served in delightful surroundings. Among those present were:, Mrs. Winkfield, Mrs Bagnail, Mrs. Thome George, Mrs. Blomfield, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Horton, Mrs. Keith, Mrs. Crawshaw, Mrs. Tonks, Mrs. Seaward, Mrs. Upton, Mrs. Gould-Smith, Mrs. Wilkins, Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Court, Mrs. Coates, Mrs. Moses, Mrs. Sloman, Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. Bunting, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Colyer, Mrs. McLean, Mrs. Craig, Mrs. Brewer, Mrs. Brose, Mrs. Paterson, Mrs. Magill, Mrs. King, Mrs. Kissling, Mrs. Holderness, Mrs. Moorehouse, Mrs. Proctor, Mrs. Hutchison, Mrs. Short, Mrs. Forgie and Mrs. Aitken.

A surprise party was held in the Gas Company's social hall, Otahuhu, on Saturday evening by Mr. and Mrs. Burr man in honour of their eldest son's birthday, there being between 80 and 90 guests present. The hostess received her guests in a frock of pale mauve. Owing to the health of the host, Mr. L. Piper acted as M.C., and carried out his duties in an efficient manner. Among those who contributed items were: Mesdames Greenall, King, Messrs. Dawson, Patrick, and Green, Miss . Wetter acting as, accompanist. The evening was spent in games, dances and competitions, and during ; stopper the usual toasts were - honoured. Among those present were: Mesdames Dawson, wearing nattier blue velvet; Doherty, navy georgette; Pearce, black satin'; Glendinning, saXe blue floral voile; Mar wick, apricot frock and lace; A. Patrick, black crepe de chine; J. Patrick, black satin and red; Cantwell, beige crepe de chine; Wheeler, black silk; King, black saitin; Massam, black satin; Finn, blue silk repp; Grenall, primrose crepe, de chine; Kenyoh, navy georgette; Greeny fawn silk repp; Piper, rose silk repp; Markie, black silk; Misses Wetter, flesh silk, diamante trimmings; Mitchell, powder, blue georgette; Griffiths, pale green crepe .de chine.

• * * •, • A novelty social evening was held at the Evelyn Firth Home, Parnell, last Thursday, when the Misses Lorna and Mary Andrew, with the assistance 'of some of the officers from H.M.s. Dunedin helped to amuse and entertain the inmates of the hospital. Owing to the informal arrangements of the programme, which was of a very varied nature, the evening proved to be a great success. The .assisting artists were as follows:—The Misses Stairs and Lorna Andrew, songs; Miss Mary Andrew, Mr. Roberts, Mr. J. W. Pikesley, Mr. Bert Thompson, humorous items; Mr. Cahtie; club swinging and chair tricks; Mr. John, hornpipe dancing; Mr. Daw, elocutionary items. The accompanist and soloist was Miss Thelma Gallaher. The grand finale, presented by the took the shape of a football ballet, in which all members of the concert troupe combined to make the item of great interest to the "boys" Mr. Purden thanked the party, on behalf of the "boys,"' to which Mr. Fred. Andrew suitably responded, jand the evening com liulud to the singing of Auld Lung Syne and the National Anthem.

There was a good attendance at Dixieland on Saturday night. The music was up to the usual standard that tne Dixieland Band is famed for, and things went very merrily. A number of pretty frocks were worn, a fitting setting being.made by the many coloured Chinese lanterns and gay decorations. Among the dancers were: Mrs. J. Grant, wearing turquoise blue taffeta; Mrs. A. W. Smith, black georgette with sequin trimming; 4 Mrs. N. D. Carter, mimosa georgette and gold lace; Mrs. Sullivan, frock of orchid georgette and silver; Mrs. Raynes, leaf green georgette; Mrs. N. Snedden, blue crepe de chine; Mrs! Mander, black grosgrin and gold lace; Miss M. Webb, coffee lace frock; Miss B. Hardie Neil, primrose velvet frock; Miss M. Peet, cyclamen georgette with sequin trimming; Miss B. Stevettson, black lace over pink; Miss Jean Graham, black georgette; Miss Worrall, Valencia blue lace frock; Miss Palmer, black charmeuse and tulle; Miss E. Robinson, black satin; Miss Brown, saracen red georgette and silver lace; Miss P. Vercoe, shell pink georgette with sequin embroideries; Miss K. Miller, prober coloured crepe de chine; Miss N. Miller, bluebell georgette frock; Miss Horton, gold lace over saracen red; Miss N. Mason, powder blue shot taffeta and gold lace; Miss L Abdullah, black crepe fleuri with amethyst embroideries; Miss Ashley, moonlight blue taffeta and tulle; Miss C. Gee, blush rose georgette with petalled skirt; Miss G. White, biscuit coloured frilled frock; Miss M, Ruddy, red georgette with shawl to tone; Miss D. Fraser, cherry crepe de chine frock; Miss B. Donald, blue georgette, embossed; Miss C. Turner, rose pink crepe fleuri; Miss J. Dewing, saracen red georgette with diamante trimming; Miss Lichfield, love in the mist blue georgette, with sequin embroideries; Miss Robson, I ivory velvet.

An exceptionally good programme of two one-act plays was given by the Philistine Players at the revel an Saturday evening. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Saunders were host and hostess - and a very enjoyable time was spent. The first play entitled "James and John," in which the parts were ably acted by Miss Vera Ziman, as the ex-prisoner's wife. Mr. R. Singer and Mr. Hartmain, his two sons, and Mr. Armitage, the ex-prisoner himself, dealt with the attitudes of two brothers toward their father, who had just served'a long term of imprisonment for embezzlement. In the second play. "Rococo," which contained a great deai of fun, the parts were taken by Mrs. H King,} Miss R. Palmer, Miss A. Webster. Mr. P. McCallum, Mr. Newling and Mr. King. Orchestral items were given by Mrs. C. Prime, Mrs. Bartlett, Miss Lloyd and Miss Walker, and after supper dancing was enjoyed until midnight Amongst those whp were present were: Mrs. J. W. Saunders, Mrs. A. Freeman Mrs. F. Hutchinson, Mrs. J. Y. Birch Mrs. J. F. Montague, Mrs. M. M. .McCallum, Mrs. Bartley, Mrs. Reid, Mrs Hartman, Mrs. H. C. Clark, Mrs. Stretton, Mrs. Gpldwater, Mrs. J. Bird, Mrs H. E. Gillespie, Mrs, W. Watkins, Mrs Milne Hovey, Mrs. Wallace Goode, Mrs Rainger, Mrs. Harold King, Mrs. Simmers, Mrs. F. Colledge, Mrs. Eric Waters Miss Vera Ziman, Miss Anne Gordon Miss Nance Redstone, Miss R. Palmer Miss D. Richardson, Miss Hardley, Miss K. Williamson, Miss B. Pculton, Miss G McLeay, Miss .R. McLeay.

Among the many * bright surprise parties .during the week-end was one given to Mrs. Carlaw, Arney Road, Remuera, when the house was effectively arranged with sweit flowers, the supper room containing many vases of gold Iceland poppies. Mrs. Carlaw wore a heavily beaded cream georgette, and Miss Joyce Carlaw a frock of black frilled georgette. Among those present were: Miss Janet" Wallace, wearing silver lame and pink georgette; Miss Shirley Frater, powder blue worked in sequins; Miss Mary Colebrook, sea green georgette and ribbon; Miss Winsome Airey, flame ring velvet; Miss Betty Pountney, ivory taffeta; Miss Molly Simmonds, pink georgette and silver; Mrs. Mary Upton, green, in silver tones; Miss Peggy Robertson, silver and mauve lame; Miss Rua Wintle, beaded pink georgette; Miss Pat Buddie, gold and Oriental lame; .Miss Zita Saunders, blue and silver taffeta; Miss Jean Ormiston, fuchsia ring velvet; Miss Alison Huie, black taffeta and net; Miss Ruth Taylor, M 6en , "IVer; Miss Gwen Kingston, blue taffeta with 6

Last Friday the staff of the Auckland Mental Hospital tendered a social and dance at the Nurses' Home to Mr. F. Lang, head attendant, who is retiring on superannuation. During the evening eulogistic reference to Mr. Lang's faithful service was made by Dr. Prlns, medical superintendent. A presentation of a silver, teaset, a set of bowls, and a case of pipes was made on behalf of the staff. A letter of appreciation of Mr. Lang's work was read from Dr. Gray, DirectorGeneral of Mental Hospitals, who was unable to attend the function on account of business in Wellington. Mr. Lang has the honour of being the longest service man in the Mental Department, and has just completed 40 years at the Auckland institution.