WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 70, 22 August 1947, Page 7

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

THORNTON BRANCH MEETS Thornton Women’s Institute held its monthly meeting in the hall on Thursday, August 14. There was a large attendance of members and four new ladies were enrolled and welcomed by the president, Mrs Robb. The meeting marked the second anniversary of the formation of the branch and a large number of ladies from neighbouring women’s organisations joined with members to celebrate the occasion. After the usual preliminaries and business, Mrs Robb welcomed the visitors and an enjoyable afternoon was spent. The Glee Circle entertained with two items, vocal solos by Mrs Arbuckle and Mrs Stewart and a humorous sketch “Unprofitable Poultry Keeping” by Mrs Ducker and Mrs D. Branch were much appreciated. All ladies had been asked to come representing a song and the largest number guessed correctly was by Mrs Cobden of Otakiri. There were two other competitions, guessing the number of maize grains in a bottle which was won by Mrs Phillips of Thornton, and the aggregate measurement of an ankle of each of six ladies on the platform which was guessed within half an inch of the actual measurement by Mrs Burgess of Edgecumbe.

There were two raffles, a dinner won by Mrs'*-' Ducker, of Thornton, and a box of chocolates donated by Mrs Carson, won by Mr Grant of Whakatane, and returned as a donation by the winner who has happy recollections of parcels from members'of women’s institutes received by him while overseas. It is now being re-raffled for funds for' the monthly food parcel sent by the Thornton branch to its Scottish link. The beautiful birthday cake which was made and iced by Mrs Arbuckle was cut by Mrs Carson, the oldest member and Mrs Armstrong, president of the Eastern Bay of Plenty Federation, in a few well chosen words offered congratulations to the Thornton branch on its wonderful progress during the past two years and expressed her good wishes for continued success. Afternoon tea was served and the meeting closed with the National Anthem. The competition winners for the day were:— Best flower: Mrs MacDonald 1, Mrs Martin 2. Best vegetable: Mrs Sheat 1, Mrs' Gardner 2. Rock buns: Mrs Smith 1, Mrs Watts 2. Vase of flowers: Mrs Watts 1, Mrs Ducker 2. Child’s jersey: Mrs MacDonald 1, Mrs D. Branch 2.