PARENTS' NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL UNION.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18407, 13 June 1925, Page 2

PARENTS' NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL UNION.

Teachers, earnjst and sorely tried, often deplore the fact that many parents take little or no interest, intelligent or otherwise, in the education and intellectual development of their children. Such an aspersion can certainly not justly be cast upon the members of the Christchurch branch of the Parents' National Educational Union, for no one who was not vitally interested in the -work of the Society would have braved the elements yesterday afternoon to attend a special meeting of the Union, held in "Te Wliare." Yet there was a very good attendance. Many members have recently joined the Union, which, from small beginnings, is rapidly extending its sphere of usefulness, and it- was for the benefit of these new members that yesterday's meeting was convened.' Mrs Norton Francis, president, explained the aims and objects of the P.N.E.U., which was founded in England by the late Charlotte Mason; Mrs Edwin Hay gave an interesting account of schools conducted by the Union, which she had recently visited in England; Mrs Arnaud McKellar referred specially to the work undertaken by the Christchurch branclj; and Mrs J. L. Findlay, a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, dealt briefly with her observations of the Union's teaching in Ireland.

Amongst the ladies present were: Mrs Norton Francis, Mrs A. A. McKellar, Mrs J. H. Williams, Mrs - MurrayAynslev, Mrs Eric Harper, Mrs Edwin Hay, Mrs Stuart Meares, Mrs John Stevenson, Mrs E. C. Iluic, Miss Heywood, Mrs Stephen. Parr, Mrs J. L. Findlay, Mrs Richmond, Dr. Helen Richmond, Mrs D. E. Hansen, Mrs Trevor Foster, Mrs E. .T. Cordner, Mrs G. W. C. Smithson, Mrs V. ,S. Smyth, Mrs Hugh Acland, Mrs A. R. Blbxani, Mrs A. M. Burns, Mrs W. Machin, Mrs Phillip Kiddel!,. Mrs J. W. K. Lawrence, Mrs D. Macbean Stewart, Mrs John Guthrie, Mrs T. W. Cane, Mrs Percy Overton, Mrs P. B. Haggitt, Mrs A. K. Firth, Mrs Grey, Mrs Warrington, Miss Agnes Hay, Miss R. Fleming.

WEDDING. KINSELLA—GILES. A quiet wedding was solemnised recently at St. Andrew's Church, Christchurch, by the Bev. Norman Webster, when Grace, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs J. Giles, of Spreydon, was married to Thomas E. Kinsella, of Wellington. The bride, who entered the Church on the arm of her father, wore a sleeveless frock Of electric blue georgette, the bodice being knife pleated in a low waist-line. The floating panels of the skirt were embroidered in large silk flowers. She wore a smart hat of the same material, trimmed with autumn flowers, and a long scarf, embroidered at the end in silver. She carried a shower bouquet of chrysanthemums and maidenhair fern.

Miss Gladys Giles, who attended her sister as bridesmaid, wore a frock of sunset satin inarocain, with an apron panel and girdle of hand-made flowers. Her black hat was trimmed with- cactus to tone with the frock, and she carried ashower bouquet of chrysanthemums and hothouse flowers.

Mr Cecil Sharpe acted as'best man. After the service a small reception was held at the home of the bride's parents, "where Mrs Giles, mother of the bride, received the guests Wearing a smart navy costume with hat to match, and carrying a posy of chrysanthemums and ferns. ,

Later, the happy <!ouple left by car amidst showers of rice and confetti for their honeymoon.