THE CANTERBURY WOMEN’S CLUB

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22504, 12 September 1938, Page 2

THE CANTERBURY WOMEN’S CLUB

ASHBURTON VISITORS

CAVENDISH CLUB ENTERTAINS

A few weeks ago members of the Timaru Women’s Club visited the Canterbury Women’s Club, and entertained members, and on Saturday members had the pleasure of receiving visitors from the Cavendish Club (Ashburton), who arrived with their music, and entertained the Christchurch women with a most enjoyable programme of vocal and pianoforte selections. Mrs R. J. McLaren, president of the Canterbury Women's Club, welcomed the visitors, and presented a posy of primroses to Mrs E. Ruddock, president of the visiting club. Miss Edna Parsons was producer for a short play presented by Mrs O’Connor, Miss Elsie Holland, Mrs Rooney, Mrs Bell, Mrs Ruddock, and Mrs Ryburn.

The musical programme included part songs in costume, “The Spinning Song” (Wagner) and “Ghosts of Little White Roses,” members of the music circle; pianoforte solos, “April” (Bridge), “Humoresque” (Rachmaninoff), Miss Audrey Ruddock; vocal duets, “In the Springtime” and “Barcarole," Mrs R. Stephenson and Mrs Alfred Smith; songs, “Pleading” (Elgar) and “The Nightingale” (Kjerulf), Mrs Charles Parsons; pianoforte solos, Miss Audrey Ruddock; songs. “The Linden Tree," and “Margaret at the Wheel” (Schubert), Mrs Alfred Smith. Miss Audrey Ruddock was the accompanist. . _ Mrs Ruddock thanked Miss Parsons and Mrs Smith, leader of the music circle, and Mrs Holland, on behalf of the Canterbury members, thanked the Cavendish Club for the pleasure given to members. . _ Later in the evening the Schola Cantorum Choir (Wellington) visited the club, and were entertained at supper. Mrs McLaren welcomed the club, and Mr V. Peters introduced the conductor, Mr Stanley Oliver.

OBITUARY

MISS MARJORIE SHERIDAN

The announcement of the death of Miss Marjorie Sheridan, cousin of Lady Ward, will be received with profound regret by many friends in Christchurch and by her relatives and friends in Sydney. Miss Sheridan s home was in Parramatta, but&lie frequently paid long visits to Lady Ward in Christchurch, where she became verv popular. Last April, a few weeks before Sir Cyril and Lady Ward left for a trip overseas, Miss Sheridan arrived in Christchurch to stay with the Ward family during their parents absence. Although she had not been very well before 'he left Australia, she was confident that the change to New Zealand would benefit her considerably, but several weeks ago she again became indisposed and sought professional advice and nursing. But it was only a few hours before her sudden death on Saturday morning that relations and friends realised that her condition was critical. Miss Sheridan was a woman of most endearing qualities, gentle and charming in manner, broad in her outlook, kindly, sympathetic, unselfish. Sincere sympathy will be felt with her two brothers and her aunt in Sydney and with Sir Cyril and Lady Ward, who will leave England at the end of this month for their return journey to New Zealand. The funeral will leave Sir Cyril Ward’s home, 86 Merivale lane, this morning at 10.30 o’clock for St. Mary s Church, Merivale, and thence to the crematorium.

WOMEN’S. DIVISION OF FARMERS’ UNION

KOWAI BUSH BRANCH

Mrs Smart presided at the September meeting of the Kowai Bush branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union,

It was decided to hold a ‘‘bring and buy” social in aid of funds. Competitions resulted as follows: Hand-embroidered apron. Miss Brenda Smart 1, Mrs Flaherty and Miss Daphne Cox (equal) 2; Hollywood tart, Mrs Watson 1, Miss Noelme Cox 2; best bloom, Mrs Howell. Hostesses at the tea hour were Mesdames Bryson and Lord. __ ■

Each year a short story competition is conducted by the Otago Women’s Club for a trophy presented by Lady the club s president. In this year’s competition, which was judged by Dr, G. L. Thompson, Mrs Alexander Rennie was successful in gaining both the first and second prizes. .The titles of the winning stories were “The Proposal” and “Mothers’ Day.

Mrs Maxine Miles, 34-year-old wife of Mr F. G. Miles, the famous Reading aircraft designer, and daughter of the late Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson, the actor, has selected as one of five commissioners to control the new Civil Air Guard formed by Sir Kingsley Wood some weeks ago. The commissioners will be headed by Lord Londonderry and they are to direct the operations and policy of the Air Guard. There are two representatives of the Council of Light Aeroplane Clubs, one for Scotland and the other for women. Mrs Miles is beautiful 'and remarkable. Tall, blue-eyed and dark, she is called Blossom by her friends. She is a pilot and also designs aircraft. She plumed the Miles Sparrow-hawk, one of Britain’s most successful racing monoplanes. She helps her husband a great deal in his work and thfe designs for a successful series of aeroplanes executed by herself and Mr Miles have been exhibited by Phillips-Powys in his drawing office. A novel experiment ils being tried by the director of the Leipzig Zoological Gardens, who employs trained kindergarten girl teachers to look after his small beasts of prey. Women, he considers, understand best how to bring up children, and for that reason he thinks they are able to take care of wild animals. The experiment is now in its second summer and is proving a success. The girls play all day with the animals, who gradually become used to humans and are then fit for sale.