WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

Chronicle (Levin), 3 December 1946, Page 3

WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

NOVEMBER MEETING Laurvig's Hall was gay with mauve and yellow flowers for the' November meeting of the Shannon Women's Institute, with which was incorporated the deferred celebrations in connection with the twentieth birthday. The president (Mrs. J. A. Easton) welcomed visitors from the Opiki and Foxton Institutes and the Shannon branches of the W.D.F.F. and the Women's Section of the R.S.A. Mesdames Graham and C. Aislabie were visitors from Palmerston North, and Mrs. W. R. Mullins from Opiki. Miss Ethel Robinson was welcomed as a new member and Miss Greta Lang proposed as one. A vote of sympathy was passed with Mrs. C. Guerin, who had a few days previously received the news of the death of her father in Blenheim. It was decided that a children's Christmas party be held in Laurvig's Hall on the Saturday following the closing of the school. A donation of £2 2s from the Shannon branch of the R.S.A. towards the prize fund of the rose show was received with thanks. Mrs. S. H. Roberts, Tokomaru Valley, gave a most interesting and instructive talk on gardening, and appealed to members of the Shannon and Foxton Institutes to form gardening circles as the Moutoa branch had done, and by so doing obtained the fullesb pleasure from their gardens by sharing the plants and bulbs with their iieighbours, instead of just throwing away that which they had more of than they wanted. "The joy of sharing plants and bulbs is something none of us should miss in life," said Mrs. Roberts. A large bowl of lily-of-.the- valley from "'her -own garden was handed to...JMrs- J. A. Easton, the president, who shared them with other visiting presidents. Mrs. Easton expressed •' thanks to Mrs. Roberts for her helpful task so willingly given, and handed her a small gift in appreciation., Afternoon tba i^as serVed; by; the hostesses, Mesdames C. Stern, M. Parr, A. Thomson and R. Lang, following which the birthday cake was ceremoniously cut, the twenty candles being lighted by Mesdames K. Thomson and R. Quinlan, representing the W.D.F.F. and Women's Section of the R.S.A. respectively, and blown out by Mrs. Wells, president of the Foxton W.I. Mrs. V. Claridge, president of the Opiki W.I., made the first cut, and Mrs. Pettit, the oldest Shannon member, removed the first piece. All extended birthday greetings and wished the Shannon W.I. a long life and a merry one. Mrs. J. T. Bovis pinned beautiful shoulder sprays, made by Miss Jean Easton, on Mrs. K. Thomson, Mrs. Quinlan, Mrs. V. Claridge and Mrs. Walls. Appreciated vocai solos were contributed by Mesdames Aislabie and J. P. Allerby, a social competition was won by Mrs. R. Roberts and Miss J. Easton received a gift for securing the lucky cup and saucer. The results of the usual monthly competitions were as follows: — Single bloom: Mrs. J. Sinclair 1, Mrs. C. Veale 2, Mrs. E. Thorne 3. Cluster: Mesdames C. Stern and J. Sinclair 1 (equal), Mrs. Veale 2, Mrs. A. T. Tremewan 3. Shrub: Mrs. J. A. Easton 1, Mrs. Tremewan 2, Miss Joan Radford 3. Heaviest hen eggs: Mrs. W. Easton 1, Mrs. J. A. Easton 2, Miss Joan Radford 3. Thrift article: Mrs. J. Sinclair. The competition for the December meeting, which will be held on the sccond Wednesday, is for a novelty Christmas gift costing not more than 2d. and to be donated to the hospital visitor, Mrs. Penketh. Members not wishing to enter for the competition may donate a gift which will be handed on to Mrs. Penketh. Members are also asked to bring Is worth of soap of any kind, which will be sent to Britain.