BRAILLE IN WELLINGTON

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 86, 8 October 1931, Page 17

BRAILLE IN WELLINGTON

A very pleasant party took place at [ the Red' Crose rooms, yesterday afternoon, when members, of the Braille Club had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Clutha Mackenzie, Director'of the New Zealand Blind Institute. The club was ,formed in Wellington under the Red Cross by Mrs. H. S. Hadfield some eighteen months ago, and she has instructed a great many willing people In tho art of Braille- writing for the benefit oi' the blind people in the Dominion. Afternoon tea was served and enjoyed. During tliis Captain Galloway spoko of tho finenoss ol! tho work and tho immenso pleasure brought to tho blind people by the receiving of letters, and transcription of books and articles for their enjoyment, f Among other good works was putting the Red Cross First Aid book into Braille. Mr. Mackenzie jSpoke of the pleasure he had had in the work sent up to him, and commended tho Wellington work warmly. He expressed his pleasure also that Lord Frederick Hamilton's cheerful travel books had been among those transcribed, and that the threo books would be ready for' the library before long. He said that the binding of Braille is done in Auckland by tho ladies of tho Mayoress's committee, a most useful branch of work. There are no sighted Braille writers in' Auckland in connection with „ the institution. Among the books now in hand by. members of tho Wellington club are "Cheerful Yesterdays" (Judge Alpers), "We" (Lindberg), "Pip" (lan Hay), a book of short stories by O. Henry,, and other short stories by '<Saki," J. J. Bell, and other writers. Among those present at the party yesterday' were Mrs. H. S. Hadfield (president), Miss Young (hon. secretary), Mesdames Gordon, Boyd, Etherington, Wilson-Downes, Bcrryman, Misses Frasor, Rawnsley, and_ Eager. It was a very pleasant occasion, and tho Wellington members wore glad to have an opportunity of meeting Mr. Mackenzie. -