WOMEN’S WORLD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20046, 19 September 1939, Page 11

WOMEN’S WORLD

Visitor Entertained

On Friday afternoon, Mrs. W. J. Mclldowie invited several friends to her home at Totangi station to meet her guest, Mrs. C. Cradock, Little River, Canterbury.

The weather was particularly kind, and the guests wandered at will in the picturesque garden, enjoying its spring beauty.

Afternoon tea was served in the drawing-room, which was most artistically decorated with freesias and camellias in soft shades of pink.

The hostess was wearing a smart, frock of dark clover cloque, accented with a vestee of oyster-coloured chiffon, and Mrs. Cradock’s elegant frock of navy blue faille was printed in a floral design in autumn tunings.

Pioneer’s Birthday

The ninety-first birthday of Mrs. M. A. Whitcombe, of 58 Albert road. Devonport, was celebrated at her home yesterday. Born in 1848, near Woolwich, England, Mrs. Whitcombe came to New Zealand when three years old. She lived with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Wells, who were farming near New Plymouth until the outbreak of the Taranaki War, and then with her people site had to take refuge in the barracks on Marshland Hill. Her father was well known as the writer of a history of Taranaki, and her husband, the late Mr. C. D. Whitcombe, was for 11 years commissioner of Crown lands in Taranaki. Avondale Fashions Delightful weather attracted many patrons to the Avondale Jockey Club’s spring meeting on Saturday. Still not warm enough for light frocks, however, the popular mode of attire was suits and ensembles in either tweed or worsted materials, while the attractive fur capes which have sprung into such favour recently were delightful adjuncts to the suits. The froeking, on the whole, was sombre in colour, navy blue and brown being the predominating shades. Green in its more vivid tones, however, was worn by a few and served to give a brighter touch of colour here and there. Felt and velour Stats were chosen by the majority of women and these showed very little change of style, although quite a few of the pillbox variety were worn. The fantastically shaped and decorated straw hats which DameFashion has decreed for the new season have yet to make their appearance.

Formation of Provincial Executive

A meeting was held in the Bon Accord Lounge on Friday morning to form a Poverty Bay provisional executive of the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union.

Mrs. E. R. Black was invited to take the chair pending the election of officers.

Delegates representing the following branches were present:—Gisborne. Tokomaru Bay, Tolaga Bay, Waimata Valley, Mangatu (Whatatutu), Te Arai Valley, Tiniroto, and Whangara. Representatives of the Matawai and Mangaroa branches were unable to attend owing to the petrol restrictions. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as under:—President, Mrs. E. R. Black; vice-presidents, Mrs. T. A. Field (Gisborne) and Mrs. H. T. Loftier (Whangara); secretary and treasurer. Miss J. Renner; housekeeper secretary, Mrs. C. A. Hevvitson; advisory members for housekeeping work, Mrs. McDonald (Tolaga Bay) and Sister Pritchrad (Matawai); committee, Mrs. Taohaere (Tokomaru Bay), Mrs. G. J. Moore (Mangatu), Mrs. H. Irving (Tolaga Bay), and Mrs. Noble-Campbell (Tiniroto). It was resolved that the executive, as a centennial effort, should assist the Women’s Rest Room fund.

Service in Wartime Members who had not already signed the register for service were urged to do so by Mrs. James Pow, Dominion president of the New Zealand Union of Townswomen’s Guilds, addressing a largely-attended meeting of the Wellington Central Auxiliary branch. She referred particularly to the appeal made by the Mayoress. Mrs. T. C. A. Hislop, and stressed the necessity for all women and girls to help in some way. Home nursing classes were increasing largely in numbers, Mrs. Haughton reported. It was decided that usual branch activities, such as circle meetings, be maintained. Party for Bride-Elect Yesterday afternoon Miss Shirley Ormond, whose marriage to M(r. J. Hoidsworth, Puha, takes place on Thursday, was the chief guest at a miali cnarmingty arranged bridge tea given by Miss A. Thomas at her pretty riverside home. Deiica.e pink camellias were used with artistic effect in the decoration of the drawing-room, and afternoon tea was served informally round a large log lire. A becoming frock of apple greer. wool crepe was worn by the hostess, and her sister. Miss E. Thomas, looked smart in a navy blue tailored suit. Miss Ormond wore a simply cut frock of black wool georgette and a small hat to match. The guests included Misses L. Miles, B. Kemp, S. Barton, P. Burke and J. Blair. Cc-ming-of-age Dance Last Thursday night Mr. and -Mrs R. Metcalfe, Whitaker street, entertained a large number of friends at a delightful dance in the Bon Accord Lounge in celebration of the coming-of-age of their twin daughters, the Misses Madge and Alwyn Metcalfe. Mr. J. Thorburn carried out the duties of M.C. and the customary toasts were honoured under the direcion of Mr. Alan Webster, Mr. 11. aimon proposing the toast to “Absent Friends.” r'ne nos.ess was wearing an elegant gown of black embroidered georgette. The celebrants looked charming in frocks of white georgette cut on Gre:ian lines and accented with st;reamer bows of cyclamen velvet ribbon. Each carried a posy of delicately-tinted carnations, the gift of her sister, Miss Joan Metcalfe. Among the guests were friends from as far afield as Te Awamutu, Hastings, Wellington and Hamilton. Useful to Know Old suspenders are generally tossed away, although the metal loops are a boon when sewn on the corners of kitchen cloths as hangers. An ink-satin on a book or document will usually yield to oxalic acid, followed >by a washing with cold water. The dust in wire mattresses calls for the use of the vacuum cleaner. If without one, employ a bicycle pump.

THE DAILY ROUND

Women’s Division of the Farmers' Union There was a good attendance of members at the monthly meeting of the Gisborne branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, held .n the Bon Accord Lounge on Friday afternoon.

The president, Mrs. Randall Sherratt, in welcoming Miss B. Kemp, a .lew member, and also several visitors, including the delegates who earlier in .he day had attended a meeting convened for the purpose of forming a provincial executive of the W.D.F.U., urged the members to carry on in a .onnal manner in the present time of jational emergency. Sympathy was expressed for memoers absent through illness, and hopes .vere voiced for their speedy recovery. A donation of lOgns. enclosed in a letter from the Young Farmers’ Club, thanking the division for its assistance it the annual ball sponsored by the jlub, was gratefully accepted. It was unanimously resolved to earmark the donation for a special fund. , The suggestion made by Mrs , G. W. Humphreys, that the division should make clothes for refugee

.-.l.ldren, was adopted, and a sub-com-mittee under the direction of Mrs. Humphreys, assisted by Mrs. L. G. , oodward. was set up to deal with

ic arrangements. It was decided to devote £5 of the donation received rum hie Young Farmers’ Club for the purchase of materials.

The resignation of Mrs. T. A. Field as the division’s representative on the National Council of Women was accepted with regret, and Mrs. G. W. Humphreys was appointed her successor.

It was announced that gifts and donations for the annual jumble sale, which will take the place of the monthly meeting on October 20, in die Parish Hall, could be left at the home of Mrs. C. Blackburn, Domett street.

Members were reminded that the exhibits to be forwarded to the Centennial Exhibition must be left at Messrs. Pe‘t : es, Linked, before the end of September.

An account of the pleasant time spent by 20 members of tile branch at the delightful party given by the Tolaga Bay branch to celebrate the first anniversary of its Inception, was given by Mrs. SherratL The housekeeper secretary, Mrs. Hewiison, reported that the services of five emergency housekeepers had been made available to 14 families since April last. The monthly competition, “The best in my garden,” resulted: Mrs. L. Buscke, 1; Mrs. Douglas Blair, 2; Mrs. C. Blackburn, 3.

Afternoon tea was served at the close of tile meeting.

A few drops of sal volatile will remove fly-marks from a coloured silk lampshade, 'but do not rub. Apply promptly when the marks are noticed, and several times if necessary.