WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 33, 23 February 1937, Page 3

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

"" Pukahu Gathering Tbe first meeting of tfche Pukahu Women' s Institute for 1937 was held in the sclioolroom, Mrs C. Lockie presiding over a fair attendaho© of members. The meeting opened with the Institute Song, followed by the Aspiration, after which members istood in silence for a moment, out of respect and in sympathy with the relatives of Mrs Bibby, of Waipawa, who had done so much for the Women' s Institute and who will be much missed. Mrs Lockie sopck about the honour which the King had conferred on Miss Jerome Speneer and said how gratified every member was that Miss Speneer should be so rewarded for her work of orgauising Women' s Institutes throughout New Zealand and also for instituting the Townswomen's Guilds in several towns. After diseussion it was decided to hold the meeting a week earlier in Mareh, on Saturday, March 6, when the annual meeting would be held and offioers and committee eieWed. After the business was concluded Mrs Lockie vacated the chair and the rest of the meeting was conducted by the younger members and a very happy time eventuated. Miss Joyce Cummings was in the chair and Miss Len Orehard, Miss D. Kirkham and Miss Janet McKenzie also assisted. The first item was a roll call: "Where 1 first met my husband," and caused much amusement, members not answering being called upon to put a penny in the box. Miss Hawkins then very pleasantly rendered a song and had to respond to an encorej each item bemg loudly applauded. The history of Pukahu was th'en abiy given by Miss Lena Orehard who had gleaned her information from her grandfather Mr C. Leaj^ who was one of Pukahu's oldest settters. This item proved most interesting. Then followed a game, Musical Parcels, which caused much merriment and was won by Mrs Brooks. Next a competition for the one who could state how many brands of knitting wools there were, was won by Mrs C. Lockie with 18, Miss Cummins5 list having 48 distinct brands pf wool on it, which members "were very surprised to know. After a delicious tea had been served Miss Hawkins' s lovaly voioe was again heard to advantage and so charmed her listeners that she had to respond to anotber encore, her accompanist being her inother, Mns Monocheri, of Hastings. Community singing was then heartily indulged in and concluded the progtramme and the young folk were heartily congratulated upon their fine programme. The competitions for the day were judged by Mrs Monocheri and Mrs Alan Crawford, and were as follows: Best flower in the garden: Mrs Cummins 1. Mrs Lang 2, Miss Kirkham 3. Arrowroot sponge : Mrs O. Lean 1, Mrs Wilkes 2, Mrs Goldfinch 3. The competition for a pair of lovely tatted doylies donated and made by Mrs A. J . WiilSj Hastings, was won by Mrs M. Evans. The competition for March will be a ladies' spray and any pieee of needlework finished this