TE AWAPUNI MEETING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 44, 8 March 1937, Page 11

TE AWAPUNI MEETING

The March meeting of Te Awapuni Women's Institute was held at Mrs. Harper's home, Ellwood road, with a full . attendance of members, " The election of ofiicers resulted: President, Mrs. Lyndsay Gordon; secretary-treasurer, Mrs. B. Otene, with Mrs. Harper as Press correspondent. The aspiration was repeated, and the president welcomed visitors, especially Mrs. Turner Williams (a former president), who has just returned_from av trip to Britain. Mrs_ B. Otene thenread the balance-sheet j which was considered very satisfactory. A bring-and-buy stall did good business and was soon sold out. On the suggestion of Mrs. Turner Williams a Red Cross circle was formed, and a eommittee, consisting of Mesdames Bennet, Tomoana and Mohi, was to cooperate and help the Maori - district nurse with the distribution of old linen and baby clothing, and to visit the sick. Arrangements were made and finalised for the garden fete to be held in the president 's garden on April 8. The programme for the ensuing six montha was drawn up and approved. Mrs. Turner Williams then gave a most interesting talk on her recent voyage, and showed the members various curios and exhibits. When in England Mxs. Turner Williams visited Te Awapuni 's link at Alverston, near Bristol, and from them brought an English pottery jug for the president 's table. Members were keenly interested to hear about their English link, and Mrs. Otene was detailed to answer their letter. Afternoon tea was served, and afler social chat, Mrs. Love, who is a Raratongan Princess, and lives in Wellington, gave a very inspiring address on welfare work among Maori girls in Wellington. She told of the trials and difficulties of running a girl's club, of teaching them housewifery and hygiene, and of even getting a European to teach Maoris their own. language. When in Raratonga Mrs. Love said she always envied anyone who could speak English, and when she came to New Zealand to be educated, and was taught English and then learned Maori, and saw how many Maoris could not speak nor understand their own language, she was very proud she could speak both She stressed the need for sympathetic help and interest, especially in the preservation of Maori arts and crafts. , In eonclusion Mrs. Turner Williams presented to the two oldest members a memento of her trip — a Jamaican calabash to Mrs. Nepe aud a* ornament made from lacy bark to Mrs. Warena, and to Mrs. Love she gave a carved trinket box. On the call of the president, votes of thanks were accorded the speakers, and the singing of the National Anthem closed a very successful meeting.