HASTINGS EX-MAYORESSES GIVE REMINISCENCES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 101, 15 May 1937, Page 18

HASTINGS EX-MAYORESSES GIVE REMINISCENCES

Several former. mayoiesses of Hastings replied to the toast to "The Jubilee and Our Town" at the afternoon tendered for women by the council yesterday, Many of their xemimscences were most interesting and amusing, and" the guests greatly enjoyed hearing them. Mrs T. J. Thompson, the oldest exmayoress present, said that the town had grown out.of all recognition since she first' saw it when she came to Hastings as a bride. "My first homo was a two-storied building where Millar and Giorgi's shop now standst1" said Mrs Thompson. "Beecrofts Hotel and livery stables were opposite, and there were neighbours on either side of our house. There were some very good •shops, though the streets were not even named, and a letter just addressed to Hastings, Hawke's Bay, was safely delivered. The streets were very muddy and it was hard to keep our boots clean. "We had no maternity homes or hospitals in Hastings, and when babies were born experieneed women xecommended by our doctor, Dr. Faulknor, came to our homes. The nurse who came to me for my first baby also gave our present Mayor his first bath. "We used kerosene and candles to light our shops and houses, and put up with many inconveniences. "It is only when I compare Hastings then with 'Hastings as it as no.w that I realiee what our borough fathers, mayoxs and councillors have done for us." Mrs Thompson concluded by wishing the borough every success and hoping that one day Hastings would be a prosperous city. # * • "I have never seen a man who could do without a woman 's help," said Mrs J. A. Miller, "and during my husband's term of office when I went to Wellington for a holiday he wired to me to come home and entertain Sir Joseph 'and Lady Ward, Sir Joseph being then the Prjme Minister of Now • Zealand." Mrs Miller caused much merriment with her description of thc preparations and the assistance which her fidends gave her for this great occasion for which she had so little warning. "When my guests left they invited me to accompany them to Wellington, and I enjoyed my holiday so much that I said to my husband, 'Give up being Mayor and try for the premiership.' "We had no women 's organisations in those days for the Borough Council to ring up and ask for bouquets to be made or stage decorations to be done, ' ' ' said Mrs Miller, "but nevertheless, women did wonderful work, Lady j Eussell, Mrs Wellwood and Mrs J. N. \ Williams being among those who gave • splendid service." Mrs Miller also said that it was at

needed, and everywhere it ha« been proved that the women are eager to help wherever possible and get pleasure from doing so." Mrs J. B. Pickering replied to the toast and spoke about the work of the Plunket Society and the Eed Cross, which did such great work in the town ' as well als further afield. A toast to Mrs G. A. Maddison,_who has been a very sympathetic and Jieli)ful Mayoress for 12 years, was proposed by Mrs A. I. Eainbow, and the liearty way in which everyone sang, "For She's a Jolly Good Fellow," showed the affection and esteem in which she is held. Mrs T. J. Thompson, on behalf of those present, congratulated Mrs Maddison on being a recipient of the Coronation medal. The singing of the National Anthem concluded a much appreeiated afternoon, which had given great pleasure to all. The invited guests were: The secreI tary of the Hastings Women 's Community club, Mrs H. J. Lovell-Smith, and six members; the prelsident and secretary of the Hastings Townswomen's Guild, Mrs A. F. Glenny and Mrs F. Deans and six members; the president of the Plunket Society, Mrs Elsie Williams, and three members; the Distriet Commissioner of the Girl Gnides' Association, Miss Marjorie Couper, and three members; the president , of the Women 's Lnncheon Club, Mrs A. E. O'Meara; the Welfare Committee, Mesdames G. Maddison, F. J. Hull, T. Hill, Deaconess Holmes, Sister Gladys and Miss Helen Ford; Mesdames W, Keith, E. Henderson, W. A." Whitlock, H. W. C. Baird, T. H. Lowry, J. B. Pickering, Cecil Duff, C. Lassen, N. C. Harding, G. E. G. Eogers, D. W. Hursthou3e, H. M. Campbell, Gilbert McKay, and Miss Ashcroft! Mesdames E. B. Gosnell, C. Motimer-Jon&s, C. B. Boggis/ D. J. A. Shaw, Major Marshall, Sa,lvation Army, Mrs J. H. Joll, W.D.F.IJ., Mrs J. Wilson, W.C.T.TJ., Mrs Bryant, band committee, ahd Mrs D. Eiggir, Women 's Institute. Also the following ex-counclllors ' and ex-mayoxs ' wives: Mesdames T. E. Crosse, T. J. Thompson, D. F. Scannell, C. G. Cunnold, 'J. A. Millfer, W. Hart, Maurice Mason, H. Holderness, A. Garnett, E. Baker, F. Perrin, F. A. Garry {Auckland), N. H. Beatson (Te Awamntu), J. F. Simmons, A. J. Kirkham (Gisborne), E. E. Hay, J. H. McKenzie (Wellington), E. V. Simpson, W. J. Lyon (Auckland), F. E. Smith, Fred King, J. T. Blake, Wm. White (Masterton), Dr. McKibbon (Dunedin), Fredk. W. Cook, H. Ian Simson, E. Pratt (Eotorua), C. Stubbs, W. T. Chaplin, A. F. Eedgrave, A. W. Hamilton, and Miss Marjorie Ebbett.

this time that she helped Mdss Elsie Williams to establish the Plunket Society. Mrs W. Hart was the Mayoress In the first years of the war and told about the wonderful work which thc women di.d at this time. She also said that it was during her husband 's time of Mayor that the first £300 was collected for the Memorial Hospital, though collections cease.d .during the war. • • * ' ' Though women 's oxgandsatio'ns wero not so strOngly developed the spirit of helpfulness and co-operation was always present," said Mrs H. Ian Simson, who told about the wonderful help which the women gave at the time of the influenza epidemie when an emergency hospital was established at the racecourse. "As the town grows so also the need for women 's work increases, " added Mrs Simson, "and then- we realise the value of women 's organdsa.tions." • ' • . • Several other amusing anecdotes were told by the guests. Mrs E. Nairn told of the time when one could look from her home, "Little Flaxmere," and see no trees on the horizon. Once when a haystack was being built her mother, Lady Eussell, asked that - it should be "far enough away from the house to be an object for the eye to rest upon, but close enough to give shade for the baby's pram. ' ' Miss Elsie Williams said that they visited Havelock North for two main reasons: first, to go to church; and second, to buy brandy snaps. Mrs E. Sunderland told about church in Havelock being' on alternate Sundays at the Church of England and the Presbyterian Church, the Eev. Thomas Tanner taking each service. Mrs A. I. Eainbow also spoke about the days of pony carts and the first motors.

15th MAY, 1937, Dear Everyone, This has been a week of such great events that ordinary discussions have been put aside whilst we have taken part in the many ceremonies and gaieties connected with Coronation week. It is with pleasure that we read of Hastings people representing us at Westminster Abbey — Canon C. Morti-mer-Jon03, and Mr and Mrs T. C. Lowry being amongst them; and those with a wireless in their home eould follow the service and feel that each man, woman and ehild who heard was a unit in the Empire of which we are so proud. The touching sincerity of His Majesty the King, the halting but clear voice, so like that of his fatker, the great responsibility taken by a young and very human man, all give us thoughts of gratitude that, with no murmurs or refusals, this brave young King has taken on a .burden that, by birth, was not his. Our individual work for the peace and happiness of the Empire can be carried on by women as well as men, and will prove our appreciation of the way King George VI. stood firm for England after the erisis of the abdicatlon. # # * A woman reader sends in this letter,continuing the topic begun last week: Dear Cousin Eose — I do not quite follow John o' London's reasoning as given in your column last week. I am afraid that if we all avoided distasteful and uncongenial work we should be a spineless set. The overcoming of difficulties is, in itself, a pleasure. Somctimes it is very hard to do one's obvious duty. The evening comes; the day has been hard ' and bnsy; but at last there could be an hour or two of leisure with a book. Can we take tEat leisure? No. There are for many women — especially housewives and mofhers-^ewing jobs that must Ee Hone Witnout de-' lay. To many of us sewing, when we are really tired, is most irksome. I do not think there are as many , people as in former days who really take a pride and pleasure in sewing. Maybe we lack the quiet drawing* room atmosphere, with windows open bees humming and a 'distant reaping inachine; !or, an winter, Someon.e1 reading aloud who really can read. — Yours, etc., "PATCHWOEK." • « * Dear Cousin Eose — I see John o' London 's" pomt, though there is much to be said against it. It Is a fact' that we sometimes make door mats of ourselves becauae we are too lazy to rise from that flat position. — Yours, "BONE-IDLE." • # c In answer to a letter signed "No' Cruelty" about the miserable conditions under which so many sheep dogs live in the country, another reader givcs her views: ' Dear Cousin Eose — It was with much pleasure that I read the various articles contained in your last "Week-end Chat.*" I was particularly interested in the letter from "No Cruelty," referring £o the merciless treatment so often meled out to our faithful sheep-dogs. We have only to keep our" eye and'ears open to see and to ' hear how some dogs are housed and fed— even sometimes by masters who profess to be fond of and good to their animals. I have seen a dog chained to a kennel, while from the interior of it numerous fleas were plainly visible, hopping here, there and everywhere. When I remonstrated with the owner . he calmly replied, "He has the creek and is dipped wEen we dip." So ih ' the meantime, this poor dog waB left as he was. Another - very important matter which requires much improvement is in the transport of dogs by rail or othottwise. I have known,' when by the former, a number of dogs have travelled, they have actnally been squeezed into a space where only half the number should have been alloted. If the S.P.C.A. would keep a strict look out, they would Le amazed at the frequent cruel overcrowding and would also seo, if some necessary delay must be experieneed before delivery, that cften the poor dogs may not even receive a drink of water. There are certainly many people who do have kind consideration for their dogs, but why does the law not prevenf the above treatment being ever possible to any animal? — Yottrs, "GOLDEN BTJLE." • * # That this subject of the treatment of dogs is of national importance is seen from. this extract from "Every Living Creature," by Ealph Waldo Trine:-r "It is said that in Japan if one picks up a stone to fhrow at a dog, the dog will not run— as you will find he will in almost every case here — because there the. dog hats never had a stone thrown at him, and consequently he does not know what It means. This spirit of gentleness, kindliness, and care for the animal world is a characterii^ic of the Japanese people. It in turn manifests itseH in all their relations with their fellow-men. In India, where the treatment of the animal world is something to put to sharae our own country, with its boa&ted Christian civilisation and power, thero, with a population of hundreds of millions, there is but ouefourth the amount of erime that there is each year in England. ... These are significant faets . . . and we would do wisely to estimate them at their proper value. " I.etters on subjects that interest the writers will be very welcome each week lor our discussion column. Address to — COUSIN EOSE.