FAMILY TREASURES SHOWN AT GUILD OF FELLOWSHIP

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 134, 23 June 1937, Page 11

FAMILY TREASURES SHOWN AT GUILD OF FELLOWSHIP

Family treasures were dispjayed at tlie meeting of St. Mattliew's Guild of F'eJlowship yesterday afternoon, and the members took great interest in the description of the treasures which were given by their owners. ^ The guest of honour was Mrs. des Forges, who has, unfortunately} found it neeessary to resign from the Guild for tlie time being. The president, Mrs Barton Hobbs, on behalf of the Guild members, presented her with a beautiful bouquet of iceland poppies and trandena , which she had made, and spoke very highly of all that Mrs. des borges had done for the Guild durmg her eight years5 membership. Mrs. D. W. Hursthouse, last year's president, also spoke of Mrs. des Forges' services, and assured her that she would always be most welcome at any of the meetings. MrjS. des Forges thanked Mrs. Hobbs and Mrs. Hursthouse for their kind thoughts ,and also the Guild members for the bouquet. Members listened with great interest to a letter which Mrs. Mortimer-Jones had received from the Vicar, in which he described the Coronation, the letter being of particular interest as Canon Mcrtimer- Jones was fortunate in having a seat in the Abbey.® Mrs. B. Howellj whose recitations are always greatly enjoyed, pleased the members with "Maude Muller," and in response to a request for another piece she recited "Shadows." Afternoon tea was handed round and enjoyed by everyone, and the members moved round and chatted together. Deaconess Holmes reminded everyone of the entertainment whdch Mrs. W. Hainsworth and the Dramatic Club were giving on July 30 in aid of the debt reduction fund. Among the family treasures wero a sword brought by Mrs. H. NelsonFowler, which bpd belonged to Mr. Fowler's father. at the time, of the Indian Mutiny in 1857, when he joined the volunteer corps for service, though he was not called up. Deaconess Holmes sliowed the most exquisite baby clothes which her mother had made and embroidered, the sewing being very much admired. A punch bowl was displayed by Mrs. des Forges, who explained that when she and her twin sister were born they were wrapped in a blanket and placed in the bowl. Mrs. H. de Denne showed a silver christening mug wliich had been used every day for 60 years, and Mrs. McNeill had brought with her a book of tlie original story of "Cinderella and the Glass Slipper," wliich was now 70 years old. Mrs. D. Drummond showed a little silver tea measure which had been used at the time when tea was £6 per pound. Commemoration medals with Queen V ictoria in 1887 and King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra at the time of their wedding, were shown by Mrs. Doole and Mrs. Dalton had a silver snuff box 200 years old. Mrs. D. W. Hursthouse's very old Egyptian beads and her old fashioned christening bonnet were much admired, as also was the silver chain, 80 ypars old, which Miss Rainbow showed. A beautiful jet necklace and tiny model of a brass warning pan were brought by Mrs. Porter and viewed with interest. The whole afternoon was enjoyed by the members who, before departing, were reminded by the secretary, Mrs. H. de Denne, that at next week's meeting the members would be entertaining the Kohupataki Maori choir and a few Maoris from other surrounding pahs, and the afternoon promised to be a particularly pleasant one.