WOMEN’S INSTITUES

Opotiki News, Volume X, Issue 1050, 28 November 1947, Page 2

WOMEN’S INSTITUES

OPOTIKI

The monthly meeting of the Opotiki W.I. was held in St. John’s Hall on November 14, Mrs. Stansbury presiding over a good attendance. The Institute Song opened the meeting and Mrs. Stone read the Aspirations. Mrs. Wilkinson was proposed as delegate to the Dominion Conference in August 1948. Mrs. Stausbury announced that the December meeting would bo “Grandmothers’ Evening”. A phsy was presented to the secretary. Miss Neilson on the occasion of her birthday. Mrs. 'N, Clark spoke on the forming of links with Institutes in. Brita.n. describing several interesting points of Institute work iu Britain.

A very enlightening address was given by D'r.‘ C. S. James on leprosy and its treatment in which he covered a wide' scope of the work being done and at the conclusion answered several questions all of which made listeners feel the Worthwhileness of the effort being made to raise funds for the leper appeal. Dr. James was accorded 'a very hearty vote of thaiiks. • Throughout the evening competitions and a stall were held and the sum of £l7/10/6 was collected for the leper work. Considerable thanks arc due to Mrs. Baird for her effort in raffling a tray which had been poker-worked by Mrs. Stansbury. Competitions were won as follows : Tray: Mrs. Neill. Sweets: Mrs. S. Abbot. Doll donated by Mrs. Remnant was won by Margaret Armstrong. ' The monthly competitions were judged as follows : Bowl, of Roses : Mrs. Baird 1. Flower: Mrs. Stevens 1, Miss Neilson 2, Mrs. Stausbury 3. Shrub: Mrs. James 1, Mrs. Baird 2, Miss Neilson 3. Vegetable: M'isa Neilson 1. Fruit: Miss Neilson L Jar Marmalade: Miss Neilson 1. Hostesses were: Mrs. McKillop, Misses Neilson and Gillespie.

WAIOTAHI

The monthly meeting of the Waiotahi Women’s Institute was held on the 12th., Mrs. J. M. Scott- presiding over a large attendance. “Comrades and Friends” was sung, and Mrs. V. Wilson read Kipling’s “Recessional”. Business was dealt with and a financial statement in connection with the ilower show was read. Special prizes donated by Mm. I’. Looney for the decorative and specimen bloom sections were won by Mrs. S. Jeffery and Mrs. C'arvuthcrs. Special prizes donated by Mrs. Scott and Mrs. L. V. Looney have been presented to the Kutarerc and kVaiotahi schools.

As a gesture of friendship on International Day, it was decided to use part of the profits from the show in sending a parcel of food to a convent in France.

A letter of thanks, acknowledging receipt cf £3 proceeds of last month’s collection for the lepers, was received and members read many letters from recipients of food parcels in England.

Mrs. Magnus Anderson was warmly welcomed on her return from, a trip to' England. The afternoon’s programme was in the hands of the Garden Circle and the chair was taken by Mrs. E. B. Smith, president of the circle. A most amusing sketch was presented by Mrs. H. Parkinson, Mrs. R. Smith and Miss L. Gordon, and a competition identifying flower petals, arranged by Mrs. W. L. Looney, was won by Mrs. Jeffery. Members of the circle, dressed to represent various flowers, paraded to form a guessing competition and Mrs. Allison gave a song with chorus by members. There were many lovely entries for the competition, vase of red, white and blue flowers. Mrs. Parkinson and Miss Gordon, kindly acted as judges and the competition results were as follows: Vase, red. white and blue: Mrs. Jeffery 1, Miss Looney 2. Best Shrub: Mrs. Du Pontet 1, Mrs. Jeffery 2. Best Bloom: Mrs. Jeffery 1. Mrs. Watson 2. Best Fruit: Mrs. Frazer 1. Best Vegetable: Mrs.' Frazer J, Mrs. Jeffery 2. Soft Toy : Miss M. O’Reilly 1. Afternoon tea was served by the hostesses, Mesdames Drury, Malcolm, Ellis, Atkinson and G. Reid. The singing of the National Anthem concluded a very pleasant- afternoon.

WAIOTAHI GARDEN CIRCLE The November meeting of the Waiotahi Garden Circle was held at Mrs.. G. Watson’s home. The pretty garden with its many flowerin trees and shrubs was much admired, and plants and cuttings were exchanged. The anuual meeting was held and Mrs. E : . 8.. Smith was elected president- of the circle, Miss D. Looney being secretary. The points prizes

for the year were won by Mrs. W. L. Looney, Mrs. L. V. Looney , and Mrs. Clayton. . The monthly competitions resulted : Best Rosebud: Mrs. Du Pontet 1, Mrs. Watson 2. Vase of Foliage: Mrs. -Toone 1, Mrs. W. L. Looney 2. A delicious tea was served, and a vote of thanks to the hostess closed a- very' pleasant afternoon,.

OTARA

The October meeting of the t)tara Women’s Institute was held iu

the Otara Hall. A good attendance of members was presided over-by Mrs. S. H. Parkinson. The meeting opened ivith the singing of the Institute Song ancl the recital of the Aspirations. The roll call was “What gets on my nerves the most” and the answers were many and varied. A very instructive and interesting demonstration on smocking was given by Mrs. Henry. A s An impromptu debate “Summer a,, v. Winter” was given by four V members, the result by popular vote being a draw, [ The golden thread “Historic Ports of New Zealand—New Plymouth” written by R. Redwood ' was read by Mrs. McCallion, The hostesses provided a delicious afternoon tea. The singing of

the National Anthem concluded the meeting. The month’s competition results were as follows: Best Flower: Mrs. Appleton and Mrs. C. Black, (tie) 1, Mrs. B. Lowe and Mrs. B. Parkinson (tie) 2, Miss N. Neilson 3. Best Shrub:.Mrs. N. Neilson t, Mrs. W. Young. Mrs. P. Brown and Mrs. J. Henry (tic) a. Bc6t Fruit: Mrs. B. Parkinson 1, Miss N. Neilson 2, Mrs. Henry 3. Best Vegetable: Mrs. C. Ashdown, Mrs. B. Parkinson, Miss N. Neilson (tic) 1, Mrs. L. --Gordon, Mrs. W. Young (tic) 2. Gipger Nuts: Mrs. B. Lowe 1, Mrs. J. Blown 2, Mrs. Henry 3. Flowers arranged in egg cup: Mrs. Connelly 1, Miss L. Gordon 2, Mrs. C. Black 3, International Day

“United We Stand—Divided We Fall”. The November meeting of the Otara Women’s Institute was held in the Otara Hall on the 4th. inst. Mrs. S. 11. Parkinson (president) presided over a good attendance of members. The meeting opened with the singing of the Institute Song and the recital of the Aspirations. The usual business routine was transacted. The president asked members to support the Corso appeal stall to be held in Opotii on the 4th. Dec. It being International Day a very interesting programme was' presented, The first was the roll call; “The Place in England 1 would like to see Most”. Westminster Abbey. Buckingham Palace and St. Cathedral were places most members would like to sec. The singing of several National Antheins and songs of other countries was enjoyed by all members. Mrs. B-. Hcdlcy was the accompanist. A very pretty Dutch dance was given by Mrs. Munro’s pupils: Janet ijnd Lynne Btinkall, Maureen Cordon and Munro. Mrs. Norman Clark gave a very enjoyable and interesting talk on her trip to the British Isles, Holland, Switzerland, France and Germany in 1939 just prior to the outbreak of was. Mrs. Clark also displayed many beautiful articles she had collected during her tour. A large display of many and varied articles from other countrisc was arranged by members. All these articles were greatly admired.

Aii interesting report on tlie biannual Council Meeting held :it Waiotahi, by llic delegate, Mrs. 11Porter, was read by Mrs. Medley. There was a collection of eggs to be forwarded to the hospital. A vote of thanks was passed to Mrs. Norman Clark and Mrs. Herring for judging the competitions. The singing of the National Anthem brought a very enjoyable meeting to a close. The competitions for the afternoon resulted as follows : Best Fruit: Mrs. Henry 1, Mrs. B. Parkinson 2, Miss N„ Neilson 3. Best Flower: Mrs. W. R. Young ], Mrs. P. Brown 2, Miss S. Butler 3. Best Shrub: Miss S. Butler 1, Mrs. Connelly 2, Miss N. Neilson 3. Best Vegetable: Mrs. S. H. Parkinson 1. Miss N. Neilson 2. Mrs. Henry 3. Decorated dinner plate in red, white and blue flowers (in sand): Mrs. C .Ashdown 1, Mrs. Medley 2, Mrs. C. Black 3.