WOMEN'S INSTITUTE NOTES.

Shannon News, 5 April 1928, Page 3

WOMEN'S INSTITUTE NOTES.

A LETTER FROM ENGLAND

The start of what must prove a most interesting and helpful correspondence was a letter received by the Shannon Institute from Mrs Duncan Grant, President of the Charhvood Women’s Institute, Surrey, England, in which she says: “We have been wanting to have a partner Institute to write to and exchange ideas with. The secretary of the N.Z.W.I. has sent us your name and suggests that we should write'first, and start a quarterly correspondence. Many other Intitules do this and appoint a different member to write each quarter, so that we may get to know each other’s Institutes very well. I have just been elected president for the coming year and have been asked write the first letter, and to say that we hold out a very warm hand of friendship to Shannon.” Mrs Grant then goes on to describe the village of Charhvood which is only 28 miles from London, saying that in parts their church, dates back to the year 1080. She also enclosed a picture of two huge oak trees, 300 years old, which had only a few days before been removed. A motor lorry having bumped into one and knocked it over, the council had been forced to remove the other, the two having formed an arch over the road. Both trees were quite hollow. ,

Mrs Grant goes on to say: “We have about 80 members, who arc all very keen, and it is astonishing what a difference the Institute has made to the lives of the village women. The organised lectures and amusements bring us all together, and we get to know each other in a way'we never could without the Institute. I enclose our last year’s programme that you may see what we have been doing. The Handicraft Exhibition in May was one of our best efforts last year. _ It was open to the village and anything that had been made or grown locally was exhibited, from eggs, to things made from waste, such as a baby’s bodice made from the waste selvidges of flannel. I enclose the schedule, as you may find it a'help in organising a similai affair. We find whist drives very popular among the village men-folk. One was held last, night, when we sole. 80 tickets at Is each.. J seem to have described only our amusements but car. assure you we don’t omit, the seriou.-, side", and shall suggest that our ncxi correspondent deals with that, among other things. “We shall await a letter from you with great interest, and hope you maybe able to send us some new suggestions from ‘Down Under.’ I take a special interest in New Zealand myself. My husband was for a time on the staff of Sir Dudley de Chair, the Governor of New South Wales, and we touched at Auckland on ouf way home Then. Lord Jcllicoc, of whom I expect you all know, is godfather to my eldci son, and we all know- how devoted he is to your beautiful country'. I admire the ‘All Blacks’ football team very much, and watched several oi ;heir matches over here. With verygood wishes to Shannon, and, I hope this is the start of a strong tie between' our two Institutes. —Yours very truly,— ‘‘BEATRICE GRANT. ’ ’ A DISTINGUISHED VISITOR. A letter received on Friday' from the Dominion organiser stated tha: there is a possibility of Shannon receiving a visit from Miss Stops, president of the Duston \Y.L, Northampton. England, at an early date. Miss Stops has paid many visits to New Zealand Institutes during her stay in the Dominion, and judging by the glowing reports read in the monthly paper “Home and Country,” a visii from her is something to be sough, after. Besides various demonstra tions, including the making of loose covers for furniture, and a quickly made pearth-brush, Miss Stops can give most interesting talks on W.I. worl. at Home, and on her recent visit to Samofi, where she started anothei branch of this world-wide movement.

The local secretary is in eommunic ation with Miss Stops, and it is hopei that a date can be arranged befon the latter leaves for England tin; mouth. ,*