CARING FOR THE BLIND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 792, 12 October 1929, Page 23

CARING FOR THE BLIND

WORK OF THE INSTITUTE That there were 650 blind persons in New Zealand was stated by Mr. A. J. Hutchinson, who addressed the Lyceum Club yesterday at the monthly luncheon. The subject was, “The Blind and the Blind Institute/' In the absence of the president, Mrs. W. H. Parkes, the speaker was introduced by Miss Ellen Melville. Mr. Hutchinson said the Blind Institute was the one and only institute in the Dominion which provided for the education of the blind and was also a home and a workshop. There was also an up-to-date library. The Institution was controlled by the Education Department and the blind outside the institute were also helped where necessary. The institute had been very generously treated, for the City Councils in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington had not stinted their assistance in regard to it. Every blind person was registered at the institute and a record of his personal history was kept there. This was very largely due to Mr. Clutha Macknzie, who had travelled all over the Dominion and collected records. All blinded children were suposed to go there for educational purposes, but the law, which provided for this, was not so strictly enforced as it ought to be, Air. Hutchinson said. Illustrating the growth of the institute and its works Air. Hutchinson said that in 1923 a sum of £2,123 was paid in wages and benefits; in 1929 an amount of £6,196 was paid. In 1923 there were 76 people in the institute and in 1929 there were 12G. This did not mean an increase of blind people, simply that they were induced to come to the institute and be taught to earn a living. In 1923 the sale of goods for a year totalled £2,466, in 1929 it was £9,000. This year it was expected to reach £II,OOO. Air. Hutchinson told his hearers that the Rotary Club, St. John Ambulance, the Red Cross and the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies all co-operated with the institute in providing for voluntary sales with no commission tax. MATS FROM SCRAPS In casting aside a worn-out linoleum we sigh at th€> “good bits” which have been under the table and chairs, and which we are reluctant to throw away and yet can find no use for. "With a little ingenuity we can fashion these into very pretty and useful mats, especially suitable for the bathroom. Alark out on the best parts of the linoleum the size and shape mats that you require. Now cut them out with a sharp knife, being careful to keep the edges straight, and cover the whole with fawn or any coloured paint. Not all girls can be good-looking in the same way. ! Decide not only what kind of person j j you would like to be, but also what kind of person you have a chance of ' becoming. 1 .1

WAIKATO NOTES Mrs. A. H. Tompkins, of Hamilton, is a visjtor to Wellington. * * * Mrs. A. Joseph lias returned to Hamilton from a visit to the South Island. Miss Ivy Graham, of Te Kuiti, is visiting Mrs. Harry Luxford in Hamilton. Mrs. Gardner, of Gisborne, who has been a visitor to Hamilton, has returned to her home. ❖ it Miss Val McKenzie, of Sydney, who has been spending some months with her aunt. Mrs. R. Lord, in Te Awamutu, leaves for Australia today. She is accompanied by Miss Elinor Peake. * * * CHURCH OF ENGLAND SOCIAL Between three and four hundred parishioners from many parts of the district were present at a most enjoyable social given by his Lordship Bishop Cherrington, in the Frankton Hall on Wednesday evening. An excellent concert had been arranged in which songs were given by Miss O. Kirby, Mr. G. Wheeler, Mr. H. Absolum, Mr. Braithwaite and Mr. R. Cook. An amusing one-act play by Gertrude Jennings. "Between the Soup and the Savory,’’ was cleverly read

by Mrs. F. Bullock, Mrs. J. Prenton and Miss Eastwood, members of St. George's Dramatic Club. Short speeches were made by the Rev. Lionel Harvie, vicar of Cambridge, and Mr. H. J. Beeche, of Frankton. Community games and supper added to the atmospherie of camaraderie. All present enjoyed the happy evening. BRIDGE PART Y On Wednesday evening, at her home in Victoria Street, Hamilton, Mrs. F. D. Pinfold was hostess of a party in aid of the Central Company of the Hamilton Girl Guides. Mrs. Pinfold was wearing a becoming frock of buttercup taffeta and embossed georgette. Three rooms, gaily decorated with spring blossoms, were used by the merry guests playing progressive bridge. The prize-winners were Miss Cecille Chitty and Mr. Seddon. Those present were Mrs. Vere Chitty, Mrs. H. Toombs, Mrs. .T. D. Smith, Mrs. G. A. Cox, Mrs. H. Ferguson, Mrs. E. Mears, Mrs. Ihle, Mrs. F. Vickery, Mrs. E. M. Masters, Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Redmond, Mrs. PI. Luxford, Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. R. Guy, Mrs. A. Sims, Mrs. E. Ross. Mrs. G. Buckland, Mrs. G. Bindon. Mrs. A. Ward, Mrs. Palmer, Mrs. Xisbet, Mrs. W. King, Mrs. T. A. Btrrtenshaw, Mrs. A. Williams, Mrs. Gibson, Mrs. Hodgkinson. Mrs. Cullinane, Mrs. Valder, senr., Mrs. Elmsley, Mrs. C. Lambeth. Mrs. De Montalk, Mrs. Tomlinson, Miss Grant (Auckland), Miss E. Scherer, Miss B. Vickery, Miss X. Scherer, Miss A. Bourke, Miss Bindon, Miss Angland, Miss V. Cann. Miss C. Chitty, Miss O. Rowe, Miss A. Ferguson, Miss I. Graham (Te Kuiti), Miss Osmers, Miss R. Vickery, Miss A. Johns and Miss Finlayson. TE AWAMUTU PARTY On Tuesday afternoon Mrs. W. Me-

Kenzie gave a very enjoyable bridge party at her home in Te Awamutu. Many close games were played, Mrs. Peake receiving the prize for the highest score and Miss Linda Bray the consolation prize. The guests present were Mrs. Ti. X. Lord, Mrs.. L. Peake, Mrs. F. J. Brooks, Mrs. A. A. Reese, Mrs. H. Mandeno. Mrs. 0. G. Downes, Mrs. S. Preston, Mrs. C. Blundell, Mrs. J. Hawkins, Mrs. R. Loekyer, Mrs. J. Lavne, Mrs. J. Oliphant, Miss Linda Bray, Miss Jean Elliott, Miss Val McKenzie and Miss Elinor Peake. GOLF MATCH in spite of the unpleasant weather, which prevented some of the games from being finished, the women’s golf match, president’s v. captain's teams, on Wednesday afternoon, proved most enjoyable. Later, the president, Mrs. E. J. Mears. and the captain, Mrs. W. H. Hume, entertained the players at a very jolly afternoon tea. Those present were: Mrs. Mears, Mrs. Hume, Mrs. A. Joll, Mrs. W. M. Horton, Mrs. G. Primrose. Mrs. E. M. Masters, Mrs. P. G. Russell, Miss M. Stevens, and Miss E. Hammond (committee), Mrs. Arthur, Mrs. G Gower. Mrs. C. Bennett. Mrs. S. Mander, Mrs. T. A. Milroy, Mrs. W. Batt, Mrs. P. E. Clear?', Mrs. A. Bartlett, Mrs. A. English, Mrs. H. Matthews. Mrs. W. Aitken, Mrs. R. Hazard, .Mrs. W. J. King, Mrs. X. Rawlings, Mrs. X. Ratcliffe, Mrs. T. C. Fraser. Mrs. F. House, Mrs. W. Peterson, Mrs. C. Sutcliffe, Mrs. F. Brewer. Mrs. R. English. Mrs. C. Matthews, Mrs. C. Tavlor. Mrs. M. Hockin, Miss Dawson, Miss H. Hevwood. Miss C. Hunter. Miss E. Morris, Miss V. Cann. Miss K. Oliver. Miss K. Wilson. Miss Kee*.