WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 July 1938, Page 4

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

ANNUAL FESTIVAL DRAMA, SINGING AND DANCING. In opening the annual festival of drama, glee singing and folk dancing of the Bush-Wairarapa Federation of Women’s Institutes, in the Woodville Institute Hall on Friday evening, Mrs G. H. Macky, of Eketahuna, vice-pre-sident to the Federation, declared that . acting, dancing and singing were pri- ; mitive forms of expression and were particularly useful forms of activity for women’s institutes. Not only, she said, > did they provide relaxation but also they were easy to join in and so provided the background for carrying on the team spirit inculcated at school. . She had been introduced to the large . audience for the opening night by the president of the Woodville Institute, . Mrs N. M. Burnett, who apologised for the absence of the federation president, ’ Mrs J. D. C. Crewe, who is still seriously ill as the result of a motor acci- : dent. The festival was continued through- . out Saturday and closed that night with the presentation of trophies and I awards by Mrs Mackie. The results were as follow: — Open class for drama: Mangaorapa (Porongahau) (“Joan the Maid”) and . Pahiatua (“The Flood”) equal. Best in Bush-Wairarapa Federation: Pahiatua (“The Flood”) 1, Woodville (“Her Affairs in Order) 2, Pahiatua (“Far, Far Away”) 3, Makomako (“The Four Marys”), v.h.c. Junior drama: Woodville (“The “Princess and the Woodcutter”) 1, Mangatainoka (“The Injured”) 2. Folk dancing: Woodville (Crested Hen) 1, Mangatainoka (Gathering Peascods) 2, Mangatainoka (Goddess) 3, Woodville (Dutch dance) 4. Glee singing: Pahiatua (Sleep My Princess) 1, Woodville (Cradle Song) 2, Pahiatua (Rain) 3, Woodville (Elegy of the Sea) 4. The H. D. Young Cup for the most points during the festival: Woodville 18 points, Pahiatua 16. Mrs H. Paterson’s trophy to the drama team gaining the most points and not having a win, went to Makomako. Having presented the trophies Mrs Macky said this festival was a landmark in women’s institute history as it was the first ever to take place in an institute hall. She then proceeded to thank all those who had in any way assisted in the arrangements for the conduct of the festival. The several judges for the occasion were: For Drama, Mr E. N. Hogben, of Dannevirke. For the folk dancing, Miss J. Lovell-Smith,- of Hastings, and for the glee-singing Mr J. Holmes-Run-nicles, of Palmerston North.

KAHUTARA MEETING. The July meeting of the Kahutara Women’s Institute was held in, the Kahutara hall' recently, Mrs I:. McKenna presiding over an excellent attendance. Mrs McKenna congratulated the members of the Institute Dramatic Circle on the splendid concert which they organised in the local hall a week previously, and Mesdames Duffy and Playle replied on behalf of the Circle. The Hostesses for the afternoon, Mesdames Fuge and M. Wilson and Misses M. Harvey and L. Hood had most attractively decorated the tables

which were covered with green and gold tablecloths, with vases of gold and white jonquils. The competition of the best ironed shirt was won by Mrs Graham with Mrs D. Wilson second and Mrs R. Welsh third. The best flower competition was won by Mrs Russell with a pansy, Miss Rendle second with daphne and Mrs Welsh third with a rose. The junior competition for the best darned stocking was won by Miss Corlet, with Miss L. Hood second and Miss O. Harvey third. Master Jock Harvey was the winner of the dainty baby’s frock which had been made and donated to the Institue by Mrs R. Welsh. Some members of the Institute have joined up with the box system issued by Massey College and they greatly enjoyed the first meeting which dealt with dress making.