SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1047, 9 February 1911, Page 9

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

On Board the Kersaint, V - ' ~ A visit, to a man-o'-war is always interesting, but when the visit is, paid to oneof another nationality, than our own, there is an interest attached to it.'Almost side by: side they lay.. The frigate Kersaint and : H.M.S., Cambrian, grey old sea-dogs that, the,march of evolution has left somewhat behind, and which, now patrol the h|xh sens to seo that all is.'well with tho Islands. Not altogether the -idle task that possibly many people might' imagine, ; for, the natives of 6oniß of the Islands are not always disposed to .tako. lifo with a serene spirit, and they.have to be taught that tho wild days when they.could tight and feast upon ono another belong to the good old times of tho past'. A hardlesson' sometimes, -for them' to. learn,' but still they are learning; and now their favourite song in which they .used to chant over tho body of their,victim, "I'll havo a; leg," "I'll have; an arm," or whatovcr part they longed for, is a thing of memory only.. After all, these joys wero common to our Maoris at one time.'and—who knows?—in tho early dawn of our own history, wo too might havo had the same little fancies.' It Jiardly does to be too superior. There are several natives,, New Caledonians, wo aro told, who act as firemen on board,' and - they certainly, did not eye any. of us ferociously. ■ Tho quaint little caps, white Tam-o-shanters with a jaunty scarlet pom-pom in the centre'of the crown* add rather a picturesque touch to the appearance of the sailors, who otherwise might cosily be taken for those belonging to any of our own warships, unless they happened to be talking. Tanned and dark-eyed, many of them certainly are,, but that is not distinctive, and there were several to. be seen very fair and florid in colouring. Polishing, mending sails, and all the usual things that havo to be.dono on a ship-were being carried on as well ns various preparations being made for sailing in tho aftciywon,! -A very /homelike touch was added to the ship by the sight of three or four cats playing about tho decks, evidently great favourites'with tho 'men. .--, . ■■'■■■ '•■■■-.';'■' ''•■'■■ ■'■■■': •'.'•,' Mementoes of ,tbo East were to bo seen in 'the .wardroorii, {where a grim, carved idol, unabashed by his cmlised su,rroundings,'stared menacingly from' a corner It was.' not nearly ■ so finished, a piece pt w ; ork ns those carved by tho Maoris, but still there were certain resemblances. to bo seen'.' -One could, not. help thinking of; the savage orgies it must have witnessed, !and. what' gruesome sacrifices may havo been made to it. In another corner stood a black Buddha, iostlin beatifio contemplation, tho greatest contrast to the idol that could possibly be found. ■■ ■ - .1 A.strikingly, handsome bust of Admiral Kersaint,"after whom the frigate is named, occupied a niche in Commander liercefin's comfortablo little V sitting-room, and almost facing him was a photograph of President Fallieres. ' It was somewhat surprisintf to bo fold'that Wellington had created the impression of being; moro English than Auckland, and moro interesting. Was it purely courtesy that niade them say so? ..- ' ■ ■,' '•■',. • ~ W.C.T.U.'.' ":'■ ":;'-.'' *A garden party arranged by the Women's Christian Temperance '■Union was held yesterday.; in the' delightful 'crounds • 'belonging, . to Mr. • R Keeno, at .Island Bay, , and proved t) be a most ; successful affair. Tho dav was beautifully fine; and from tho lawn in front of the house a beautiful view..wns. obtained of a large part, of Island- Bay- and of the • hills'- Veyopd. Speechts concerning the work of the union wore made by Mrs. A.' R. Atkinson, the Rev. Blamires. and Mr. R. A. Wright ' M.P;, and; in addition to the temperance work, Mr. Wright spoke of the npithy displayed ,hv the large proportion of women in Parliamentary matters. In the licensing work they hniided ,to : gether, nnd worked till, they made th"riiselves a-power to h-s reckoned with, but in . these and, ,other ' matters oncoming tho - government of •. the ctuntrv they wero a r.eirligiblo : quantity. ~ It was work that l>adlv needed taking in hand. Mr. Bliiiniren'titnehod mum'the point that in speaking of Prohibitionists peonlo often lcoked upon them ns people who 'wished to'deprive others of a certain, amount of libertv. o"nst«id of that they, should bo looked unon as "obtainers." for they gained for thosn whom they.influenced bram pon'er, 'clearness, and, n very-, desirable thing, a larger bank balance. Mrs. Atkinson strongly urged thece present to become white'ribbon members. -•• ' Tea was wrved'outside, the table Ving decorated With swtflt refls and other flowers. -MwlComio wore i\ frcek of holinhopo floral muslin and a' black .hnf. Among thow, present were M". Boxall.' the president, Mr. Wright, M.P., and Mrs. Wright. Mrs. Johnston (secretary), Mrs.' Houl'ler (treasurer), Mr«. Helycr, Mrs. Maenlister. Mrs. Baker, Mr. Chapnle. n«d Mi:" Channle, Mrs.. BWires, Mrs. T."wn. M.A., Mrs.. Johnston Wright, T.rii* Wilkiivon. and member* of the Girls' .Association. /A very useful institution hn« by the union,'«. th- wwino; '■la»«5 for, •nrU H>nt.nrc held hviee n week in .the W.C.T.U. rooms, in Ccnstable Stroot. -. -.. • ' An Afternoon Tea. , .: A very enjoynblo j afternoon tea was given by Mi's Doris Briugs yeslerdny afternoon for Miss Marshall, who is'shortly to, be married. The rooms. had been prettily decorated-with flowers,, and in the morning room, where tea was fcrved, the table was decorated with tiger lilies and white roses. 'Songs, pianoforte soles, and' competitions entertained those present. Miss Briggs wore a whito embroidered muslin frock, nnd Miss Marshall was in a pink floral muslin frock and pink hat.wreathed with tiny foses. Mrs. Briggs wore a pretty grey dress. Among those present were Mrs. Marshall. Mrs. Tope, nnd the Misses Mnndsley, Wilton, Webb (2), Dawson, iloltnwood, and Gibbs.

Y.W.C.A. Entertainment. • ■ The interest thnt has been aroused in the cniiso of tlio Y.W.C.A. was mads manifest by the verv Urge audience tlint was present'at the entertainment held for its benefit in the Town Hall Inst evening.. An excellent programme had. been arranged, and the greatest interest was displayed in' the various items throughout tho evening. Her Excellency Lady Islington nindo an ctlaqne-nt little speech on behalf of the association, and the great need of helping on tho work. Sho referred to the affection and goodwill that had existed for so long between employer'nnd employoo in England, and which was now said to be dying out. Sho very much hoped that this was not the case, and thought that such an institution as the Y.W.C.A. could do much.to keep alive these qualities. A special feature of the evening was tho. grand march' by, girls dressed in ■ costumes representing , tho ,countries .in.-which' tho Y,W.C.'A. is ,to be found. ,The dresses, which had been designed by Mrs. Hamcrton and Mrs. Krceft, and carried out by the wearers,were excedingly. pretty and effective, and tho marching evolutions were very well done. Mr. Harrison is to be congratulated upon tho results of his work. The "Gaymakors," in their quaint Dutch costumes, wero another v«ry attractive feature, and their contributions were greatly enjoyed. Their Excellencies who were met upon their arrival by Mrs. do Castro and Mrs. Hoby, representing tho committee of the Y.W.C.A., were conducted to: their seats upon the' stage, which had been furnished arid carpeted for-the occasion, nnd decorated with lycopodium and blue drnpings. Lady-Islington was in a graceful black dress with diamond ornaments. Among ■those occupying tho seats' in front of,the the stage were.Lady Ward, Miss Stapleton Cotton, tho Hon. D. Buddo, Dr. and Mrs. Findlay, and Mrs. Wilford. Others to be seen were Mrs. Bnlkley,' Miss Coates, Mrs.. A. Williamsi Mrs. Herdman, Mrs. Von. Haast.Mrs. Easterfield, Mrs. Shirtclifl'o, Miss Marchant, Miss M'Lcan, Dr. Plntts-Mills, Miss D. K. Richmond, and many others. Miss Alison Brown presented Lady Islington with a bouquet of hydrangeas*and folingel The money that was obtained last evening by tho entertainment is to go towards the paying of the rent of the new: rooms for the, first year at least, and judging by the audience that; was present, a goodly sum should bo Hhe result. Sweets ,vero sold hclpors drossed in white, under .the charge of Miss Shirtcliffe, the proceeds to go towards tho necessary funds.

Their Excellencies Lord and Lady Islington have contributed J!25 towards the Y.W.C.A. funds. - ■ Mrs.' 0. Fowler, and Miss Constance Tully, of Mnngainahoe, and Miss ( Iv. T. Tate, of Greytown, leave for London by tho Turakiria to-day. They nro to return to New Zealand by way of Suez. \ Mrs. W- H. Rose, and her sister, Miss Berta Greenfield, havo booked accommodation' on, the/F. and 0. steamer India, leaving Sydney on March 8. ,Mr! George Biekford,- manager of-tho Ban't' of New Zealand at Dannovirke, and Mrs. Bickfbrd, leave on a trip to England by the Mnraraa in May. Mr. and Mrs. : A. Pryde, of- Nircnha, have booked for London by the Morea, leaving Sydney on April 12. . Mrs. F. B. Sharp, of Northland, wife of Mr. Sharp, barrister, of Wellington; leaves-for-London by theJlncedouia.jsail; ing :from Sydney, on February 22. Tho marriage of-Miss Mary Marshall, Wellincron, to Mr.. Austen Bnegs, also .of. Wellington, takes place on February 22. .-,. __ Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Wnlpoie,, of_ Feilding, havo arranged to leave for London by the. Arawa on April 20. . Misses'E. and M. Hayes, of Wellington, are- 1 leaving on-n visit to England by the Macedonia, • sailing from Auckland: on February 15, The' Misses Weatherloy (2), of Melbourne, who havo been visiting Wellington, left yesterday on a tour of the West Coast. - .-■__• '';••■ ' :Mrs. B. Newman has returned to her home in Macdonald Crescent from tho Hutt, where she. has been staying for some time. .. ' ' . ' 'MisFGeraidine'' Fitzgerald" ieavM'on "a visit to England on Friday. Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Dennison. and their children returned on Tuesday from their visit to. the Hutt.: .;./ ' ...-••• Miss Cargill, who has been spending: some time in.tho south,;returns, to-day, Among the passengers,:who arrived in Wellington by tho Warrimoo from Sydney yesterday was Mrs. J. Barr, wife of Mr. J. Barr, sub-editor of the "Sydney' Bulletin.'-' '' •■' The latest news received by' cable of Dr. Newman is that he will be in Sydney on February. 19. ~ , , Mrs. Henderson and Miss M!Chesncy, who havo been spending a 1 few the south, returned to Marton yesterday after a delightful holiday in the Cathedral City. - : 'Mr. and Mrs. Borthwick. (Christchurch) accompanied by their two sons leave for England to-dcy. Mrs. .Johnston, and the Misses Johnston (Wellington) aro' passengers by the Turn-, kina. ....<>. ' ~ -. /" Sir Charles and Lady Bowcn (Christchurch) with Miss Bowen, are passengers •by the Turakiiia: which leaves Wellington to-day for England. , ;. Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Goodson (Auckland) sail for London by the Turakina to-day. ■ •

Nurse M'Elligott leaves on Fridny for tho East Const whero she takes up work appointed her by, the Health Department. . '.

Miss Haggis, of Napier, is a passenger by the TUrakina for England.

A Press Association cablegram states that Mrs; Wilfrid Ashley, only child of Sir Ernest Cassel, the well-known financier, is dead. Miss Maud Cassclwas tho second wifo of Mr. Wilfrid Ashley, who is eldest son of tho lato' Eight lion. Evelyn Ashley.- v '

A Rift and furnishing tea is to bo hold •in the new rooms of the Y.W.C.A. on I'ridav afternoon, and everyone who is onsioiis to help tho association to bo comfortably housed will bo mado very wclcomo and their contribution greatly appreciated. •

Miss Stiltwell, the secretary of tho Bendigo branch of tho Y.W.C.A., is cipectedin Wellington on Friday, on her wav to Auckland, and will spend two or three days in this city before proceeding on hrr journey. .

Mr. and Mrs. Louis-Blundell returned from'a" trip'to Japan by tho Warnmoo yesterday. They were passengers from tho East by the steamer Eastern, which ran on to a bank in Morcton Hay, near Brisbane. .

At the uardon fete in aid of the funds of the Socicrv for the Promotion of Health of Women and Children, to bo held on Saturday ■ afternoon at ."Kennowav," Friend Street, Karori, Mr. Harrison*, who arranged the Grand March of All Nations for the Y.W.C.A. entertainment on Wednesday evening, has kindly offered to repeat the spectacle.

Floral Tributes.—Gifts of rare and choice Flowers are always acceptable, tor friends or relatives. Designed and arranged artistiO emblems aro always to be S at MISS MURRAY-S, Vico-Regal Florist, 3C Willis Street Tel. 205. Wedding Bouquets and designs sent to any part of Dominion.—Advt.