SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1359, 9 February 1912, Page 9

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Wedding at Auckland. A quiet wedding was celebrated at St. Mark's Church, Kemuera, Auckland, on Tuesdav afternoon, when Miss Dorothy Diss, youngest daughter of the late Mr. S. it. Hiss and Mrs. Diss, Reinuera, was married to Mr. Sydney Worsp, son of the late Captain Worsp. The bride was given away by her brother, Mr. Noel Biss. Iho bridesmaids were Misses Maude and Constance Biss, sisters of the bride, and the best man was Mr. W. A. Beddoe. The Rev. W. Beatty was tho officiating clergyman. A Visiting Singer. Miss Adelaide Bruce, the Australian contralto, at present staying at the Eoyal Oak Hotel, intends remaining in Jiew Zealand until the hot season in Australia has passed. She recently made several successful appearances in Auckland in "Tho Messiah" and concerts in connection with the opening of the new Town Hall. It is hoped that she may be induced to sing here before she leaves for other fields. A Citizens' Ball. A citizens' ball, to be held in the Auckland Town Hall, probably in April next, is suggested by the Mayor. Mr. Parr proposed to call a meeting of citizens shortly to consider the advisability of tendering a ball to their Excellencies Lord and Lady Islington in the Town Hall. .Seeing that his Excellency had done so much for Auckland he was sure a compliment of this kind would be most fitting. Ho proposed that the ball be held about April next, when tho Admiral and officers of the Australasian squadron, who would be in port, could be present. Strange Charming Places. Writing to a member of the "Mataura Ensign's" staff, Mr. Dolamore, who has just returned to Torquay, in Devonshire, from an extended tour of the Continent, remarks upon the universal employment of the Xew Zealand cabbage palm, veronicas, and flax in embellishing the European pleasure resorts. "You seo fino specimens of the cabbage palm everywhere you go," ho remarks. "In Southern Italy and on the Italian and French Riviera they flourish check by jowl with tho date and fan palms, while in tho milder parts of Switzerland, where those heat-loving specimens would not endure the touch of frost in winter, tho cabbage tree is entirely relied upon to give the semi-tropical touch to the landscape, and is extensively employed in every stage from babyhood to full stature. AVhere the climate is colder our familiar friend is carefully cuddled in tubs. The New Zealand flaxis also largely and effectively employed by the Continental gardeners, and being a hardy and adaptable subject has a wide range of quarters. I noticed two specimens nourishing exceedingly in the region sacred to luturma, the nymph of the springs that rise in the Itomau Forum." Mere Drop in the Ocean. As is tho case in other cities in the Dominion, there is still a shortage of domestic servants in Auckland. Hundreds of engagements have awaited candidates for months. Among the passengers by the Mamari 7,-hich arrived from London last week wore about 100 girls classed as domestics, under the charge of two matrons, tho majority of them having bcoii assisted. Of this number 28 were for Auckland, and had been engaged prior to landiug. The Noelites. For the first time in the history of the world's Christmascs the people who were lorn on Christmas Day are united into a society. They call themselves tho "Noelites." Members must have been born on December 25 or on January G (Christmas Day in the old style of chronology), or have Noel as a Christian name or a surname. From all classes of society people have written to the secretary, states a writer in the London "Daiiy Mail, asking that their names might be enrolled n the new fellowship. Among them are tilled people, professional men, business workers, and a great manv bovs and girls. Letters have been received trom France, Germany, Italv, Portugal and other parts of Europe. Estimating tho population of London as about G,000,000, and that there is about one Noelito in every 305 persons, there are probably over 16,000 of those born on Christmas Day alone. If the society continues to progress at the present rate a London gathering should easilv be possible in future Christmascs. Meanwhile the members have combined to maintain a waif who was bom on Christmas Dav,