SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2316, 25 November 1914, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

A Triple Colden Wedding.

Fifty years ago, states an Auckland' ecliange, three of Auckland's pioneer citizens —struggling but ambitious young men, who had but a few years since been caught by the alluring call of the colonies—were marrried under circumstances that wore quite -novel. Two of them were brothers; all of them were schoolmates. Two of the brides were sisters. One ceremony—performed in a ('baching" establishment in Albert Street —sufficed to ! do the deed, and yesterday, in Auckland, three golden weddings were celebrated. Brothers and chum have been in more or less constant tuoch with each other over the long stretch of fifty years, and all three couples ' are still resident in Auckland The bridegrooms were Mr. J. L. Holland, now of Grafton Read; Mr. J..J. Holland, builder, of City Read; and Mr. John Siiaith, of Auckland, while the brides were the Misses M'Kenzie, daughters of Mr. Duncan M'iCenzie, formerly of Glasgow, who respectively married Messrs. J. J. Holland and Snaith, and Miss Annie Goode, of Leisastor, who, was paired up with the elder Holland. After fifty, years, during which time they have all resided in Auckland, they were able to celebrate the happy triple anniversary with a happiness of coincidence enhanced by the fact that they have all made a success of life in the young colony.

Wellington East Electorate.' Lady supporters of Dr. Newman, who intend working to secure his return to Parliament as member for Wellington East, met in the New Century Hall yesterday afternoon to further arrangements in connection with the forthcoming There was a yery good attendance, and Mrs. M'Vicar presided. Dr. Newman was present, and briefly addressed the meeting -upon various matters in connection with the work which is to be carried out, and stated in his opinion the prospects before the Refrom Partj were decidedly good. Keenness and enthusiasm were the keynotes of the gathering, and' the intention to give a good account of , their work was evident on the part of everyone. . Work for the Belgians In Auokland. To appreciate the magnificence of the response made by Aucklanders during "Clothing Week," one has to imagine great stacks of half-ton cases running into a total 'of 650, states an Auckland exchange. In tho opinion of Mr. Stuart Milne, who has been superintending operations in conjunction with Mr. J. F. Ewen and Mr. N. J, Kidd, the' present value of the clothing donated is in the vicinity of £26,000, while there* is sufficient to clothe about 10,000 Belgians. If every city in the did as well, the refugees and dependents of fallen soldiers would be the better cared for during the coming winter. '

"Clothing Week" has been a remarkable occasion. Starting at' 8 o'clock on Monday morning last, a staff of over one hundred worked' assiduously, and became gradually /'larger until on Friday there were 160 sorters, folders, .packers, carpenters, eto., engaged at the central depot. Last evening the last case will hove been sealed and labelled for consignment to London, just aa soon as the .Government fulfills its promise to provide the transport facilities. The analysis of the 'clothing is as follows:—New blankets, 20 .bales; men's, suits j 71 cases; girls' dresses and costumes, ,86 cases; boy»| suits and overcoats; 32 cases; women's coats and wraps, 110 cases; blouses and skirts, 83 oases; girls' underwear and hose, 25 oases; boys' underwear and hose, 28 cases; girls' coats and wraps, 35 oases; men's underwear and box, 83 cases; children's underwear, 45 cases; men's shirts, 19 cases; men'shosiery, 12 cases; boys' suits, 26 cases; i hoots, 20 cases; new goods, 20 cases; sundries, 44 cases. <

Helping the Belgians. A gardeir fete and sale of work in aid of . the Belgium Fund was held in the grounds of Woodford House, Havelock North, on, Saturday afternoon, and realised the net sum of about £100. A great -many visitors were present, and various attractions had been- organised for entertainment, and also for sale. Maoris'dancing on the green was'- a feature of the occasion, and at "iter conclusion Mr.' H. M. Campbell, M.P., made a brief speech concerning the object for'whioh the fete had been organised. Miss Hodge, (lady principal) and her staff spared no effort in working to secure the best results for the cause. . , Auokland Ladles' Efforts for the Belgians. One of' the brightest features of the movement to assist the Belgians was the garden fete, held at Marivare, the residence of Mrs. R.. A. Carr, Epsom (Auckland). It proved a great financial success. A sum of £450, was realised ,on the' first # day alone, and close Upon' £1000 is "expected to result from the two days' proceedings. The''raising of such a large amount has only been made possible by the fact that everything was given free to the committee. Visitors stajjing at the Albert Hotel are:—Miss Bains and Miss Woodward, of Auckland, and Mr. J. O. Hum, of Foilding. . -Among the visitors staying at tho New Occidental Hotel are" Mr. and Mrs. W. Turner (Marton), Mr. and Mrs. S. Bolton' (Pahiatua), and Miss Bolton, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Beetham (Pohangina), Airs. R. Robertshawe (Dannevirke), Miss Hiridmarsh (Pahiatua), Miss Peggie Maxwell, and Miss E. Hart (Dunedin), Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Armstrong (Wanganui), Mrs. White and Mr. White (Carterton). '

. Mrs. Hi S. Hadfield, who with, her two daughters ' has been spending a few days in Wellington, returned to Paraparaumu on Monday.

Miss Violet Mills, who has been visiting England and Scotland, returned to Wellington yesterday by the TJlimaroa, via Sydney. She is at present staying with. Mrs. .Gibbs, Willis Street.

Belgian Christmas Cift Fund. Meetings of ladies were held in several of tho suburban districts yesterday in connection with the "shilline subscrmtwn" for the Belgian Christmas Grift Fund. All the meotings were well attended ,and tlio idea was taken, up enthusiastically by those .ladies present lho following executives were appointed :-Miramar (Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald presiding)— President, Mrs. F Townsend; secretary, Mrs. Rowntree. Island Bay (Mr C Hill ,senr., presiding)— President, Mrs. Lockwood: secretary, Miss Wells. Berhampore—President, Mrs. Powell- secretary, S, M'ivcou. Hataitai—Secretary, Mrs Tolan. Maranui—Secretary, Mrs. g'. Kennedy. Roseneath—President, Mrs' A Lowe; secretary, Miss Gawler.' Meetings will be held this afternoon at the Council Chambers,. Karori at 2.45 and at the ' Methodist Schoolroom! Northlands,» at i p.m. To-morrow afternoon meetings will be held at the Sydney Street Schoolroom at 3.30, and at Brooklyn at 3.30 The members of the Royal Pantomime Company will parade through the town leaving the Grand Opera House at noon to-day. Concerts will, be given in the Post Office, Square at 12.30, at Kirkcaldie's Corner about 1.15, and at the Albert Hotel Corner about 1.45. » Collections will be taken up by the lady members of the company in aid of the Belgian Fund. Victoria League Meeting.

A meeting of the executive of the Victoria League was held on Monday, and was presided over by Miss Coates. There were also present Mrs. J. P Luke, Mrs., Stott,' and Mrs. Chatfield ~ (Secretary). Consideration of the pamphlets sent out by the Victoria League in London, bearing upon the war, occupied tho greater part of the attention of those present, the outstanding one being that of; Sir Edward Cook entitled "Why Britain is at War; Causes and Issues," largely taken from the White Paper ana containing the diplomatic correspondence and speeches of the Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, and Sir Edward. Grey. It is intended for' circulation among echools and teachers, and the league l has set out to get authentic information about the war for the purpose of giving lectures and addresses all over Great Britain. A suggestion was made from the London League that the branches - in New Zealand should do the same. Misa Talbot, writing from London, states that she has received very many offers of hospitality for overseas members who are visiting Great Britain, and states that a bureau has been established for, tho purpose of receiving' all offers of help and directing them in the rightdirection, Letters wero also road from children overseas asking for correspoiidents among the school children of New Zealand, a great many coming from Canadian children, who seemed particularly anxious to get into touch with those in New Zealand. The secretary of the Wamderbuud Club, the only ladies' club in Vancouver,' also wrote and offered hospitality to New Zealand ladies who should intend visiting Vancouver in'tile'course of their travels.

Among other business matters dealt with at the meeting' was tho essay competition, whioh is to be held some time in the first term of next year. The subject is an historical one. "The Struggle Between Great Britain ' and Spain for Maritime Supremacy, 1588 to 1638." The prize will be a delightful one—nothing less than five guineas' , worth of books. The annual Victoria League entertainment is to be held before Lent next year. The secretary, Mrs.' Chatfield, is arranging to ;send away to tho country districts Bupplies of books before Christmas.

Mr. and Mrs. Philip Snowden were the the guests of hohour at an afternoon which was given in Christchurch yesterday by some members of the journalistic profession in that city. :

The Wellington Girls' College fete will be open to-day from 2 to 6 p.m. Fine weather is the chief requisite of a great success, for all preparations have been carefully, made! It is hoped that there will be ready bujrers of. the flowers and', pot plants which are arriving from far and near. The beautifullymade boxes on the sweets stall Show what ingenuity and industry the girls of this committee have displayed., Mr. and Mrs. Moyes returned to Wellington on Monday by tho 'Ifcngariro from England. Mr. and Mrs. Dahl (Palmerston North) returned to New Zealand yesterday from a visit to England. The Misses D. and J. M'Clelland left yesterday for Masterton. Miss Rothenberg, who undertook ,to collect literature for the troops at Samoa, sent away by the last mail two sacks and one big case of books, papers, and magazines. Of what was over, some has been sent to the lighthouses and some to the leper station at Quail If.land. Some was also sent to the Hospital, and also to the Home for the Aged Needy. ; • The junior students of the Wellington Teachers' Training College are entertaining the retiring students at a farewell social and dance on Friday oven-, 'ing' at the This , is always a very pleasant function, and it is hoped that all will' attend in numbers. The Training College is one of the institutions that has had its ranks depleted by the necessities of the war as of its members are in Samoa and one is with the main Expeditionary Force,