SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2405, 10 March 1915, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

A New Zealander and the A.V.H. How Christmas was spent among the wounded at Witnmereux is told by Miss Violet Popplewell (whose mother is hon. secretary of the Australian Voluntary Hospital), in the "British Australasian" of January 14. It was at Wiinmereux that the Australian • Voluntary Hospital was stationed at the time of the writing. One of the medical students, Sergeant Eady, from New Zealand, was dressed up to represent Father Christmas, and. he looked and played the part splendidly.' Even the most serious cases had a, smile and handshake for Father Christmas as he went around the wards-with the nurses distributing gifts. Every man received and many of them said it'was a "lucky thing to be in the A.V.H. for Christmas. '

"On Boxing night," continues Miss Fopplowe'l, "Sergeant Eady got up a concert aniong tie orderlies, • and invited all the unit (over 140). It was held at the barracks, and was a splendid success; Mother saag for them under her old professional name, and it was ' kept as a surprise, for many of them did riot know who Madame Roßa Bird was, and when the time came and it was announced, meny looked towards the door clapping, and when they saw mother go to 'the piano, the applause was deafening."

The writer also says that some wonderful operations have been performed at the hospital, and that it is doingvery fine work. How splendid the men were whom they nursed, it was impossible to tell, for words failed to express the admiration that was felt for them. Work for Women, i Probably those who have no personal connection with the Women's Emergency Corps have very little idea of the splendid and practical work it is doing, writes a London correspondent. It began with the idea of gathering together and classifying the nuidreds of expert voluntary workers who were ready to do what they could, and were at a loss to know what they should do. It has grown immensely, and has extended its activities in many directions. One of the most picturesque of its various labours is tlio toy industry. Tbis had a very small beginning, with only eight or ten girls under an instructor, and now quite a big business has been built up, Selfridge and other large stores, iu London, and several colonial shops, being among its customers. Many of the toys lave been shipped out to Dunedin. • A splendid trade was carried on at Christmas time, and when one sees the delightful things turned out by the big workshop near the central offices of the corps, at Old Bedford College, Bakor Street, one oan understand that they have a large sale. Of New Zealand Interest. A correspondent from London writes tnnt oji January 0 tho .raarriago took place at 'St. Phillip's Church,, Kensington, of Miss Madge Pollock' daugiitor of Mrs. Robert Pollock, of Wellington, to Mr.; David Brunskill Reid, manager of Messrs. Yuills, Ltd., London, and eon of Mr.-David Roid, general 'Manager for Australasia of the ■ Orient Steartship Co. Another marriage of New Zealand in. terest was that on January 20, at Stopham Church, near Pulborough,.of Captain William Douglas Paton, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Victory, youngest son of Major James Paton, of Crafting, Jedburgh, Scotland, and Gladys May, youngest daughter of the.late Mr. -W., H. Teschemaker, of Kauro, Otago, New Zealand, and Mrs. Teschemaker, Stopham House. Pulborough. The . wedding, was a very quiet one, owing to the war, only a few relatives and friends being present.

Mr. and' Miss Jull (Wairarapa), with Mass Cbilds (Palmerston North) aro visiting the Southern Lakes,

Dr. and Mrs. Brunton Sweet passed through Wellington at the end 'of last week on their return' to Auckland from Christchurch and Mount Cook.

Mrs. -Mo'untford (Christohurch) is speeding a few days in Wellington.

Mrs. James Burns leaves for Sydney this week on a visit to her daughter, Mrs.- F. Coombes, of Cremorne, Sydney. '

Mrs. L. M'Kelvie, of Flock House, Bulls, is at present on a visit to Wellington.

Mr. and Mrs. Howartb (Wanganui) ate visiting Wellington, and are staying at the New Occidental Hotel.,

Mrs. Sherrat (Gisborne)' is staying at thp Empire Hotel.

On Friday nest at Manakau the lovely grounds of' Mr. R. Bevan will be thrown open to the public for the purpose of. a large garden party to raise funds for the Belgian relief. A large number of Natives will assist, and the affair promises to be a great success. Sales, competitions, etc., will be held during the day.

There was a large attendance at the Courtenay Place Congregational Hall last evening, when a "social" was held lor members of the church and strangers. The evening opened with a pianoforte duet given by the Misses Hutchings. • Other contributors to the programme were:—Miss Henderson (song), Mabel Day (tambourine dance), and Miss. Gr'ossley (song). The Eev. A. E. Hunt recited "The Day," and had to ■Tespond to an encore. Many .games were played during the evening, and all joined in each o'f these enthusiastically. The evening closed with supper and a vote of thanks by the "Rev. A. E. Hunt to those .who had made the evening., a success.

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A Kindergarten Demonstration.

A demonstration •of kindergarten Work is to bo given in the Palais de Danse this afternoon in connection with the Richmond Free Kindergartens. I'lie demonstration will consist of an entire morning's work conducted by the teach srs and carried out by the childrenfrom the different kindergartens. It is the first time that so complete a (lomflnetration. of the work which is being done in this connection among the children of Wellington will have been given,' and visitors should derive .much 'ntciost from their performances. By this means the council noun; to show the public the nature of t.he training that is being given, as well ?e arouse an interest that , will _ have an adequate financial result, as Ji this, as in many other things, the effects of the war are aluady making themselves ielt. Tickets are one soiling eath, and any one who has not received invitations willbe able to purchase tickets at the door.

Mrs. Barnett (Christ-church) is visiting Wellington.

Mr., Mrs., and Miss Armstrong (Dannevirke) are visiting Mount Cook.

Mrs. Herbert Rawson is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Davidson, who returned to Canterbury at the end of last week from Wellington.

Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Gordon, of Colombo, are at present visiting Auckland'. and later they intend to tour New Zealand.

Mr. T. W. Leys, and Mrs. and Miss Leys retailed to Auckland on Sunday from a visit to Europe and America.

The Auckland nursing division "of Queen Mary's Sewing Guild fur the Sick and Wounded has dispatched the third consignment to headquarters, London. The number of articles to date ar6 2218 for the wounded soldiers and 738 clothing for the poor: also £340. '

Mrs. Gordon Coates, wife of the member for Kaipara, las arrived in Wellington to meet , her sister Mrs. Gibbs, and Mr.. John Gibbs, managing director of the Merohanta' and Traders' Association,' Ltd., Sydney, who i.rrived in Wellington yesterday from" Australia. They are all staying at the Royal Oak.

Mrs. C. Morris (Christohiiroh) has oome to Wellington to be present at the wedding of Miss Winnie Norris (Wadestown), which takes place to-day.

Captain Calder, of Fiji, and Mrs. and Miss Calder arrived in Auckland by the Niagara on Sunday, on a visit to Now Zealand.

Mrs. D. Caselberg (Masterton) is visiting Wellington, and is staying at the Empire Hotel.

Madame Emma Calve, the operatic prima donna, lias since .the outbreak of the war been. nursing wounded soldiers in the south of France.. Her first act on arriving in America in January was to give a concert in aid of the Belgians, which realised a thousand dollars.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry ' Plimmer and 1 Mr. and Mrs. Winter Hall, who are concerned in, the dramatic, company that is to tour the Dominion in aid of the Belgian Fund, are staying at the Empire Hotel.

The work of the Y.W.C.A. Conference ] is steadily proceeding'at Day's Bay, and wisely, those who have had the ai> j rangoment of the programme have devoted a certain portion of the afternoon, to recreation of various kinds. Monday took the form of a 6ports day, and the keenness of delegates was shown by the large number, of entries which were received for each event. The races were closely contested, and volloy ball and a tug-of-war, iNorth Island versus South, caused much excitement./ Mrs. Morpeth acted as judge, and Mrs. Pearson as starter. The following were the results of the contests:—Secretaries' run-. ning event: Miss Geddis, 1; Miss Haste. 2. Board of Directors' walking races Mrs. Kersley, ,1; Mrs. Pearson,'2.. Directors' hopping race: Miss.Lawson, 1: Mrs. Campbell, 2. Kangaroo face: Miss Haste, \; Miss Harfy 2. Secretaries' snail race: Miss Smith, 1; Miss Birch, 2. Kgg-and-spoon race: Miss Haste, 1; Miss W ar d. 2. Thread-the-needle race: Miss Thomas, 1; Miss Owen, 2. Potato race: Miss Bentham, 1; Miss Gandy, 2. Running race: Miss Betty, 1; Miss Siliphant, 2. Obstacle race: Miss Haste, 1; Miss Sutherland, 2. '

Yesterday morning work began with Bible and mission study, conducted by Mrs. M'Clay, Miss Owen, Mrs. Beggi and Mrs. Kaye, while the technical hours in which consideration Was given to the departmental work of the association were led by Miss Barnes, followed by Miss Birch (Wellington) and Mis 3 Owen (Christohurch). Yesterday afternoon's recreation took the form.of '"stunts," some of which were well carried out by the girls, each centre, Christohurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Woodville, aaid Auckland (the latter represented by one solitary delegate) being represented. by- its own little group. Auckland's contribution to the general entertainment tcok the form of a display of balls, which was very cleverly done. Some of the stunts wore a satire upon various incidents . arid activities in connection with the conference, and; not even the national secretary was spared. The lovely sunshine, the' open air, the sight of the bush-clad'hills and pretty flowering garden all combined to make the afternoon a very enjoyable one for all concerned, especially for the delegates who abandoned themselves most thoroughly to the afternoon's entertainment. Afternoon tea outside, at which a large . birthday cake figured in honour of tlie birthday of Miss Barnes (whd also received earlier in the day a bouquet of roses) was also a very pleasant part of the proceedings.