WOMAN'S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2519, 21 July 1915, Page 2

WOMAN'S WORLD.

[Bl IMOGEN.}

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAB AND NEA&

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Cifts of Easy Chairs. Miss Keddie,. the matron of the Oriental Bay Hospital, liaving pointed out the need for easy chairs for tlie invalid soldiers wlio are nt- present stationed there, Lady Gibbes at ohco took the matter up, and in the fow days that have elapsed since the idea was first mooted lias met with much success in' her efforts to supply the want. Contributions from .the following are acknowledged by her:—Mrs. C. B. Russell, 1 chair, 1 cushion; Mrs. liiley, 1 c'hajr; Mrs. Georee Shirtcliffe. 2 chairs; Miss Myers, 1 chair, 1 cushion; Miss Kirk, 1 chair, 1 cushion; Mrs. Neville Willougliby (Island Bay), 1 chair, 1 cushion; Mrs. Coull, 1 chair, 1 cushion; j Mrs. Blythe, 1 chair, 1 cushion; Mrs. C. W. .Jones, 2 chairs; Lady Gibbes, 2 chairs; Mrs. F. Samuel, Mrs. Yaldwin, Mrs. lligg, Mrs. Oswin, Mrs. Donald, Miss Rothenberg, 1 cushion each; Mrs. Wallace (Halswell Street), 3 cushions; Mrs. Kirk, 3 cushions. Up till now there were only the ordinary straight-backed chairs, hardly suitable for men who aro yet far from their normal strength, and ease of body, and tliis provision for the comfort of tho invalids will do doubt .bo greatly appreciated. A Farewell Afternoon. On Saturday, Mrs. E. B. Hare, and the Misses Hare were the guests of the ladies of Pahiatua-at a very pleasant "at home" in St. Peter's Schoolroom. Afternoon tea was dispensed, 'several songs. were suug by the Misses Moore, Pattle, Reese, and Mrs. Lilly, and a recitation was given by Mrs. Gordon Farmer. The Mayoress (Mrs. J. D. C. Crewe), on behalf of those present, presented Mrs: Haro with a silver card tray and silver vase, and expressed regret at Mrs. Hare's departure ' from Pahiatua, after having lived there for almost twenty-threo years. Mrs. Dawson replied on behalf of Mrs. Hare and Miss B. Hughes at the piano led the company in singing "For She's a Jolly Good Fellow."; A great many old settlers were present, including: Mesdames G. H. Smith, G. Moore, G. 'C. Miller, Wakeman, Tosswill, M'Sherry, Grut, Lilly, Crewe, Arrow, Cornelius, St. Clair, Inglis Dawson Patorson Burge, Oxley, Fenn, Marshall, Purdie, Davidson, Falconer, G. Taylor, WestonThompson, Misses Gregory, Hughes, and Girdwood. Mrs. Hare leaves for Wellington this week. Miss Cargill arrived' in- Wellington yesterday from Auckland, and leaves for tlio south in a few days' time.

Hospitals at Cairo. In a letter from Cairo, published to tho "Sydney Morning Herald," Dr. Agnes. Bennett, formerly of Wellington, givo3 pleasant testimony as to the care of Australian wounded from the Dardanelles. After remarking that the predominant feature of the hospital is its air of brightness, she says:—"The meals are plentiful and ws!l cooked, served on well-scrubbed trestle tables, on enamelled plates and dishes, by redfezzed Mohammedan servitors., The first ward wo visited was a large hall,: or corridor, with a beautiful inlaid marble stair, almost the of a street, branching off to right and left from the _ half-way landing, whereon stood a piano. --The orderly staff was giving a concert at the time. The stairs made a good auditorium, and there were assembled figures with bandanged heads and arms and crutches; and many, were the friendly greetings of 'Good evening, sister,' as the keen, strong face of tho matron (Miss Gould) showed up. The little handy Australian beds were first-rate, and there is seldom need for mosquito curtains. The windows,' with their broad balconies, ! command a picturesque [scene. There was a vim and- joviality in tho atmosphere that augured badly for the Turks. With just pride the matron. showed us her clothes store. Shelves made of empty crates were filled with clean and mended clothes t for the men going out. Splendid service is rendered by ■ the voluntary helpers. They brine little dainties and write letters for the men. Ono voluntary helper sat with a dying man for two days.. Surely, mothers, sisters, and wives' must feel comforted that' there are 'women about their, wounded; and ; l write this to assure them that everything possilbe is being done for their dear on.es. The second Australian base hospital is an institution of which all Australians may be justly proud." Mrs. English (Hamilton) and her children are visiting Wellington, and are staying at Mrs. Black's, Mulgrave Street. Mr. and Mrs. J. Timmins, of Te Aroha, have already given four sons to the service of the Empire, and' two others, Eugene and Percy, have passed the medical examination; and will leave for the front with the next draft. Mrs. G. L. Stead arrived in Wellington yesterday by the Moeraki from Sydney, (Continued on next page.)'

A Woman's Sacrifice. 1 The following incident goes, to stow that the men in the fighting line "in •Prance aresupported by a similar spirit in-the women whom thoy have left behind. It is a pathetic story of coura- ; ceousself-effacement'ln a little, northern town in France, through which troops are passing just at present, ,a woman in deep mourning called on the Mayor. ' "Why have no soldiers been billeted on me?" she asked. The Mayor rubbed his nose and blew it ' hard. He knew her son. had been 6hot a few ■■ days before," but couldn't find the'voice to tell her so'. "I thought that in your sorrow—they would remind you;" he said at length. "They, would console me," she said. When a young and very' dirty sergeant got to the house he found it lighted as though a festival were on. Til his room were cut flowers. There was champagne at dinner.' The mother in a, pretty, spring : dress waved good-bye from the doorway next day. "No," she said to the Mayor; "I didn't tell him about my son., It would have been a. mistake to talk about my Joss to a soldier on his way to fight." -. And she went quietly indoors and put on'her black mourning clothes again," concludes the narrator. In. her soul the joy of sacrifice; in lier . life a sorrow that shall remain till the day breaks and the shadows flee away.

Miss Bothenberg, who some time ago collected litdraturo to send to the,men stationed in Samoa, has received a letter of acknowledgment from Captain Matthews, adjutant of the military camp, Samoa, in which he expressed on behalf of the recipients the greatest appreciation of the gift of books, ' magazines, periodicals, and papers of all kinds. It forms a greatly valued addition to the library which nas been started in the Soldiers' Club recently opened in Sar moa' for the use of the men. Miss Eothenberg wishes to thank all who assisted her with the work of collecting literature for Samoa.

Miss Grace Palotta; who joined the firm' of Corelle's in Melbourne, is at present surprising her friends and admirers in Sydney by : her management of the millinery department of this firm's display at Macleay Street, states the .Sydney'"Sun." She is not a, little proud of the success of her venture into the business world from '.the sphere, and is. delighted with new interest it has brought into her life.

1 An interesting, entertainment in aid of the Fund for Wounded Soldiers is being: given: by the pupils of the Wellington Girls' College on Friday and Saturday nights (July 30 and 31) in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. A demonstration of Swedish drill such as is being taught throughout the British Army will be followed by singing, games, and old English country .dances in costume. These promise to be most dainty and attractive, and a unique' feature will be the goblin dances, the costumes worn for these having beeu designed by Miss Constance Smith, games mistress at tho College. ■ - < ■ -v.

', 'A nurse writing from Egypt says that : it is quite a, byword that the Australian soldier will - never see his mate left, and they carry this out in tho hospitals.' ' They have the nice bush- way of treating the one alongside as a mate; in consequence they make, the nurses' .work much lighter. His' mate's dinner is of as much, importance 'as: his own, and -he. will call the 'nurse ishould. his mate: need attention .and'she is busy elsewhere. Among . some of tho . comforts most appreciated: by the, men are, according to this- nurse, mouth organs and packs of cards. ; Games of'ludo and, such .like are ,of no .use, but books and' magazines, are always wanted. -Woollen scarves are up too much room," thing,- and ; ' bandages ?they.. could not have too many of.

| . ATMlfalian.;meiiira!"jnen>at the front ''are putting up a record equal to'that of the military. - -News .ha*s ; arrived'in Sydiney -of 'oiie of the .finest,;■.triumphs.of 'modern surgery performed;during the present war. - Dr. Roger Cope/ of Bellevue Hill and ; Macquarie Street, successfully substituted a sheep's bone in place of the hopelessly, shattered forearm of a wounded soldier: at: a hospital, in St.- : Malo. ' : ' .

' 'A' mock Mayoral election was the form in which the usual, meeting of the Wellington. South j literary;' '-mi.Debating Society was held in the Trirnty Schoolroom: on • Monday "evening. The Rev. W. G. Slade, B:A., occupied the chair. ■The. election was'contested ;by five can-. (Mates . Miss Ml Cozens and. Messrs. H. Cockrell, J. Cassey, H. J. Baiiley, and R. Hornblow. The tramway system was the subject of special attention, and the present municipal fish market was accorded much condemnation. 'A clearing-house for milk, town planning, prices of foodstuffs, finance! and tepid baths were among tho planks in the platforms of the various candidates, and many questions had to be : answered. /The voting placed Mr. Hornblow as mayor. The Rev. Mr.' Slade contributed a-recitation while votes were.being counted.

Heretaunga Military Hospital. The matron' wishes to ' acknowledge with thanks tho following donations:— Lady Bell, stationary and postage stamps; Mr. J. Webster, six tins biscuits, one case cocoa and fish; Mrs. J. E. Fulton, music and papers; Mrs. Alan Williams, socks; Miss A. Kennedy, socks and papers; Mr. and Mrs. Pike, eggs, 2 cases fruit, and ■gramophone needles; Mrs. W. Moorehouse, old linen; Lady Ward, custard and scones; Mrs.'Noel Adams, cigarettes and tobacco; Miss M. Marchbanks, socks; Miss Diithio, cakes; fllr. Shaifer Weston, two dozen packets 'matches; also fruit, eggs, fish, cakes, and cigarettes from the Soldiers' Comforts Depot. A New Zealand Hospital In London. : At last, after some tribulation, New Zealand is to have its own hospital in London, writes a. London correspondent on July 8. In., conversation with the honorary secretary of tho New Zealand War Contingent Association this morning I learn that at a meeting to be held' to-night papers aro to bo signed which will place "Mount Felix," at Walton-on-Thames, in the possession of the association. This is a very beautiful country house, standing-in twenty acres of park,' and overlooking tho river, with I very large rooms, which can be without any difficulty turned into hospital wards with French windows opening out ! to.a wide verandah. It is, in terms of the regulations of the War Offico, to be known as. an auxiliary hospital, and it will be under the jurisdiction of the ■War Office, though under the immediate care of New Zcalanders and the New Zealand War Contingent Association. • Dr. Bernard Myers, the .eminent New Zealand physician, will bo medical officer in charge, Jvliss Tomfce, of Dunedin,will be matron, and Mr. Cecil Donne, late of Wellington, and now of Harley Street,- is to be honorary dental surgeon.. . A. large number of New Zealanders have already offered their services' for . work in any capacity- in the_ hospital. The committee intends to appoint fifteen, nurses, and it is hoped that everyone on the staff will hail -from New Zealand.

All the rooms are now being distempered. Arrangements are being made for furniture, bedding, etc., and it is hoped that the hospital will be ready for occupation in about three weeks.

It will contain about 110 beds, and wounded New Zealanders will be sent there direct from the hospital ships in which they, arrive from the Dardanelles. Circulars'are to be issued to all_ New Zealanders in London by the association, asking them to : assist in any way they are able.

The hospital has lately been a depot for the Honourable Artillery Company, and happened to fall vacant just as it was wanted. .: 'Attached to the hospital ( will be an observation ward, and detached from :t an isolation hospital, while there, will be also an operating theatre, X-ray room, etc. The total funds collected so far By the association amount to. £8181. .

With regard to the wounded who are already here in English hospitals, Lady Rutherford,' lato of New Zealand, is at the head of'a Visiting Committee at Manchester; invested with power from the N.Z.W.C.A. to give the men what they need in tie way'of'tobacco, razors, etc., while Mrs. Muir, also of New Zealand, is doing > the same good work in Birmingham.

: The engagement is announced.of Miss Alma Guv, eldest daughter of Mr. Andrew 'Guy, of'Palmerston;North, to Lieutenant Maurice.Harding, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Arthur' Harding, of Siberia, Ashhurst. '' ' ' '

■ Mrsi from-the south, and* is Empire Hotel. , •

Mrs. Walker • (Gisborne) arrived in •Wellingtonl'on'.Monday. . v--^