SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2531, 4 August 1915, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Heretaunga Military Hospital. The .Matron of the above hospital wishes to acknowledge with thanks the following donations:—From Mrs. J. Findlay, games, cardsj and papers; W. and G. Turnbull and Co., four tins virol; Mrs. Jarris, socks; Mrs. Judge (Manganolio), box of violets; Miss Webster, papers; Mrs. 'J\ Young, gramophone records and needles; Lady Ward, scones and cakcs; Mr.'J. Webster, fish; Military Hospital Guild, vegetables; Soldiers' Comforts' Depot, fruit, fish, cake, tin of bullseyes, and tooth brushes; Miss A. Kennedy, fruit and sweets.

Bags for Soldiers' Odds and Ends. A'request mado by a nurse in a Home paper was for small calico bags, about nine indies wide and eighteen inches long, for the patients to put their little possessions in. '"When we have to cut off all their clothing tliey have 10 place in which to I>ut their letters and purse and any little things they may have," writes tho nurse. "I got somo refugees to make small bags, some are coloured stuff, some calico —anything at all will do—just to keep their papers, etc., safe. We have to dress the men in pyjamas, and any old things, to send them on to Calais in, so tlie bags come in so handy for them to take away with them, that is why our stock runs out. I tell you tliis in case any of your kind people would l like to make me somo. Ido dislike asking for, things, but you will know how it is-with us when I see the letters and cards and photographs treasured as they are, I feel it my duty to ask for these little bags to help the men to keep their little secrets from prying eyes. There are plenty of odd bits of stuff lying in tho boxes and drawers, and many children would love to make a bag (9 inches wide by 12 inches long) with a bit of tape in the top, for tho_ wounded soldiers to put their letters in."

T'he suggestion, which was forwarded by a correspondent, was shown by the Mayoress (Mrs. J. P. Luke) who thought the idea a good one, and that it would be work which might appeal to children who could easily make such bags, which would be forwarded with tho supplies of comforts which are sent to the men at the front from time to time by the Countess of Liverpool Committee.

District Nursing Guild. ■ The monthly committee meeting of the District Nursing Guild of St. John was held at the residence of Mrs. W. H. Sefton Moorhouso on Monday. Mrs. Moorhouse presided, and there were also present; Mesdames Corrigan, Griffiths. and Pearson, and Misses Mack and Robie'son. Nurse Walton's report showed that thirteen new patients were registered during the mouth, while forty remained on the register; three were discharged, and two admitted to the Hospital. The nurses paid 488 visits during the month. Gifts were acknowledged from Mesdames Denton, Dennis, ton, Kent, and Moorhouse, Miss Macandrew, the Gear Co., and two anonymous donors. A subscription of £1 Is. was received from Mrs. Moorhouso, also 4s. from the box at the Davis Street Hospital. A letter was read from Mrs. W. B. Fisher, stating that owing to the indefinite prolongation of her stay in England she felt it necessary to tender her resignation as honorary secretary and treasurer of the guild. The resignation was accepted with regret. The acting-secretary was direotcd to writo to Mrs, Balcombe Brown, expressing the deep sympathy felt by the guild in her bereavement. The president welcomed Miss Mack on her return from Australia. The many friends of Mrs. G. A. Cormack, late of Wellington, who met with an unfortunate accidcnt sonic time ago, at Maungaturoto, necessitating the amputation of the right leg, will be pleased to learn that she is out of danger, and is progressing favourably in the Auckland Hospital. Mrs. I'. It. de Castro is visiting her daughter, Mrs. S. Twigg, Napier. Members of the Victoria League aro asked to attend the anniversary celebrations in connection with tho declaration of war, which are to be held in the Town Hall this evening. "ThiTmany friends of the Mayoress of Mastcrton (Mrs. Coradine), who has been such an active worker for patriotic causes, will regret to hear that she slipped in her house a day or two ago and fell heavily, fracturing her collarbone. She will bo confined to her home for several weeks.

Quoen of the Allies' Carnival. The Pahiatua Queen of the Allies' Carnival, inaugurated to raise money for the Wounded Soldiers' Fund, gives every indication of being very successful (states our Pahiatua correspondent). The nominees from the respective centres arePahiatua (France), Sirs. Johansen; Mangatainoka (Japan), Miss May; Mangamaire (Italy), Miss Lawson; Makomako (Russia), Miss M'Leod; Mangarama, (Belgium), Miss Tew. In each district various social functions are being arranged, and everyone is assisting where possible. Miss Lawson, the Mangamairo candidate, has four brothers in the New Zealand forces, Miss May's brother. Private G. W. May, returned from tho firing lino last month and' expects to-be able to return in two months 'time, while Miss M'Leod's brother has enlisted.

What About Amusements? Is there anything wrong with amusements during the war? The gucstion is put by "Musical News" owing to the. lapse of the Hereford and Leeds musical festivals, on the ground of it being "unwise and unseemly" to hold these at the present time. Put quite plainly: Is indulgence in music improper when tho country is engaged in a life and death strugglo? The London journal makes answer by saying, "No one will seek to minimise the tremendous character of this war, nor is it easy to over-state the seriousness of the situation; but are things likely to be mended by prilling long faces and denying ourselves innocent recreation ? Our soldiers at the front, who are in the thick of things, and whose valour is withstanding not only the assaults of a courageous arid determined enemy, but also the diabolical ingenuity of German chemists, are clearly of opinion'that 'all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.' As a' relief from tho ordeal of fighting they not only indulge in football and other games, but they oven have recourse to the 3olaco_of such music as conies their way. Musicians defend the importance of retaining music as the best possible relief to the mental strain occasioned by anxiety regarding the progress of the war. It is a solace, a mental tonic without compare. In Germany no one talks of it being unseemly to hear nrasic in the present crisis. On the contrary, concert halls are crowded, the only remarkable featuro being that, broadly speaking, the public find little enjoyment in modern German composers, but demands chiefly to hear the music of Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven, because there it finds mental invigoration." This latter point is a lesson for those who would exclude these composers as being Ger--1 man, when it is fairly obvious that the Germans themselves recognise that the message of tho old masters was for all mankind at large. —Sydney "Telegraph."

The hospital ward which has been equipped on the top floor of the St. John Ambulance station, Rutland Street, Auckland, by members of • the Voluntary War .Nurses' Training Class, was thrown open for inspection to friends of the members on Saturday afternoon. The secretary, Miss Girdler, and Mrs. J. Whyte showed the visitors over the ward, which contains 15 beds, and is provided with every hospital requirement. A demonstration of stretcher drill and flag signalling was given, and afternoon tea was afterwards served in the main hall. . The class has been* instructed in ambulance and hospital work by Dr. G. T. Girdler, and the training of the members _ has teen carried out under the direction of Mrs. Whyte. In providing a fully-equipped hospital ward for the nursing of wounded soldiers it is intended that tho beds and . all equip.ment shall be available for immediate removal to'any building which rray be jtaken over ana fittod. ; up as a soldiers' hospital, while the members of the class are prepared to work as hospital • assistants, under a trained mirse, whenever called upon to do so: The.Mayoress, Mrs. J. P. Luke, would be very glad of gifts of feeders, 1 either made of mercerised cotton or of calico. They are simply strips of material 27 inches by 20, when finished, and are placed outside the bedclothes when the invalided soldiers are having meals. . The Wellington Liederfcafel gives the first concert of its twenty-second season in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hallon Thursday evening. Mrs. A. Crawford and Mrs. Ernelt Hadfield were the hostesses at the Soldiers' Room last evening. Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Perry (Masterton) left yesterday on a visit to Rotorua. (Continued on nest page.)