SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2577, 27 September 1915, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Soldiers' comforts Depot. , The following donations were received last week to the above fund: — Mrs. A. 11. Meek, eggs; Mrs. A. Williams, soup; from Pahiatua, 1 crate of eggs, donors Mesdames D. G. Davidson, J. Hall, Ghekley, P. Hedges, H. Pattorson, F. Gregorie, Disdee, F. White, ICean, Patterson, and Miss Perry. Mrs. Pollen, eggs; Miss Strachan, songs; Mrs. C. Plimmer, eggs; Mr. E. Newman, Marton, cigarettes; Miss Medley, oranges, apples, and silver beefc; Miss Skerrctt, cakes, flowers, and eggs. The Military Hospital Guild and the Soldiers' Comforts Depot have removed to Bowden's Buildings, corner of Wakefield and Parish Streets. British and Belgian Relief. Mrs. Rolleston and Miss Litchfield have received parcels of clothing for the British and Belgian Relief from: Mrs. Sarnow (Ekctahuna), Mrs M'Govern, Mrs. Harold Johnston (Dannevirke), Mrs. Coira, Mrs. Kinvig, Mrs. R. A. Kinvig, Mrs. Simm (242 The Terrace), Mrs. M'Gowan, Mrs. Swaley (Otaki), and ono anonymous parcel. Mrs. Rolleston and Miss Litchfield will in future receive parcels for the British and Belgian Relief at 56 Hobson Street.

The Hospital Ship. His Excellency the Governor lias received promises of the following contributions for the Hospital Ship:—l2oo nightingales and 1000 nightshirts, by Mrs. Lowry, of Hawke's Bay; 400 deck chairs, by Mr. A. Hatrick, of AVanganiii; 50 sets of shoe brushes, by Messrs. Bunting and Co., of Cliristciwreh; 600 hot-water bottles and covers by the Dunlop Rubber Company of Australasia. Owing to the generosity of the above-mentioned donors no further nightingales, nightshirts, deck chairs, shoe brushes, or hot-water bottles and covers will be required, as the Marama's equipment in these articles is now complete. The engagement is announced of Miss Effie Tuclnvell, second daughter of Mr. arid Mrs. A. E. Tnckwell, of Hamua, to : Mr. W. E. Cook, of Foxton. Miss Rennie, instrnctress of the cookery classes at'the Technical College, who is shortly publishing a book of recipes for invalid cooking, has had a long experience in such matters, and the recipes which slio uses are those which are used in tho hospitals at Home, not, as was stated in Saturday's Dominion, the result of her own experience in Homo hospitals. Miss Ronnie has been greatly assisted with the book by the teachers of tho commercial department of the college, without whoso aid it would have been impossible to produce it. Tho criteagement is announced of Mr. Groeme -Watson, of "Logic," Shannon, soii of Mr. and Mrs. W. Watson, tho Terrace, Wellington, and Miss "Kathleen Murray, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. T. W. Murray, "Tartness," Manly, Sydney.

Tho eommitteo of the Countess of Liverpool Fund at Carterton is sending away a hundred parcels on Thursday for the soldiers at Gallipoli (writes our Carterton correspondent). Each parcel will contain a 41b. cake, a tin of cigaretteis, two sticks of chocolate, a packet of chewing gum, packets of sweets, a pair of socks, a cake of soap, a writing pad, pencil, and envelopes. The following members of the Petone Nursing Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade were successful in an examination on first aid, at which Dr. Harding was lecturer, and Dr. Ross examiner : Jano Findlay, Alice Dodd, Susan Neich, Lily Short,. Marion Kent, Ruby Hunter, Katherine Okeby, Jane Uobertson, Elsie Kinc, Mary Donnehey, Lilian Cooper, and Katherine Warren. A home nursing class for ladies will commence shortly. . Mk. Chudley, wife of Captain Chudlay, Marino Superintendent for the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, and her two children, arrived at Wellington by the Arawa from London on Saturday. ' Instead of moving into a basement room in the Town Hall tho members of the Military Hospital Guild decided on Friday evening to take some vacant rooms in Howden's Buildings, at the corner of Wakefield and Parish Streets (opposite the entrance to the Public Library). The new quarters, consisting of a packing-room, a room with shelves for containing supplies of hospital equipment, an oiliee for the secretary, and little room for tho Soldiers' Comfort Depot, 1 , should be extremely suitable and convenient for the work that is being carried oil by the guild. There is also the convenience of a lift. Saftirday was a busy day, as members woro "moving house." ' '

Auckland's Work for the Soldiers. Auckland women are determined that tlio soldiers at the front shall have the host possible Christmas that can bo given them in tlio present circumstances. Money lias been subscribed most liberally to the Countess of Liverpool Committee for. whatever was needed for the soldiers, and it has already in hand for tlio Christinas Box Fund a thousand pounds. The committee is making no distinction in its gifts—they go to the soldiers generally, irom Auckland and from other provinces. Tlio leather waistcoats which is t'he Auckland quota havo been cut out and sewn at various factories, and so keen havo thfe workers been in somo of theso factories that they offered to work overtime. Each waistcoat has boon made at a cost of seven shillings, fivo shillings for the skins and two shillings for the making. In addition to the 4000 which havo already been completed, Auckland has decided to send MOO more, according to tho statement of one who has just returned from' a visit to Auckland.

Christmas Cifis for'the Soldiers, It is hardly necessary to remind anyone that Christmas gifts for the men at tlio front will he gladly received by the Mayoress and her' committee at t'ho Town Hall. The gifts must bo sent away in October if they are toreach ihfi. soldiers in time for Christmas, and that they will be appreciated by those men who have been living for months in dug-outs, in trench, in camp, and in hospital, there can be 110 possible shadow of doubt. It will be nothing less than a privilege to strain every resource to send them something, some, little gift, some comfort to'alleviate and brighten the hardships which they aro facing with so splendid a courage. An Australian lady who has been working ince&antly in Alexandria for tho soldiers writes to her sister enumerating some gifts that would he useful. Among them she mentions plum puddings, Tasmanian apples (if not too. early), chocolate, which .is greatly enjoyed, tobacco, preserved' fruits, cheese and liam in tins, dried fruits, like those that Mildura supplies, etc. She also asks for hags for holding things in camp l and hospital, just ordinary boot bags—with stout string to hold them— of linen or. coloured cotton. Theso are most useful, and they . need not be hc-avy and they /take up very little space. Small leather cases will also be most welcome. They should be capablo of holding a buadlo of letters, and should bo made of American cloth with braid for fixing them up. Other useful gifts would bo small cakes, biscuits, shortbread, tinned articles such as soup, potted meats, sardi-i.es, pipes, cigarettes, .safety matches packed in tins, notepaper, pencils, penknives, tinopeners, eoap, safetypins, small books, etc. i In addition to the soldiers there are tho ■ nurses to think of, and 110 one would like to forget the women who are doing so fine a work in caring for our men.

Owing to the liberal response which has been made to tho request, of the Hutt Waistcoat Committee for assistance thero is flow every prospect of completing 700 of tho garments by October 1. Ladies who aro making waistcoats at their own homes would greatly facilitate matters by forwarding them when finished to St. James's Schoolroom (Lower Hutt) on or before next Wednesday. Dr, and Mrs. F. Fitchett have returned to Wellington from a, three months' _ visit to tho Norfchj part of which time was spent in Auckland. They are now staying at Mrs. Facer's, in Hawkestono Street. The children of the Hutt_ District High Ssohool, who aro collecting herbs which aro sold for the purpose of buying material for -garments, wish to thank tho anoiiyjiious donors who sent in herbs last week. The latter are still to be obtained at Mr. -Paino's, on tho Quay. Tho Mayoress, Mrs. J. P. Luke, has received the sum of £20 presented by Messrs. M'Eldowney Brothers to the Military Hospital Guild for tie purchase of Hospital Ship equipment. Mr. Herbert Humphries, of Napier, is staying with his two daughters, the Misses Vera and Cara Humphries, at the Langham Hotel, after having visited tho San Fraiicisco Exposition and several American cities. At Seattle they paid a visit to Mr. Humphries' son, Dr. Aubrey Humphries. After seeing relatives in various parts of England, they intend returning to New Zealand via New York and the Canadian Pacific, stopping at various places of interest en route. They expect to arrive in tho Dominion at the end of October.

Entertaining Soldiers. On Saturday afternoon a very enjoyable party for invalided soldiers was given by Mrs'. Coull at her residence at Day's Bay.. About eighteen were able to be present, and woro motored from tho City to the bay, tlie drive there on such a day being not the least part of tho pleasure of tho -.occasion. The wide, shady verandah possessed of a charming view, was quite a favourite resting-place, and during the afternoon songs were sung by Miss Doris Dall, and recitations given by Miss Sybil Rapley.. • Billiards also offered attractions to some of the soldiers. Tea was served in the din-ing-room, and in: all the rooms were vases and bowls of spring flowers. Among those present, in addition to the special, guests of honour, were the Hon. A. L. Herdman and Mrs. Herdma'j, Miss Massey, Mrs. M'Vicar, Dr. and Mrs. Morice, Mrs, Neil M'Lean, and Miss Wylie. Before the. party ended one of the soldiers thanked Mrs. Coull for her hospitality, and Dr. Morice also added o, few remarks. In reply,' Mrs.. Coull expressed the pleasure she felt at their presence there that afternoon, and she'was keeping the first, Saturday in 1 every month for soldiers if they , could come over. Dr. Morico said that he would make arrangements for them to do so, and Mrs. Coull also thanked him for making such arrangements, and also those gentlemen who lent their motorcars to bring the soldiers to the bay.

Frocks in "L.es Cloches de Corneviile."Some'. very ■ pretty group effects arid frocking were to be seen in "Les Cloches de Corneviile,", which, produced by the Wellington. Amateur Operatic Company, opened the , first night of its season in the Grand Opera House on Saturday. .As a matter of fact the ohorus girls were far more like Dresden China figures than hardworking French peasants, but that of pourse is always one of the incongruities of opera. Blues and - pinks, reds and floral patterns wen all cleverly arranged and harmonised' by Mrs. James Hannah, who designed the frocks. Miss Isabel Wilford, as Serpolette, was _'a dainty little figure in her grey skirt ivitli black velvet bodice, laced over white, and a very tiriy .check .apron - .' 1 Like all the others she wore a little muslin cap made with a turned-back peak on either side of the head. Later as the. Countess she wore a gown of primrose satin made with panniers and l a Watteau back, and opening over a skirt of heliotrope satin edged with deep flounces of lace. With it was worn over.presumably, powdered hair, a black velvet hat wreathed with ostrich feathers, and at times she carried a crook tied with heliotrope ribbons. Germaine was charming in a pale, pink frock 'with, tiny apron 'and muslin cap. In the last. scene' she appeared in a very 'pretty frock of white tulle, very full and soft, with panniers and bodice of pale j'ellow brocade and lace. Mr. D. Kenny, as the Bailee, was most imposing in crimson velvet breeches and waistcoat, and a scarlet satin coat ornamented with gold lace. Lace' ruffles and a lace jabot gave distinction to his .toilette, emphasised by the; three-cor-nered hat which would not. sit comfortably over his legal wig.

Answer to Correspondent: "K.D.B. —If you forward, your parcel or case to the Mayoress's Countess of Liverpool Committee at tlie Town Hall, at the same time advising tlio committee, it will be readdressed for forwarding to Egypt with stencilled appliances .that iho. committee has had made speciallyfor such purposes.

Mrs. Thoms,' who has_ been, staying at Worthing, and later with Mrs. Kincs at Frognal, Hampstead, is now -at Clarehursfc, Weymouth. Captain Thoms, who is D.A.A.G., on the Headquarters Staff of , tlie New Zealand Division, writes-in .glowing, terms of the fine spirit of tho New Zealand soldiers.