SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2579, 29 September 1915, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Christmas Gifts for the Soltiiersi 6itr Petono correspondent writes that'some timn ago' a band of Lower Jfutt ladios set to work to raise a fund for the purpose of providing Christmas gtfts for soldiers at tho front. As the. result, of d vigorous canvass of tho district, the amount »»f £'82 was collected, and sufficient goods purchased to provide GOO gifts. A shop was lent b f r Mr. Jenness, senr., free of charge, which is used as a receiving and'packing depot, and last evening the gifts wore being packed into cases ready for shipment. Each parcel contains a wallet of stationery (writing block, envelopes, and ink pencil); tobacco, soap, Heating's powder, handkerchief chocolate, safety matches, a - magazine to read, and a. letter of greeting, many of which have been written by 1-lutt school children. Tho package label contains the words, "Christmas greetings from Lower Hntt." In addition, a quantity of cake, plum pudding, and biscuits is to bo sent. Praiso is due to tho committee that promoted tliis moveand there can be no doubt that the gifts will bo highly appreciated by our i men in the trenches. Mr. W Ileeves acted as treasurer to tho committee. 1

That tho-Women's National.Reserve is a live force is evidenced by the largo number of women-it has interested in its organisation, both in.tlie City itself and in various provincial' districts. Several meetings have been arranged to be held in tile different suburbs duritig the week, some of the speakers being Mrs. A. 11. Atkinson, Mrs. Soville, and Dr. Platts-Mills. Mrs. Atkinson will speak twice, 1 once at Kelburn and.another time at Lower Hntt. .

A donation of £B.has been received.by the Mayoress from Mrs. Bell, of lUianui, for the Military Hospital Guild. Mrs. Maclndoe, wife fcf the rie'v/lyappointod secretary of the . Merchant Service Guild, and l:er family arrived in Wellington, yesterday, and will take up her residence in Wellington. The fete of this Allied nations organised by the Girls' Realm Guild in Auckland, and presented in the Town Hall on Saturday, is anticipated to realise subletting more than £700. Colonel and Mrs. Porter left on Monday on a visit to Gisborne.

A New Florence Nightingale. A London correspondent tells a roimtnbic story of a girl who, by all'accounts, is entitled to the V.C., if it could bo won by a woman. Her identity is unknown, but her work is that of an angel of mercy—a brave and dauntless r.ngel at that. It would be interesting to know the identity of the lady wlio for many weeks past now has been penetrating even into our first-line trenches in Franco in her merciful endeavours to succour the wounded (says the correspondent). She is attached to ono of the armoured motor ambulances, and presumably is not acting in strict conformity with regulations in thus visiting our more advanced lines. Her face and chcerful voice are familiar enough to hundreds- of our. officers and men who are fighting in the trenches, but noiic of them seem to know her name, nor do they trouble about it. All they know is that this girl—she certainly is not 30, and looks little more than 20 years of age —comes often in the dead of night, ploughing lieavily through the clinging mud of the trendies,, to administer- first-aid to the men who have been shot down. Thougli she wears short, skirts like a schoolgirl, and high Wellington boots, fastened securely above the knees to protect her as far as possible from the condition's amidst which she works, she is often blood-stained from attending to the wounded, and splaslied -with mud from head to foot. She would probably thank no one for advertising her name and blazoning her deeds to the world, but if a woman could win the V.C. she would have won liers more than once. Prom the accounts the men give of lierj she seems to be tlio Florence; Nightingale of this war. •

Mr. and Mrs. Ogle Moore, who have been spending several months with relatives in Masterton, left yesterday for Wellington en route for their homo in Adelaide. Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Mason have returned to Napier from a visit to Great Britain. The art union for Mrs. Isaac's cushion, at present 011 view in. tho Bristol Company's windows, lias been postponed for a nionth. Tho proceeds are in aid of the 'Wounded Soldiers' Fund. Mr. and Mrs. Alex. Sutherland (Wairarapa) are staying at the Windsor Hotel.