SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2633, 2 December 1915, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Australian-mads Toys. French toys, as well as German, arc absent from tba shops to-day, but Japanese goods are to hand in great profusion, states an Australian writer. The manufacture of toys in Australia has not been taken very seriously, but this year it is surprising how many excellent playthings bear the "made in Australia" label. Splendid go-carts, express •wagons, tramcars, "prams," dolls' houses, bedsteads, and all kinds of strong and enduring woodwork arc being shown, while more exclusive articles, such as carved animals (after tbe famous Carnn d'Aciio models), charming suites of furniture, as well as well-stulfed animals, mado by local expert craftsmen and women, aro obtainable at tbe Arts and Crafts Depot. Of British-made toys there is a surprising variety, perhaps fhc most notable being sets or lftn. high dolls, modelled and dressed to represent t'ho different British, French, and Belgian naval and military leaders, whilo the typical "Tommies," the Red Cross nurses of each nation, aro also splendidly reproduced. Tbe British-made stuffed animals are again, as they have always been, the best of their kind, and with this varied choice tho. absoucc of mechanical railways and. motor-cars, ; together with cheap sets of soldiers' in foreign uniform, will not be missed.

Y.M.G.A. Sals of Work? A section of work in connection with the Y.M.O.A. which tho governing faculty is extremely anxious to forward, is that of the boys' department of tho association, as it is rccognised that the boy of to-day is the man of tomorrow, and in consequenco needs a certain amount of "shepherding" • as well as facilities for recreation and education. In order to copo with increasing responsibilities a committeo of ladies interested in the welfare of tho boys' of the city organised a sale of work with which to raiso funds to assist tho boys' department, and yesterday it was opened by tho Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, with whom was associated Mrs. M. A. Williams, a close friend of the association. Mr. Foray the, on behalf of the department committee, thanked Mr. Aitkin for his practical interest in the work, and welcomed his presence among them that afternoon. In opening tho sale, Mr. Aitken spoke of the importance of tho work among boys, and wished tho ladies who had organised the salo every success. On behalf of those present ho welcomed Mrs. "Williams, and referred to. tho great help she had given to tho association. Mrs. Williams Was then presented with a bouquet of pink rambler roses 'by a tiny child.

Tho stalls had been well supplied with many- attractive articles, and wero draped with red,, white, and blue, while ropes of tiny flags had been carried from end to end of tho room in which

tho sale of work was held. Tho swoot stall had been woll stocked with homemade sweets, and the flower stall was a mass of blooms. Two stalls wero devoted to sowing, and thuw was also ail ice-cream parlour, as well as a refreshment room and a stall for cold drinks, tho latter being >in tjio chargeof some of the boys." Tho list of stallholders has already been published. Thero were guessing competitions, one of which was for a'handsome-looking home-made cake, presented - by > Mrs. Forsythe. Closely connected with .the work of the boys' department are Mrs. Adair, organiser, and Messrs. W. J. Mears, lion, secretary, and B. Mabin, work director. 'Mrs. Kerslo.v and Miss Smith were among'those who wero present during the afternoon. ■

Cookery Demonstration. At the AVollington Gas _ Company's Hall yesterday afternoon Miss Una Carter conducted another of her popular lecture-demonstrations . oil the art of "Cooking by Gas." The advent of Christmas was responsible for a number of inquiries concerning t'ho cooking of Christmas cakes, and Miss Carter spent considerable time in explaining how best to cook large fruit cakes in a gas oven. Miss Carter also took much

pains to show'how to prepare and cook a plain dinner. The following dishes were demonstrated: Baked butter-fish, haricot of mutton, jacketed potatoes; baked beans, cherry pie, baked custard, coconut fritters, and fruit cake. Many of tho audience, profiting by their experience of last week, were seated in the ball shortly after 2 o'clock, and between 2.30 and 3 p.m. quite a number failed to secure even standing-room.

A Russian Heroine. Among the names which will be made immortal by the present war is that of Mira Michaelovna Iranora. This, spirited woman was serving as a mirse under her brother,' who is regimental surgeon. Shfl was tending the wounded 111 tlie thick ot' battle, amid an increasing hail of rifle and machine-gun bullets. Her brother and the regimental oilicers urged her to seek shelter, but in vain. At last all the officers of the company to which she was attached had fallen, and tho men were losing heart and giving way. Quickly realising the critical naturo of the moment, the heroic nurse rallied round the remnants of the company, and, charging at their head, captured the enemy's trench. Unhappily, she was st'ruck by a bullet, and died shortly afterwards. Natives' Association Social. A social evening was held by the Natives'. Association in their rooms at Tory Street last , evening. Various competitions were held, which evokedconsiderable interest. Vocal items wcro contributed by the following:— Miss K Brown (recital), Miss Hifca Perry (recitation), Mr. T. Thompson (song), Miss E. Aitchesou (monologuo), Miss Given. George (recital), Mr. Courteuay Moir (song), Mr. Lance George (recitation), Mr. J. E. F. Perry (recitation).

For the Home of Compassion. Few people in Wellington need to be told of tlie splendid work which is done at the Home of Compassion) and an opportunity to assist to provide Christmas comforts and luxuries to t'lie sick and the incurable who are among its inmates was offered by the sale of work which has been organised by Mrs. Sullivan, and which opened at her homo in Roxburgh Street yesterday afternoon. Some exquisitely beautiful sowing. was offered for sale, a great amount of it) having been worked by the nuns. Included among the articles were traycloths and table- centres of beautiful point laqo, embroidered doyleys, lacework of-"every description, and many articles which found ready purchasers, so beautiful was their workmanship. Flowers which had been sent to AVellington from Miss Williams, of Masterton, were also for sale, and fortunetelling was by no means 0110 of tho least attractions of the'afternoon. The folding-doors between the drawing and the dining-rooms had been thrown back, ono of the rooms being set aside for alcernoon tea, and -the other for the work and flowers. Mrs. and Miss Sullivan were assisted by Mrs. Bolton, Mrs. Hurton, Mrs. and Miss Gamble, Mrs. Sidford, Miss Brady, and Miss Saunders. The sale will be continued this afternoon and evening, and also on Friday, afternoon and evening. Tho board of managers of tho Mastertoil Technical School • are building an up-to-date cookery room and laundry, to extend the domestic scicnce work that has been successfully carried on by them for some years. There is a vacancy for a competent iustructresf of homo science. i A most successful floral fete was hel'jtin tho Napier Municipal Theatre yesterday in aid of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. The fete was thoroughly well organised, and was the finest' of its kind held in Napier.