SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2637, 7 December 1915, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Soldiers' Letters of Thanks to Children. Some time ago the children from the different schools in the Wellington Military Area sent to the soldiers at the front gifts of pocket-books and sweets, and enclosed with overy parcel was. the Countess of Liverpool Committee's' label, on which was written the name of tlie child, and the school. • Iu roply, the following two letters have been received through the honorary secretary, Mrs. A. Crawford, of t'lie Mayoress's Committee at the Town Hall. The first ono written to Tom Dawe, of the Meanee School, begins: "Dear Tom,—l received your parcel to-day. Thank you very much. It was very good of you, and 1 can assuro you the gifts wore very acceptable. I am enjoying ono of the cigarettes at the present moment, and now tho cold woather is coming on the socks will be very handy. With kind regards and good luck, Claude G. Cooke, No. _ 42, First Div. -Train, N.Z. and A, Division." lii several cases tho committee had enclosed with the children's parcels, socks, cigarettes, etc., hence the allusion to the cigarette tho writer was enjoying at the time of writing. The second letter is from Driver Gurdou R. Ward, 17th Australian A.S.C., 4th Australian Infantry Brigade on Aotive \Service, and. was written to Jessie Simpson, Kina School. -It is as follows:—"Dear Miss Simpsonj-—Please to accept my most huriible thanks which are due to you for sending..'we, hoys' those vory warm socks , and cigarettes. Believe me wo most admire such beautiful work, and it is a pleasure to fight for your most gentle sex and to know that you are helping in your littlo ways to bring victory to our- 1 Empire. I might state that I will not have cold feet in these socks. Ever thankful to you, Driver Gurdon It. Ward, Oct. 14." N.Z.N.A. Ladies' Guild. The weekly meeting of the Ladies' Guild (N.Z.N.A.) was-held,at tho Association's Hall on Monday afternoon. Tlie secretary reported that Mr. and Mrs. Culford Bell and party held another very enjoyable concert at Victoria Hospital last Thursday, and are now arranging for another concert this week r? Trentham. The visiting committee reported on_ several cases outsido the Hospital which are receiving attention. Arrangements are bein gmade to assist the movement in connection with tho Christmas tree and afternoon tea for soldiers' and sailors' wives and children. It was suggested that a "silver pot fund": should be established; and if people possessing old silver in the way. of silver umbrella tops, purse clasps, or old brooohes, etc., would present them to the guild, they -would be melted down, and the ■ proceeds given to the wool fund.. Presentation to Mrs. A. Johnston, of Waikanae. A sale of work was held at the old State School, Waikanae, in aid of the proposed Sunday Schoolroom of St; Luke's Anglican I 'Church. 1 Tho room was/very prettily decorated. Some of the 'stalls were adorned with the national colours of rod, white, and blue, and one waß of Gothic , circles formed of rambler roses and greenery. One of the features of the sale was the charming little stall of kniok-knaoks gathered together by the Misses Olive Hart and Irene Johnston, aged about fourteen years, ahd'presided over by the former. Miss Gladys Matthews, aged twelve, presided over competitions for some cleverly'executed pen-painting of her own. doing. . The tea and supper room was excellently arranged, as was Mrs. Boyd's historical and prophetical room. The gifts to 'the sale were numerous and greatly appreciated. All tho ladies of the church are to be congratulated on the excellent organisation of the fete. During the evening -,the vicar, the Rev. J. Edwin Jones, took tho opportunity, at the request of the' members of the church, of presenting Mrs. A. Johnston, organist of the church, and an ardent worker in its other organisations, with a very beautiful gold brooch, inset' 1 with rubies and a diamond. . In malting the presentation, the vicar said, that the members of the church asked Mrs. Johnston to accept it as a small token of their gratitude for her faithfulness and labours. The idea of the gift'had-given-great pleasure to all the contributors, for all realised' tho great work that Mrs. Johnston was doing. : Itwas with mat happiness and appreciation that he asked Mi's. Johnston to accept the present. Mr. J. A. Austin, in thanking the members of the church, on behalf of Mrs. Johnston, stated how very much she appreciated the kind thoughts which had prompted the gift.

Countess of Liverpool committee Moot' ing, s

A meeting of tlie Mayoress's Committee of -tit© Countess of Liverpool Fund was' held in. the Mayoress's room at the Town Hall yesterday morning, Mrs. Luke presiding. A summary of the goods that liad been, sent away with tlie troops and also to Samoa, in which was included the Christmas gift 3 for the men stationed there, was presented by the hon. secretary, Mrs. A. Crawford. Mrs.. Eolleston; was elected a member of tho Liverpool Committee, and will deal with the goods that arrive in l large quantities at the Town Hall for the British and Belgian Distressed Fluid. In addition, Mrs. Rolleston is in charge of tho basic slag bag department of the work at the Town Hall. The committee has decided to forward every month for the next six months, with the assistance of the different areas, 3000 "housoffiyes" and 3000 holdalls to the moil at tho front. It also intends to provide Christmas dinner to tho men in camp, but this time. there will he 110 hot meats, but instead oold joints, salads, hot Christmas puddings, and vegetables.' It is hoped that everyone v/ill help in all possible ways to make the event a thoroughly successful and pleasant one. The dinner will be given on December; 23. Tlie committee wished to thank Mts. Hel.ver for ..the very useful gift of an invalid declc chair,, which_ has been sent to the Viotoria. 'Hospital,_ and is greatly appreciated by the Boldiers. Countess of Liverpool Fund. Contributions _ received by the Mayoress's Committee of the Countess of Liverpool Fund during the past week are as follow: —L. de Castro, books for soldiers; Miss Hall, 1 pair socks; No Name, parcel of books for Tauherenikau; Miss C. 'K. Lewis, 2 pairs socks; The Work Party (Levin), 2 dozen head bandages, 2 dozen eye bandages, 5. pillowslips, 1 box roller bandages; Misses K. and N. Drewitt, 2 pairs socks; Mrs. F. Gcoder, 1 pair socks; Mrs. Christie, 1 pair socks; Women of Takapau, 6 pairs hand-knitted' socks; W.D., hooks for troops; Mrs. Laurie (Petone), 4 pairs socks, 1 scarf,' 2.pairs mittens; Miss Bcrlase, 3 balaclavas; Mrs. R, L. Martin, 3 pairs socks; from Te Horo, 2 pairs socks; 8.C., 6 eye bandages, 4 bags; Mrs. L. Powles, 1 pair socks; Upper Hutt P.W.M.W., per Mrs. Gibbs, 4 pairs socks Mrs. J. K. Hamilton, old linen, 4 pairs mittens; G.F.S. Lodge, 6 pairs hand-knitted socks, 4. balaclavas, 1 scarf; Elsie lanhem. (Seatdun), 1 pair socks; , Miss Alexander, 3 balaclavas: Miss Wyatt, 1 balaclava; M. Hook, I balaclava; Mrs. E. Duff, 4 pairs socks,' 2 balaclavas; Miss. Andrews, 2 face cloths; Miss Kinyig, 12 face cloths, 1 pair socks, 34 pairs mittens, 10 cotton bags, 1 balaclava; Mrs. Jorgensen, sen.', 4 face cloths, 4 cholera belts; Mrfe. Smith (Karori), books; Mrs. Lyiineberg, 3 pairs hand-knitted 60cks; Mrs. Ronayne. 3 pairs hand-knitted socks; Sirs. Crombie, 3 pairs hand-knitted socks, 1 balaclava, 1 pair mittens; Mrs. D. Stewart, 3, pairs socks; Rangatane Ladies' Sewing Guild, per Mrs. M'Kay, 8 pairs mittens; Mrs. S. Pollen (Khandallah), 6 balaclavas, 3 pairs bed socks; Mrs. Cowles,- 8 pairs bed socks, 3 face cloths, 7 small bags; Mrs. Beven, sen., 1 pair socks; Miss Francis, 4 pairs hand-knitted socks.

Representatives of societies other than St.- John Ambulance Association who are doing Red Cross, work have been invited to attend a conference which is to be held this afternoon to consider the mattor of co-ordinating their work so as to prevent , overlapping, and also ■to facilitate matters in connection with' tho dispatch of hospital goods to the different liqspitals in which t-hely are most needed. A similar conference will be held by the branches of St. John Ambulance Association later on.

L A meetin gof the Wadestown Branch of the Women's National Reserve was held yesterday afternoon,, when Mrs. Porter, president of the association, gave an interesting address describing the work which had been done by the various branches throughout New Zealand, and outlined the programme of the association. Mrs. Porter expressed her satisfaction with t]ie good work done by the branch. It was decided to form classes in Wadestown-to train girls in clerical and business duties. The resignation; of Mrs,-C. R. Sniith as secretary was-accepted, and Mrs. Will Lawson was elected in h'er place.- • Misses Amy Murphy and Nellie 'Black, both well-known vocalists ill New Zealand, arrived from Sydney by the Ulimaroa . yesterday to fulfil an, engagement with the Fuller management.

Military Hospital Guild. Contributions received by the lion, secretary of the Military Hospital Guild during the past week are as follow:— Miss Gibbs, Westport, I tooth brush, 2 deck chairs; Jlrs. Betty Stewart, Wadostowiv (91 years old), i) face washers. 2 pairs bed socks, 2 pairs day socks; Fifth and Sixth Classes, Normal Schosl, 2 dozen pillow-cases; Waliacevillo School Children, 11 face washers, 3 bandages, 2 pairs mittens; Northland School Children, 3 dozen face cloths, 1 dozen tea towels, 1 dozen handkerchiefs, 11 mufflers, 2 balaclavas, 4 pillow-slips; Tikorangi Branch of North Taranaki Patriotic League, per S. G. Fraser, 17 pyjama suits; Mrs. Montgomery, 2 pairs mittens, 1 balaclava, 2 mufflers; Mrs. EL Cook, Karori, 1 dozen towels, 6 face cloths, 1 woollen scarf, 4 tins condensed milk, 9 -jelly crystals, 1 box chocolate (Carlton), 2 tins Ivenoon; Hospital Ship Committee, Napier, per Mrs. Henley, 5 pillows, 2 liot-water bags, 12 fomentation flannels, 4 pairs socks, 1 pair pyjamas, 4 towels, bandages, books, 1 pair slippers; Mrs. W. Bidwill, Featherston, 5 pairs socks; Kent Terrace Church Guild, 3 balaclavas, 6 pairs socks, 2 pairs pyjamas, 2 Hospital shirts, 10 eye l-andages; M.W., Wadestown, 1 dozen face cloths; Bangatanc School Children, per Mrs. M'Kay, halfdozen face cloths; Miss Bristow, 3 balaclavas; Mrs. Marchaiit, Cardiff, draw sheets, pillow-slips, old linen; School Children, Cardiff, knitted face cloths; Mrs. James (aged 75), Kensington Private Hospital, 2 pairs bed socks; Mrs. Haymes (aged 85 years), Taranaki Street, 10 face cloths; Mrs. Charles Matthews, Featherston, 12 balaclavas; Jlrs. Still, mosquito net, butter muslin, and bandages; No Name, 3 pairs bea socks; Mrs. W. Bidwill, Featherston, 4 bed shirts: Greytown Branch of W.C.T.Ii., old linen, 600 eye bandages.

St. James's Church, Sydney, was charmingly decorated/ on Saturday even' ing, November 27', for the marriage of Gladys Olive (Gaie), third daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Waddell, of Bathurst, and Mrs. "Waddell, of itandwick, to Ernest Vivian, youngest, son of tho late Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Hall, of Thames, New Zealand, states a Sydney paper. The Rev. Wentwortli-Shiolds officiated. The bride, who was given away by her brother-in-law, Mr. P. J. Clines, wore ivory crepe de' chine, the bodico having a bolero coatee effect, finished with collar of aeropliane ana French bows. A whito aerophane hat, surmounted \Vith a large white gardinia, veiled in tulle, was warn, and she carried a shower bouquet of white flowers and ferns, which, with a diamond'brooch and wristlet watch, was the gift of the bridegroom. The bridesmaid was Miss LurEne. Waddell, wearing a tailored suit of Assam silk, with hat of pastel pink tagel. Her' posy was of pink sweet peas, which was a gift from tho, bridegroom, together with a diamond cluster ring. Mr. Leonard ( Moore was best man. A reception was held' at the Hotel Australia. The bride's travelling suit was of Assam silk, worn with a Breton sailor hat .to match. Mr. and Mrs. E. V. Hall are spending a few days at the seaside, prior to leaving for their future home in New Zealand.

Mrs. A. J. Willis, of Wadestown, is visiting her daughter, Mrs. K. P. Mowat, at Omaka, Blenheim.

'A Patriotic Working Guild was formed by tho Lower Hutt ladies last week, not ,a cooking guild as was previously reported..

; ' Mrs. .Crawford, secretary of the Mayoress's Countess of Liverpool Committee, recently; received a letter from one of the men at the front, in which ho most appreciatively thanked the committee fo its kindness to his wife'. ' _ "In these times," lie continued, "things were hard, for prices were high." ■ While he. was away lie hoped tho committee would continue to assist his wife.

' To-morrow, at 3 o'clock, at the Gas Company's premises,. Courtenay Place, Miss Una Carter will give a cooking demonstration, the subject being "Christmas Cakes and Luncheon Dishes."