SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2646, 17 December 1915, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Children's Gifts to the Soldiers. "A Soldier's Mother" forwards us for publication several extracts from a letter received from her sou, who is now engaged in the fighting 0 n Gallipoli lon insula, states an Auckland exchange. She states that she feels it her duty to acknowledge, on behalf of the soldierd at the front, the kindness ot the many hundreds of school children who have boen responsible for the supplying of comforts. • Wo'vo had quite a lot of gift goods issued lately, writes the soldier in question, "and I tliinlc the most appreciated of all were the tins of lollies sent by the school children of New Zealand .It was great 1 0 see il,e bevs uith tins of bull's-eyes and acid drop's. One would have thought, to watch ahem, that they had some of the daintgftst sweets obtainable. If we should Ijjavo tho luck to return to New Zea•jjuid, wa will be able to appreciate? home comforts in a different manner rfrom that of the past." Prize-giving at Pine Lodge School. On Wodnesday afternoon tho Pine fiTPi kindergarten and Preparatory nv, ■*' u . 3 ' 1 . 1 ? Street, broke up for tho Christmas holidays. A very interesting programme, which reflected great credit on the principals, Miss Floirjig and Miss Davies, was carried out by the pupils. It consisted of physical 'exercises, songs, recitations, and kindergarten games, which wore much enjoyed by the visitors present. There was also a pianoforte duct by one of the small music pupils with her teacher, and a quaint Dutch dance in costume bv the members of the dancing-class. * The children s handwork was displayed in an adjoining room, and bore witness to till! progress made during the past year J. here were drawings, brushwork, baskets, kits, modellings, and a doll's house made and furnished completely by tho children. The Rev. P. Askew Kindly presented tho prizes to tho „ Among those present) were: Mrs Hogg, Mrs. Bateson, Mr. and Mrs Didsbury, Mr. and Mrs. Monro, and lurs. Uarroichael. rreatment of spies! "The lax manner in which German ipies or potential spies are treated in England rather surprised me," said Vlrs. Arthur Mead, the Christcliurch loprano, who returned from Europe ilns week. "Before tho war broke nit I was staying at a very nice boardnghouse in Brixton, where one Kirsch, in employee of an Austrian bank in, jondon, was also residing. When war iroko out between Austria and Serbia •n tho Thursday I was in. Lourdesj aiid ■H wc hurried back we passed lobs of rains loaded up with soldiers. I was o impressed with the way the authoriles were acting in Prance that I su°--;ested that we should go right tVrough o London instead of stopping at Paris, t was well that wo did so. Th© pgo* >Jo who waited until the next day were ■lad to get back at all, and most of hem returned without their luggage, did not expect to see ICirsch iciv. .-n o having left for Germany a few days, efore I left- for Prance, but three or days after England declared war n Germany he turned up at the boardighouse, to' everyone's amazement. said to him: "We didn't expect to ee you back again—wo "expected vou 'ould be fighting I" To that he oniy Billed faintly, and said he was troubled 'ith a weak chest, though he did net >ok as if he were. _ Soon afterwards ho r as interned, but in five or six weeks 0 turned up again. Now, thai man 'as well educated, and a banker, and rust have been a danger to us, yet h© 'as allowed his liberty. ' 1 "I remember asking him on one ocision, before war broke out, how many ten Germany could put in the field to replied that he thought she could ut.in ten millions. I told this to an .rmy ..captain who was staying in tho ouse, and all he said was: 'In their nagination!' In tho light of events 1 would seem that Hbrr Kirsch was peaking tho .truth." Mrs. G. W. Venables has been elect--1 president, of the Napier branch of le W.C.T.U. Mrs. Frank Johnstone, of Roxburgh treet, left on a visit to Melbourne yes3rday: Forty Sydney girls, all members of le St. John Ambulance Brigade, are laving immediately for England to rewt to tho headquarters of St. John, here it has been arranged that they fould enter the military ' hospitals, hey are.paying their own expenses to ngland, and when in hospital receive leir keep and tho sum of £20 a year.

Presentation to Miss Helyer. At tho breaking-up ceremony at tli Mount Cook Girls' School occasion wa taken of saying farewell and of makiii| two presentations to Miss Helyer, win is severing her connection with til school, after many years' service a head mistress. \ Tho chairman of the committee, Mr Fuller, expressed the regret that on and all felt at losing Miss Helyer, am spoke of the good influence she had ex erted over her pupils, and trusted tha she would long be spared to onjoy ; well-earned rest, Mr. Blair and Mr Purdy, members of tho committee, als< expressed their good wishes. The pupils presented Miss Helyer witl a handsome travelling clock, 'suitabb inscribed, and the old girls presontei her with an ebony clothes brush. Miss Helyer suitably replied, and in i few wordsito the children hoped that tlioi would grow up not' only capable, bu'i also good, thereby becoming worth;) citizens of a worthy country. ■ Last w'eek the committee and stafi entertained Miss Helyer and presented her with a travelling rug There were also present at the gathering Mr. C. M. Luke, who represented tho Education Board, and Mr. Gr. L. Stewart, who represented the Education Board's staff. At tbe time of his accident" in France, tho King was attended by two nurses, one British, Sister Edith Ward, and-thc other Canadian, Nurso Vivienne Tromayne. Sister Ward was obtained from a French hospital barge, and the Canadian nurse from the Canadian clearing hospital, and, although selected quite fortuitously, it was a singular coincidence that Sister Ward was the nurse who attended King Edward during his attack of typhoid. Miss Francis (on behalf of her school children) has handed to the St. John Ambulance Brigade and Red Cross Depot in Nathan's Buildings, through Mrs. J. Peat, lady superintendent of the Wellington North Nursing Division, the sum of £14, 'being the proceeds of a Strawberry and cake fete held on Wednesday afternoon. The amount 'has been cabled to Dr. 'Agnes Bennett, at Dairo. At the beginning of the year Miss K. Constance' Barns (Christchurch) will inter St. Thomas's Hospital (London) for training, and her sister will train it the Queen Charlotte Hospital. The doll's house art.union was drawn it the Town Hall yesterday, and the winner is Mr. M. Carlson, of Pipitea Street. The employees of the Scoullar Co. presented the house to Mrs. Eric Riddiford, who finished it and conduct--3d the raffle, the proceeds of which (£B3 155.) go to the Wounded Soldiers' fe'und. Mrs. A. T. Winter, of G'airndowan, Brisbane (Queensland), and her''children,; who are visiting New- Zealand, aro staying at Kiimore, Hawkestone Street. The wedding took place at St. Mary Abbott's Church, Kensington, this week of Lieutonant Graham F. Michie, Bth Middlesex Regiment, only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Michie, late of Dunedin, and .Miss Mary Maclean, of Napier, who arrive'd by the Rotorua a few days ago (writes a London : correspondent of October 29). Mrs. F. M. B. Fisher leaves for tlie south this evening with her two little girls on a visit to Timaru. 11l Knox Church on Wednesday,. Mr. Hugh Wilton, who has enlisted for service abroad; and is now at the Rangiotu Camp, was married to Mi6s Isla M'Donald, third daughter of Mrs. E. M'Donald, of Rangitumau. The bridesmaids were Misses Olive and Marjorie M'j)onald. The breaking-up of the Webb* Street Kindergarten took place yesterday afternoon. Songs, marches, and games by the children greatly entertained the parents and friends who attended the ceremony, and the distribution of gifts from a beautiful Christmas Tree gave great delight to the little ones. The Rev. Mr. Chapman made an announcement to the effect that the Kindergarten would not reopen after tho holidays, as the need for it is now not so great owing to the fact that State schools are providing kindergarten instruction. Among those who were present ,ivero Miss Kearney, the directress," and the Misses Macdonald, Williamson, Hall, and Martin, of the teaching staff. (Continued on next page.J