SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2647, 18 December 1915, Page 10

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Soldiers' Christmas Dinner Fund. ' The following subscriptions were re-, ceived up to yesterday lor the Soldiers' Christmas Dinner Fund:—F. Hunt, £1; Mrs. Wilson, £1; A.G.P., 2s. 6d.: Mrs. J. K. Hamilton, 215.; J. W. Jack, £1; Mrs. Smith, £2 25.: Norman Kirkcaldie, £5; D. Robertson, 215.; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mantell, £2; Miss Kelburn, 10s. ; Mrs. Vivian Riddiford, £10; Mrs. Kate Walker, 205.; Mrs. E: Newman, £1; Thomas Chewin,' 205.; Betty, 2s. 6d. ; L. and C., 7s. 6d.; Mrs. Tebbs, 155.; Mrs. Williams, Ss.; Mr®. Rountree, £2; E.K., 55.; Mrs. L. Tripp, £2j H., £2; j Mrs. AV. G. Eeid, 215.; Mr. aud Airs. Alec. Crawford, £2; Mrs. I. Coleridge, 55.; Te Mania School, 145.; Mrs. E. A. Dawson, 205.; Mrs. Helen Crawford, 215.; G.G.8., 205.; Miss D. E. Rathbone, 205.; R..E. Earle, 205.; Mrs. W. Murphy, 205.; Mr. and Mrs. James Stevens, £2 Total to date, £517 15s. lid. Newman Red Cross Guild. A very pleasant afternoon was spent on Thursday at the residence of Mrs. James M'Kenna, when a largo gathering of the members of-the Red Cross Guild, Newman, mot to bid farewell to their late secretary, Miss Kydd, who is leaving tho district. A presentation which was made took the form of a silver manicure set. Music was contributed by Mrs. Ramsay, Miss Calfcon, and Miss M'Kenna, The Stocking Society. The making of children's garments from worn-out stockings and socks is an idea which has been carried out with most successful results by Mr. M'Laren, of Duhedin, Dominion organiser of a Stocking League, of which branches .are being formed ill several places in New Zealand. At a meeting which was held ill the Y.W.C.A. rooms yesterday afternoon, andeJvhich was presided over by Mrs. Hoby, Mrs. M'Laren explained the objects of ihe society, aud gave a short account of the wdrk that had been achieved during the five years of its history. Clothing had been made out of worn-out stockings and sooks, and sent to England for the Barnardo Homes, the West Ham Mission, and later for the Belgian children, and numerous letters of. appreciation had been received by the secretary, among which was included 0110 from the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London. Mrs. M'Laren explained that tho stockings which were collected were, before being used, sterilised.

* An examination was made by.those present of tho garments (made from stockings and socks) which had been brought to Wellington by Mrs. M'Laren', and much admiration of the results— their neatness, oomfort, and warmth— was expressed. As was pointed out, a child could be clothed entirely from such material, save, of course, for boots;

Before tlie meeting closed, the uamea of all wishing to form themselves into a working committee were taken, and it was arranged that tho committee should meet monthly, beginning from February. During the whole of next week the garments will be on view at the Y.W.C.A. rooms in Manners Street, and anyone wishing to become a member of the society can bo enrolled there. Until the organisation is fairly started the Young Women's Christian Association, through the president, Mrs. Pearson, is giving- it all the help it can, although not in any way connected with it.

The Soldiers' Room. The hostesses at the Soldiers' Room for tho coming week are as follow: — Sunday, Mrs. Joseph; Monday, Mrs. H. Rollestoii; Tuesday, Mrs. Boden; Wednesday, Mrs. Earle; Thursday, Mrs. C. JohnSon and Mrs. Davies; Friday' (Christina Eve), the Committee of the-/ Soldiers' Club; Saturday, Khandallah., > Ladies. There are to be extra festivities at. < the Soldiers' Room on Christmas Eve. ,' The room will be decorated, there will) be a good concert with carols,-, and if' the men desire to dance, the gymnasium will bo used. Mrs. Firth, who is in. charge of the evening, wishes to thank Mr. Smith, of Messrs. Smith and Smith.' for painting calico screens with words ofi good cheer for our soldiers; numerous col'ege boys for offers of help in decor-:, ating the room, and also Mrs. C. R. Smith for a donation towards the euter-i taining. .' From a Nurse's Letter. ' "Towards the end of July life ' ffifc Anzac was as near hell as one can gjnt it on earth (writes a nurse). We wore rushed back from Egypt for the landing at Suvla Bay early in August. iAt Lcmnos we' saw a great sight. night was clear and starlit, no wind, and the water like polished steel. ■In single file eight hospital ships partsed out, their green liglils and Red Crosses mirrored in the water. ! We followed later. Stray bullets pattered on our decks like heavy raindrops' before a storm. One of our ord<jirfies got a spent ono in the leg, and was quite proud of it. At- one in the morning we received our first lot of wounded. It's wonderful how our men stand the shock of their wounds. They usually say nothing as they lie waiting their turn,' but look at the doctor and the sisters with a detachefli and interested air. It's typical oft Australian and Maoriland wounded '60 be chiefly curious about what's happening to the other fellow. At Cape Helles, though tons and tons were waiting for them in Egypt,. our men had no comforts of any kind, and were paying the Greeks sixpence each for vile cigarettes. I've never done much of. it, but I'm afraid I shall have to offer to help hang a few people some day."

'A' garden party is to be hel-S: at the residence of Mrs. D. M. Findlajy, Day's Bay, this afternoon, in aid of -wounded soldiers in hospitals. Tho hor.iso and grounds will be thrown open to visitors, and stalls for flowers, sweets, and fancy work should offer many attractions, especially for : such a cause. .ISnero will also be afternoon tea.

General Joffre has paid cfae of the highest possible honours to '/a 1 British woman in-conferring tho ranjt of Mode-cin-Major on Dr. Helen Sextan. Dr. Sexton is directress-in-chief of.' a hospital at Auteuil, which has been, organised and financed by four Melbourne women. The hospital has been grawted a recognised status by_ the French 'military authorities, and is doing wonderful work under great stress. Dr. Sexton will now rank eijual with Dr: Louisa Garrett Anderson and Dr. Flora Murray, both of whom have been given tho honorary rank of major in the Royal Army Medical Corps by Lord Kitchener. Mr. and Mrs. D. M. Yeats have returned from Carterton. ■ _ ;- r (Continued oil next page.)