SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2652, 24 December 1915, Page 10

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

A Marquotte Heroine. Mrs. Hilyard, of West Lytt-elton, whose daughter, Nurse Nona Hildyard, . was one of tho victims of the sinking ( of tho transport Marquette when that , vessel was sunk by a Gorman submarine in tho Aegean Sea, somo time ago, has received tho following letter from one of the surviving nurses: — "... I thought you wc*.!d like to have a. few lines from one of us. When torpedoed we donned lifebelts, and Nonie and I were in the same boat, but it heeled over shortly after reaching the water, and I got separated from lier. , She regained the boat with several others, and was very bright and cheerful, singing 'Tipperary,' etc., and helping to keep the others' courage up. ... But the poor child eventually _ died from exhaustion beforo wo were picked up. We were in the water about eight, houps, and it was .very cold. Wo all miss her awfully—she was sucth a good pnJ, and we bad been together all through." Honouring the Brave. Tboso in New Zealand who have to mo'uru the deaths of relations in Egypt will be interested to hear that a New Zealand nurse cables from Alexandria to a friend in Wellington:—"Placing wreaths on New Zealanders' graves at Christmas." Letter from the King and Queen. The following touching letter has been received by the aged mother of -Miss Cftvell from tho King and Queen:— "Buckingham Palace, , ■ "October 23, 1915. "Dear Madam,—By command of the King and Queen I write to assure you that the hearts of their Majesties go out to you in your bitter sorrow, and to express their horror at the appalling deed which has robbed you of your child l . Men and" women throughout the civilised world, while sympathising with you, are moved with admiration and awe at her faith and courage in death. "Believe me, dear Madam, yours very truly, "STAMFORiDHAM." Several times a week concerts and entertainments are provided for New Zealanders in their hospital at Walton-oii-Thames, England. The London correspondent of the Auckland "Herald" states that ono of tho. recent musical programmes was arranged by Miss Ina Bosworth, of Auckland, who has for. Some time., been in London studying tlie violin, and'- who is playing frequently at other institutions where concerts are being arranged for the wounded. Miss Thelma Petersen, of Wellington, was the contralto, sing'er.'on this occasion, and both artists had' a. flattering reception. The men 'were- in such spirits .that,-.they themselves contributed to. : the programme, singing in Maori "For They are Jolly Good Fellows." An engagement which has recently been announced in English papers is that of Major Drummond C. SpencerSmith,. R.F.A., eldest son of the late' Rev. S. C .Spencer-Smith, Vino House, Sturminster, Newton, Dorsot, England), and Mips .lloina Hope, second daughter of Mr. arid Mrs. Arthur Hope, of Tiluaru (N.Z.). . At Palmerston North on Monday afternoon Miss Gladys Newman, eldestdaughter of M r - H. E. Newman, was' married to Lieutenant J. Snaddon, son of Mr.' J. H. Snaddon, of Napier. The wedding took place in St. Matthew's Church, Masterton, on Wednesday of Miss May Pilmer, daughter ofMr. and-Mrs. A. Pilmer, of Springhill, Masterton, to Corporal Harold Pavitt. The Rev, J. Walker performed i the ceremony. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a navy crepe de chine costume, with a navy hat trimmed with a large pink rose. Miss Madge Pilmer attended her sister as bridesmaid, and wore white voile and a black orepe do chine hat'trimmed with a pink rose. Corporal Hay was the best man. A reception was afterwards' held at the -residence of tho bride's parents. Corporal Pavitt leaves with the next contingent.

The wedding took place vory quietly in St.. Matthew's Church, Masterton, on Wednesday, of Miss Ruby Beard, second daughter' of Dr. and Mrs. S. F. Beard, to Mr. Tliomas Miller, son of Dr. Miller, of Dunedin. Only relatives and intimate friends were present at the' ceremony. Later on, Mr. and Mrs. Miller left for the south.

Mrs. Simeon (of Wellington) and Miss Mabel Hyde, daughter of Mr. E. G. H.vde, who nave been working in All Saints' Hospital, Vauxhall, Bridgrood, loft for .Egypt at the' end of October. Recent news from England reports that the War' Office is not allowing women other than trained nurses to go to Egypt. .

Miss K. Lawson leives this week on a visit to Palmerston-North, and later she goes to Christchurch.

Tlio wristlet watch presented by th'o late Mr. F. Grady to the council of the Richmond Free Kindergartens lias been won by Mrs. Galloway, of Sutherland Road, Maranui.

Miss Hester Maclean, matron-in-chief of the New Zealand Army Nursing 'Service, goes south to meet the Tahiti, which is returning to New Zealand l with'sick and wounded" soldiers. The Tahiti will arrive in port on Christmas Day. '

Mrs. Tripe has returned to Wellington from a. visit to Eketahuna.

Dangerous Clfts, Tlio writer of the woman's letter in Melbourne "Tablo Talk" is responsible for tho following:— "I have just heard of such a heartrending tragedy arising out of this dreadful war that I feel I must tell it as a warning. A young Australian soldier husband, anxious to send a souvonir of the East to his women-folk, secured two handsome Egyptian scarves and sent word they were coming. His young wife was living with his mother and sister, and as he had said no word as to who'was to have them there was quite a little controversy over tlie matter, but his sister felt that they Bhould' be for his : wife and his mother; . UnI like so many parcels, this arrived safely—unfortunately, as it proved; and' in order to wear and show the beautiful wraps, the trio went to th 6 theatre one night. Almost immediately afterwards the young wife, who had worn a decollate frock, was troubled by an intense irritation of her shoulder, which became so unbearable tfhat she was advisfed to consult ame man. This she did, to learn the dreadful fact that she had contracted ono of tho leprous forms of Bkin diseases. ' Sho was at once ordered into quarantine, and is now eating her heart out there. She is under observation, and has not been sent jto an isolated place, for mercifully now, some forms of this droadful disease are curable if treated in time. What adds to the tragedy is the fact that her soldier husband is on his way back to Australia wounded. This is not one of the wild oanards that have been - circulated from time to time, but, unfortunately, a fact. Such lovely wraps from tho mysterious Bast, especially if they are embroidered or are antiquos, ■ should be regarded with suspicion and' handled cautiously unless they have been disinfected. This can be done by experts without harming th© fabrics."

lii Kumara the names of Sister . Isdell arid Sister Jameson, who were on board the ill-fated transport Marquette are not likely to' be soon forgotten, for two cots or beds in the Kumara Hospital have been named after them. In Christchurch there •is a movement on foot to build a chapel in the hospital grounds in memory of the lost nurses. Twelve- nurses who liad been trained in the Christchurch Hospital had been on board the Marquette, and out of those twelve nine were lost. In this matter of commemorating the splendid bravery of our nurses, whose work is as fine, as ■ self-sacrificing,' and as valuable in its way as that of our soldiers. 1 Christchurch is decidedly leading the way.

Miss Eleanor Myers is visiting Christchurch and Akaroa.

The marriage took place in Si. Luke's Church, Christchurch!, on Wednesday of Miss Nancy Jacobs, youngest daughter of the late Dean Jacobs, of Christihurch, to _ Mr. Coates, of Auckland. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. J. R. Hewland (Vicar, of Holy Trinity, Lyttelton), brother-in-law of fcho bride, assisted by the Rev. F; N. Taylor, Vicar of St. Luke's. _ Miss Katharine Jacobs was bridesmaid.

Miss Coates returned • from Christchurch yesterday, where sho had gono to bo present at . tho wedding of her nephew. . ;

v 'A quiet wedding took place on Tuesday at the Petone Church of Christ, of Mrs. G. AV. Usma. and Mr. A. G. Walstrom, both well-known residents of Petone. The ceremony was performed by Mr. Herbert Grinstead, • evangelist. Mr. and Mrs. /Walstrom afterwards left by motor for Palmerston and Wanganui districts. "

Miss Lily Fowler has returned to Wellington from Hawke's Bay, and is the guest .of Mrs. AVatson.

Donations to the party which • was given recently- for soldiers and sailors' families are acknowledged by the com-mitt-eo from Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool, £2; Mrs. J. Duncan, £1: Mr. A.. Dunn, £2 25.; Miss Smith (collected), £1 25.; Mrs. 801 l (collected), 10s. ;• Miss Coates, £1; Mrs. Monrad (collected), £1 165.; Mrs. IJountree (collected), 14s:; Mrs. M'Vicar,'6s.; Mrs. A. L. Wilson,'los.; Mrs. Guy Powles, 10s-; M|rs. 0- R- Smith, 55.; Mrs. W. Ferguson, £1; Mrs. Grady, 55.; Mr. W. F. Barraud, £1; Miss Robieson, 55.; Mrs. H. Beauchamp, £1; Mrs. Hayman, 2s. gd.; Mrs. England, 2s. 6d.; Mrs. Monro (Ngaio), (collected), £2 75.; Lady Gibbes, ss:; Miss Sed L don, 55.; Mrs. IJrwin, 14s. (collected) ; Mrs. Lynch, 10s.; Mrs. Ponsonby, £1; Mr. Eckford, 55.; Mrs. L. M'Kenzie, £1; Mrs. Pike, £3 35.; Mrs. F V. Waters, 10s.; Mrs. Wallace, 10s. ; Mrs. Bothamley, 55.; Mr. R. D. Hanlon 65.; Miss Grace Dyer, 55.; Mrs. Moorhouse, 55.; Mrs. M'Vicar (collected) £1 2s. 6d. Included among those whom the committee also: desired to thank was. the Hutt District 'High School for scrap books and, dresses.

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