WOMAN'S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3006, 17 February 1917, Page 4

WOMAN'S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR.

(By Imogen.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL I

Y.W.C.A. Matters. The Y.W.C.A. Hearth-fire Girls- met in the club-rooms, Herbert Street, on Tuesday evening, when tho Cliief Guardian, Miss Cameron, M.A., held a preliminary meeting. Tlie hearth-firo is for girls from thirteen to twenty years of ago. Its object is to band together groups of girls for purposes of helpfulness, home-making, health, and happiness. Its meetings are lield weekly, and once a month thero is a council meeting, when now members are admitted and honours are awarded for the acquirement of rank. Tho law of the Y.AV.C.A. hearth-firo is found in tho declaration that is made by each member at tho opening ceremony. "On my honour, I promise, -wherever I may be, that I will do my best to be contented. to bo courteous, to give service, to, hold oil to health. to think, to be trustworthy, and to reverence God." Physical culture is on tho programmo each Tuesday evening. Miss Gladys Fathers is tho instructress. Miss Birch, general secretary of tho Y.W.C.A., will give the address at the servico in ■ tho club-rooms, Herbert Street, to-morrow afternoon, at 4.15. A hearty welcome will bo extended to any girls who may be strangers in Wellington. A social tea will follow tho .mooting. Thirty-two ne,w members wero onrolled at tlio Y\AY.C.A. during the month. Miss Ella Fair is tho newlyappointed honorary membership taryA well-attended meeting of the Wellington Central W.C.T.U. was held in tho Y.M.C.A, rooms yesterday, ono new member being elected. Remits for the forthcoming convention to be held in Auckland were discussed and voted upon. A communication from tho New Zealand Alliance ro a petition for the closing of hotel bars at 6 o'clock waG recoived, and petition forms were distributed. Miss Alma Nicholson (Napier) has comoto Wellington to see her brother, who is in camp. Mr. and Mrs. Mason Chambers and Miss' Chambers.left Hastings on Wednesday for Wellington. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kennedy, who wero quietly married in Napier last Tuesday, hiivo loft for Sydney, on routo for Japan, America, and England. ' Mrs. Frank Hcrricli is staying with her mother, Mrs. A. do Batlie Brandon, llobson Street. Sirs. Pattle-Tzett, of Wangamii, is the guest of Miss Holmes, Hawkestono Street. Air. and Mrs. E. Glendcnning, of Wailuia Station, AVairoa, who havo been visiting Wellington/ returned to Napier by motor. Mrs. Rankine-Brown lias just return-, od from a visit to the country, whero sho was tho guest of Mrs. Birch, at "Thoresby," Marton. Tho Cam]) Commandant at Troritham acknowledges'■ receipt of t'welvo livo trout from tho Ma6torton fish hatcheries for the reservoir. Ho also has pleasure in acknowledging selections of music kudly lent for ail indefinito period t-o tho Camp Band by Mr. W. Jupp, of Wellington. _ Mrs.-Jack Smith, Paekalcariki, Misses CJapham (2), and Miss Futtor, Wellington, have just returned,from a holiday trip to Nelson and Blenheim. , A quiet wedding took place on February I at the Presbyterian Church, Levin (tho Rev. Bowden-Harris officiating), when Miss Gwendoline Marion, fourth daughter of Mr. Reos AVatkins, of Wellington 'Terrace,. was married to Mr. Raymond R. Bishop, lato of Melbourne, and well known in musical oirclos. Tho bride, who was given away by her father, wore a cream costumo and picture hat lined with pale pink. She also carried a bouquet of clematis. After a reception, Mr. and Mrs. Bishop left by tho lato north Auckland oxpress, and will spend their honeymoon in Auckland. The hospital at Lo" Touquet run by Her Grace of''Westminster is probably tho most luxurious tiling of its kind at the front (says an exchange). It is replete with every modern hospital device; no expense has been spared, and nothing is lacking that makes for tho comfort or woll-lioing of tho patients, including a regular, supply of fresh flowers ior all .the . rooms and, wards.' Tho duchess herself works as hard as anyone at the hospital, and has prqyod hersolf to bo a most effective hospital superintendent, as patients who havo been at tho hospital testify. A pleasant afternoon, was spent' on Thursday at tho residenco of Mrs. Aulin, Brooklyn, in connection with tho Women's National Reserve. Tho meeting was called for tho purposo of organising a branch in tho district. Mrs. (Col.) Porter addressed tho ladies present, pointing out tho objects, of the Reserve, and it is anticipated .that very good results will follow such a worthy and beneficial cause. Tho committee chosen are: Mesdamos Eggio, Hopkirk, Mather, Strangeniuir,, Ramsay; president, Mrs. Aulin; treasurer,' .Mrs. Look; secretary, Mrs. Clarke. Arrangements, arc being made to hold an onrollihgl afternoon shortly, when Dr. Platts Mills will address tho meeting on Red Cross work. Tho date wjll bo advertised.

Gifts to Soldiers' Hospital. The matron of. the Taumaru Military Hospital, Lowiy Bay, acknowledges the following gifts:—Fruit: Soldiers' Comforts Guild, Ladies of Nelson, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. C-iorringe, Mrs. Rathbone, Mrs. Ward, Mrs. Gordon, Mrs. Rowberry, Mrs. Hughes. Cakes: Mrs. Ferguson, Mrs. Ward, Mr. Ward (Day's l Bay), Mrs. Ewon, Miss Skorrett, Miss Ratliboue, Miss Wilson, ■ Mrs. Bloomfield. Jam: Miss Joseph. Red Cross Shop, £20; R. Johnston and T. S. Wos- ■ ton, £2; Hutt Patriotic Guild, £3; dressing-gown, .Mrs. . Hacon; books, Mrs. Marshall; books, Mrs.. M'Ewen; preserving pan, Mrs. Marshall; lice (twice a, week), Gear- Co.; eggs, ' Mrs. Ward, Miss 'Skerrott, Nelson ladies. It would be a great help if everyone bottling fruit would put aside a jar or two for this hospital. Empty jars would also bo welcome, as much jam-making • and bottling is done there. Their Majesties Set the Example. ■> The Royal family has come well into lino with everyone else as regards food restrictions, and practically no dinner guests aro received either at Buckingham Palaco or Clarence House (says an English paper). While they were in Loudon the Duke and Duchess of Connaught had something like a dozen guests to luncheon each day, this being the way.they enjoy seeing their friends; but the menu was always restricted to three courses—some light, savoury dish to begin with, then a plate of meat, and to conclude, one sweet dish. At Buckingham Palace, whether for the King and Queen or for tho suite, the menu is adapted in the same way to war time; while Queen Alexandra, at Marlborough House, and the Princess Royal, in Portman Square, have also mado reductions in food suitable to tho times wo livo in. Mrs. Howard Richmond, 'Auckland, is thoguost of her aunts, the Misses Halso, of Tiiiakori Road. The St. John Ambulance Brigade and Red Cross Society, Star Boating Club's Building, thank tho following for donations and gifts Miss Sanchlauds, Kawliia; Mrs. Blair:- A.M.P., ... £1; W.C.T.U., per Mrs. tlelyor; To Marna School, per Miss Banks, £1 17s; 9d.; Waimui-o-Mata Red Cross Society; Mangapehi Red Cross Society; HamuaHukanui Red , Cross Society;' Miss Greenwood, £1; Miss J. Seed, 10s.; Mrs. Sainsbury; AVaima Red Cross Society, Tokomaru Bay, £8 15s. 6d.; Rougomai Red Cross Guild;' Mr. J. S. Macarthur; Miss M. A. Stevens, proceeds of sale of cookery books and raffle of point laco collar, £19 55.; Upper Hutt AVomen's Patriotic Sewing Guild; Mrs. Penny, 2s! 6d.; Mrs. Morris Jones; Molly M'AVhannel; Mrs. Kinvig; Mrs. Houldsworth; Rangiwahia Red Cross Society; Potono Red Cross Shop, £27 Gs. lOd. Tho monthly meeting of tho Royal New Zealand Society , for tho Health of '-Women and Children, Potone and Lower Hutt branch, was held.' in tho Mayor's room, Iyjwer Hutt, on Tuesday. Present: Mesdames 11. C. Kirk (president), Todd, M'Phorsou, A. Cook, Andrews, Hannau, Hutlmancc, Mather, M'Caw, Cameron, and Burd. Mrs. Harman (treasurer) acknowledged' receipt of the following donations:—Dr. MiraniSy £2 2s. -; Mrs. Lyfoi-d, £1 Is. ; - Mr. Handt'orth, £1; Mrs. Evans, 10s.; .Mrs'.'"PiraitiJ" 3s. ; 9dl';' Pdtdn6" '80x,'"65,. s}d.; Mrs. Smith's bos, 6s. 3J<l.'; and material for Sowing Guild from Mrs. (Dr.) Mirams. Frenchmen aro gradually coming to seo (says an English writer) that women aro needed in the public life, and, still more, that women need to be called upon to play that part efficiently for their own salvation. It will havo to come slowly, but it must come, is what all thinking women seem to agree, and although tho Frenchwomen of the working classes and the little midctra class have always worked and worked well, have held responsible positions in their husbands' businesses, there ■ are no women in tho world so protected or so limited in their lives, -except for their amazing personal influence, as the upper class, well-to-do Frenchwomen. No Frenchwoman can havoS n banking account without her husband's permission. No Frenchwoman can join a society without her husband's permission. Until very lately even any money she earned was not her own. In the oyes of tho law in a hundred ways sho is of no'.account, and it is perhaps becauso sho has had to depend almost entirely upon..her.own personal energy and wit that she is the astounding influence in the country that she is. But the time for personal influence is over, they say, and tho women must now be backed by, the law; in a much'more effective way. Even .men who have not seen, th' 6 necessity for such a change are beginning to see it. now.