SOCIAL AN PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3041, 30 March 1917, Page 2

SOCIAL AN PERSONAL

New Zealand's First Contingent of Nurses. The first' contingent of New Zealand nurses to leave on activo service went with the Expeditionary Force to Samoa, as will generally be remembered, it is interesting to note that they are', still, all seven of tliem, .hard at work either in hospitals, hospital ships, or else on troopsnips. From Samoa their field of labour,lias,been greatly extended, and their movements cannot 1 ail to be of interest to New Zealand peoplo. ' Miss Bertiia Nurse, on her return from Samoa, left for Egypt, to be Matron of a New Zealand hospital there. For her services sho was honoured with the Roy ar Red Cross, and later she left with, tho Expeditionary i'orco for England, where sho bucauw) Matron at the Brockcnhurst Military Hospital. .... '. Miss Brooke after her return from Samba was appointed Matron of tho New Zealand hospital ship Mahonoos her first commission, and is now, Mati?» of the Marama on her second 'commieIsion. ■ ,'

'. Miss Wilson, after Samoa, went with the first contingent of New Zealand .nurses sent to Egypt, and from there to England, where she was appointed to Brockonhu'rst. Hospital. Later she was appointed Matron of : tho Hernchurch Hospital, and later still became Matron at Walton-on-Tbames Hospital. She was recently honoured'with tho' Royalßed Cross, second class. , ',-■ Miss Veda M'Lean. after. her Samoan experiences, returned 'to Now Zealand, and from hero left with the first contingent (nurses)'for Egypt, where she was placed in charge of the Infectious Diseases Block of the New Zealand Hospital. She r.lso went to Brockcnhurst, and later was placed charge of the Forest Park Hospital. She is now Matron of Hornchurch Hospital, in succession to Miss AVilson. She also obtained the Royal Red Cross, Becond class. >.

Miss M'Nie left-with the Mahen'o on her first commission, and on the return of the Maheno to New Zealand she was appointed Matron of tho Foatherston Military Hospital. From there she joined the hospital. - ship Marama on her second commission, and is, now proceeding to England' for service there. ";""■'.■■'■ Miss Brandon was also one of the nursing sisters on the hospital ship Maheno when :first commissioned, and on her return to New Zealand was appointed Matron of the Military Hospital at Rotorua. . She, ; too, joined the Marama when recommissioned, And is now leaving for further service in. England! Miss Brandon's work at the Tronthain Military Hospital at the time when: there was the alarming outbreak -of 'sickness in the early' days 'of the camp's existence' received- very high commendation.'

Sister Willis, who joined the Sisters later at Suva, wont with the.third contingent of'nurses to Egypt, and from there she went to Brockenhurst. Later x still she went to Franco, where sho is still working. Miss. Thurston in London. • So'mo idea of tho'rcsponsihilities that rest upon tho shoulders of Miss Thurston, late -Matron of AValton-on-Thamcs Hospital, may he gathered from the fact that she is the deputy-in England of Miss Hester Maclean, Matron-iii-Chief of the' New Zealand Army Nursing. Servico, who, as Assistant Inspector of Hospitals in New Zealand, is. well known throughout, this country. Miss Thurston, 1 as Miss Maclean's deputy, is Matron-in-Chief. of the New Zealand Expeditionary.Force", and is in charge of all the arrangements in connection with the New Zealand Military: Hospitals at Home. .She-has an.omoo' at. Headquarters'in London, and receives the. nurses upon their arrival inEngland, and poßts-thom to tlig/diffoTeut hospitals. As much as possible nuo keeps in,touch with them, visits them, ■and makes arrangements for their rest, and if they are ill sees that they, are well looked after. Her position, as may b'e realised, is a very onerous one. •

Oh Aycdnosday afternoon a pleasant! little ceremony took place at the home of Mrs. Shephordson -at Lyall Bay, when'the members of the committee which TiSit so successfully carried out tlio arrangements in connection with "Surprise Bag Day" made a presentation to their organiser, Mrs. J. R : Gibbons, of a gold wristlet watch, ,'as a mark of their appreciation of.- her effort; Mrs; Shepherdson, tho hostess, in' making the presentation, expressed the willingness of everyone to help Mrs.- Gibbons in any future work she 'might '..'undertake. Mrs. Gibbons ■warmly thanked her helpers for their gift, and told them that they should instead' have kept the money for tho next ""Surprise Bag Day," in June, instead of spending it upon her. She further.thanked everyone for the willing way in which they had helped her, and hoped they would continuo to work together-as long as the war' lasted. Tea, was afterwards served by Mrs. SRopTiEfason; who was assisted by Mis. Lynch and the Misses Shepperd. Mrs. Leicester, hon. 1 secrotary of tho committee, was among those who were prcsentj and most of those who had assisted Mrs. Gibbons with "Surpriso" Day.

Members of the Women's National Reserve are reminded that to-day tho Wadostown Branch of tho Reserve will be in chargo of the Wellington Red Cross Shop on Lambton Quay, and it is hoped that, they will support, it to the best of their ability.

Wedding in St. Peter's, The wedding took place yesterday afternoon in St. Peter's' Church, Willis Street, of Miss Doris Grace Eileen Wilson, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles 'Wilson, Kelburn Parade, to Mr. Norman Aubrey Wilton, youngest son of Mr., and Mrs. G. W. Wilton, - formerly well known in Wellington, but now of Auckland. The bride, who was .given, away by .her father, wore a pretty frock of ivory georgotte, over cream taffetas, her veil being one that was worn, by her mother at her wedding, and sho carried a beautiful bouquet of white carnations, with maidenhair fern. TJie bridesmaids were Miss Eileen Wilton, Miss Maris Meadowcroft, and Miss Althea Stevenson, ; thetwo former wearing primrose taffetas, with picturesque black velvet hats. They carried bouquets of- gaillardias, with autumn foliage. l , Miss Stevenson wore a dainty frock of cream voile, with a black hat, and carried a .bouquet of cactus dahlias, with, autumn leaves. The bride's mother wore a costume of negre brown gabardine, with hat of the same tone, and carried a:bouquet of purple asters, with maidenhair fern. Mrs. Wilton, mother of the-bridegroom, wore blue taffetas costume; with a black hat trimmed with pink roses. Mr Ivan Holmes'was the best man, and the groomsman Lieutenant Edwards. The bridegroom, an old member of D Battery,"served with the.Samoan Expeditionary Force, and several of his former, comrades v/er© present at the wedding. A-reception was held at the residence-of the. : bride's. parents, Kelburn Parade. The bride .travelled in a reseda green costume, with a large black velvet hat/' She carried a fur coat, the gift.of the bridegroom.

Soldiers' Fine Needlework.. .-■ ■» Among remarkable work done by wounded soldier's.in the Norfolk Red Cross hospitals, now being exhibited in ' Norwich, are three pretty blouses, which are the admiration and astonishment of women visitors, states a writer in the "Daily Mail" of January. 27, Tbey. are hand-stitched ■ throughout, ■and in one instance even the cuttingout was done- by the maker. A neat blouse of flowered muslin., is labelled, '•'Made by Private L.- Jones, in private life 'a.- farmer and cowman." Another blouse.-'was stitched by Private Larkens,. ex-grocer,, and a third by Private'Penton, ' ex-huilder's :la-. b'our'er. Women who have examined the stitchery in these articles describe it as" "delicate" and '"beautifully fin- : ished." ; Many have said they could hot do it themselves:' ■ Women in Men's Work. ".. The half-yearly report vof tlio Nottingham Amalgamated Society of Operative "La'cemakers spates that recently a trial has Leon given 4o the .substii. tution of women*' for men in_ tliq' plain net branch of .the trade, which is nowengaged ;on largo. Government :, contracts. ' -.' .;■'■'-; ;.'■ Tlie secretary reports that from the men's point ,of view it has proved a failure, while the Government inspectors aro satisfied that the experiment lias not: been given a legitimate trial owing to the hostilitv of' tho men engaged.—"Daily MaiL" . W.C.T.U. Coni/ention.

At the W.CITiU. Convention .at Auckland yesterday,' officers wcro elected as follow:—President, Mrs.;. Don (Dunedin); corresponding- secretary, Miss Henderson .. (Christcliurch) ; re-cording.'secretary,-Mrs. Evans (Wel-| lington); ' treasurer,' Bendery (Auckland).-—Press Assn: • : ',

A sale ;.of: w.ork,;in aid of. St."Matthew's Church funds,, was opened in Fulford's Hall,' Brooklyn,, yesterday af-. ternoon by'tho Mayoress'(Mrs. J. P., Luke). -.'The ."stall's for produce, plain, arid fancy sewing, and sweets wcro well supplied ■ with' goods, and there was a fair attendance of buyers. The following were in charge:-—Guild stall,'-Mrs;>Clift, Mrs. Probyn, Mrs.' Bailey, Mrs.' Ponnifold j produco, Mrs. .Taylor, Miss Furniss, Miss Wright; sweets, Miss Wilson;, flowers,- Miss Jones; tearoom, Mrs.■.■ Webster, Mrs. Herzgog, Mrs. Strange-Muir, Miss Pot-' tengall; parcel, stall,. Messrs.. Roberts, Clift, and Bealo, ; •Several assistants ewero in chargoof-the cool drinks. In •the cvoniiig; the Pierrots, under ' tho guidance of Mrs. Fortune, gave an oritertainment.:

. The Camp Cpmmandaiit' at Tfentham, acknowledges with; thanks receipt or tho following gifts :—For the hospital: From Mr. T. E. Rodda, 7 cases grape's; Nelson 'Club, books' and'- periodicals'; Mr. ,T. Clark, Eskdalo, Napier, one case lomons; Soldiers' Comfprts Guild, two blocks cakes, cigarettes', 4 dozen fresh eggs, tobacco; Salvation: Army, oranges, sweets,, cakes, and handkerchiefs; Mrs. Luke, 3 feeding-cups and one_ eye-bath; 'Miss'Meachcm, bag of apricots and bag of apples. For tho troops:' From Mr.; Oldfield, Mtistertbh, 6 bottles tomatoes and 6 jars of jam, which have been distributed to best advantage to troops in engineers' camp.

Recont advice received in .Wellington, from Miss Thurston states that thero need be no apprehension that there is any lack of voluntary assistance in hospital work in England. So far as the* Now Zealand hospitals are concerned, she : states that she can get all the V.A.D. help that may b© required from the New Zealand women who are already at Home. The wives and daughters of many of our soldierß are only too anxious to do whatever there is to ho done, and New Zealand women are constantly to be met .with.

The process of. growth of the hair is constantly going on in the roote. When hair falls the root-sheath and, the, active growing cells aro \ usually left, 'and a fresh growth will take its place, providing these cells remain perfect. The special guinea courses of hair treatment at Mrs. RollestonV Room 6, Lambton Quay, improve the condition of the scalp at this particular period to such an'extent that new hairs, are thus gonerated in tho follicles of the old, and a healthy, luxuriant growth is the result. There aro • always exceptional cases in whicli scanty hair is hereditary, but even then a vast improvement is seen in the ap-

Boys' Institute Ladies' Auxiliary. .-•' The following is a. summary, of the re- > port of the .Ladies' Auxiliary ■of the '.Hoys''lnstitute, which was at last Bvening's aiufual: meeting adopted on the, morion of jMrs.iUoornouse, seconded by iUrs. James Hislop:— ' "The first tiling to"be' done by the auxiliary was to jnnd ways and means ' of raising sufficient funds to equip the > boarding'establishment, and so suc- ■ ■'■"'..-. cessM. we're the etforts, of the ladies .to raise the.-desked amount-that it is .':■ withho. small; satisfaction ..-we are able .. . to_state. that the necessary funds ;wero raised, the result.being that'the equip-.' : ; ment of : the boarding establishment is how: complete in every detail, the rooms being ready for occupation-when it is deemed "advisable by the.Management ; 'Committee. ,'.•..• a.- »..:.... '•'■■-''"While the work .of the .auxiliary is prinoipally : the. control of tho . board- .'•' _ Jng 'estahlishihent, 'yet .their ; activities - have by no'nieans been confined to this branch of. the .ivork. / ' During the four ~ rights' carnival,to celebrate the opening of the. new building, the public were permitted.to", inspect the:building. '; light refreshments being provided, tho entire arrangements .being left in the hands of tho'Ladies'-Auxiliary, arid it . " w 'is.pleasing able'to-report that v.;. * everything passed off without a" hitch;' , : , the arrangements' being all that could- ,. be desired.. It might, .be.mentioned, that prior ix>'t'li6' x opening of the build-; . ing the members of the auxiliary cut,' .hemmed,, and/sewed no fewer than 1300. • articles required for the bath and' boarding establishment. Our services have rfrorn time to time been, called ~ujSoii by: the: director of the institute .' : • and cricket pants for '■'.. ;',.-■:the boys,; anil, bandages.and signalling 1: ;; ; flags for; : the •"•various.{classes in con- .. which •: > v have beehy willingly- acceded'to. " After ■■.■: l^.fully/:equippilg.. t and bed- ;';.■"; '.rooms, there ".is" a" •balance, in ' hand '■'-■':^am6uhtihgv,to : .£42;'ss. ,Bd.;j!,as per bal- ■'• of.the '.■'" ;■'■. Manage Sent '',';,C6mmittee'..,.Tt..-,'must 'therefore; be; concluded that pur finances • are position." ■:

•-. Hostesses -at the Soldiers' Club in Sydney Street for the coming week are as follow:—Sunday: Mrs. Joseph, Mrs. J, Salniond:. Monday: Mrs. H. Hall, Mrs, W. Young. Tuesday: Mrs. A. Myers, Mrs. Ernest Hadfield. Wednesday: Hiss Coate£,_. Mrs. Shirtcliffe. Thursday: Mrs. Mitford, Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Bevin. Friday: Miss Fraser, •Miss'Skerrett. Saturday: Mrs. L. Blun-. dell. : "• ' ' ' ■'•

Sisters AJleyno and M'Gann, of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service, wlio have been on the staff of an Imperial hospital ship, are now engaged at the Twenty r seventh General Hospital, Abbessia,. Cairo. ■ ■ ' Mrs. Firth, lion, treasurer of the Women's Committee of the British Red Cross,' acknowledges the following contributions:^ —Mrs. Marony, 2s. 6d.; St. Michael's Guild, Kelburri, £1; Ohariu ladies, payment for material, 195.; Ohariu ladies' Bed Cross tea, £2 'ss; ,6d. ; Rakanui Red Cross Guildl 'pay- : ment, £5; Hill Street Red Cross Guild, ;,£2 15s. 6d. ; Mrs. E. G. Burns, 10s.; :Miss C.. Richardson, £1; Mrs. Dimibell's guild, 10s.; Mr. A. Bradshaw,. £1 Is'.; Inglewood Ladies', Patriotic 'League,. £79 17s 1 . .