SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3096, 29 May 1917, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

i Dance at the Soldiers' Club. ' Next Saturday evening a dauco will bo given at the Soldiers' Club, Sydney Street, to which members of the IVontysixth Reinforcements and other soldiers in camp are specially invited to attend. Ladies who hold red tickets are requested to attend punctually at 7 o'clock and to bring their tickets. Banned Red Cross Garments. Colonel Moorhouse, officer in eliargc of the Wellington Hcadquartorj of tho New Zealand Branch of tho British Red Cross and Order' of St. John, has received advice from England- to tho effect that there is no uso for nightingales and also tho long white calico nightshirts with n a largo number of tapes for tying up tho sides aud arms of mon badly wounded. They simply cannot be induced to wear them, and in consequenco hundreds of these garments aro stored at tho bases, never used. Instead, the men prefer a certain kind of jacket in. dark grey flannel, piped with red, which is really much easier to mnko. Some of tho subcentres of the Bed Cross in tho Wellington Military District havo been in the habit of making tho nightingales and tho calico nightshirts, and from tho foregoing they will see that it is simply wasted labour and material to continue making them. . . .

' Mrs> Martin Donohoe, wifo of the wellknown Australian war correspondent, who was reported missing at the timo of the Rumanian invasion, has left her bijou home in the Vitya Montmorency, and is spending the winter in Italy. Her husband,, after having justified hie already great reputation as a war correspondent, and having been on almost evtry front since, the war began, has enlisted, and ■is now Lieut. Donohoe, of the Intelligence Corps, nttached to British Military Mission in Rumania.

■ The appearanco of Lord Strathspey as a member o"fflio House of Lo'xls is a tcminder that New Zealand has at least one native-born representative in that Chamber, states a London correspondent. Lord Strathspey's brother, the late Earl of Seafield, appears to have been tho first native of the Dominion to take his seat in the House of Lords. Lord Strathspey made himself heard for the.first time on a subject which closely toncerns the Dominion, namely, the double income tax question.

Mrs, Gibbons and her committee, who are working for "Surprise Bag Day," will bo very thankful to receive further contributions of bags, either filled or , unfilled. They should be sent to the Y.M.C.A. Buildings in Willis Street as early as possible, this. week. Something of a record in the making and giving of bags was established by Sirs. Ilowitt, of Lintnan Street, who sent in 78 dozen,.of which 17 dozen were filled. The proceeds of "Surprise Bag Day," it will bo remembered, are to be devoted to comforts for sick and wonnded soldiers in tho hospitals in Britain'. •The jumble sale held by the Spinsters' Club on Saturday realised the sum of £23 9s. 2d. This amount goes to Dr. Agnes Bennett's Motor Ambulance Fund.. -. ; Members of tho Citizens' Service League aro notified that tho packing of tho soldjers' gift parcels takes place in tho Town" Hall on Thursday. The hon. secretary for Lady Liverpool's and Mrs. Pomare's Maori Soldiers' Fund acknowledges ,tho following denations:—Per Mrs..K. M'Millan, secretary to the Koputaroa Maori Women's Committee, £8; S. H. Butler and mill hands, 155.; Hercmia, 10s.; Mrs. T. A. topiha, £1; H. M'Millan, 125.. 6d.j Mrs. IC. M'Millan, £1 Is.; H. Carter, Pairo, Bcnata Tβ Hemara, Toroa fienata, ss. each; Tiriwa Himiona, Warena Kerehi, Bangituia, Pcni Matenga, Kerehi Uoorn, Himiora, Pupuha, Matehoera, Tβ Uma Hβ Kemi, Makareta, Kawa To Hateto, J. M. Leavy, Kahiri, Buwatiki, Aranui Mere Koperu, Biriui Koperu, Honi Koperu, Teri Bawiwi, smaller sume; per Mrs. Luke, Citizens' Gift.Fund, G eases milk; Murray, Ltd., condensed milk, value £2 Bs.; Miss Jenkins, Halcombe, 10s. ' , " A concert arranged by Miss , Petherick will be held at tho "Returned Soldiers' Club on Thursday evening, followed by a dance. A party of Canterbury visitors, con-: .fiisting of Mr. and Mrs. "Robert Heron, of Timaru, and Mr. and Mrs. MTRae, of Mackenzie, South Canterbury, havo been motoring through the North Island, and are at present staying in Auckland. Mrs. W. B. Doughty is visiting-Auck-land. A large quantity of bulbs for the gardens at Fciitherston Camp have been received by file Commandant from Messrs.F. Cooper, Ltd, Wellington. Gifts from the following have, been received at tho Town Hall'by the Countess of Liverpool Fund during the past week:—From Marton: Mrs.-'Quintou, per Mrs. Barltrop; Dannevirke Pntrioti Society, To Aro School (Standard , V), no name, Mrs. H. E. Nicholls, no name, Mrs. A. Crespin (Pongaroa). ; Tho hon. secretory of the' Wellington Women's Bed Cross Committee acknowledges receipt of hospital equipment from tho following:—Petone Methodist Guild, Waipiikurau Districts Bed Cross, Levin and District Patriotic Society, Kaponga Bed Cross Guild, Kniapoi Woollen Co., Hastings Bed Cross Workers, New Ply- , mouth Centre, Nireaha Bed Cross Guild, Mrs. Mac Donald, Bed Cross Guild, Ohakeii; St. Andrew's Guild, The Terraces Wairarnpa Centre British Bed Cross Society, Ohau Branch British Bed Cross, Miss Harcourt's Bandage Part, Wellington Woollen Company. Mrs. J. D. Sievwright, ' after-'a twomonths'- holiday in the south, has re- ' turned to Wellington. ■ ANSWERS TO COREESPONDENTS.

Problems of Women's National Service. Tho problem of women's national service, which is looming so largely in the feminine world at the present moment, lias suggested-many minor questions regarding dress, drill, doportment, and discipline (states the London correspondent of the 'Australasian"). Apart from tho work which I have spoken of in connection with tho Albert Hall meeting, the War Office lias recently appealed for women to work with tho army in France, and has been overwhelmed with offers. Hero aro a. few questions which havo been put to ; tho authorities, with their answers. Firstly, should women wear ekirts or masculine attire—and is. khaki necessary •or can a more "becoming''' colour bo worn? Tho answer is that there is no question of what is "becoming" for women working with the armies overseas. In tho Balkans many women havo been obliged to cut their hair short, and it has not bc;n a, question whether they should wear skirts, but whether it was possible to wear skirts at all. Chauffeurs, in particular, have been forced to do high boob; and trousers. As for bate, pins are impossible, so most women havo chosen felt hats of the Australian pattern. Women do not salute officers, not even the women officers controlling their particular unit. Smoking is allowed, but only in moderation. .Nurses do not smoke in hospitals, for instance So far no military drill has been Tequired from women, though chauffeurs on board ship have had to lit by regular physical exereiees. It is believed that some form of squad drill may be .necessary if the women workers in the army increase in number. Lastly, experience has eboivn that women should be confined in "barracks" after a certain hour. Their work is very exhausting, and most of them are only too ready tx> turn in for the niprht at the end of a tiring day. Those who aro not ready. should .be compelled by rule.

At the monthly meeting of tho Women's National lieservo Girls' Club, Mrs. Corliss, by, special request, gave a descriptive account of rural England. The election of officers and committee took place, and resulted in Mrs. Porter (organising secretary) being appointed president; Mrs. Corliss, vice-president; Miss Val, secretary and treasurer; committee, Mieses Cassey, Miller, M'Gowan, Seaman, Cook, Chambers, and Moncrieff.

Sister J. M. Baxter, who has just returned from active service, has mentioned in dispatches, states the "Australasian." Sho is a Sydney girl, and was trained at the Coast Hospital. Since she left in the April of 1915 shehas had a varied experience. In Egypt she was attached to the Luna Park Hospital, and afterwards was at a bid British hospital at Le Trepot, in France. Later she was- nursing only 1 a few miles behind tho firinsr line. After a rest at the Convalescent Homo for purging Sisters at St. Albans, which is supported by Mr. M'llwraith, she resumed her work at the Australian Hospital, in Middlesex. Tho death took place last week, at her residence, Glarbville, of Mrs. Mary Jane Dnkin, relict of the late Mr. Charles Dakin, who pre-deceased her 21 years ago. Tho lato Mrs.. Dakin was one of tho very earlv settlers of tho Wairarapa, arrivins in the Dominion in 1858. 'Sho leaves a family consisting of one son,' Mr. Charles Dakin (Christchurch), and six daughters—Mrs. TV. Fairbrother (Carterton), Mrs. J. Coopo (FeUding), Mrs. Bowso (Nelson), Mrs. C. L. Reynolds (Clareville), and the Misses 0. and G. Diifcin,,wlio live in the old homestead. The monthly gathering*, of the mothers of soldiers and sailoTs takes place in the Concert Chamber of tho Town Hall on "Wednesday afternoon. A musical programme has been arranged, and a cleasant afternoon may bo looked for. The "hostesses aro the hon. division of theW.N.B. ..■