SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 98, 18 January 1918, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

How They Live. ' "My niece," writes a Londoner, "sends me from Adelaide white Hour by post in tins, and we make bread of it; such a treat. 1 ask my friends to tea and dole it out as something very precious. But lam writing to tell her uoii to send any more, as the Government, may object; and besides I the postage is heavy—6s. for every 101b. So far, wo bavo plenty to eat; but everything is very dear; but we can get plenty oi' potatoes at ljd. p/r lb. Sugar is scarce, and we have sugar tickets now, ilb. each person a week. The same with coal; so much alio wed for each fireplace we use. I have a few Australian friends comine: to llincb to-morrow to taste the white bread. Our meals are cut very short- nowonly meat, sweets, and bread and cheese, or fish, meat, and sweets."'— Feilding "Star." Drop in Luxury Imports, The Board of Trade returns show a very marked drOp in luxury imports compared with a year ago (states the "Daily Mail"). The following are example's of imports in October of last year and this:— 1916. 1917. £ £ Ostrich feathers 33,234 100 Gold watches 24,346 6,895 Gold watch cases ... 12.427 70 Ivory '.. 33,661 u,GBS Comparing the ten months of i ( Jli' with tne corresponding period in 1915, the import of organs and harmoniums dropped lrom £19,201 to £82; pianos from £3-5,083 to £897; t-oys and games from £3y(j,154 to 192,459; ornamental feathers and down from £1,043,514 to £234,298; ha,is and bonnets from £425,854 to £185,128'; and lobucco from £7,1/2,321) to £3,022,387. Imports .of furniture and cabinetware in the cen months of 1915 totalled £137,837; last year, £76,375; and this year £9555, Motor-cars to the value of £166,437 were imported this year, compared with £916,522 in ten months of 1916 and £2,683,766 in 1915. Miss Bertha Cade, of Cbristcliurch, will leave towards the end of this month foi Australia, en route for Singapore, where she has accepted the position of business secretary to the Y.ff.C.A.

Mr. J. B'andyside and Mrs. llaidyside (Hawke's Bay) aro staying at "Cargen," Auckland. Miss Sybil Lyons, daughter of Mrs. Ben .Lyons, of Melbourne, is visiting her uncle, Mr. Marcus Marks. Miss Winirred Isitt (Dunedin) is visiting Cluistehurcb and later will stay with friends in Hawera. Nurse Hancock, Plunket nurse in Masterton, has been granted twelve months' leave of absence in order that she might go on active service. Nurse Beatrice Hancock will till her place during her absence. Miss Skerrctt is visiting Auckland. Miss E. Lascelles (Christchurch) is tlio guest of Mrs. G. W. Russell. Miss Thompson, of Melbourne, who is making a. sketching tour of New Zealand, is at present staying at Oriental Bay.

Miss Luwson left yesterday on a visit to Rotorua.

The presentation of a gold medal to N T urse Wise, and of a set of books to Nurse Benjamin, of the Auckland Hospital staff, preceded the oidinary meeting of the Auckland Hospital Boaid on Wednesday. In performing the formality, the chairman, Mr. M. J. Coyle, stated that in the recent nurses' examinations Nurse Wise obtained the highest- marks in her class, and Nurso Benjamin the next Jiighest number. Both ladies had also passed the State examinations, each obtaining over 75 per cent, of marks. Mr. Coyle felicitated the recipients of the awards upon their good xvonk. The matron reported that 11 nurses bad sat for the examinations, of whom four had gained over 75 per cent, of marks.

Sister Hill was appointed assistantmatron of the Now Plymouth Hospital at a meeting of tho Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board held on Wednesday.

Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Pike (Straits Settlement) and their children are visiting Christchurch.

The Mayoress (Mrs. J. P. Luke) has received close upon 60U cards and letters from soldiers hi France acknowledging receipt of gift parcels which reached them ill November. The recipients greatly appreciated these gifts, and stated that they had arrived in excellent condition and wore just tho things that were wanted. It is probable that the Christmas parcels would have reached them shortly afterwards.

The raa'rriage took place on November 24, at New lioad Presbyterian Churoli,, Woolwich, of Lieutenant "Walter Frederick Kent-Johnston, H.F.A., eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Kent-Johnston, of Auckland, and Miss Agneli Gilmore. second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. AValter Brown, of Spittal,' Ivillearn.