WOMAN'S WORLD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 101, 22 January 1918, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Continued from page 2.)' WORK OF SOLDIER PATIENTS REMARKABLE EXHIBITS. It is doubtful if any staty at any bazaar was ever Btocked with fancywork that could eclipse for design, quality of work, and colour effects tbo display made at Walton, handicraft of the patients of the' No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital, and its annexe at Oatlands Park (states the London correspondent of the Christehurch "Press," writing on November 16). The unexpected visit of the King and Queen two days, ago to Walton was well timed, and Their Majesties made a complete and manifestly interested inspection of the myriad articles laid out for exhibition.

It took, some time, too, to grasp the fact that many of the cushion squares and table-centres and battalion-Dadge designs had been produced by one-hand-ed men —some with' the left hand only, some with only the right. The majority of the designs were ambitious, a food many were original, being drawn y the men themselves. All were executed with the utmost nicety and evenness of stitch, whether on a foundation of satin or silk poplin worked in libhons and silk, or on the more useful serges, or lineus gay with threads that Src warranted to wash. Cushion squares and made-up cushions were evidently the favourite Articles, and these squares of fabric lent

themselves well to the working of the regimental-badge designs, as well as to bold floral sprays of wistaria and clusters of scarlet poppies or shaded W'lisies. Ambitious patterns of scarlet griffins and gay peacocks were features of some of the table-covers, while delicate wreaths -of blue forget-me-nots figured the white poplin duchesse slip, which was voted the finest piece of work done at Walton. Some of the men sent in several exhibits; many wero satisfied with one example, and labelled it as a first attempt—there is no reason at all why it should be the last. Private Heeuan, Oatlands, gained first prize for the finest piece of work shown, and Lance-Corporal Scott, R.C., the second, for a faultlessly-worked cushion square bearing; the design of the badge of the British section—tho wreath with the word "Onward" leneath —which had taken hint, only twelve days to complete. This time a month ago he was in the difficult push in France.

''Five weeks' hard labour" resulted in an effective sachet worked in crash with a design of wild pink roses, its author being unnamed. The prizelist, however, revealed the hero as Captain Prior, N.Z.M.C., apparently the only needlework entrant in the officers' fancy work competition. But one cannot enumerate all the articles of needle-craft, which probably ran into hundreds, displayed closed on tables and screens. In addition to embroideries, there were exhibits of basket ware, varied in colouring and design, ornamental and useful, and without exception well and evenly plaited, Private Goodson taking first prize for the best-made basket, and Privates Anderson and Heatley first

a.nd second respectively for first attempts in basket weaving. Beads wore used for rings purses, and bags, and private S. l'\ Wolstead gained tho prize,. Prizemen for marquotrio were: Privates Webb, Burns, and Dodds, and tho cross-stitclier.v of Private Pago was a weli-noted feature. Prizemen for string bags were two soldiers who have both lost their sight— Sergeant M'Feo awl Privato Robinson. There were elaborately carved walking-sticks, with Kahukou and Otama as prizemen, l'rivato Maher and Private Phillips were voted best deserving of awards for original paintings, and Lance-Cor-ponl Kitchon for caricatures. Prominent as original work was, a bust of "Kaiser Bill," decorated with an iron cross, and with features and expression of diabolic Satiuiity. It was modelled in plastic wax by J. H. Kelsey, Oatlands, and had a crowd round it all the time. Of course, it was awarded a prize. Ivelsey was further represented by some clever pencil sketches. Christmas cards and calendars provided scope for more originality, Privato Maher being considered first among the men, and Misses Steele and Gubbins (staff). Sergeant Chapma-\ was first favourite as a poet, with Sister West second, and Miss Knaggs (kitchen staff) topping the Limerick competition. Prize-winners other than thoso already named were: —Private Hasletfc, Private Lnrsen, Private M'Axthur, Sergeant South, Sergeant Lee, Rifleman Wade, Private Routledge, Private Woods (special prize given by Lady llussell), Privates Hall and C-oopor (for one hand, right, work), Lance-Corporal Rico and Private Eggleton (one hand, Jel'c, work), Privato M'Cord, Private Pag°, Private Burnett (special ribbon work), Gunner Marriner, Private Brockhurst, Private Mackio, and Miss Gubbins (for hospital photographs), Privates Grant and Davies. Sister Grigor (ward sister) accepted a large growing palm, as her ward had gained the first prize for Mt. Felix.