WOMAN'S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 120, 7 February 1918, Page 2

WOMAN'S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR

(By Imogen.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Gift parcels for Soldiers, At a meeting oi ; tho Mayoress's Countess of Liverpool Fund Committee, held at the Town Hall this week, a letter was read from General lUis.sell, in which he suggested that articles of Now Zealand manufacture were Very acceptable. Ho thought it a pity to send any of English manufacture to England (except such as are not procurable, there), these being exported to New Zealand at a highor figure and finally sont back, thus using valuable shipping space. Gifts to individual men having a personal interest he thought wero very welcome. The proposal to send cukes, plum puddings, jam, etc., of New Zealand manufacture he regarded favourably, although there | was not yet nny serious shortage of sugar at tho front. He gave an example of. a parcel he had received, whoroin out of twelve articles nino were of English or European manufacture, and added: "You will agree that this is absurd, considering thr shortage of tonnage, Every ship from New Zealand should carry as much foodstuffs as possiblo in bulk for the use of the troops in England, thus reducing the demands on the Homo resources." The anti-vermin shirts, ho said, would be much appreciated, "as wo have lice with us, and shall have to tho end of the chapter." It was stated that tho parcels sent from Wellington contain only articles of New Zealand manufacture except smokes, and it was decided to send copies of the letter to tho country districts for perusal by the various committees. As a result of General Russell's letter tho hon. secretary of the fund is circularising tho country branches as follows:—

"You will romember that last August tlio Minister' of Internal Affairs sent us all a cable received from j'ngland, asking us to send no more parcels, but to send instead woollen goods, milk and tobacco or cigarettes. This naturally caused some consternation among our patriotic workers, so the lion, secretary of this fund wrote to General Sir Andrew 'Russell and also General Richardson, to ascertain their ideas on this subject, and letters have just been received from them. AVe gather from these letters that the reason the above-mentioned cablegram was sent was that so many parcels contained goods which had previously been imported from England. This they considered extravagant, both as regards money and transport, though : thoy both emphasise the value of the parcels (sentimental and otherwise) to the men in the fighting line. In j Wellington this, fund has made it their •rule to purchase only goods" of New Zealand manufacture, witli the exception of handkerchiefs and tobacco and cigarettes, which we get duty free. Now that we know the views of these officers, we would earnestly urge urf>\ our country districts, who so nolXi' help us in the work of packing tbo parcels, the necessity of adhering to this rule, The last paragraph of General Sir Andrew llussell'a is of interest to most of us. He says: 'The anti-vermin shirts will be much appreciated, as wo have lice with us, and plenty of them, wherever wc go, and shall have to the end of the chaptershirts or no shirts.' Moth officers tell us- that the men appreciate tbo parcels very much, and consequently we 'feel that we are more than justified in continuing the parcels, but it is imperative that we should all adhere rigidly to the rule of sending.no imported goods with the above-men-tioned exceptions." Camp Libraries. Miss Rothenbei'g, hon. librarian at the Sydney, Street Soldiers' Club, has been asked-by the authorities to establish a. small .circulating library for the use of the nurses in the I'eatlu rston Slilitary Hospital. Miss Uotheiibcrg is anxious- to meet their wishes, and to this end sho would bo very grateful if anyone having a book or two to spare, in good condition, would send them to her, addressed e/o the Soldiers' Club, Sydney Street, Wellington. Miss Rothenberg hopes to have tiio library ready within a week's time, so she would be glad if all books could ha sent to her as soon as possible. Miss Rothenberg forwarded to Trentbam Camp yosterday another linndied books, new and up-to-date for the circulating library established at that camp last July. This Jibrarv now consists of over 2000 volumes. There is also a reference department,' to which Mr. Yeats has recently made a valued contribution. The help of Chaplain Taylor, who •undertakes the duties of librarian, has done much to make this library the great success that it undoubtedly is.

Tlio monthly meeting of the committee of the Victoria. Lenmie was hold at Miss CWtes's, Hobson Stroet, on Tuesday. There worn present: Miss Coates (president), Mcsdames Corliss, Stott, Rankinc Brown, and J. D. Gray. A resolution expressing regret at the resignation of Mrs. Chalfiold from the position of secretary was carried unanimously. It was decided that the 7>r<rsident and two members of the executive shall attend the conference of Victoria League- societies, to be held in Christehureli in March, at the. invitation of the Christchiirch branch. The. dale of the annual moeting of tTio Wellington League, was fixed for early in May. The New Zealand Nurses' Memorial Fund has been further added to by the following donations:—The Ladies' Patriotic Guild, Ormondj Gisbornc, £.t; George and Kersley's' Employees' Patriotic Fund, £20. The Miramar Ladies' Golf Club's Patriotic Cake. Room thank the following donors for cakes, subscriptions, etc:: Mrs. Smeetou, Mrs. Holmes, Mrs. M'Meiiameii, _Mrs. Meek, Mrs. Hurst, Mrs. Somervilln, -Mrs. Gavin, Misses M'Kellar, M'lntosh, Wheeler, von Dadclszen, Didsbury.

Sydney Street Soldiers' Club. Summer heal, no matter how great it may be, has no power apparently to quench the ardour of soldiers {or dancing, and at the .Soldiers' Club in. Sydney Street, there was a very largo attendance at tho weekly dance, held there last evening. The hostesses in chargo of the tea-room were Mrs. Shirtoliffe and Mrs. lllundcll; Mrs. Coleridge and Mrs. C. Earle carried out the arrangements in connection with the dancing, and Miss Jenkyns had charge of the refreshments in the gymnasium. Mrs. W. F. Masscy, accompanied by her niece, Miss Cow, was present, and so also wore soveral members of the committee. Before the dance concluded Private M'Curdy. on behalf of the, Thirty-fourth Reinforcements, thanked the ladias of the Sydney. Street Soldiers' Club for the way in which they had been entertained at these dances, and for the refreshments which wero provided thorn night after night. Tim club had been a splendid rendezvous for them all. mul snonkiiijr for his fel-low-soldiers they all greatly appreciated its comforts and advantages. Hearty cheers for the ladies followed. Melba In New York. Madame Melba appeared as Marguerite in "Faust" at the Chicago Opera Company's New York season. It was the diva's silver jubilee of her American debut. She was given an enthusiastic reception, and was recalled twelve times.—.Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Mrs. A. W. Blennerhassctt, sen., died at Eltham on Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Blennerhassctt had been, save for an interval of a few years, residents in Taranaki for a very long period. Thev wero at Otakebo before going to Eltham. .Mrs. Richardson, a missionary who has been working in tho Congo for some- years, is visiting Christchurch oii furlough. She is really on her way to America, which is her home, and which i «lie has not seen for some considerable time.

Gifts for Soldiers in Hospital. The matron of the Hospital acknowledges the following gifts received during the past month for sick and wounded soldiers in hospital:—Eggs, Mrs. M'Menamin (large quantity weekly), "Anonymous," Hutt Patriotic Guild; buns and cakes: Ladies' Natives' Association (weekly), Mesdames Salek and Barber j flowers: Mesdames Gunn and Salek, Hutt Patriotic Guild; vegetables: Mesdames Willis and M'Gregor (weekly); books and papers; Mr. Morris, Mrs. Russell, Mr. Bishop; .fruit: "Anonymous" (six cases" peaches), Soldiers'. Comforts' Guild (two cases fruit), Mr. Rodda (three cases peaches); parcels for soldiers: Salvation Army; cakes, chocolates, smokes: Soldiers' ' Comforts Guild' (weekly); jam: Colonel and Miss Deck and Mr. 'Salisbury (one case of jam), Mr. M'Kerrow (two jars); Public Health Department, 6 pairs crutch rubbers;, cigarettes: Mr. Denvers; lavender scent and spray: Mrs. M'lntyre; soap, shaving brushes, ete.: Salvation Army (weekly supply); scent and spray, Mrs. M'lntyre; a parcel of clothing from Alexandra Home. The Fiji correspondent of the Auckland "Star" writes that the death occurred on Thursday, January 24, of Mrs. Price, the wife of Dr. M. D. Price, Medical Officer of Health, Suva, and formerly of New Zealand. A week proviously Mrs. Price had eaten some curried meat. Symptoms of ptomaine poisoning set in, but a turn was taken for tho better, and hopes wore entertained for her recovery. Collapse occurred, however. Mrs. Price leaves two children by a previous marriage. Dr. and Mrs. Price originally came from Basra, on the Persian Gulf. Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Lysnar are spending a few days in Napier before returning to Gisbomo from a visit to Wellington. At St. Mary of the. Angels, Boulcott Street, yesterday, Miss Mona Wilson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wilson, of Trentbam, was married to/Mr. Ernest Lee, of Hawe,«. The bride and bridegroom left hy the Main Trunk express for their new home in Hawera. I

ST. THOMAS' HORTICULTURAL SHOW AIDING PATRIOTIC WORK. The annual horticultural show .of St. Thomas's parish, Newtown, was opened in St. Thomas's Hall by Dr. PlattsMills yesterday afternoon, for the ,beuofit of St. John Ambulance Red Cross Fund, the Camp < Institute, and St. Thomas's Horticultural Society. The Rev. W. Fancourt, vicar of St. Thomas's, Mrs. Fanconrt. and Mrs. Preston, lady superintendent of the ■Wellington South Nursing Division, received Dr. Platts-Mills. In welcoming Dr.' Platts-Mflls, the president of the. society (Mr. Fancourt) said how very appreciative the society was of the valuable aid given in regard to their exhibition by the Wellington South Nursing Division, who each year had taken charge of stalls, and had assisted materially in many ways. Each year the society had given the of their shows to the further-

ance of patriotic work—the camp fund, the work of St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas, etc., the objects of which were to care for the well men and those sick and wounded. He wished to thank Mr. T. Waugh and Mr. Cooper for their splendid exhibits, and their willingness to assist always. What they all looked forward to was that an honourable peace might soon be brought about. In-opening the, show, Dr. PlattsMills, who was presented with a bouquet by Mr. Fancourt's small daughter, told'her audience that she regarded tho fact .that there were more vegetables shown this year than on previous occasions as indicating that more interest was taken in cottage gardens, an excellent sign, as the more vegetables there were grown the more the private purse was saved, and tho health of families conserved. The high prices that had to be paid for vegetables undoubtedly militated against the health of the people by decreasing their use. Dr. Platts-Mills believed that all public reserves and gardens such as the Botanical Gardens should be absolutely open to the public, with no restricting fences and hedges to shut them off from these places. In America and Japan there were no enclosures about the public gardens and reserves, and they did

not suffer for lack of enclosures. It was only a matter of education in this country, and very quickly the children (and adults, for that matter) would learn not to injure such places. A vote of thanks was returned to Dr. Platts-Mills for opening the show, •Air. Harmer being ,tho mover. Tho hall presented a vorybrighfc and attractive appearance, with its array of flowers, pot plants, vegetables, gailydooorated stalls, etc. Air. T. Waugh had sent in, a wonderfully fine collection of begonias and gloxinias (pot plants) for exhibition only, and Mr. Cooper was represented by a lino display of cut flowers, principally gladiolii. Among privato exhibitors were' Mr. Porteous (of Khandallnh), with a fine collection of dr.hlias; Mr. Hoverd, with pot plants (gloxinias- and begonias); and the 'Wellington Zoo, with a collection of roses from tho_ rose garden. Tho Boy Scouts had an interesting display of splicing, knot-tying, and meccano. The judges were: Mr. S. G. Pearce, Miss Murray, Mr. A. Laurenson, Mr. T. Waugh, Mr. Evans, and Mr. Bell. In charge of stalls were the following :•—Sweets, Mrs. Russell, Mrs. Gaby, and members of tho Wellington South Nursing Division; tea and ice cream, Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Rollins, Miss Moschini, Miss Fraser, and members of tho. Wellington South Nursing Division; produce, Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Baillie; pot plants, Mr. Startup; cut flowers, Mrs. Croll. Mr. It. E. Green was secretary, and Mr. J W. Salmon treasurer. The prae-hst is as under:— Roses—H. Read, 4 firsts, 4 seconds. Carnations—Miss E. Baillie, 2 firsts, 1 second. Sweet peas—W. H. Hoverd, 9 firsts; Mrs. F. K. Porteous, 2 firsts, 1 second; Mrs. G. Startup, 1 first, 4 seconds. Pansies—R. W. Hoverd, 4 firsts; Mrs. G. Startup, 1 first, 2 seconds; Mrs. Croll, 3 seconds. Dahlias—R. W. Hoverd, 3 firsts. 1 second j Mrs. F. H. Porteous, 1; Mrs. D. Baillie, 1 first, 2 seconds; Miss Hod, 1. Miscellaneous collection—R. W. Hoverd, 5 firsts, 8 seconds; Mrs. Mayo, 2 firsts; Mrs. Salmon, 1 and 2: Miss E. Baillie, 1. Pot plants—W. H. Hoverd, 10 firsts, 8 seconds; Mrs. G. Startup, 2; Mrs. M'llvride, 1; Mr. Cutler, 1; Mr. (i Startup, 2 firsts, 2 seconds;. Mrs. J. A. Smith, 1. Ladies' classes—Miss E. Baillie, 1> Miss 0. Salmon, 2 firsts, 1 second; Miss H. Christie, 1; Mrs. Christie, 1; Mrs. G. Startup, 2. Children's classes —Miss H. Grenside, 2; Master R. Trench. 1 and 2; Miss M. Boult, 2; Miss E. Gaby, 1; Miss E Grenside, 2; Master .ft. Hoverd, 1; Miss D. Rollins, 2; Miss D. Cooper, 1, Miss K. Bright, 1. Fruit—Mr. Grenside, Mr. Hm-lwood, Mrs. Cutler, 1 first each; Miss Ward, 1 second. Vegetables—Mr. 0. Rollins, 2; Mrs. Lee, 2; Mr. F. Collins. 2 firsts, 5 seconds; J. W. Salmon, 2 seconds; Mrs. E. G. Cooper, 6 firsts, 1 second; Mr. Milncr, 1 first, 2 seconds; Mr. H. Read, 2 firsts, 1 eecond: Mrs. Church, 2; Mrs. J. Bindley, Mrs. French, Mr. Harford, W. Harvey, 1 first each. Miscellaneous —Photograph of flowers: A. M'Clay, 1 nnd 2. Best woodwork article—Master M. Smyth, 2; Master Savage, 1. Knotting and splicing (Boy Scouts)— Master L. Alexander, i. Meccano competition—Noel Liaidet, 1; Ralph Sanderson, 2. Home section—Best plate of scones. Mrs. J. H. Smith, 1; Mrs. Davies, 2; currant cake, Mrs. W. H. Hoverd. 1; sponge roll and sandwich, Mrs. J. H. Smith, 1; Mrs. Davit's. 2; ho'me-inake pickles, Mrs. E. G. Cooper, 1; Mrs. Christie, 2; home-made sauce, Mrs. Cooper, ]; Mrs." W. H. Hoverd, 2; jam, Mrs. G. Startup, 1 and 2; handknitted socks, Misa i. Preston, 1.; Miss 0. Bennptt 2; buttonhole on calico, Mrs. Halliday, 1.