SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 150, 14 March 1918, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

An All-Woman Jury. The stattsnioni was made on January 18 by tho Snn Francisco correspondent of tho Now York "Evening Post" tliat the first all-women jury to sit in a Superior Court ease, tliuro was to h? empanelled when Jlrs. Uona Mooney, acquitted of onu charge of murder growing out of tho prep.'irodness paraclo bomb explosion in IDKi, went on trial on a murder chargit still ponding against lior. The service of ironibn jurors in' Superior Court trials was legalised by an act of the Legislature which became effective on January 1. The explosion which led to tho murder charges against Mrs. Mooney killed ten persons. American Women In tho War lone. From tho correspondent of the Associated Press with tho American Army in Franco appears the following: —American women motor-car ; drivers have- made- their appearaneo in ' the zone of the Army. A few of them are driving big motor trucks for tho Y.M.0.A., and are proving their efficiency. During a recent heavy snowstorm two trucks driven by young women were sliding along a winding road, carrying supplies to a hut from a depot, when they came upon a big French • lorry stalled in a ditch. Tho French soldier in charge of tho vohiclc was tinkering with th'o engine,, having stalled it while attempting to pull the lorry into the road again. Ho was having little success.- The women, in short skirts, high and heavy leather boots and woollen caps down over their ears, , climbed from their seats, and he- ■ tween them managed to start the ongind in the stalled lorry. Ono of them took the place behind the wheel and by skilful manoeuvring brought the lorry out of the ditch. The French driver stood at one'side during the operation and watched the women with astonishment.—New . York "Evening .Post," Sailors' Friend Society. ; The concert at the Sailors' Friend Society last night was in the.capable hands of Miss Jean Nicholas, who provided • a programme'. that displayed much taste, the items winning many encores. Songs were rendered by the. Misses I. Nicholas, Gragg, and Mr. Len Barnes; recitals by the Misses Stevens and Nicholas; piano and instrumental Hems by Mrs. Stevens, the Misses Stella Robinson, Nicholas, and Messrs. Kershaw and Rimmer. The .Missioner, Mr; Moore, spoke on "Dropping the Pilot," and men again joined the Temperance branch of the work. Cheers were given f.he performers. •■ ' • . ■

Captain Elizabeth Guiin, N.Z.M.C., is among those who are returning to "New Zealand shortly from the front. Tho many friends of Mrs.. J. TV- Easson, who was well known for many years in musical circles in Wellington, mil be greatly interested to hear of the successful debut of her daughter, Miss Doris Easson as a pianisto in Sydney. Miss Easson took the King's Hall for her first concert which was given on December- 14,' under 'tho', direction of Mr. 3.E. BrOwnlow. Among the assisting artists were Mr. Cyril Monk and Mr. . Rarrisay Pennicuick. Miss Easson's performance was very highly spoken of, and a^ future is predicted for her by those qualified to judge of fiuch matters. It will bo remembered that the young New Zealander took a high place in one of tho competitions held in Wellington in pre-war days, and was placed second to Mr. Baxter Buckley at tho time he won the piano as a prize ■•. Miss Easson was taught for some years by her mother, and later she had been studying in Sydney (to which city her family had moved some three years ago), under Mr. Frank Hutchens. Miss Jessie Mackay, the well known New Zealand writer and poet, has accepted a teaching appointment under the Wanganui Education Board. Gifts of flowers and sweets to be sold on Friday in connection ■ with the Triangle Day appeal will bo gladly welcomed by the organisers. Donations of these' may bo left to-day in tho care of Mrs.'Cox at the Willis Street Depot. .....;• Mr. W. J. Napier, president of the Auckland, branch of the Victoria League, is to preside at the conference which is being held in Christchurch today and to-morrow to discuss various matters common to the different branches of-th'o Victoria League in New Zealand. He,is accompanied by Mrs. Napier: ..■■.. ' ..

For tho'-first time in its history the medical' staff.', a't: tlio Melbourne Hospital is ■under-the eoiiimn;ul of a woman,. Dr. Isabella Phillips is actingmedical'superintendent during the. absence. ofDnotor 31'Mcokin, who is on holiday leave.- ,

In a few years the barmaid will become practically extinct in Victoria, states the "Argus." A .Bill was passed in 1.yj.0 with the object of ultimately prohibiting the -employment of girlfi and women in bars. . So .thai no hardship should bo inflicted upon women who wore already earning a livelihood as barmaids,-it was provided thai all who registered by 11 certain date should be- exempted from the operation of the law. The period for rej;islr:iiibri, originally dosed on Kehruary I, 1017, but- the time was extended 1.." 28, 1918. Altogether, nhotil three thousand Women have been registered as barmaids. Of this mimbv two huiiflrcrl iind lifl-y are wives of soldiers -who previously served as barmaids;, and registered tliomsolvcs as a precautioiniry measuro against the loss of their husbands. Although tlirwives and -daughterH of licehscos who serve In burs are not required by Inn , to register, » number of thorn did ho in order to make their position so-, cure. ■

Sydney Street Soliliors' Club Danca. The popularity of Iho weekly dances for soldiers at tho Sydney Streot Soldiers' Club is well established, and tho altondanci) at tlio daneo held last evening wan,' ni. usual, a largo one. Thn Indie's''or' Sl.''John Ainbulaiico wero host-esses' m tho tea-room, and the. usual, arrangements in connection with (ianoiiij; tt'urfi carried out. It is rather interesting to noto that many of. tho old dances which have been absent from ilie. ballroom for many years aro being revived ati these dancos, and arc ex-tremely-popular. Mrs. Massey (president of; thn dub) was present, last evening,' and some visitors from Rarolonga, who aro at present making a short, stay in Wellington. How Education is Hampered. ' At the quarterly meeting of the Women's JJninch of- the Ota go District Educational .Institute,, which was held early in tbu week, some of tho glaring detects of. the .educational system .as existing in Now. Zealand in .regard to primary .schools were pointed out. One of tho speakers, Miss Mackenzie, stressed the necessity of cleanliness from the sanitary point, of view; and pointed out- the difficulty of securing this under tho system . at-present in vugue. 'J'ho majority of schools were not'thoroughly cleaned, and, until committees obtained increased grants, wore not likely to be. The speaker deaut with the school- building's and furniture. Very many :of. these buiid.ings, .and .much of.the furniture, wore' out of date, and the lighting arid ventilation of the ; schoolrooms were unsatisfactory. All of- these conditions operated, injuriously.:.upon the health of the children. The speaker-next discussed 'the large' size of tho classes, and tho consequent inability of the teacher to give tho time, and attention' that ought to be given'; to individual pupils. The largo classes were"also responsible for much of the ill-health among teachers. Miss Mackenzie also' discussed briefly the insufficient supply of fuel |in many schools, the absence of cloak rooms, the limited playground areas, the -inadequate shelter sheds, and tho insufficient' lavatory accommodation.

: Dr,' and Mrs. Miller . (Palmerston North) arc visiting Napier'and Wai'oa. ■ . Colonel J. M'N. Christie and Mrs, Cliristtc are at present staying at Glenalvon, Auckland. A very, good supply, of home-made cakes has been, promised the Citizens' Service League ladies, who irill.be iu charge of a stall at the corner in Cuba Street opposite Winder's. Corner, on Friday, Triangle Day. In addition to cakes and flowers; solving, plain and fancy, will also be sold, and it is expected that the stall, which will be. under the direction'of the Mayoress, will have much to attract passers-by who are anxious to help the cause.