SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 164, 1 April 1918, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Sweet Lavender. The possibilities of flower-growing for the making of perfumeg are being seriously considered in Melbourne, and recently a deputation from tbe. association for cultivation of flowers for scent and essential oils waited upon the Commonwealth Minister for Customs. Mr. Kelly, president of the association (aiid one of the most successful lavendergrowers in the State of Victoria), and Miss E. E. Hurst, vice-president, put before the Minister the views of those who are anxious to establish the industry. The Minister promised to give the matter careful attention, and to scud to England and France for information concerning flower-growing industries for perfume there. It was stated by the yice-preeident that Victoria has the climate and the soil suitable for the purpose, and that Australian lavender ranks nest to the best English lavender in the quality of its essential , oil—which is the foundation of a great many perfumes. Another oil used a great deal by perfume-mak-ers is obtained from a particular kind of French geranium, which grows freely when it once takes hold of the soil. Women's National Resorve. At a meeting of the Welfare Committee of the club for the wives and families of soldiers and sailors hearty votes of appreciation wero passed to the following for gifts:—Messrs. P. C. AValt, J. J. Costnll, D.1.C., Mesdamos Nicolson, Lippitt, James Doyle, Adams, Allen, Tqwnsend, Messrs. Joseph Lewis, D. Macintosh, and David M'Laien; also the kindergarten for teaching assistance). The Auckland "VV'.N.R. executive has invited Mrs. Corliss (hon. secretary) and Mrs. Porter (hon. organising secretary), of the Wellington branch, to theannual meeting of the W.N.R. to be lield early in April. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur L. 'Warburton are vigiting Wanganui. v Sister Parkinson, who is leaving the staff of' the Devonport Convalescent Homo (Auckland) totako up nursing duties at Cambridge, was farewelled by the voluntary nurses, and presented with tokens of their*regard. Mrs. C. Smith, Lady Corps superintendent, made the- presentations. Sister Grant, who is to take her place, was welcomed at'the same time. ■

Tlie marriage took place on January 23. at St. Peter's, Birkdale, Lancashire, of tlio Rov. C. E. O'Hara Tobin, C.F., N.Z.E.F., eldest Bon of the late Sir. AV. H. J. Tobin, of Tauranga, to Miss Marv E. Walsh, eldest daughter of the late J. G. Walsh, M.D., of Ormskirk, Lancashire (England). Mr. and Mrs. li. Rnthbone (Hawkc's Bay) are visiting Wanganui. Miss Marion Wilson (Carterton) is spending tho Easter time in Wellington. Miss Drummond (Kilbirnie) is _ visiting Qavelock North, whore she is the guest of Miss M'Hardy. An Edinburgh lady, writing to a friend in Christclmrch, under date of January 15, says:—"Tho girls aro all driving cars or making munition? now, and servants cannot.'be got. We live in stirring times. For the last hour, indeed as I write, a terrible bombardment is going on in the Firth, and the office window's aro shaking. This is a common occurrence, and we do not take any notice of it. T suppose it is the Navy practising. We had a great week last week with the War Loan campaign. It, was conducted like a circus. Tile money was taken in one of the tanks, which was situated at the National Gallery. Bands and pipers played the, whole day, and there were great aircraft displays. It was rather startling to see three or foil? aeroplanes looping-the-loop above Princes Street. .You saw them coming down above your head, nose first, and you thought that it was all up with them, when they recovered their horizontal position; and . sailed away. One big 'nlanc' flew very] low, and scraped the Scott .monument and tho tops of the houses. It made a most awful noise, and certainly made a good advertisement for tho tank. We_ know now what to expect when a circus comes to a town after the war. I rather deprecated this method of raising money for national purposes, but it certainly appealed to the working classes, who are fast becoming the rich men of the country. We got four and a half millions in the week, which was not bad, as' Edinburgh has subscribed well already to the various .war securities. We are having a very hard winter', the hardest I can remember: the cold we hnd last week was most intense."