SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 201, 14 May 1918, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

A Chaolain's Letter, Tho following letter was received by tho hon. secretary of the Countess of Liveipool Fund from Chaplain \Vall. 2nd Wellington Battalion, iN.X. Division:— '■Permit me to write a word of thanks for all that you, with your committee folk, aro doing for tho men here. Tho folk in .New Zealand cannot possibly understand tho immense amount of pleasure that such useful parcels as you are sending give to (ho troops. It is such a surprise to a man returning from his day's work, already tired and thoroughly fatigued, to find something; awaiting him which is a connecting link with tho land which holds all that is' brightest and dearest to him. Though you may not always receive acknowledgment of thanks or recognition that your good work deserves and merits, _ you will do well to remember that facilities for communication with you are not always available. I have hoard so many comments of appreciation that I consider it my duty to drop this note lo vou. I trust that you will uso your good jnUuenco for tho continuanco of such praiseworthy work." letter from a N.Z.V, Sister. The following letter from Sister Mildred Stevens, one of the N.Z.V. Sietep liood, has been .received by the hon. sec retary of the Countess of Liverpool Fund. It was read at the annual meeting of tho fund yesterday:—"l have heard of tho money so kindly subscribed in New Zealand lo enable us lo continue our work. It is more than two years ago now since I arrived in Egypt as a member of the N.Z.V.S., and during those two years there has been no lack of work. For six months after I arrived in Egypt I managed a canteen on the docks at Alexandria for tho benefit of tho New Zealand and Australian troops, which wero then embarking and disembarking \u great numbers. In August, 1916, Sister Kerr, of Gisborno, and 1 were lent to tho Scottisli Women's Hospital to the Serbian unit under Dr. Agnes Bennett, of Wellington. This unit is attached to tho Serbian Army as a field hospital, and when we put up our camp on September 3, 1910, wo were tho first hospital after tho dressing-stations, and we received all tho most severely wounded from the ■great battle of Kaimackalan. In December of that year I was sent up with ti staff of two doctors and four sisters with a small ambulanco of forty beds, sixty miles nearer the front. In February, 1917. Sister A. D. Kerr and I wero lont by Dr. Bennett to the Serbian Relief Fund to do civil work among tho starving of ruined Macedonian villages. AVo pitched our camp near a ruined .village, and for four months fed 150 children night and morning, and did what we could anions tho sick women and children, many of whom were suffering from typhoid and somo from typhus fever. We oventnally, with th'n liplp of the S.E.I'., established a small field hospitnl and disponrary for the relief of these women and children, tho condition of their houses making it impossiblo to nurse tbom in thflir homes. Sister Kerr is now with the Scottish Womon's Transport Column quito close to Mm Serbian firing-lino. Tho wounded and sick aro taken by tho S.W.H. women chauffeurs in their ambulances from tho fiorbian drossing-slation in the mountains to the base hospitals on tho plain below. I sp»nt Christmas with tho cniiip, where it is pitched 5000 ft. above tho sea level, among thn enow-covered mountains. I was in hopes that a rest would enable me to throw off the malaria, from which I had beon suffering for somo two or three months, bul I am sorry to sar il did hot, imdt was"invalided to England, arriving in London towards the end of January. I had six weeks' rest. I wish to exprt&j my thanks to those who by subscribing to tho fund havo enabled mo to take this rest comfortably. lam now (tuito well, and am going next week to Prance_ to tako up welfare work among tho New Zealand troops stationed there, and am afraid they have a hard time boforo then) for tho' next few months, and mil need all tho heli) and care we ca-u jive them." ,

Soldiors , Library. Miss Rothcnberg, lion, librarian of tho Soldiers' Club, sincerely thanks all who kindly sent literature- for the use of tho soldiers. Tho very gonerous response enabled Miss liothenberg to send tho required additional 500 volumes to the Trentham circulating , . library, and a substantial addition has been made to tho nurses' and (onvalescents' library ai Eeatlierston Military; Hospital. A large parcel of boots has been forwarded to the Aotea Home, Egypt, and tho usual quota put on the transports. The Isolation Hcspital, I'eathcrstoD, and the Sailors' Mission have also received a share. Miss Kotheuberg, as soldiers' librarian, has eo many demands to meet that gifts of books in good condition and recent innga. zines will be. gladly welcomed. These may be sent care of the Soldiers' Club, Sydney Street. Mesdnnies M'Gin , ind Bradley will be mi charge of the lied Cross Shop, Woodward Street, on Wednesday. Mrs. Gerald Fitzgerald has returned to Wnllington from England, also Mrs. J>\ 'Hume, who is staying with Mrs. Iluine, Harbour View. Mrs. H. E. White arrived in Wellington from Sydnoy yesterday, and left tho sumo day for Auckland. A full house greeted the entertainment divert by the "Charley's Aunt" Club in the.Grand Opera Hffuse last: evening for tho Eed Cross and lied- Jersey funds, per medium of the Press baby. The bright and varied programme met with much appreciation, and the entertainers had good reason to be gratified with their reception. During tho evening flowers and sweets were sold, and met with a good demand. In charge of these stalls were Mrs. Geddis, Mrs. C. Earle, Mrs". Darling, and Mrs. Keith Kirkcaldie, who had. a number of girls to assist them'. . . . Staff-Nurso (Mrs.) E; M. Findlay, N.Z.A.N.S., has been discharged in En'gIhikl at lier own request, states the "British Australasian" of March 15.

SUPERFLUOUS HAIRS. i'"urlher evidence of airs. Rollcston's skill in removing superfluous hairs permanently by electrolysis is represented in the following:— Wellington, 24th January, I9IS. Mrs. Rollosuui, 250 Lamijton Quay. Benr Madam,—J have pleasure in ailvising you that the treatment I had from you for the destruction of superfluous hair by electrolysis has been a thorough success. As you know, the growth was a very strong one, and it seemed at ono time as though .t could not possibly get rid of it. On more than one occasion I folt disheartened, anil almost decided to give up the treatment, but I am uow very thankful that I persevered, as I feci well reward od. 1 would like to thank you for your kind care and attention, and in conclusion wouM say that I can heartily recommend any sufferer to place her case in vein- hands.—l am, yours faithfully C.L." —Advt.

Weddings in Great Britain. At Holy Trinity Church, Slonno Street, last Thiirsduy, Captain Charles ]?ountaino. Ji.N., of Nnrford Hall, Norfolk, was married to Hiss Constance M'Lean, daughter of Mr. Douglas M'Lean, of Marackakaho (N.Z.), and granddaughter of tho Hon. Sir Donald M'Lean, K.C.M.G. (N.Z.), states tho "British Australasian" of March 15. Other weddings recently celebrated in Great Britain wero thoso of Second Lieutenant Gcorgo .Robins, K.E., to Miss Isabella Morshcad, of New Plymouth (N.Z.); Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Stewart, D.5.0., M.C. (N.Z.), to Miss Alexandrina Johnston, of Liverpool; and Sergeant Alfred Quinnell, of Wellington, to Miss Eleanor Calder Turner, of Hvde Park. , ' " Women and Decorations. States a London writer in the "British Australasian" of March 21:—"I saw one of tho Endell Street Hospital girls tho other day wearing a red chevron on her arm. 1 suppose it is tho same as tho soldiers' chevron, aud means eho hns licen war-working since 1914. Personally, I should like to see .somo recognised long-service badge established for women war-workers, if only to show a sceptical world, by thn thousands of badges that would instantly appear, that our sox can stick to a job when need arises; Be-' side;?, it is due to tho women who have been working year in and year out so unostentatiously and without any limelight whatever, to havo something to show for it, if only to distinguish them from thoso tiresome and frivolous people' who do canteen or hospital work for ono month in tho year, and hove a nervous breakdown for tho other eleven." Anti-Vermin Shirts. In the course of the aunual report of tho Countoss of Liverpool Fund it was stated at meeting that in spite of .unsatisfactory reports licuii tho military authorities in England no disconrugoment was felt in regard to supplying anti-vermin shirts, as on all sides the cotnmittoo was told what n great boon they wore to men at the front. A letter received quite recently from a soldier in (lie trenches begged for more anti-vermin ehirt« from tho Countess of Liverpool i'liud, Wellington. "They- aro invaluable," ho says, "and men hero would sell their souls for them." This is only ono of many similar letters, and shirts wero being supplied to friends, who sent them on to soldiers at tho front. Tho committee therefore felt justified in continuing this part of its work. Historic Otaki and Some Recent Visitors. On Thursday last a party of about fifteen Army and Navy officers paid a visit to historic Otaki to sec tho Maori church and college. Several of tho visitors had already taken a distinguished part in tho present war—one officer had won tho covotsd V.C. on the Western front. Tho party, travelling by cars, arrived at Otaki shortly nfter midday. After luncheon they wero the guests at tlio Nnlivo College of' the Rev. G. C. and Mrs. Blathwayt, who had hurriedly ju , - rauged for a few friends to meet them. The desire of tho visitor* iras to get a near view cf the Maori race, whose stalwart sons they.had met—perhaps fought alongsido—at ono or other of the fronts, and a number of Maoris ivero also invited. Whilo afternoon tea was being dispensed, ;i number of Native songs were sung i.nd ]ois and hakas danced on tho lawn in front of the college house, to the evident enjoyment of the visitors, who wero all busy with their' cameras. A visit was paid to tho Maori church, to tho obelisk erected to commemorate the introduction of Christianity to . tho Maoris of the threo great local tribes, mid also to the monumental bust of To Kauparaha, tho great chief of. theeo tribes. At tho request of Mr. Blathwayt, Mrs. W. H. Simcox, daughter of one of the original missionaries, a Maori scholar versed in Maori lore; and thoroughly conversant with the traditions of "old Otaki," kindly consented to accompany tho visitors ami explain everything connocted with theso places of interest After tho two padres—ono Anglican aud the other Roman Catholic—had expressed tho thanks of the visitors, Mrs. lleni to Hai addressed the visitors in farewell, Mrs. Simcox interpreting. A veree of tho National Anthem was sung, and the Maoris sang their plaintive song of farewoll,' and thus a memorable littlo function ouded.

Mrs. Siuisox und Mrs. Lcslio Sherman assisted in entertaining , tho visitors, and very much, contributed to the afternoon's success. Among those present were ino following: Mrs. Peerless, Mrs. I'otrifl, Mrs. l''rauk Smith, Miss M. Simoox, Miss Cybelo Kirk, Miss Joan Fearless, Miss Nancy Fearless, Miss M. PearIces, Mias Skermun, Miss Swabey, Miss Booth, Major the Hon. H. 11. Addington, Dr. lluthwaito, Eev. Messrs. Potrie, Tokoaitna, i>ml Metera, Messis. Dando, and Venn.

Miss A. 13. Bennett, N.Z.A.N.S., of Christchurch, is at Waltoii-on-Thames.

Tho many friends of Sister Ida Willis will be pleased to hear of her safei arrival in Wellington after a lengthy period of service at tho various war fronts. Sister Willis , went to Samoa first, then to Egypt, and later to France, in each place doing excellent work and being the recipient of the lioyal Hed Cross decoration. Sister Willis is staying willi her mother at Selwyn Terraco Mis. Willis having returned from Auckland, where fsho went to meot her daughter. Mrs. Geach, of Sydney, Mrs. Mowat, of Blenheim, Mrs. Hubbard. Masterton. and lior other sitters are gathered in Wellington to meet Sister Willis.