SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 263, 25 July 1918, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

A War Wedding, A wedding was performed at No, 21 Military Ward, Const Hospital, on June I}, Mutes the "Sydney Morning Herald." f he bridegroom wna Lance-Corporal Fred Dickson (if (ho Wireless Department oi the Australian ITying Corps, invalided 1 home. ]!o was unable to stand, but manoeuvred • a wheeled chair with skill. The bride was Miss Alice Jcimer, daughter of Mr. .T. Jewier, of Moruya, who gave, the bride away. The two bridesmaids wore Miss Margaret Jcimer, sister of tlio lirido, and Miss Constable, and the test man was Private Phil Knight. A.1.F.. who came from tiandwick I-lospi-tal for the purpose. The lirido wan drescd in cream, and the ward was deco rated with ferns, arum lilies, pot plants, and flags. Private Morgan plavcd the Wedding March after tile ceremony, and the other returned soldiers formed i guard of honour. The bridegroom served in the Boor War and the Boxer Rising during his term of 15 years in tho Navy. A House with 400 Families, The idea of erecting buildings which shall house several families at once, nuw being considered in America, was exploited several hundred years ago in China (says the "Manchester Weekly Times"). In the southern part of l''ukon province there stands- to-day a house inhabited by 100 families, which is about 500 years old. This community building is circular in shape, five stories in height, with stone, and brick wails, There nre : no windows in the onlsido wall, and there is but one entrance from tho outside, leading into the big courtyard. This was built for protection, from tho raulß of' and neighbouring communities, it still being the 'custom in that part of the world at tlve harvest senvon to raid the more successful reighbouring commuuity. Tho outside wall is 50ft. high and a-bout SWift. in 'diamekT. the interior court being Wflfl. in dimeter, paved with stone blocks. There is a cistern in tho centre of the courtyard, which is the only water supply for tho ■100 tenant familie?, catching the rainfall from roof and courtyard. Tho individual family houses are about 12ft. wide, with, one entrance on the ground floor courtyard, mid their.stairways are bamboo ladders leading to the upper lloors. A douhlo layer of red tei'ra-cntta tiles forms the roof, aiuVmnkes an ideal insulator from the intense rays of the sun, and also provides a perfectly water-tight roof, even in n beating rainstorm. Floors are of wood, laid on Chinese fir poles or -joints.

and the State. Tho question of tho Education Department taking control of education al 5 an earlier ago than now provided for by liiw has been under Hio consideration of !he Minister of Education, tlio Hon. J. A. Tlannn. states tho' Auckland "Herild." Mr. Mannn stated that by roafioij of conditions that hart developed during tlie war and information that was com in;; under his 'lotico from officers of his Department and through outside sources, it was becoming manifest thai; tho Stale- would require to give more attention and supervision to child welfare. IV had come to tho conclusion that it would be desirable that the Department should take over, to some ex■ent, kindei'Riirk'ii classes. On going into the (iii"stion of expenditure, however, he had fe-und that even if such a plan were, confined to twelve or fifteen of tho larger towns in New Zealand, it wou'd involve the addition of from M lo 150 rooms to existing schools. If provision wer" made nt all it would have tn be made for all tho children available in the, towris concerned. The ap- , not b" W's than -,£50.000, with an additional £am at least for furniture and equipment, •>ml will], I'D to 150 teachers at a sainry. of, say, .£llO per annum each. Th" !ntil cosr would therefore bo not less than apnroximnWj- J!G5.000 for the first vein , , not including the existing free ki.tiderjfsrtens, if they were taken over. Having regard to the manv other demands for increased education, expenditure, and taking inlo consideration further' pressinir needs, he did not think Cabinet would approve of action being taken in the matter at present. As usual there was a large attendance of soldiers nt the' weekly dance, held at the Sydney Street Soldiers' Club last evening. Mrs. Coleridge nnd Mrs. C. Earle were in charge of the arrangements for dancing, and the latter was also responsible for tho. arrangements in the tea-room. Miss Olive Ingles, who left New Zealand about two years ago, lias seen service in several parts—East Africa, Tiulin.'i and round the Persian Gulf. She is iow in a hospital for officers in Quetta,' on the Baluchistan frontier.

Tho r domestic Kelp problem in Auckland remains as acute ns ever, and there is' stated to be heavy demand for all classes of workers in private homes. The Women's Employment Bureau reports that 1 general helps are almost nnnbtain able, oven though mistresses are offering higher wage.? and bettor conditions than formerly , . It is stated that the tendency of girls seeking employment is to take up work where the hours are clearly defined, and eyc'iinfjs and Sundays arn free. Inquiries arc received from time to time from girls seeking orchard work, gnrileninjt, or any light outdoor employment, but so far (here has been little demand for this class of labour.

The SoMiprs , Mothers and Dependents' Lensuo made yet nnotlipr effort for the benpfifc.of the. French Ued Cross and French lJcfugees, thoir ell'ort this time Inking (he shape of a gipsy caravan, from which pi'wlnco of all kinds, including fruit, vegetables, butter, e?gs, rabbits, (lowers, etc., could be obtained. Owing to a c'hnrctor of accidents, however, in which a jibbing horse figured very largely, the itinerary of the caravan hnd to be considerably curtailed and it is hoped (hat those .who.'were expecting a call from the gipsies will instead call at Ihe. depot in Messrs. Harconrr and Co.'s buildings to-day, where the.y will be still able lo pntchnse any of Hi" above-men-tioned goods. Mrs. G. W. t?obin«m was the organiser.. of yesterday's effort, and her assisting gipsies (a veiy picturesque Trnup) ably seconded her elYorts. Two little children also dressed as gipsies were in attendance with collection boxcp.

Tho' committee of the Patriotic Cake Jiooui UianKs the following tumors of cakes, subscriptions, etc.. JLCsilames U■aucs, Ciunpboll, JMeck, Holmes, tlavin, C, UicmiiUson, lUiraias, "Anunymoiis," antl tlie Misses Macintosh, Wylie, Uriwi, lln.ll (2), Wliecler, M'Kellar, (Jiialiuers, Uougiity,! M'Cluro, Kirkcaldie, iNuiioii, i)j(U)uur.v, Al'liklowncy.

For the Navy I Assisting with tho SailoTs' Day Appeal mi Friday will bb the '.hratham Band, niid Indies will go round with the band collecting instead of fiailor.s, as the latcor are away on duty. Many promises ■jf flowers from the country have been, "eeeiral, and amongst those on their way ■o Wellington nro seven boxes of-flowers «ent by JFrs. Field, wife of the member for Otaki, Tho balloons should make a rpecial appeal to . children, especially ihoae which M:r. Jncobsen (the donor of the balloons) has blown up with hydrogen gas, used in connection with thn wnr balloons. At half past threo groups of balloon sellers will visit tho schools so that the children with lessons finished for the day will'be nble to buy, and so do their sliaro.in paying in some slight' degree. the debt tho nation owca to it? gallant sailors. It is hoped that people will contribute generously-to the cause both by donations of cakes, produce, sweets, jams, cluituoys, flowers, money, etc., and also by buying and so helping a cause which should .need'.ho advocacy. Mr. Biiyiield has kindly promised to net as lion." secretary for tho appeal.

Miss Sybil Lyons, of Melbourne, who hus been visiLLug her.uncle, Mr. ALarcne Marks, intends to return to Australia this week, j

Mr. and' Mrs. Ultaa M'Cabo and.Mrs. 11. if. Cruik intend leaving this wook on an extended visit (o Australia.

At the meeting of the Wellington South Nursing Division held on Tuesday evening it was unanimously decided to give tho "shop" takings for tho day to the Sailors' Say on. Iriday, . Arrangements were also made for Violet Day, n stall bsing managed by the division at C'ourtenay Place, and for the jumble sale in the I'owu Hall on August 2, at which the division will provision a product stall. Gii'ls for both occasions will bo gladly received. A haadsomu gold ring, set with coral and diamonds, is-being rallied, and Is, tickets can be obtained at the Ktar Boating Club, until I'riday next, when it will Ue drawn for.

Tho engagement is announced of Miss Una Jl'Lcan, third daughter of Mr., and Mrs. Litcltlau M'Leau, Uunediu, to Air. Noel .Uoorly, who holds tho position of Commissioner in East Africa.