SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 287, 23 August 1918, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

There was an unusually large attendance of soldiers at tho weekly dance held at the Sydney Street Soldiers' Club last evening—quite a record, in fact. Among them were a number of men who had just gone into tho segregation camp at I Trentham, and Mrs. Massey (president) took tho opportunity of welcoming tie newcomers and explaining to them the purposes of the club and of its open hospitality to soldiers on all days of tho week, Sundays included. Sho hoped they would make the fullest use cf the olub while they were in camp; as it was for tho benefit of soldiers that it existed. At tho conclusion of her speech dancing whs resumed, and although, the hall was so crowded that dancing was at times a matter of difficulty, no one appeared to bo at all daunted throughout tho evening. Madame Foley supplied tho music for the dancing, and wns assisted by Private Wood. The hostesses in the tearoo.-n were Hie Indies of St. Mark's, and the usual arrangements in connection with the dancing were carried out. Citizens in the Making. There was a very good attendance of onlookers at tho kindergarten demonstration given yesterday afternoon by tho Brooklyn branch in the Masonic Hall. Miss d'Oyly was the director, and'tho subject dealt with was farm life and products, the interdependence of labour being dwelt upon with some emphasis. The talks with tho children were upon what came from the country. What was it made of? How? How was produce brought to us? What did we glvo in return? The table work was of great interest to the little ones, one group being busily engaged in making the trains that brought the produce to the city from the country, another making real butter by shaking cream in a bottle, after which it was made up into little pats ready for use. Tho third group devoted _ itself to picture work, illustrating milking time, etc. Previous to tho practical work oi the children Mrs. Corliss mado a brief soeech, and mentioned the fact that she was a member of the first committee that introduced kindergarten methods in Diraedin some vears ago. Like so many innovations, the system met with opposition, and had many discouragements to face, but ultimately these wero overcome and the kindergartens were meeting with success. Another speaker was Mr. Ciuighley, A ssistant-Director of Education, who spoke of the value of kindergarten methods and. what they did for children. He referred to tho fact that manv of tho methods of work followed in the kindergartens were noiv being applied in higher education with much benefit to all concorncd. The final demonstration will take place this afternoon, and it is honed that Sir James Allen (Acting-Prime Minister) will bo ablo to spent.

The Thorndon girls are selling sweets tins evening at tho screening of 'Joan, the Woman," in the Crown Theatre, in aid of the Copper Trail. Mrs. T. Martin, who is a noted maker of sweets, has made a largo supply, and it is expected that they will meet icith a ready sale.

Miss G. Helen Rnwsan, lecturer in the Home Science Department, Otago University, applied to tho council •of the university for leave of absence from December next, to May next, she having been awarded the Mary Ewart travelling scholarship by the trustees of Newnham College, Cambridge, and desiring to go to America to visit tho chief universities where home science is taught, to compare tho ccurses in American institutions with our own. The council congratulated Miss Rawson upon the honour won, and grantod the lcavo a6ked.

Miss Marjorie Cowan is visiting Masterton in connection with tho Chautangua movement, which has met with so much sucocbs in the United States and Canada. Tho movement is designed to unite the Anglo-Saxon peoples in various ways in regard to educational development. i

Tho competitions for the toy elephant made by Mrs. Macdonald was won by Mrs. R. W. Holmes, Bnrnell Avenue. Tho elephant was quite life-liko-a wonderfully line pieco of work by a very old lady, the proceeds go to tho Navy League Bottlo Fund.

Mr. and Mrs. C. Cross havo returned to Hastings after a long stay in the South Island.

With reference to (the promotion of members of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service, it is prescribed in Genoral Orders that staff nurses, after completing two years' service in the New Zealand Army Nursing Service with the Now Zealand Expeditionary Force in New Zealand or overseas, will bo promoted to sisters, providing such promotion is rocommended by their immediate superiors and the Matron-in-Chief. iho promotion in. each case will tako effect as from the date following that on which the staff nurse concerned, completes two years' service

Tho engagement is announced of Miss Phyllis GnlbraiCh, only daughter of Mr. J. C. Galbraith, manager of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, Dnnedin and Mrs. Galbraith, to Mr. Percival Laurence Barker, of Clovedon, Auckland. Mr Barkor is a returned soldier, who wont with tho Main Body to the frout.

A farowell social to the Rev. Mr. and I Mrs. Boyd was held in St. Andrew's' Presbvtcrian , Church Schoolroom, Port Alniriri, Napier, on August 16; The | Rev. J. A. Asher, Moderator of the charge, presided, and in tho course of his remarks euiogisod tho work of Mr. and Mrs. Bovd during their stay at Port Ahuriri. lie mentioned that Mr. Boyd had been drawn in the ballot, and elected not to appeal, and enters camp on September 12. He presented Mr. Boyd with a cheque for £W on behalf of the church managers and congregation, and on behalf of the congregation and other friends with a wristlet watch. On behalf of the ladies of the congregation, Mr. jMeban, session clerk, presented Mrs. Boyd with a travelling-rug and a thermos flask, aud Master Boyd with a book. The Rev. Mr. Redgrave (Anglican) and the Rer. Mr. Fish (of Taradalo) also spoke, wishing Mr. Boyd God speed .tiid a sttfo return. Mr. Boyd retnrned thanks in a suitable speech, expressing lib deep regret at leaving Port Ahuriri.

The death of Miss M.. E. Lowe in Blenheim removes a resident of Marlborough of long standing. The deceased ] a <ly was bom in Birmingham, England, 94 years ago, and in ISB3 alio camo out to Now Zealand in tho ship Bombay. She remained in Wellington for a brief period, and afterwards went to Blenheim, where sho spent tho remainder of her life. Tho late Miss Lowe's nearest relatives in New Zealand were Mrs. P. Faulkner (Blenheim), Mr. 11. L. Brewster (Hamilton! and tho lato Mr. C. Brewster (Blenheim).

Easing Domestic Work.

Tho College of Domestic Economy, | Sydney, recently arranged a series of lectures "on domestic architecture to help young women who will be taking up housekeeping in the future (states the Sydney "Herald")■ Mrs. W. B. Griffin (wife 'of (ho architect of the Federal city) has charge of this course of domestic instruction. As a woman architect Mrs. Griffin has had a distinguished career in America, and holds the Bachelor of Science degree, in architecture. Outside Jier profession she is interested in everything that stands for progressive thought and the economic independence of women. Mrs. Griffin considers that many Australians are robbing their rooms of light and air by attaching oxcrescont shanties for sleepingout places, instead of facing tho problem frankly and arranging outdoor bedrooms as an intrinsic part of tho building. Again, states Mrs. Griffin, women do not know how much unnecessary work they are doing nor how far they are from getting satisfactory results. One of tho first principles to learn in regard to making work easy is to favour equipment that avoids all necessity of stooping: Discomforte, poor health, bad torn per, lack of love of homo life, and loss of_ social pleasures lesnlt from wrong isolutions of the problems of domestic architecture according to Mrs. Griffin. Women m America have grappled with tho domestic problem by insisting upon household improvements to save labour and ensure convenience and comfort.

Mrs. D. AV. M'Lcan, president of the Women's National Reserve in Auckland, has been given throe months' leave of absence from the reserve on account of Alness, and.Mrs. F. Baume has been appointed to take her place in. tho meantime.

In tho course of tho business dealt with at the quarterly meeting of the Civic Loague in Auckland Mis 3 Melville reported tho progress of the Auckland branch of the National Council of Women. Thirteen women's societies bad affiliated, and there were now twentyeight properly constituted represontatives on tho council, which had been busy organising and getting tho women's societies interested. The first interest was to get tho law amended .'so that wonien were free to enter Parliament, and it was hoped that tho women's societies would back this up.