SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 34, 4 November 1918, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Hataitai Red Cross Sale of Work. ,Ou Friday afternoon the Hataitai Ladies' Red Cross Sewing Guild lold a successful sale of work in the Bowling Club pavilion in aid of their day at Uie Wellington Boil Cross Shop on November 23. In the course of a brief fpcech Mrs. Sevillo referred to the great news that had been received in' connection with the war, and made a strong appeal to everyone, to continue Bed Gross vork until every sick and wounded soldier was restored to health. The Bev. J. H. Sykes, who addressed the withering, also -spoke feelingly of the great need,for Bed Cross efforts, and also made reference to the splendid war work of the women if the British Empire. In charge of the stalls were the following:—Guild stall, . Mes. dames Greenslade and Tlanna; calces, Mesdamos Hallidiiy and Penny; sweets, Mrs. Chishohn; cake competition, Mrs. Pearson; afternoon tea, Jksdames Stott, Jackson, O'Connor, and Balham. An excellent musical programme was contributed bv' Mesdames Fortune, Moeller, Hill, Bishop Misses Richard, Halliday-i and Fell.

A Kindergarten Achievement, As Miss Edith Howes truly said at the opening of the new kindergarten in Taranaki Street on Saturday afternoon, "those among them who had visited the old habitation, had stood amazed at the energy and determination displayed by the people who had had to carry on for so long there,", and the change to their new quarters should bo a very pleasant one. The building is a two-storied one, tho main hall, classroom, and vestibule forming the downstairs portion, whilo upstairs are the council room, where directors' and council meetings will bo held, the principal's room, the kitchen, and a students' lecture room. As Mrs. Gill remarked, there will be room now to carry out the work without any of the crippling handicaps under which it was done in the old building, and the children will have space for work and play as well as,having much more attractive surroundings. A great feature about the new place, and one which should be pnrt of all schools, is a large space of ground with grass and some tall spreading trees, '.where the children can play, and in the summer do their class work. It is not given to everyone to realise their ideals outright, and so the Kindergarten Council'have still further goals to reach in regard to other buildings, more students, and more equipment. Among those who I wm-R present were: Sir Robert and Lady Stout, Mrs.' Kineton Parkes; Dr. Anderson, Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., Mrs. A. B. Atkinson. Miss Nelson, Miss Maitland, Mr. W. Ferguson, Mr. Ballinger, Mrs. Sidey, Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Morris, Mrs. Chapman, Mrs. Withy, Mr. Tennant, and members of the council.

Gift Tea for Anglican Boys' Homes. A gift ten in aid of the Anglican Boys' Homes, Melling Road, Lower Hutt, was held on Saturday afternoon, and though the weather was not all it might be at this time of the year there wero many in terested friends present and many generous contributions were received. A sale of' attractive articles made "by the girls belonging to the Girls' Friendly Society, as well as of articles made by the boys of the Homes, added to fcho proceeds of the afternoon. A musical programme was much appreciated, and was contributed to bv Miss Phoebe Parsons, Aliss Trcsidder, Mrs. Turner, and Miss Connolly, and Iho boy 6 gave several solo? and choruses. The fresh, healthy, and happy appearance of x tho latter spoke volumes for the care arid attention which they receive at the Home, which is supported entirely by voluntary 6ubscriplions and donations. It is of particular interest to know that there are five acres of ground attached to- the two cottages, and every opportunity is given the boys (of whom there .are twenty-five) of learning agricultural pursuits. The matron and executive of the society are very grateful for the contributions which wore received as the result of Saturday's gift tea.

Mrs. H. Crawford and her sou are visiting Hotorua.

Mrs. Green and Mrs. Kircher, of Scatouiu, will be in cluurge of tho Woodward Street Red Cross Shop this v eek.

The pupils of Miss Dorothy Saunders are to .give their annual ilnnco recital in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Monday and Tuesday ci next week, November 11 and 12, and the proceeds are to be divided equally between the Spinsters' Clu'b, whose war work is well known in Wellington, and Sir Arthur Pearson's fresh air fund, which provides holidays iii the country for Ike children from the slums of the big English cities. Tho little dancers have been rehearsing assiduously for many weeks, and Miss Saunders has arranged « most attractive programme of ballet and solo work A particularly interesting item will bo a display of .Russian exercises, which form part of the groundwork of .Miss Saunders' system of teaching, and "The Children of Gum-tree Land," with its quaint Gum Nut and Gum Blossom Babies, is one of the several original ballets. The music -for all tho dances will be under the capable. direction of Mr. Wolfgang, and special scenery has been painted for the recital by Mr. H. Liardet.

At a meeting of the Women's International League a resolution was carried: "That Cabinet be asked to abolish the present system of admission by ticket to the sittings of Parliannnt. That this meeting of women considers that no obstacle should bo placed in the way of electors who desire to attend the House of Representatives for the pu.rpose of listening to debates. Also that tho separation of tho sexes in the visitors' galleries is contrary to tho pre-sonMay opinion regarding the equality of the sexes and should be abolished."

Mcsdames W. Barton, W. Toogood, W. Howard Booth, and B. Speedy wero the hostesses at tho Wairarapa Anzsic Club on Friday night, when tho weekly dance was held in the presence cf a large assemblage. Music wa.s provided. by the Military Band and extras by Misses liish and Toogood' and Private Kirk, Mr. F. Brabant being M.C. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. W. Card) Attended and delivered a speech appropriate to the occasion of receiving specially cheerful news, from the war zone.

"The Gondoliers." Very charming and effective are tlio staging and dressing in "The Gondoliers," produced on Saturday ovoning by the Wellington Amateur Operatic Society in the Grand Opera Ilouse, although for tho greater part of the time the characters, with the exception of the Plazatoro group wear simple peasant dress. The colouring effects are vivid and cleverly arranged, and in ma.ssod effects aro particularly striking. As contadini. Miss Helen Gnrd'ner and Mis 3 Howie-Stuart wear the becoming dress of their country, Miss Gard'ner's being carried out in tones of royal and periwinkle, bine, with touches of gold, her apron of champagne-coloured silk bordered with a pattern of brilliant colours, while Miss Howie-Stuart's to! uf coisl pink. Both wore the crisp white headdress characteristic of the jieople. As Casikla Miss Dorothy Cameron in the first act appeared in a grey travelling dress and.cloak lined with pale blue. A very high comb was fastened in her hair, from which fell a mantilla of white lace. Her frock in the next act was an elaborate court dress of view rose silk, inado in pannier fashion and opening in front over a very much flounced lace petticoat, while behind the skirt was caught up with loops of brilliants. The court train was a very elaborate affair of white and rose satin intermingled with gold embroideries. Mrs. Stuart-Dallas as the Duchess of Plazatoro wore in the first act a gown of miiuve silk with a mantilla of black Spanish lace, and in the next act she was a striking figure in a dress of petunia-coloured satin draped over a petticoat of gold lace, very full and flowing in effect. Her court train was also very handsome, with much gold embroidery about it. As the Duke of Plazatoro Mr. Zante Wood was a very resplcndant figure in the second act in a court suit of lemon satin with lace ruffles, and tho two gondoliers were not in any way behind Mm in their court suits of claretcoloured velvet and short velvet cloaks. They were, however, eclipsed by the longlost Prince, whose court suit was of violet and white satin, with a court train of violet safin bordered with ermine. Courtiers and pages were intermingled with the gaily-dressed contadini in the second net, and they had for their background tho thronb room in the Palace of the King of Barataria. Opportunities for some very pretty dancing wore given in the course of tho performance. Mrs. •Tames Hannah was the. designer of the dresses worn in this opera.

Mrs. Preston Stevenson has returned to Wellington from a visit to Auckland and Masterton,

Miss Nancy Jobson, Principal of the Southland Girls' High School, has been appointed Principal of the jiow Presbyterian Girls' College which is to be opened }ti' Wellington in February.

A branch of the Girls' .Bed Cross Brigade lias been formed in Carterton, and Miss Hourigan has been appointed honorary secretary.

The death occurred at Auckland on Saturday of Mrs..]?. W. Niall, third daughter of. Mi\ and Mrs. \V. Watts, Feilding. Previous to her marriage Mrs. Niall was in the employ of the Wanganui j'Mucntion Board, and for' a number of years was-on tbo teaching staßs of, the College and Campbell Street schools, Palmerston North, in which town ■ Mr. Niall is also well known, and ho and a little daughter will hare many sympathisers in their sad bereavement.