SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 54, 28 November 1918, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Women's National Reserve. Tlio Feilding branch of tlio Women's National Reserve lifts boon doing good work in regard to the epidemic. Tlio organisation lias secured tlio use of the kitchen at the Technical .School, ond is doing the cooking lor two hospitals und about twenty homes. The girls are divided into batches, cooking lliroo hours at a lime under the supervision of the caminittee. 'J'lie patients speak most op. prociatively of tihe cooking, and the workers are greatly encouraged, and are very keen. Tlio denth is recorded of Mrs. Galloway, of l'ahautanui, wife- of Mr. W. Oailoway (a'member of the. Ilutt County Council). The deceased was G2 years of ago. In "Woalth from Waste," Professor Henry-Spooner declared that wasle goes on in nearly every direction. Api,irt from big items, look at some of the tiniall ones. There is waste of eandle.s, matches (which ought to. be made In S'a-iko at both ends), mustard (which ought to bo made up in paste form); pins (which arc made and lost by the million); string (tlio ragpickers of Paris earn .£6llO ti year out of bits of string in the rubbish boxes); and tram and 'bus tickets (which if dropped into a box at the end of the London vehicles alone might be sold for .£G a day). TJr. Helen Coivie, who has rendered .such great service in Mnstcrton and district since the outbreak of the epidemic, was herself compelled to take to her bed. The Itev. .T. L. .Tack, accompanied by Mrs. Jack, has arrived at Havelock South from Dunedin to take charge of the district circuit of the Methodist Church. Lady Plunket, who started a creche for tiie children of working gentlefolk in tlio spring, has met with such extraordinary success that when the last: mails left England other Indies were contemplating opening .similar nurseries. Princess Mary and Princess Arthur of Connaught aro both working in babies' hospitals, and this work is daily becoming more popular with young girls. This information should bo distinctly encouraging to tlio Plunket societies of New Zealand, and to the various creche and kindergarten associations. Miss Eileen Miller, of the G.P.O. Pavings Bonk, Wellington, who lias had some experience in nursing, has been granted leave by tho Department to go to Feiiding, to assist there in combating the epidemic. The massage department at the Dunedin Hospital is now a very busy place, states "ICai Tiaki," there being twenty students 'besides tho military ones who are, still undergoing the six months course at the. university, and will in January be ready to continue the practical part of the eighteen months' course at the various hospitals. Jl'r. and Mr.s. T. Williamson (Gisborne), who recently returned to New Zealand from England, aro-staying at the Midland Hotel. Colonel and Mrs. M'Xaughton Christie have returned fram Dunedin. The need for further trained assistance in Dunedin Hospital being still urgent, the lady medical studeuls have offered their services to the acting medical superintendent so as to relieve the nurses on night, duty, and their services havo been accepted.

From the "British Journal of Nurains":—"litis not generally known that the nursing services from (he dominions overseas have been practically independent, and organised on a more liberal and up-to-dale systejn than those controlled by our Yvar Office; IhatCnnndn has sent 1900 highly-1 rained nurses to the finr. vice of the Allies, Australia 1500, and New Zealand SCO, and that lliey have, acquitted themselves with credit on all fronts."

Two victims to the high call of duty havo been' furnished by the Order of lit. Joseph. Sister Mary Teresa, a member of the community at St. Joseph's Convent. Grey Lynn, Auckland, whilo visiting tho homes of the afflicted in the surrounding district, contracted influenza, followed by pneumonia, death ensuing last Saturday. The second victim was Sister Mary Lorenzo, who died on Monday at Mainta, Bay of Plenty, where she had been labouring for several ,years past. Sister Mary J.orenzo, with her devoted colleagues of the Josephitc Order, have laboured assiduously amongst the European and Native populations of the district who have been attacked by the epidemic. She was a native of South Canterbury. Sister Teresa was a native of Melbourne.

'Nurse Ruth Dnimnioiui, 'daughter of 311 r. and Mrs. ,T. HI". Drummond. of Eangnlauli, who died nt the Cottage Hosljilal, Ohakune, on November 15, will long be remembered in that district for. her self-sacrificing efforts on behalf of those stricken with influenza. Nurse Drummond was trained at the Auckland Hospital, but was compelled to resign owing to ill-health. She had not properly regained her strength when she was asked to assist in fighting the epidemic at Ohakune. She promptly answered the call, and went from house to house, doing nil she could for the sufferers. This was quite a different thing to travelling in motor-ears, as at times she had to walk through mud, so that her clothes were wet over the knees. 1 When she got. the Cottage Hospital organised at Ohakune Nurse Drummond was called to TJaetihi. By that lime she was ill' herself, but once more sho answered the, call of humanity. Sho had to go into somo filthy houses. 'fn some instances dogs, cats, sheep, as well as the family, all slept in the same building. Working long hours, with little food, Nurso Drummfind finally collapsed, and died on November 15. Nurse Drummond intended entering Duncdin College next year, in order to take up the medical profession. Her good woiic was so appreciated at Ohakune that sho was known as "The .Walking Angel."