SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 152, 22 March 1919, Page 4

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Miss U. Elder, of Aurora Terrace, re. turned yesterday from a trip to Auckland. A Press Association cablegram from Loudon states that Madame Mclba will arrive at Liverpool 011 Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Evan Parry are to bo tho guests of the Philosophical Institute at an afternoon (0 bo held at the Kelburn Kiosk oil March 27, prior to their departure for England. Miss Hilda Morris (Wadestown) intends toi cave for Dunediu very shortly to train at tho Karnitane Home. A letter was received by Mrs. Gray from Mrs. G. W. Russell (president of tho lion, division (if the Women's National Reserve), expressing regret lor her unavoidable absence from yesterday afternoon's meeting of the Mothers' Help Division of the reserve. $

Somo weeks ago a large number of books wero left at the Wellington Red Cioss Shop by ail unknown friend. Thesa wero kindly auctioned by .Messrs. Bethune and Co., and the result was a chcquo for .£7 Ms. (id., 'which has been handed to the lion, treasurer of tho Wellington Red Cross Society.

The Misses Trolove (Nelson) are visiting Wellington, and are the guests of ilrs. Firth, Wellington College.

The trend of present-day mothers against Nature in' the matter of the feeding of infants was emphasised at a meeting of the Palmerston branch of tho Marton Plunket Nur.se centre, which was held on Thursday evening at Palmerston. At tho outset the Mayor, Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., touched 011 the need for the greater prosecution of the Plunket nurse work in Palmerston North. A few years ago, ho remarked, they had a society in Palmerston, and it was doing remarkably good work. For some unknown reason it had been allowed to lapse, with the result that Palmerston was now merely a branch of the Marton centre. 11l Marton very good work was being done, yet it would seem that Palmerston, despite its 14,000 population, was visited by a Plunket nurse but twice a week. It was hoped, however, to shortly extend tho good work, so that before very long a nurse would be pei ■ manently appointed to Palmerston. An interesting address was delivered by Plunket Nurse I'arlane, in which she ; pointed out that the work of establish-, ing breast-feeding was the most important part of the society's work. The society knew, and it raited all mothers to know, that owing to the general practice of artificial feeding of our babies wo as a nation were in danger of dying out. For instance, in 1916 28,509 babies were born in this Dominion, and 10,590 children under five years died, and no fewer than 1500 of these babies were under one year.

Soldiers' Party at the Pioneer Club.' Yesterday afternoon a particularly enjoyable soldiers' parly was held at the Pioneer. Club, about twenty convalescent j. soldiers from tlio Minimal 1 Military Hos- j pital being the guests of members. Com- r petitions, songs, recitations, instrumeu- J j. tal music, ami choruses made tho time (_ pass most pleasantly, to sAy nothing of . "smokes," and it is hoped that the club will be the scene of many moro such } gatherings. A pig-drawing competition j (it was easy to see that the animal was f drawn with the eyes shut) was won by , W. S. Reeves, with A. Johnston second ( and E. J. Tuck third. Another compe- ( tition which was the causo of much hilarity ivas one that tested the powers j of observation, and this was won by E. , Bailley, T. Lowers coming second and ( W. Phillips third. Several choruses were j sung by the guests and recitations given ] by T. Bowers, while E. Bailley told a story which greatly entertained ever}-- , one. Mrs. and Miss Counish contributed , musical selections, Sirs. 011 i the piauo and Miss Cornisli the violin. < and Miss Ruth Putnam also played several pianoforte solos as well as ac- i companimonts. Miss Butler both played and recited, and Mrs. Levy sang. Af- l ternoon tea was handed' around in the reception room, which had been arranged with flags and balloons, and looked ■ most gay and attractive, some very beautiful flowers having been brought in and arranged by Miss Coull, of _ Day's Bay. Cars for bringing the soldiers in from Miramar and back again had been lent by Mr. F. Townsend, Mrs. Tate, and Miss Cooper, the hospital car also . having been requisitioned for that purpose. Lady Stout (president) welcomed the guests, and was assisted in their entertainment by committee members. Need of a Creche, At yesterday's meeting of the Mothers' Help Division of the Women's National Reserve Mrs. Adams expressed the opinion that a creche was a very badly-need-' cd thing in Wellington. They had been organised very successfully in Australia, and she did not see why they could not be made to pay here. Referring to Mrs. Adams's "suggestion, Mrs. Corliss said that the W.N.R., in co-operation with another body, had already taken steps to start one. it had been found tlnw 1 many women had far too much to uo after confinement. There was really a great deal of distress among them, and they were sometimes forced to work long before they were fit. It was considered for this reason alone that a creche was absolutely necessary. Y.W.C.A. Notes. The speaker at the service at the Y.W.C.A. to-morrow afternoon at -1.15 p.m. will bo Miss Margaret Russell, of Bombay, who is at present travelling New Zealand as organising secretary for tlio Zenana. Medical Mission. This mission stands for the extension and development of education and medicine amongst the women in India. All girls and young women who are interested in girl life in other parts of the globo should not fail to be present at this address. Tlio Y.W.C.A. board of directors met this week to hear a detailed report of the conference held in Christclnirch. Matters relating to the internal working of tlio association and to the prospective advance movements wero reported and discussed. An afternoon dressmaking class for girls who aro free al_ that time has commenced at tlio Y.W.C.A. on Thursday at 3.30 p.m. There aro still vacancies in this class for a limited number of pupils. Any information about classes may bo got at the. Y.W.C.A. office. Fowlds's Buildings, Herbert Street. Miss -T' Stevenson, who has just returned from America, where she has been in training for the position of national Y.W.C.A. industrial secretary for Australasia, passed through Wellington this week to visit her homo in Duncdin. She leaves for Australia on March 29.

An attractive programmo of games and musical items has been arranged by Miss l'ope for the social at the Y.W.C.A. to-night Girl members havo the privilege of inviting their men friends to come along and join in. the fun and listen to the music. Feilding Notes. Ail enjoyable tennis tournament was held on Saturday afternoon on Mrs. Waymonth's and Mrs. Woollams's tennis courts. Amongst the players were Misses Waymoutli, Woollams (2), Fetch, Walpole, Spain, Gorton, Bartholomew, Hare, Fitashcrbcrt (2), Atkinson, Mrs. Broad, Messrs. Waymoutli, Walpole, M'Guire, Thompson, Neal, Green, Hare, and others. A delightful afternoon tea was served under the trees. Miss Gorton and her partner proved the winners. Mrs .Gutlirio has gone north. Mis. Morroclis lias bcon away for a holiday. Mrs. Walker Ims gone to Wellington. Mrs. Soler has been staying at mo Denbigh Hotel for ft few days..

Quite a number of Feilding people went over to Woodvillo on Wednesday and Thursday to tlie races. Among them wore Mcsdamcs Haggitt, Blaxall, Guy, Fry, Richards, Brown, Roberts, Young, and Solev.

Mrs. Elliot has returned from Wellington.