SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 203, 22 May 1919, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Mrs. Pent U on a visit to Wellington. Mrs. W.' Birch and Mrs. ami Miss Barker (Marlon) linn' returned l'rom a visit to Napier. •> • Miss Phyllis' Jvieholls returns (o Napier next week from a visit to Wellington. Sister Nora Dempsey, who recently returned from active service, is visiting lior gister, Miss Ilia Deinpsev, Chvistehnrcli. i The death is announced of an old and respected Wellington resident in the person of Mrs. S. Dryden, who passed away yesterday afternoon at the residence of ,hor son-in-law, Mr. H. E. Dryden, Wallace Street, Karon. 'The lata Jlrs. Drydeii eaino to New Zealand from Sunderland, England, in tho year 1855, ami after re. siding for some years in Picton r.nd Queen Charlotte Sound came to Wellington, where she Ims resided ever since. Mrs. Dryden, who was of a hind and gonial disposition and loved by all who know her, has left a family of three sons and two daughters, all of whom arb married, also sixteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her husband, Mr. Simon Dryden,. predeceased her about six years ago. The funeral will take place in the cemetery, Karon, this afternoon. A very enjoyable cradle roll- tea-and fancy goods sale, in connection with tho W.C.T.U., was held, at the Peton'e Church of Christ, yesterday afternoon. The Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) opened the sale, and gave a.brief address in sonncc. tion with the work. Mrs. M'Yioar, ot Wellington, also said a few words. During, the afternoon items were contributed by Mrs. Wallstrom and the Misses Bosher, Uemar, and Marshall. Tho meeting closed with 1 the singing of the National .Anthem. The denlh / took place in Auckland last Saturday of Mrs. Emily Finlayson, of Remuern, widow of the late Mr. Thomas Finlayson, tvho was managing director of Sai'good, Son, and Ewon, Limited. In 1851, when four years old, Mrs. Pinlayson sailed from England with her parents, tho late Mr. and Mrs". Penton, for. Australia. The family subsequently came to Auckland in the Hero in IS(il). ft Gifted Singer.

Madame Marit) Power, of Dunedin, Save an impromptu song-recital in .1 local studio for tho edification of a few friends yesterday morning. Mndamo Power, who has studied under Mr. l'hilip Newbury, Spencer Lorraine, and other masters, hns a rich, vibrant, and very powerful dramatic contralto of, great raiuc. . Her .compass extends oyer two octaves from A below the clef to A above, and there is no hroak in tho register,' To the delight of those present slio sang tho aria, from "Snmson and Delilah," "Softly Awakes My Heart," nnd gave vivid force and meaning to such fmo ballads as "Sognai," "My Soul," "Tho Grey Nqrtli Sea," and other ballads in various moods. Madame Power is the fortunate possessor of a very rare type of voice, and, being a cood musician, slio has much that makes for euccoss 011 the concert and oratorio platform. At present jMadftino Power is under engagement as soloist to travel with .T. and N. 'l'ilit's official picture of tho German naval surrender, but later she -intends to visit Australia, and possibly England.

Soldiers' Club at Trentham,

Red Cross workers and others who have been interesting themselves in tho welfare of tho sick and wounded suldiora stationed in Trentham Hospital went out to Trentham yesterday 111 considerable numbers to attend "tho opening of tho club just recently completed for tho benefit of. the- inmates of the hospital. His Excellency tho Governor-General performed tho opening ceremony, and was accompanied by the Countess of Liverpool, who was presented witli a bouquet •of jiink chrysanthemums by one _of the soldiers. Tho club, now tlmt it is completed, furnished, nnd ready - for use, looked very cheery and comfortable, ami is'viewed with tlie greatest satisfaction and appreciation by the .soldiers, who aro likely to. find it it 'very great boon; indeed. Quantities of chrysanthemums decorated tho two rooms (tho.common.foom and tho 0110 for reading- nnd writing in)> and added still more to their, attractiveness. After tho - formal opening by His Excellency afternoon tea was served, in both rooms, the entire arrangements having been carried out by YjY.D.'s who aro in' charge of the club. Afterwards some of the visitors went through the ( wards 1 and saw the alterations which are being carried out in some of tho hutments to fit them for tho occupancy ot tho nursing staff, their permanent quarters.having taken somo time to materialise. Tho kitchen, the cubicles, and tho niessroom for the nurses wero viewed with interest, nnd Trentham must surely bo. a pioneer in tho idea of providing a general sitting-room for sisters r.nd V.A.D.'s -altogether—quite a now method in Ariiiy procedure. Tho accommodation for. sick nurses was also a matter of interest-; and apparently there is 110 separate building for •such emergencies, only a few rconis adjoining one of tho men s wards, within sound of all that might be taking place was felt tliat women who .were doing so much for tho men, and who had done so much in tho past during the years of active service, should be inorq studied than, their, accommodation would seem to show. Among those who were present were Ibe Mayoress (Mrs. J. P. Luke), Mrs. Holland (Christchurch), Mrs. M'ilford. Mrs. M. Myers, Colonel M'Gavin, Colonel I'nrdy, u great many of the soldiers themselves) and sonic from the M.iraniar Hospitul, tho matron (Miss Nurse), members of tho nursing staff and V.A.D.'s, tho medical stnff, and Colonel Pcrritt, from tlifc Maheno. St. Mary's Guild Annual Meeting. The annual general meeting of the supporters of St. Mary's Guild, Karori, was iici-J in the Diocesan Booms, Mulgrave Street, yesterday afternoon. The liight Rev. the Bishop o£ Wellington occupied (lio chair. There were also present Archdeacon Johnson, the llev. Hansell, the Rev. Woodward, the liev. Stent, Miss Coates (president), members of the comjnittee, and associates. Apologies for absence wero received from Mrs. Hjiyes I'treasurer), Mrs. Guy Powlcs, and Mrs. i-ladneld. On tho motion of Archdeacon Johnson, seconded by the Kev. Woodward, the report and balance-sheet wero adopted. . Tha Bishop of Wellington made feeling reference to the loss the home had sustained in the death of Jlrs. John Duncau, who had always been an ardent and sympathetic, supporter, of tho home, and expressed appreciation of the fact that the committee had decided, with Mr. Duncan's consent, to call the' cottage homo the Duncan Cottage; also that a brass tablet was to bo put in the homo in memory of Mrs. Duncan. A motion expressing the sympathy of the meeting was passed. On the suggestion of the llev. Woodward it was resolved that it ba a recommendation to the iucoming committee to take tho necessary steps to" havo tho society's name changed from tho St. Mary's Guild to the St. Mary's Anglican Girls' Home, in order to make it clear to tho public mind that the institution is a home for girls under the auspices of tho Anglican Church, and not a sowing society. Mrs. A. E. Atkinson eulogised the work ol tho matron, Miss Parlane, and her assistant, also the assistance she has been lo' many societies in lairing girls into the home. The girls there are taught, the real meaning of the word "home." Mrs. Atkinson further suggested the necessity of training tho older girls to amuse and care for the younger children,

A Kindergarten Phantasy,

Mrs. James Hannah and Miss Gladys Campbell will stage at tho Opera House, in aid of the Wellington. Free luoi'ergarten, an original phantasy, "Ilie Three Doors," composed and arranged by these two artists in collaboration, its big features will bo a scene from "Midsummer Night's Dream," staged by Jlrs. Hannah with a big cast of fairy characters, a study of the values of eurythmics, calisthenics, and dramatic dancing, arranged by Miss Campbell, and a very tellinpr opening act showing tho uncared-for child taken by the Spirit of tho Kindergarten into a happy land where games and songs and even articles of. wearing apparel and food and drink come alive and dance before its astonished eyes. Mr, ,T. M. Clark will recito the prologue to tho first and- second acta. THE TOWN-PLANNING CONFERENCE WOMEN'S POINT OF VIEW. Matters of much' • interest to ' women were dealt with at yesterday .afternoon's sitting of the Town-planning Conference, the particular matters under review being the establishment of creches and kindergartens, of community laundries and distributing kitchens, and the great problem of . help in tho homes for overburdened mothers. The speakers or contributors of papers were Mrs. T. E. Taylor, Miss Field (whose paper was read by Mrs. Don), Mrs. Baume, and Mrs. Alex. Gray. Mrs. 'I'. E. Taylor spoke regarding the welfare of women and children in'relation to town-planning. She said 110 proposal for 'community well-being would bo conipleto if it did not take into account the women's , point of view. The women ought to have good homes, and they ought to have the training in homo science necessary to enable them to miiko the best uso of their homes. Creches and kindergartens were of very great value "to women, and the value was gbing. to in-, crease. Provision for these institutions ought to bo included in every town-plan-ning 6chenie. • It iras.h physical impossibility, in her opinion, for women under modem conditions to do, unaided, everything that should he done in homes that contained children. The requirements of the children, in the matter _of training. and. guidance, had greatly increased. It had become necessary that the community should go to the aid of the mothers, by providing for the pro- 1 per care of their young children in.crechckindergarlens during t|io hours when the mothers were occupied with other duties. These institutions should bo convenient-, ly situated, close to the homes, and within easv reach of onen ground. Com.lii.unal "laundries and distributing kitchens were another pnrt of the same problem. Competent help was almost uhprocurablo in the homes, and if home-life was to be preserved the community must undertake some part of the duty that formerly had been performed by the women

Mrs. W. J?. Don read a paper by Miss Jessie Field (Nelson) dealing with' the provision of civic centres, -where young people might find entertainment and'companionship. She considered it important that tho young men and women should not find their amusements apart,, but should be brought together in a natural, friendly fashion. Miss Field suggested public - social halls as national war memorials. Under present conditions young people had small opportunity of meeting 0110 'another elsewhere thiUi ill tho streets.

Mi\s. Don read a resolution passed bythe ■ AVomeii'a Christian .Temperance, Union, urging that public recreation halls should be' created throughout New Zealand as "permanent peaco memorials." Mrs. M. Irwin (Auckland) advocated the'opening of municipal markets "in all centres, in order to reduce the cost of living. The consumers ought, to bo nblo in buy foodstuffs ht marlcet'.pricoS.. Mrs. Kosetla. Baumo. (Auckland) urged' tliat the status of household worlc must' be raised in oi;d'er to attract tho girls who at present were drifting into factories. The issue of certificates of household proficiency would nut tho girls on a different footing.. The certificates, issued after examination, would bo guarantee of proficiency. They, would raise the standard of homo service, as they ha'd raised the standard, of nursing, and would enable the girls not merely to occupy a better place iu the community,, .but. also to secure rensonablo regulation of their conditions of labour. The certificates would have to be based 011 vocational training. in answer to a question, Mrs. Baumo said she would object to tho-term "Servant." Her idea was to raise the status of the home assistant b.v making dome.stio service a definito vocation,' equal ( in status to other trades or professions. Girls and women fully qi/alificd: to perform household work and possessing ft good status would bo able, to secure for themselves improved conditions of service. Mrs. A. Gray, read a paper dealing with tho influence of home life oir national ellieicnpy : and the welfare of the children.