SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 211, 31 May 1919, Page 4

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

sJis3 Hooker, who has resigned her position as. matron of the Nurses' Homo, Wellington Hospital, was the recipiont of a gold wristlet watch from tho uursiiiK shift. Mies Hooker carries with her xll good wishes lor tho future.

The sum of i!]s was made at the sweet stall in llic Grand Opera House on the opening night of "Tho Three Doors," exvluaiva of the necessary expenses in connection with tho stall. '

Tho engagement is announced of Caplain Inn Barton Cruiekshnnk, of the Wellington Jfountcd Rifles, Main Bodv who has recently returned by the Ka'ikourn from Egypt, to Miss Geraldine I'lillcrton-Smith, of Marton.

lolloiviiifi- on the lecture which was Riven to the senior forms of the Girls' C'ollejrn on Thursday of last week, Colonel Powles, D.5.0., C.M.G., gave antillipr very lnteresling address this week to tho junior forms of tho college. With Colonel Powles on the platform were Mrs. Powles and friends, and Mr. C. P. Powlefi. The lecturer said he had a warm interest in the college because his wife was n former pupil, nnd his father had lieen for many ycar3 secretary of the Hoard of Governors. Three ringing cheers were given for Mr. C. P. Powles when il was announced that his secretaryship dated hack to the founding of the cblleco in 1883. I

News has been received in Wellington of the death',, at Clio age of 75. of Mrs Blake, wife of the Eev. A. Blake, M.A., who, in 1868, came to New Zealand on the recommendation of (lie Rev. Dr. Duff as a missioner to the Maoris. After three years of missionary work tho Rev. Mr. Blake accepted a' call to the Kai'-orni Presbyterian Church, Dunedin. Prom there ho went' to Lincoln, Prebblefon, Tinwald, and Pleminston, and was finally stationed at Hnlcpmbe. After' spending thirty-five years in Now Zealand, Mr. and Mrs. Blake went back to their old home in Bangalore, India. The late Mrs. Blake was a daughter of the late Bey. B. Dice, for fifty years a missionary in South India. Her brothers were Mr. T,. Rice; C.1.E., who was for a time director of Public Instruction for tho Madras Presidency, Hie I?ev. E. P. Uice, M.A., principal of the Bangalore JTijrh School, the Eev. Henry Eice, misssionary, and Mr. James Rice, Cli ilis deceased lady leaves two sons, MrT A. C. Blake, schoolmaster, Lynll Bay, and Mr. E. M- Blake, trehitcet, of this city.

On the ocension of her retirement after sixteen years' service from the position of superintendent of the Women's Training Institute of the Presbyterian- Church of New Zealand, Mm. Blackie was entertained by Professor and Mrs. Howitson at Dunedin, and presented with tho sum of ,£6O (which has since been increased by ,£10) as a parting gift of good will from the Training Institute Committee and some friends. Mr. and Mrs. Studholme (Itnanui) are leaving very shortly on a,visit to Bug. land. They intend returning boforo the end of the year. On- Thursday evening members of the Women's National Reserve Riflo Club met to say farewell to Miss Cable, one of tho original inembeM of the club, who i> leaving shortly on a visit to England. On behalf of tho' club Mrs. O'Sullivan presented Miss Cable with a travelling cushion and conveyed to hor tho hearty good wishes for a 6,ife journey and a pleasant holiday. At the/conclusion of the , meeting those present wero entertained by Mm'O'Sullivan to supper. Mrs. W. Turnbullleaves by tho lonio to-day on a visit to England. On Thursday she gave an afternoon tea. Nt her 'home in Tiiiakori Road'to enablo her to k 6fty'farewell to 'her-friends. Mrs. W. Jolin3toji.(Highden) has taken Mrs. W. TuTnb.ull's' houso-for the winter months.,.- ' Lady Wilson (Bulls) and family came to Wellington to meet Major Wilson, who returned to New Zealand by tlie lUmutaka. On Wednesday afternoon, Mre. Adams gave a tea to wolcomo the nuwly-arrived soldier,' who is attached to the Imperial Army, and had been lent temporarily to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Mrs. Adams, who has been more or less invalided sinc'o tho influenza epidemic, was assisted by Miss Adam's and Mrs. Studholmo (Ruanui). Lady Wilson and Miss Wilson were also present and several old friends of Major Wilson's. -

The Pakeha, which arrived in port yesterday, brought back to New Zealand a largq number of -returned 'soldiers, about 1400 in all, and shortly befoj; , five o J clock the Returned Soldiem' Club was practically inundated with them. Tho ladies in charge of the arrangements (their number including some of tin former hostesses at the.Sydney Street Soldiers' Club, as well as those who have taken so great a part in placing, the entertainment of the returning men upon its present basis) had a very busy time indeed for aoout'g couploof hours. Mrs. Alex: Gray acted as hostess, and a very hearty welcome awaited the men at the club. Miss Little provided the music for the afternoon.

One of the outstanding ballets in the "Three Doors," which is being performed at the Grand .Opera House for tho I'ree Kindergartens, .is the "Notation" Ballet, which. lias, been composed by Miss Campbell to the music of "At Parting." '• Every step iii the ballet is taken to the notes of the "music of the bars, and possibly only those who have studied the art of dancing can realise the difficulty that is involved ■in this or (lie amount of truiiling .'hat ensures its success. The girls wore white flowing draperies of ninon, very soft and pretty, while the "Awkward Girl" eat and watched. Towards the end of the ballet tho performers slip out, and return with coloured scarves, and it finishes with charming effects of colour mid posture. .Every part of the Opera House was filled last night by a very appreciative i audience.

The matron of Mirannr Home acknowledges the following gifts: —Bed Cross Society, monthly cheque and weekly supply of fruit, also knife-clean-ing machine, set croijnet balls, cushions, slippers, underclothing, mufflers, etc.; Salvation Army, vegetables, fruit cake, weekly supplies, also stationery, socks, mufflers, pyjamas, etc.; Y.M.C.A., gramo-phone-record stand, and weokly supplies of tobacco and cigarettes; magazines, books, and illustrated papers from New Zealand News Co., Ltd.. Mr. W. I?. Morris (Secretary of the General Post Office). Mrs. Loiii? Blnndell, and Mrs. Clarke; Mrs. lienshnw and "Anonymous," weekly supplies of flowers and cake; Mrs. Vallanco (Mastcrton),' cigarettes ; Mrs. Firth, cream; flowers, fruit, and eggs from Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Doughty, Mrs. Frost, and Mrs. Paul.

A meeting of tho Alice Parkinson Release Committee met on Thursday, when it was resolved that if peaco should be declared before Parliament meets and Parkinson is not granted her freedom that another petition be sent to Parliament asking for a remission of tho sentenco imposed on her. '

A Generous Offer. An arrangement (hat is likely to be very much appreciated by invalid toldiers in the military hospitals is that made by Mr. Walter Fuller, on behalf of tho management, by means of which soldiers (it is hoped by Mr. I'uller that their numbers will not bo lesa than 20) will have seats reserved for them at His Majesty's Theatre on any night of the* week save Saturday and Monday. Mr. Fuller only stipulates that he is given 24 hours' notice so that lie can have time to make the necessary arrangements, and is also told how many men thero will be- Tu the party. I'or those who cannot go out at .night arrangement* will be inado for their attendance at the Saturday matinees. Tickets given them by the Mayoress or by the association will be sufficient to give the men access to tho performances save on those nights mentioned by > r r. Puller. Needless to eny, such an offer is very, greatly appreciated by Mrs. Luke and her helpers, and such an arrangement will do something towards breaking the monotony of hospital life /or tho invalided men. A Wellington Songstress. On Friday last, at her residence, Telford Terrace, Oriental Bay, died tho finest soprano vocalist ever produced in Wellington, in the person of Mrs. Mary Greenwood, -wife of Mr. Ephraim Greenwood of thiscity. The present generation of concert-goers are not likely to remember tho lato Mrs. Greenwood at her best, but such judges as Mr. John Prouse and Mr. W. J . Harland state that she was tho finest soprano ,wo ever had in Wellington, and her memory «s a vocal artist of outstanding capacity will bts treasured by all wlio remember her many very fine performances in concert and oratorio. Mr. Prouse »ays that Mrs. Greenwood's vocal prime was from twenty to thirty-five yeare ago. She was a brilliant high soprano of singular purity ami sweetness of tone, with an extensive range, and iaro degree of intelligence to lend grace and dignity to her work. Mrs. Greenwood was trained in Wellington under Mr. Edwards, and for many years she was the accepted soprano soloist'in oratorio, as many of "the old brigade" would remejnber. It is nearly twenty years since she left the public arena, einco when, however, she has sung in St. Marke's Choir, nnd up till a few years ago in tlio "chorus of the Royal Choral Society (now the Choral Tmion). "Mrs. Greenwood," says Mr. Prouse, "was tlie finest soprano Wellington ever turned ont. She loved good music, and never degraded herself to sing trash. Welcoming the Soldiers. Soldiers returning by the Pakeha received their first welcome to Wellington from the Mayoress, Mrs. J. P. Luke, and members of the committee, who went down to the ■ wharf and brought with them their usual gifts of fruit, cigarettes, etc. These, it need npt be said, wero very much appreciated, and it was interesting to see how exceedingly oxpert the soldiers were in catching the fruit, much of which had to be_ thrown to them, and how equally skilful in throwiug it. No doubt their war training largely accounted for their skill, and it was very rarely, if at all, that a idss was made." As they disembarked from the ship (a process that was carried ont with wonderful dispatch), Mrs. Luke and Miss Robin, who were stationed at one of the erases, gave them cigarettes. Mrs. Murphy and Mrs. Leslie did the wine from their appointed crane, and tho Mayor and Mr. Leslie did likewise from their stand. There was no doubt but that the welcome and the gifts were what the men liked. I Y.W.C.A. Notes. As noxt Sunday is Girls' Departnu-nt Sunday at the Y.W.C.A., the (service will be particularly bright. All girls and young women are cordially invited to attend. Jiiss Nicol will bo in charge of tho entertainment part of the'programme at tho social at the Y.W.C.A. to-night. Members are invited to bring along their men friends for a jolly evening's tun. On Thursday at the T.W.O.A. clubrooms, Herbert Street, Miss Adams addressed an audience of girls on the subject of prohibition, and outlined a scheme for the formation of a guild to promote the coming of prohibition. Y.W.C.A. members and all women are reminded of the "utility" stall, which is to bo held in the Y.W.C.A. clubroom, JWlds's Buildiusjs, next Friday, commencing at 3 p.m. This .stall, as its name implies, will contain all sorts of useful things, such ae cakes, sweets, needlework, etc. This is a good, opportunity of getting home-made articles as well as of helping the Y.W.C.A. Building Fund, towards which tho proceeds " The ° Y W.C.A. building in Boulcott Street is being altered, nnd very soon the blue triangle of the Y.W.C.A. mil be appearing on the outside. The girls aie looking forward in eager anticipation to entering their new building and partaking of the larger room this will provide for recreation and for classrooms. ' .„. , Particulars about the millinery anil dressmaking classes which aro being held at the Y.W.C.A.. Fowkls's Buildings, may be had on application to the office in Herbert Street. There, are still vacancies in these classes for girls wiskuw to take, these subjects. The millinery clasa meets on Wednesday at 7.30, and the dressmaking class on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7.30 o'clock.