SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 283, 26 August 1919, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Mr. and Mrs. Nevillo Halse, who aro returning to Sydney this week, aro going on to America, via Java and Japan. Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Hudson are staying at "Pendcnnis," Burnell Avenue, during the session. • The. Kelburn tennis court has been lent to tho Tennis Committee of tho Ladies' Auxiliary of the Wellington Navy League, wlio arc entertaining a party of officers from H.M.S. New Zealand to-day, Lunch will be provided and afternoon tea. Tho Kelburn Tennis Club is' assisting in every way to mako the day a success. 1 Miss M. Cameron (Masterton) has come to meet'her brother, who arrives by the Giessen from service abroad. Mrs. Stewart (Masterton) lias come to Wellington to meet her eon, who returns by the troopship Giessen from active service. Mr. and Mrs. D. Cameron, "Moeraki," Hinakura, aro visiting Wellington. Mrs. R. W. Holmes and Cantain and Mrs. Sinclair Thompson have" returned from a visit to America and Canada. Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Rawson and Mrs. A. J. S. Rawson, of Marton, aye staying at Wellington. Thoy have come to nieot Sergeant A. J. S. Rawson, who is returning in the Giessen. Tho Customs and Marine Departments wiM hold their annual ball in St. Peter's Hall this evening-. Mrs. Hardwiclc-Smith is visiting Chrintchurch, Captain J. H. and Mrs. Harvey (Christchurch) are visiting New Plymouth, , For to-night at the Citizens' Ball, tnu following have been added to tho committee:—Mesdames E. K. Kirkcaldio, Coleridge. C. 'Barle, Colonel Campbell, Colonel Hughes. Captain Chudley, Cap. tain Holdsworth, Messrs. P. Newman, H. Nathan, G. Bullock, G. George, K. Duncan C. A. Tringham, J. B. Hjircourt, C. P. Skerret.t, A. A. Marryatfc K. P. Turnbull, L. 0. H. Tripp.

Tho death occurred at Gisborne last week of Mrs. Simeon, widow of tho late Colonel B. Simeon, K.A., at the ago of 89 years. The lato Mrs. Simeon had been in indifferent health, and had been practically confined to bed for yearn. Accompanied by her husband, tho late Colonel Simeon, a retired officer of tb» Indian Army, who predeceased her by about 21 I years, Mrs, Simoon and family arrived' at Gisborne from England iii ISBS, and settled in that district. Tho deceased lady shared with her husband the vicissitudes of tho Army service in India, passing as sho did through the stirring days of Ino I'ntlian Mutiny. In various capacities Mrs. Simeon rendered freut service to the Empire, and her unfailing devotion gained the approbation of both Sir Henry Havclook and General Outram, who personally conveyed their high appreciation on behalf of the Indian Army. During the Sikh campaign, Mrs. Simeon performed yeoman service with l;ic sic* and wounded, and aiso On /the NorthWest Frontier. During an official visit paid to the then almost' tmknown Kashmir region, Mrs. Simeon accompanied her husband on foot, the journey .-tilting the climbihtf of the high mountain pass. She is survived by firreo sons, viz., Dr. K. A. Simeon Major G. E. Simeon (Wellington), and Mr. Herbert Simeon, of Gisbornu.

The Citizens' Ball. The ball to be given by the citizens of Wellington (through the Citizens' I?cr ceptinn Committee) io the Admiral .of the Fleet, Viscount .Tellieoe, will take place at the Town Hall to-night. Tho ball will be very beautifully decorated, and tho elaborate arrangements of the onlrance, the stairways, and the choir section promise to present a particularly charming spectacle. Admirable music has been arranged.

Returned Soldiers' Ball. Arrangements are "well in hand for the returned soldiers' ball, which is to take, place in the Town Hall on.September 5, at 8.80 p.m., and judging by the demand for tickets the gathering should be a huge success. All association members who intend to be present are requested to obtain their tickets as early as possible. Applications by post, enclosing the necessary amount, will receive the prompt attention of the secretary, Mr. Aldrieh. The committee has decided to close the list on August 31.

Visiting the New Zealand. Among the various parties which visited H.M.S. New Zealand yesterday was tho Naval linte-rtaininent Committee, headed by the Mayoress, Mrs. J. P. Luke. Clear sunshine and a blue sky made life on the ocean wave, as seen from a battleship safely in port, a delightful affair, and it was not surprising that some of the small bays who were at the same time visiting the ship were firmly convinced that that was the life for them in the fu,ture. Immediately upon their -arrival upon, tho New Zealand, tho party (w'hicli consisted entirely of ladies) was entertained at morning tea in tho warrant officers' mess, "when Mr. J. Wilkinson cordially welcomed them in a brief •speech. A tour of the ship followed. No doubt the fact that the New Zealand is the people's own gift to the Navy partly accounts for the keen interest which is taken in her, and there were few places tlmt most people are not-prepared to visit, not even the endless ladders that had to be scaled and descended daunting th&in in the least degree. A visit to the battleship would not have been complete without making the acquaintance of the ship's mascot, a bulldog that has seen and' survived many strange experiences, and who bears himself with au amiaKe, though bored, dignity.

Among tho objects of, interest upon tliu New Zealand is a large belS, which was presented to a former H.M.S. New Zealand from/the children of the Dominion. When the present battleship, however, was presented to the Homo country, the na mo of the former ship was changed to the Zealandia, and the bell was transferred to the gift ship. Another present from children is a gunnery shield of silver, which is greatly valued. Among the silver trophies and gifts which are in the possesion of the New Zealand is a beautiful silver' oxidised bowl presented to the ship at Bombay, and rccent acquisitions are two handsome silver bowfc won in a skiff race at Sydney. ,Of the greatest interest of all aro the traces of the injury done to the New Zealand when slio was hit by a Gorman 11-iuch shell. As a .memento of that occasion the largest fragment of armour plating blown from a, gun turret has been mounted and is kept on lilio quarter-deck. It loolts like nothing so much as a huge and strange variety of black seashell or strange black wrinkled mushroom. To see it is to realise tho forco and power of high explosives. Mounted high a'bove it are somo very line Maori carvings, and in a place which cannot fail to attract tho attention is tho ship's motto, "Onward." Interesting also were the visits to tlui signalling bridge, tho navigating station, and, descending from the heights, to the engine-room, - with its huge complexities of shining machinery. Not least in interest either was the visit to the bakehouse, where shelves woro lo be seen tilled with freshly-baked bread and de-licious-looking rolls. For the use "of Admiral Viscount .TeMiooe and Viscountess Jellicoo a sheltor-deck, cabin, and dmwing-room liavo been added to tho aliij) The officers belonging to tlm moc-s include: Meisrs. J. Wilkinson (chief boat: swain), N; linfflo (chief gunner T), E. J. Whiting, M.B.K. (chief gunner), p. Turner (commissioned shipwright), I'. Hamlyn (Villinor), W. J. Stride (gunner), L. Wright, (gunner), W. Burt (signal boatswain), TJ..Wi t'raig (warrant Iclcrraphist), .1, Lawrence (boatswain), J. Kii'rcf.l (boatswain), I'. Humby (artificer engineer), R. Whylo (artificer, engineer), E. Haytor (warrant mechanician),' !•'. Giles (warrant electrician). F. J. Cummins (warrant victualling officer), and A. l'ragiis!! (bisdmußter E.M.).

The Sailors' "At Home," There was a large attendance_ of Bailors at the Town Hall last evening, and a very pleasant time was spent, musical items and. dancing forming the entertainment. The Mayoress, Mrs. J. P. Luke, was present, and the arrangements were as usual carried out by members of the Entertainment Committee. During the evening Mrs. Luke announced that the ship's company of 11.H.5. New Zealand were having an "at home," to be held this ovening, and the eailors were anxious that everyone who had nssisted in their entertainment while in Wellington should attend. Admission was by ticket, which were obtainable from Mrs. Earle, No gontlemen were being invited, and none, tho Mayoress said, would bo admitted. Dancing was to take ulace from C o'clock in the ovening till 10, anil tho chaperons for the occasion were to 1)0 Mrs. N. Luko, Mrs. Garrard, Mrs. Cronk, Mrs. When, and Mrs. Gavin.

Danco In the Sydney Street Yesterday evening a delightfully-ar-ranged dance wa9 given in tho Sydney Street Hall by Mrs. W. Young and M.-s. Arthur Young for the visiting college football team which has been playing in Wellington—that from Wanganui. Tha ChristchiiTch team would also have been guests of the occasion, but unfortunately they were not able to come to Wellington. The decoration of the hall had been charmingly oarried out, the main hall being enclosed with a canopy of blue and white drapery, carried midvrav down tho aides of the walls from the ceiling, ropes of lycopodium starred with flowers coding a lighter touch to the general effect. The canopy had been extended to enclose the stage, and the latter had been carpeted and furnished, with couches and chairs as a sitting-out place. Both of the side rooms had also ticcn comfortably furnished and carpeted, and arranged with flowers, one having tho I mantelpieco massed with wattle and the other with rhododendrons. Tho gymnasium had been turned into a supper room, and had been completely' enclosed with draperies of red, blue,'and white, so th-it it looked more like a largo tent than anything olse. tho effect being'very gay. The supper tables had been arranged with spring flowers. Mrs. W. Young wore a frock of soft bliio georgette over satin, with waist belt and ends of silver tissue, and Mrs. Arthur Young was in a dress of gold tissue, made with a slightly draped eltirt. Dr. Young and Mr. Arthur Young assisted in receiving tho gucstb.

The Migration qf Womßn. . Tho Salvation Army, by means of its Emigration Ucpartmc-nt, had teen doing muck to assist women to eetttl-e in the Over-Sea Dominions, and has migrated about 10,000 single women (states the "Daily .News"). '-The failures did not amount to half of 1 pel' cent. Most of the girls had married well, and 70 per cent, of those sent to, Canada had married within three days of their arrival. At present the Migration Department was waiting for shipping facilities. They had already had applications from hundreds of girls desiring to go to various parts of the Dominions. An. - analysis of a hundred cases, taken-at random, showed that a large number of the young women had been employed during the war in munition factories on the land, and in war work generally. They were mainly batween the ages cf 17 and 2G, and the majority wished to go to Canada, Ontario being particularly favoured. Jinny had fviqnds waiting to receive them, some fathers,' others sisters and brothers, and not a few sweethearts ready to marry them. ...

■ Some of tho reasons given for desiring to emigrate wert Humiliating. A Paisley girl said she was tired of working in the thread mills? Three English farmers' (laughters, reared on a farm and accustomed to all kinds of farm work and domestic duties desired to make _a 'way fur tiieinsE-l I ''-- in Australia. A Kentis.h village maiden of some 2<i summers wanted "to get a rJ-ace in some town where there would be plenty of life." They represented generally a hno typo of womanized and would certainly do credit to the Old Country wherever they went. It -was probable that in future the proportion of single wc-men transferred to the Dominions would be . considerably greater than it ever had been. It wa<j oxpectcd that there would bo opportunities oversea for girls who had been working on the. land during the war or employed in munition making, or in tho various other occupations usually left to men. Many women who formerly might Have been considered unsuitable for oversea conditions would have gained experience and developed capacity for ninny forms of employment that would render them valuable "citizens for any .community,

A Soldier's Will. "My wife, in my estimation, is the most perfect woman I ever saw, heard of, or knew of." This is a passage from the will of Major Charles (i. Baird, of New York, who was killed in action in France in April of last year. His,will also contains the following: "She was endowed with marvellous courage, a very strong -will, an intensely high ideal of honour. Our love never at any time diminished, but has grown always till I feel it has reached the point when it can reasonably be considered tho acme of perfect love. I am tho richest of men in that I am blessed with the truest and most honourable - and loving wife in the world." Major Baird adds that he had never broken any -pledge or promise to his wife, never told her any falsehoods, "except such as were necessary to buy her presents to surprise and cheer her."