SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 308, 24 September 1919, Page 4

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dr. Agnes Bennett will be the guest of' the Pioneer Club at an ",it home" to bo held at the Pioneer. Club on Saturday iiftpinoon. Daring the course of the Afternoon she will speak of some of her. war experiences in the Balkans. Miss Bessie Cotterill (Christeluiroh) lias been spending a few <hys in Wellington, having come to meet her brother, Captain Dennis Cotterill. Jtrs. W. Deans (Canterbury) is visiting her parents, Mnjor-Gener.il Sir Andrew ltussell and Lady Kusseil, Hastings. The wedding took place in England recently of Lieutenant G(orge Bartriun Baker, D.C.M.,. M.M., N.Z.E.F., son of Jtr. and Mrs. George Baker, Albury, South Canterbury, :to Miss Gwendolen Maude Osmond, daughter of Blr. and Mrs. W. W. Osmond, of Clarendon, Salisbury. Lieut. H. P; Bake,:, N.Z.E.F. and Ii.A.F., was best man, ,tnd the Missea Jcycelyn and Mary Osmond (sisters) and Phylljs and Mary Osmond (cousins) acted as maids of honour. Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Dalgety (Cbrist-chua-ch) arrived in Wellington at the beginning of tho week, having come to visit their son, who was -returning- by tho Corinthic. ■■■•••' Something(in the nature of a marrinjro boom is occuring in Dtuwdin at tho present time (telegraphs the Dunedin corresj>ondent of the Christeluirch 'Tress"). Last mopth tho number of weddings eetebrated in Dunodin was exactly double the number recorded in' August., 1918, and more have alrendy bs'en registered during thii-first half 6i this month than for the 1 whole of' the month last year. While it .is difficult to say,that any achiai shortago of female workers is beinj creal'Ml, cer- . tain clns.?es of employment—such as dressmaking, for instance, aro considerably understaffed,. The manager of a large store said he was >tnablo to assign the eauw), but there waii undoubtedly a shortage.of girls throughout the whole of his departments. "Quito a number," ha said, "have been mat nod during tho last. twelve/months, mostly to soldiers, and for sometime pasl: we havo been steadily losing the services of girls who got married on the eve of l the departure of their husbands- for the front, and ara now going to live in their own hoi"rs. In tlie dressmaking department the shortage of hands will 'be very acute during tho next few months, when tae heavy Christmas business commences.

News ha.s been received in the Dominion of the engagement; of Miss Bremla Stock, daughter of Mr. B. Stock', of Mornington, Dunedin, to Dr. Sullivan, of New York., Miss Stock left Dunedin somo years ago to pursue her musical career in America, and for son.e time past haa been in New York.

The engagement: is announced of Miss Catherine' (Katie) Simpson, second daughter of Mrs. A. Simpson aid the late Alexunder _ Simpson, of Wellingjton, to Mr. William Gladstone iYickham, ,of Johannesburg, South Africa.

From an early hour, yesterday morning tho Returned Soldiers' Club was inundated with soldiers who had returned by tho Corinthic, many of- them with their wives and young children, and for soma hours on end Mrs; Do-Castro, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Stott, Mrs. Hope-Lewis, Mrs. Ba.tteii and others had a very busy time in connection with the serving ot refreshments; It was. a caoo of relay after relay, and was quite one of tho ousiest times they have yet experienced. The-Corinthic makes the forty-first troopship whose returning soldiers (and their wives), havo found a warm welcome awaiting themi upon disembarkation, 60 that tho value of the club as a welcoming place and depot for the men during the hours of their stay in Wellington whilo awaiting" trains and boats to take them to their homes ,hns been fully, proved. Yesterday there wer» many small babies who were the guests of the- club, and although babies were not thought of in the original schemo of things when the club came into - existence, it has since proved a place of refuge to many in its latter days, though :a arrangements naturally are not the most convenient in thu world for the mothers. As an example of how much oome of the wives have appreciated the hospitality they have met with tho following letter speaks for itself:—"Kind 'Friends,—Please accept my grateful thanks for your kind welcome and glorious (the latter word underlined) Breakfast, which I assure you will never be forgotten." This letter was founn pinned to the piano.

Arrangements had bee a made by members of'tho Women's National Reserve, for the entertainment c-f the wives and children of Goldiors who returned yesterday to New Zealand by the Corinthic, the Esperanto rooms-on Lambton Quay having been taken for this purpose. Ax I quite an early hour visitors began to arrive and so it continued all day long, the newly-arrived wives finding the place a very great boon t» thorn as a resting place for them and their little ones during the hours thoy spent; in tho town. A great-many babies were brought there and members of the Kserve did their best to make them all welcome and comfortable, several undert-ifcing as well to take them into their homes for the night, one kind friend offering the hospitality of her home to a newly-arrived father, mother, and five children. Others again were taking in slightly lesser families, and in oveTy way. the ntmost hospitality was being shown and every effort madb to welcome the soldiers and their wives and families.

Miss. Sylvia-Wilson, one of tho New Zealand Volunteer Sisters, returned to Wellington by the Corhthio yesterday, after four years of active service. She was first in llgypt for nine montus, una was transferred then to B.rockenkurst Military Hospital, where- she remained until it was closed. jJlisa WUson lias wirried away with her the happiest of -memories of her experiences with New Zealand soldiers, andsae was most.enthusiastic about her work. As soon, as Urockenhiirst was closed the Y.M.O.A. asked Miss Wilson to take charge of a large hostel in London called tho Kiwi Club, which was .always thronged with soldiers and more particularly so at tho time of the peace celobrations. Miss Wilson has returned to take up her residence with her father. Mr. L. H. B. Wilson, in Salamanca Road. The Jlayor and Maycress had a busy time yesterday in , securing temporary homes and hospitality for soldiers and their - wives-.' who arrived in Wellington by" 'the Corinthic, a task, however, that was considerably lightened by the many kindly offers which they received. The Mayoress and her committee were in charge of refreshments at the Town Hall, and there the newly-arrived ones were introduced to various citisens, who .vcre to lie their hosts and liosttsses for the time being. One hospitable lady took away with her a party of seven—father, mother and live eluldf.m— and several other citizens were taking to their homes lesser thirties, including some very small babies. The voluntary motor-car drivers and ownors were also very helpful in taking a mo of the family parties to their destinations. It was very fortunate that the weather was kind, and that IV newcomers had their first glimpse of New Zealand in sunshine, fo;,' sunshine makes all the difference with i'rst Mipiessioiis. It is impossible for many of these English wives not to feel a little homesick when first stepping on io » hind so far away from their own country, mid to meet as they did yesterday with smiling faces, words of welcomo./und hospitality on many sides did miicji lu ei.unk'iact (heir feelings of loneliness and homesickness. Mrs. M'lltish, r,f Amklaad, it ml Miss tliilliintine, of UViigiinui, who imve been doing patrol work in the interests of the N.Z.E.l I '., in Loudon, -bi- 60inc months past, are now taking r. course at Cambridge in civics mid eugenics, a London coi-iespoiident. They intend, on returning to New Zealand, to take up work of social reconstruction.

Miss Winifred Butler, daughter of the late Judge Butler, of lh« Native Land Court, has been in England tor the pi.st eight years with her sister. .Mrs. Butler died in England about I'.ve wars ago, shortly after the outbreak of war, and .Mr. It. J. Butler enlisted in lie Scafurth Highlanders. Miss iilmgeiie Butler has served through the n;-r in the Q..M.A.A.C. in Calais, where she expects to remain until July next. Misses llclen and Winifred Butler served villi the Ministry of Information from 101G to 101!). Miss Winifred Butler is reluming to New Zealand in a IV.v months. The engagement is announced of Briga'dier-Gcneral 11. D. 0. Ward, C.8., C.M.G., of the'Hoyal Artillery, and Mnry, daughter of the late Bight Hon. ( hnrles Millies Gaskoll and Lady Catherine Milnes Gaskell, of Wenlock Abbey, Much Wenlock, Shropshire. General Ward was aide-de-camp to Lord Bani'urly from 1897-9!), and served in South. Africa on the staff of the' New Zealand Contingents. Ho has served also with great distinction in the European War. It ."ill l-o remembered thiil Lady .'distance Ki.ox married in 191)5 tho only ion tf the Eight Hon. Charles Millies Caskell, end, therefore, the brother of General Ywiid'6 fiancee. Mr. and Mis. Walter Youiig, whoso kindness and hospitality during the war to Now Zealand soldiers visiting Edinburgh have caused their names to ho held in affectionate remembrance by mony of our soldiers, arrived by the Corinthic, en route for Dunedin. Sister Rachel Lo:k -Nelson) has returned to the Dominion after ".early live years of war service. Mrs. Burnett (Mount Stewart, Canterbury) came to-Wellington earlier in the week to meet her daughter, Mrs. Melvill, who with General Melvill returned by the Corinthic; also her son I'i'vato M\ Burnett, who came by the Hororata. Domestic Problems. An effort to bring about, l*tter cct.diImns in domestic work has -.esulted in a, Whitley Council being i.t Birmingham' Tho forination'of a union amongst the girls and ell association amongst the mistrcfis'js is taking place. Miss Julia VaTley described to a meeting the steps she hud taken to get into touch with girls employe- in domestic service, as a result of which sho had been'able to lay tho foundations of a trade union for the girls. A committee had ■ bren establisnod and a scheuio formulated on behalf of the girls; but what was needed now was the formation of a joint irdustrial council'consisting of representatives of mistresses and maids to go into Iho problem Thb greatest grievance of tho girls was the way in > whinh everybody looked down upon domestic servants. "Lift up domestic service from 'Mary-Ann-ism,'" advised Miss Yarlcy, "to the status of a profession." . Miss' Varley- made the suggestion tl'at they should proceed on the lines of tho Whitley Council, and at tho end of that meeting six girls were ihosen to .meet the mistresses on tho Joint Counul. Day Nurseries for Children. Lady Islington is chairman of a committee which is gradually opening day nurseries in various parts of London. Recently one of those nurseries was opened by .Mrs. Lloyd George at Bethnal Green. In the course of her speech, Lady Islington said "that the nurseries were in no way of a charity: it wasi no more a charity to send a child there than i't was to send a boy to Eton. The'mothers-'of Bethnal Green could not afford to start a. nursery, and the- mothers of Mnyfair would find it difficult to start an Eton, both both could nay for their children at either place. The only criticism sho had heard of her- nurseries wa3, 'LadyIslington will never bo hapny until every child is taken from its mother; " . "My dAnghter," she added, "is twentyone, and it is no thanks to me she is the fine specimen sho is; T have nfiways had good nurses for her. What mother wants her child all day long? If a Mayfair mother had her baby with her everywhere she went, -took it to meetings with hei. and out to luncheon parties, people, would begin to say how badly she, vast brincins; her baby up. But they expected the poor mother to have liar bahy afvraya. with her, and if she. left it ot a day nursery then'sho did it that she might enjoy herself. Perhaps presently there will 1» day nurseries for every mother. East mid West, and nothing thought of it." Sue hoj'-ed, however, that thev would have rest 'honied for mothers also. The care of the children was -.a debt, they owed to the men of that and other districts who had gone out vefhintarily to fight. There are at, present 50 ba.bies in residence. Tlw charge is sevenpence a day, including breakfast, dinner, and tea, Baths are a special attraction. A quantity of toys has been sent to the nursery, and there are little yellow frocks to wear when tho home things have been put away. '