SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 5, 1 October 1919, Page 4

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Mrs. Lysnar (Gisborne) is visiting WeiIlHgtOH. In Auckland there was a good attendance at tlie annual meeting of the Honorary Division of the Women's National Reserve. The special work of the division is to take interest in cases of need of i mothers, widows, and onihans of soldiers and sailors who have "made the supremo sacrifice; to discover and discriminate cases which need sptcial care; and to raise-funds to enable the association to render this assistance by organising entertainments. Mrs. P. Fitchelt was re-elected president, Mesdames Averill. Napier, Tole, Nelson, ami C. A. Whitney were elected vice-presidents, Mrs. I'. A. Hansard hon. orgariscr, Mrs. M Garry secretary, Mrs. Moffatt treasure!', and Miss Stott badge secretary.

Miss M. J. Cameron (Hastings) lately returned to New Zealand from Egypt, where sl)e had been doing V.A.D. work, is visiting Mrs. Munro in Mantcrton.

Mrs, Marton (Gisborue) is visiting Wellington.

Writing to friends in Wellington, a New Zealand girl at present in London says:—"We had our Peace Day celebrations last Saturday. I tell you it was a sight worth seeing. I had never seen such,.masses of people, evert in London. For two solid hours aiid a half the people cheered. I did not think they would be able to keep it up lo the end. hut they did. The tanks were almost the last in the procession, and the cheers for them were as enthusiastic and fresh as the cheers for General Periling mid the "Yanks," who led tlio procession. But Beatty got the ovation of the day down where I was. It was oiv: lone roar until ho was out of sisrht. He "must have had a very strong feeling of pride at the position he had made for himself in the people's love and es-teem. Ho looked very stern, and I thinVhe would have broken down if he -had tried to smile. Foch was also very stem 'and unbending, but Haig was irioiit pleasant, smiling and salutincr nil the way. although he became ill and hud' to leavo for home before the procession hid finished the route mapped oui. General Pershing was the most pleased looking of the lot of them. He got a. wond"rful reception; and looked thoroughly delighted with_ if. Altogether it was a wonderful sight and one that I could never forget."

TOio engagement is announced between Captain A. H. C. Riddell, MX'., the Bedfordshire Regiment younger 6on of the lato Patrick Riddell and Mrs. Kiddell, of Noirmont, Weybridgt, and Anita (Patsy), younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs.-Charles B. Russell, of- Wellington, New Zealand. ,

The marriage of Lieutenant Balfour Dawson, Royal Engineers, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dawson, of Master* ton, and Miss Maisie Albutt, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Albutt,- of Birmingliam, England, took place, at Moseley Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, on' June 2G. Lieutenant Samuel Dawson. D.F.C., Royal Air Force,-vas-best man, and Gunner Arthur <i. Dawson, New Zealand Fic-ld Artillery, was groomsman (both brother.? of the bridegroom)'. The bride'is sister and her cousin attended as bridesmaids.

Tike engagement is announced of Miss Katlterino _ Segrid, daughter of Mrs. Earle of North Chicago, to Dr. T. E. Butler, of Wnukegen. Mi6s Seglid is said to "be a very popular member of the "younger set" and a graduate of Waukegen High School and Illinois University. Dr. Butler is the brother of Miss. Mary and Miss Margaret Butler, of. Wellington.. . ' >

A "weleomo home" was given in tlio Masonic Hull, Berhampore, to Lieutenant J. P. Ewen, son of Eov. T. Keith Ewen. Tho liost and hostesses wore Kev, T. Iveitli Ewen, Mr. and Mrs. 11. Patience, and Mr. a'nd Mrs. G. Castlu. About 200 ■guesta were present to welcome Lieutenant Bwou and Mrs. Ewen, who is a daughter of Captain Baker, of Dundee. 'On-; the arrival of tho guests of tho evening Mrs. Ewen was presented with a bouquet- of pink anemones Mk=. Harry, l'atienco' and Kev. Ewen received tho guests. A pleasant ovening was spent in games, music and recital ions. A duei was sung by Mrs. Duncan and Miss Peekj recitations woro given by Mrs. Castle, Miss Wado, and Mr; G. Peek. T'ny Miss Madge Castle nn i exhibition of dancing, after which Lieutenant Ewen \ and Mrs. Ewen led through a rainbow chain into supper. 'Mr. A. A. Whitelaw proposed the loast, "The Guests of tho livening," and wished the bride and bridegroom very inanj- happy years together in -Wellington. The bridegroom suitably -replied, and gavft soiuo interesting experiences while at tho .front. Mr. T., Wilson proposed "Absent Friends." Eev. IV Keith Ewen replied ou behalf of the bride's parents. This supper tablo was decorated with yellow trumpet daffodils. in the centre being «. lucky horse, siioe in white Dowers and maidenhair fern, with lycopodiuni streamers, the work of Mrs. Horace Chisjiolm. Mr. J. N. Duncan and Mr. E. Nees acted as M.C.'s. The gathering closed by the singing of "Auld Lang Syne." St. Andrew's "Bright Lights." Last evening a very successful entertainment, given by St. Andrew's "Bright Lights," in aid of the Y.'iV.C.A. Building Fund, took placo in tho association's buildings in Herbert Street. Tho programme was bright and vwied, and was greatly appreciated by tho. audience, which completely filled th-j room. The first part of tho programme consisted of musical items, .recitations, etc., awl was contributed to by the following Pianoforte solo, Mrs. Brown; songs, Mrs. Wycherley, Miss Bacon; song and daiice, Miss Nesta Car.well-Cooke; recitations, Miss Violet Mills and Miss Ncilson. A skit dealing with women in (the year A.D. 2025, and written just after they had been given the franchise in New Zealand, entitled "Covey versus Tooswoet, formed the second part of tlio entertainment. The following took part:—Mrs. Wycherley, Mrs. Retime, Miss Campbell, Miss Innes, Miss Gold, Miss Fairbrother, Mrs. Hislop, Miss' Orange v Miss Fiona Smith. Mrs. Cromb, M.rs. Thompson, Miss M. Thompson, Mrs. Anketell, Mis Blackwood, Miss Paisley, Miss Standidge, Miss Harper. For some days past members had been very busy making sweets, r.nd these were sold last evening, and added materially to the financial results of a very pleasant entertainment. Plucky Englishwomen. ! The story of how a btnd of Englishwomen undertook service in the front line with the French army for two and a half years was related to a representative of tho "Daily News" by Lieutenant Toupie Lowther, the founder and leader of this remarkable unit. Miss- Lowther, who before the war gained distinction as an exponent of foil fencing, is a sister of Colonel Claude Lowther, M.P., and is related to tho Speaker of the House of Commons. She has now returned to her home in London, her company having been demobilised. "We were the only unit of women who did front line work." said Miss Lowther. "Wi wero regular members of tho French 'Service Automobile,' under the direct oiders of its commandant." Tho work undertaken by tho unit was thb transport of the wounded from the battlefield to the dressing stations. Ths French have no lied Cross service in the front lines, and such work is carried out by combatant soldiers. Uniform and the military "tin hat" wero served out to the women, and each received a soldier's pay lor her services. The unit was continually under lire. Miss Lowther had to light many battles with officialdom before she was able to gain permission for her unit to undertake tho work it desired. She was disappointed in her efforts to be allowed to rentier service with the British armies, but eventually, after raisins her unit of 25 women, &lie was accepted by Commandant Doninenc, tho cluef of tlio French transport service.