SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 21, 20 October 1919, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

A quiet wedding took place at All Saints' Church, Nelson, last week, when Mr. A. G. Trough tern, oddest ran of Mrs. Smith, of Wellington, was married to M'ss Betty Prussing, fourth daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Prutsin,?, of Nelson. Miss Myrtle Trussing attended her s'ister as bridcsni.-ud, and Mr. W. Trussing was best man. Both bridegroom and best inan are returned soldiers.

Miss Dorothy Hayes has been spending a fow days in Wellington on her way through from Dunedin to Nelson.

An enjoyable evening party was given at Miss Matis Coiuiop's studio, Coiutemiy Place, to the juvenile class membeis recently. There were pretty decorations for the occasion in shades cf lavender and pink, and trails or lycopodium added to the general effect. The evening passed very pleasantly tn dancing and games, and Miss Connop was as& sted in entertaining her guests by Mrs. and Miss Inez Connop.

The anniversary services which wero held in connection with the Petone Baptist Church yesterday were especially well attended. Special children's services were observed, and addresses were given by the Rev. F. J. Parry and Mr. Jackson Purdie, of Dunedui. During the afternoon service- well-chosen choruses were sung by the children's choir.

In charge of the afternoon tea arrangements at tho opening of the boating season at the Star Club's sheds were Mrs. Bayfield; Mrs. Bridge, Mrs..Widdop, Mrs. Harris, and Mrs. Calvin, and the tables had been most charmingly arranged with blue and white flowers, m keeping wit.li the club colours, <>nd blue streamers. Several of the club's trophies were used for decorative effects, among them being Iho handsome challenge swimming cup presented by Mr. lau Duncan, and the Pearce Clip, wliioli has passed through tho hands of many notable oarsmen. The Patriotic Band supplied l.lie music for the afternoon, and decorations of flags mid bunting made the clubhouse look very gay. Among those who were present were Mr. ]nn Duncan (vice-presi-dent) ami Mrs. Duncan, and visiting oarsmen from Pelane, Canterbury, and elsewhere.

Mr, and Mrs. J. E. Reid, of F.lderslie, who were recently married in England, ure expected in New Zealand in about a fortnight's time. Mr.!, J.eid was formerly Mrs. C. C. Kettle.

The wedding took place last week at the residence of Mrs. M'Kay (.Irani, Uemuera l!oad. Auckland, of kiss Vera 13. Connelly, fifth daughter of the late Mr. J. Forsyth Connelly and Mrs. Coilnelly, to Mr, Guy S. Eversleigh, only son of Mrs. Eversleigh, of "Wellington. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Mr. Patterson, Miss F. Connelly was bridesmaid, and the best man Mi-. F. Wilson. The future home of Mi-, and Mrs. Eversleigh will bo in Gisborne.

Reduced passages from the Old Coniitry to New /lealund of iris and women who want work as domestic servants is advocated in a petition which the women of Poverty Buy are presenting to Parliament. A copy -of" the petition was before Uie Auckland City Council, liming beau sent on by tile organisers of tile agitation in Poverty Buy. The cominilitec decided to receive Ihe letter concerning the'petition, it was agreed to let the petition lie at the council offices, so that anyone who wished could Mgn it. Mrs, Moginie and Hiss Melville said they would take charge of the petition. Miss Melville said she had heard somebody suggesting that Cliineso should bo impurted. That would be unthinkable, and any steps that could be taken to get a proper solution of the difficulty should not bo neglected.

A Theatrical Wedding, The marriage of Miss Olivo Godwin l<j Mr. E. J, Jioberts look place in Sydney vecentiy. Tlic bride, who is tho only daughter of the late Mr. E. 'Jodwin and Mrs. Godwin, of Dubijo, is known as a star of the Williamsoii musical comedy firmament, and tho bridegroom, .Mr. Jb. ,1. Pioberts, wlw com;s from .Staffordshire, England, is one of the musical 'directors of the same firm. Tile wedding ceremony was performed at St. Andrew's Cathedral. Tho bride, who was given away by her brother-in-law, Jlr. .). C. iHUi-nihiii, wore a navy galxiidine gown wicn hat to match, "Jliss Jlcta Waterman (niece) was bridesmaid. A "wedding tea" was afterwards held at tlie Carletoa Hotel, Wie guests including Atessrs, Hugh Ward, Andrew M'Cunn, J. W. Hazlitt. Frank ilulchings, Jlr. and Mrs. Gladstone J'ell, Mr. and Mrs. Cudmore, Commaniler and Mrs. Hill, Miss Betty Bcutty, and Mrs. Jamieson. W.C.T.U. Tho monthly meeting of tho Wellington Central Union was held in the Y.M.C.A., on Friday. Mrs. Ileckingham presided. A letter was recoivod from tho "Alice Parkinson JMease Committee." The meeting decided to sign tho petition for her release. A co.nmittoe was set up to act with tho District Union in making arrangements for tho annual convention, which is tc bo held in Wci.lington in March of n->xt year, when, it is anticipated that about one hundred delegates will attend. An interesting account of the work don 9 at Hie District Convention, held at. Pctone early in tho month, was read by Mrs. Remington, one of tlie declgates. French Population .and the War. Dr.. Bertillon's stutme.nt in the "Pei.it Journal'' that tho war has diminished the French population by four luilliuiis shows—it accurato-that the situation is even worse than tho most p-'.-iimistio had supposed (states the ".Manchester Guardian''). The general estimate hitherto of tlie decrease' in the French population dnrmg tho war. lins been from three to three and a half millions. Tlie agcncy from Paris quote Dr. Bertillon as saying .that the French population before tho war was thirtyeight millions. This can hardly bo tho case, since trie population at tlie last census (19)1) was, in round figure?, 35),GOO,000, and it had slightly increased in 'DM. The excess of births over deaths was smaller in ISI3 -than it had ever been, but it was still nioro than 17,000.

it is to be presumed that Dr. Berlillon's estimate is based on official statistics. The exact numljor of Frenchmen killed in tlio war is still in doubt, for the figures hitherto published havo not been linal, and it is believed, that they have not included deaths in hospitals. In a speech last January M. L'oiucare. estimated tho French losses in tlio war_ut 1,500,M0, but he may have been including tlm deaths among the black troops. The general belief is that the actual French losses by death were about a million and a half.

The rest of the decline in the papulation is, of course, accounted for by excess of deaths over births during the war in the non-combatant population. Tho only statistics yet published arc for tho four yoaro lilli-17, and lqlatu only to tho seventy-eeven uninvaded departments, in which the excess of deaths over births durins tho period was in round figures 850,000. No general statistics havo yet been published for last year, nor, so far as the eleven invaded departments are concerned, for any year sinco 101,1. Hut in the department ot the Seine (Paris and its suburbs) tlicro were only 47,000 births last year in round figures, against 73,000 in 1911, and the infant mortality was 40 per cent., against 10.GG per cent, before the war. Tho economic consequences of this lerrililo fall in the population must be very serious. M. March, Director of Statistics, has estimated that in lt):!5 there will not be niore than 10,300,000 men in France between the a"es of sixteen and sixty-live, or two million fewer than in 11)11. If Dr. Bertillon's figures are correct this estimate must be under rather than over the mark. Dr. Bertillon naturally urges an increase of tho birth-rate, but thnt could have no effect on production before 1035. It is diflicult to ceo how tlio production of Franco cm bo soc-urcd at all except by a largo immigration.

A Fir Cone Bird, A now toy which children nnder the auspic-es of a clever mother or nurse could make for themselves is the fir cone bird (stales a writer in the "Daily Mail"). This bird is the gayest-look-ing and most whimsical fellow. Difficult to decide as to exact family, yet bearing a distinct resemblance in some casjs to the genus stork, to parrot lineage, to the toucan breed and other strange fowls. Cones widely opened are the ones to choose for making the birds, for after they have been painted thero is a decided resemblance to .ruffled plumage in these objects. Tlie cones make the birds' bodies, and sometimes with an added beak, their heads as well, though heads may lie contrived by mea'is of wood roughly carved. Sticks account for the legs and feet, and there is nil arc in balancing the. creatures on them. Children love bright colours, and these fir cone birds may outvie nature in that respcct, especially when they represent the parrot tribe, all radiant with paint, brilliant green and yelloir, blue and pink, with here and there a restraining splash of grey. Funny in the extreme aril the robins, storks and ducks, and should be 'funny, too, for it is in quaintne-s that all these amusing toys must excel.

The King's Jazz Party. The servants of the Royal Household and their wives and families lvere the guests of tlie King and Queen at a garden party itt Buckingham Palace recently (dtatcs an English newspaper). ' Tho' -party was a "strictly private" one. The palate police and their families were invited, as ( well as all the workers in and about the Royal residence. The band of the Royal Horse Guards play«d during the afternoon, and there were performances also by tlie .Southern Syncopated Orchestra froin the Philharmonic Hall and fi- Negro jazz band. The jazz band played in the ampitlioatra Wiped by tlie bed of the palace lake, which was drained early in the war to lmmper the operations of enemy airmen. Ten was served in great marquees. Tlie Royal Family joined their guests ii) the "rounds immediately after tea and remained till the end of tlie programme,which included a Punch and Judy show for the liltlo ones. This was enjoyed as much by the ijroivn-ups its by the children. "The' King and Queen 'laughed as heartily as the youngest of their gne'ts. • Princr-ss Mary joined in the dancing of the children.' The entertainment was timed to lust from i till 6.30 p.m., but tlw youngsters were so hanpy that the time was-extended l*y nearly an hour. The ICing and Queen chatted with all. One interesting presentation was that (if Sergeant James Brown,-ft Crimean veteran, who for -10 years has been employed as a commissionaire- in the telegraph service. For 30 years he has been on duty at the pnlaee.

Women and Public Health. Sir Georgo Newman has been appointed Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health (>ays an English papsiy. Vive new posts of .senior medical officer have been established. To these the Minister has appointed : Dr. G. S. Bucii. anaa, Miss .Tanet M. Campbell. M.D., Drs. F. J. 11. Coutts, A. W. J. MaeFadden, and J. Smith Whitnker. 'flie. following have been made medical officers: Mi.-s Irene Cecil Davy Eaton, M.1!., Major Grccmvood (Medical Statistics), Miss Florence Barrio Lambert, M.lt. (Kemedial Treatment), and Miss Jane Holland Turnbull, M.D. (Obstetrics and Gynaecology). Acting with the Health Ministry, the Board of Education have prepared regulations ioi ft special course of training for women health visitors.