Notes for Women

Southland Times, Issue 24840, 4 September 1942, Page 6

Notes for Women

Mrs Dennis Dunn, Nith street, is visiting her mother, Mrs M. Fitzgerald, Gore. Miss Rita Caulfield, Auckland, is visiting her mother, Mrs C. Caulfield, Gala street. Mrs John Macdonald, Avenal, will leave today for Hamilton. Miss Olive Pullar, daughter of Mr H. C. Pullar, Otautau, has left to join the W.A.A.F. at a northern air station. Mrs Charles Miller, Timaru, has returned home after a visit to her parents, Mr and Mrs J. N. West, Browns. Mrs R. T. Stewart and her two children, Masterton, arrived yesterday to stay with Mrs Stewart’s parents, Mr and Mrs C. F. A. Jones, Earnslaw street. t Members of the St. Catherine's Ex-Pupils Association are arranging the entertainments for the soldiers who visit the Welcome Club this week. A successful dance was held on Wednesday night and an informal evening has been organized for tonight. Miss M. Tring Crofts and Mrs A. C. Tansley visited the members of the St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church Ladies’ Social Club to demonstrate the spinning of wool. A spinning circle is being formed by the club. The president, Mrs M. A. Wilson, introduced the guests arid made a presentation of shoulder sprays. . . Tire Women’s Auxiliary Air Force isjin urgent need of wireless operators. The preliminary standard required in Morse before entering the R.N.Z.A.F. electrical and wireless school is at the speed of 12 words a minute. An. operator can read in plain language 250 characters in four minutes, in letter groups 90 letters in two minutes, in figure groups 60 figures in two minutes. All girls joining up with the W.A.A.F. are given facilities to learn Morse. If. on their own initiative, they can attain the required speed they are sent for training to the school. Girls must be prepared to serve anywhere in New Zealand. It is estimated that a fifth of the women s and children's clothes worn in Great Britain is now made at home. This figure is likely to rise now that the austerity fashion order has come into force. For if women make their own clothes they can still indulge in pleats and frills and embroidery and pockets. There are, however, to be "restricted” paper pattern styles. These will not be austerity styles, but will aim at getting trimmings into the amount of material needed for the garment. Another reason why home dressmaking is growing in popularity is that a dress or a coat can be made for fewer coupons if the materials are bought by the yard and made up at home. In June the marriage took place between Squadron Leader R. R. P. Fisher, R.A.F., only son of Mr and Mrs Robert Fisher, of Gore, and Section Officer K. M. Brown, W.A.A.F., second daughter of Mr and Mrs W. J. Brown, Galleywood, Chelmsford, England, at Buckland Monachorum Church, Plymouth. The Bishop of Plymouth conducted the service and members of the Royal Air Force and W.A.A.F. formed a guard of honour. It will be recalled that Squadron Leader Fisher had exciting experiences at the time of the Dunkirk evcauation. He was then severely wounded in air operations. He has now fully recovered and is again on active service. The engagement notice of Squadron Leader Fisher and his wife, which appeared in The Times, London, in June was read with interest by a resident of Chelmsford who lived in the Gore district many years ago. He wrote to a relation at Gore, stating that he had known a Mr Robert Fisher when at Gore, and that Squadron Leader Fisher might possibly be his son. His guess was correct. OBITUARY.— With the death recently of Mrs Jessie King, of “Mottistone,” Park street, Winton, Southland loses another of its early pioneers. Born in Lewis street, Invercargill, Mrs King saw Southland, and especially the Winton district, where she spent most of her life, change from its rough, native state, to the prosperous progressive province of today. She was a member of the early Presbyterian Church in Winton, being also a choir member for some years. A keen advocate of Plunket work, Mrs King was president of the Winton branch of the Plunket Society for 17 years. She was the first woman justice of the peace in Southland and was a vice-president of the Invercargill Justices’ Association. Mrs King took an active interest in W.D.F.U. affairs and at one time served a period as president of the Invercargill branch. She was also instrumental in forming a number of the country branches. Her husband died in 1921. She leaves the following family of five daughters and two sons: Mesdames Albert Hamilton, "Springbank,” Forest Hill; Hugh Anderson, “Brookdale,” Hokonui; Ralph Swale, "Pakeho,” Limehills; J.H.A. McDonald, "Strathmore,” Dipton; Miss Norma King, Winton. Messrs W. H. J. King, Benmore, and A. G. King, "Tynree,” Benmore.