Social Gossip.

Free Lance, Volume XVIII, Issue 971, 27 February 1919, Page 16

Social Gossip.

Dear Christabel, —

IN France there are grateful women who will never neglect the cemeteries in which lie the mortal remains of those men of ours who have made glorious the name of New Zealand. Here at Karori there are other graves —those of men who have died on their own ; land, in many cases after years of service, and very far from their own friends. These graves are to be kept green and beautiful. Young hands .will lay upon them flowers, for remembrance, and these flowers you v;ho read may help to supply, but let it be regularly, if possible. The. girl members of the Women's National Reserve have undertaken this little service, and every ; Saturday flowers are to be collected and taken out. People who l ave suitable flowers should remember to send them to the Reserve rooms. Even tiny bunches can be used, and tj ere must be many women who will only be too glad of this small opportunity to express their heartfelt gratitude.

The town was en fete on Friday, no l,ess than three troopships arriving, and one of them wit"E 185 wives if soldiers. These new colonists are reported to be of the very best tjpe. Their infants are strong and healthy.. This shipload is not of the martied-in-haste kind, and there is no reason for believing there will be any l.'spenting at leisure. _

And why should you repent at leisure because, you marry in haete ? One of the happiest marriages yours truly has ever known was that of an Irishman who met a fellow-countrywoman for the first time exactly one week before his ship was to sail for New 'Zealand. He caught the boat and brought his bride. No procrastination about that. And—but that is telling.

'Die English wives who arrived on IFriday were welcomed by representa-

tive women —some of the members of the Victoria League •nd Citizens' Service League. It was a kindly thought and much appreciated, for some of the new-comers confessed tv> a nervousness and found the curious _ glances of the passers-by a lit+Je tiymg. If they will make our >\ .m i iors happy they will soon find .+/iends among the people of iSfew Z. j a.]and, who are- all agog with enthusiasm for repatriation and settlement schemes. * * * * Once more the Sydney Street siLoolroom was full on Friday, for there the wives were made welcome. Many returning soldiers regret hat the old club is non-existent. There is . lw c iys a sadness in, the passing of the ol'd order, which must give place to * .he new. You and I, dear fiiend, will soon be back numbers. "We don't l;ke it, but it can't be helped. * * * *

Talking of marriages reminds me that more than a few are soon to take place here or in England. Miss Edith Morrison is off this Wednesday. Her fiance, Captain Eric Ciprkeil (Oi.exita.' Bay) is in Germany with the British Medical Corps, and Miss Morrison is to wait in England until he gets lea\ e. Miss. Ruth ShirtclifEe is to ye war ed in' Wellington to Major Ernie Harston, before her father, mother and fister leave for England by the Niagara.

Mr Shirtcliffe is letting his house :n Tinakori Road to Sir John and Lady Findlay. * * * Mis 6 Helen Anderson's marriage v ill probably take place soon iifter her fiance returns. Her fa oh t, Mr Edward Anderson, is no be+ter. Me has been ill for a very long tknc;.

Last Thursday afternoon Mrs Sidney Kirkcaldie had a garden paity and sale of fruit and flowers out at her home in Karori for the benefit of two bodies in which she takes sn active and kindly - interest—St. Mary's Home and the Plunket, Society. r ihe day was not as fine as it might h-ive beea, ho her beautiful grounds were not seen to full advantage. :ss, people who went out from town spent a delightful afternoon among the trees and flowers. Fruit, vegetables and pot plants were for sale in a large Indian tent, where Miss Jo Kirkcaldie and some young friends were in charge. Tea was served on the verandah, where Miss MacGregor, Miss Kirkcaldie, and Mrs Charlie Richardson and other friends helped the hostess.

Among the guests were many of the Wellington ladies who are interested in St. Mark's. Home and the Plunket Society, which associations should be very actively supported by all women in the Wellington district. The Plunket Society is so well known that it requires no advertising. Not everyone seems aware of the fact that St. Mary's Home is a place in which girls from all parts of the Wellington district find a happy home, and where they are surrounded by loving care. Motherless girls are sheltered there, and girls who have no happy homes. The charm of the place lies in. its home atmosphere. It is not a great institution but a beautiful refuge from the world, where many a young girl has already received the training to which she owes the happiness of her afterlife.

There are hundreds of girls living in happy homes in Wellington who would gladly help less fortunate, girls if they only knew how. A friend, who is interested in St. Mary's Home, ventures to suggest that young well-wishers shall get into touch with some of the ladies who are on the committee, or with the matron, or with the hon. treasurer, at whose home every year a j sale of work is held in aid of the Cottage Home. This particular sale is run by a committee of school-girls who devote some part of their leisure throughout the year for the benefit of girls whose circumstances are less fortunate than their own.

By cable comes tjie news that Sir Joseph and Lady Ward and Mrs Massey and the Prime Minister's secretary., Mr Frank Thompson, have all had influenza, but are convalescent. Mrs Massey was barely, convalescent from, an attack when she left New Zealand. She and Miss Massey are believed to be in Paris just now. ~

Miss Fraser, daughter of the Hon. Sir William Fraser, hopes to be Home in time for Peace celebrations.

M:r Justice Herdman's twin daughters, in whom many Wellingtonians take a very kindly interest, have left school and are reported to be on the eve of growing up. They and their father were, as usual, at itotorua and Taupo during the Christmas holidays. The family is settled at Papanui, Christ church.'

Mrs Arthur Carly on (Gwavas, Hawke's Bay) and her only daughter

have been spending a month in Wellington. The only son, who was a prisoner in Germany for a very long time has recently left Switzerland 'for England.

A Napier friend writes that the new Soldiers' Ward was opened on a piping hot day, and that there hhs been a fete at Silverford, Mr Lowry North's place. The world and his wife attended, all arriving in motor-cars. Silverford is one of the most beauti-fully-feituated homes in Hawke's Bay, and a most delightful time was spent by all present. **•**' Mr J. H. Sharp, a well-known engineer of the White Star line, after two years' imprisonment, in Germany has resumed his old profession, and is in New Zealand waters to-day. He is chief engineer of the Zealandic, which has brought troops out via Panama.

y *X- *5f -XLieutenant C. W. K. Sadlier, a nephew of Bishop Sadier (Nelson), has been awarded the Victoria Cross for a wonderful piece of gallantry. His platoon had to advance through a wood in which a strong enemy machine gun post was causing heavy casualties and preventing the platoon from advancing. Although wounded he at once collected his bombing section, led them against the machine guns, and succeeded in killing the crews and capturing the guns. By this time his party were all casualties, and he alone attacked a third enemy machine-gun crew with his revolver, killing the crew of four, and taking the gun. In doing so he was again wounded. The V.C.'s father is an Adelaide business man. Mrs E. W. Seaton, who is a cousin of the Bishop's, and a connection of the Adelaide Sadliers, has let her house in Molesworth Street, and intends, with her daughter, to go over to Melbourne in the near future, and there stay with another branch of the Sadlier family.

Mrs Isaacs lias gone to Christchureh with her husband, who has been a chaplain in Palestine for so long. They are visiting the Otho Fitzgeralds.

Mr John Fox, for so long manager of the Returned Soldiers' Club, is a passenger to England by the Marama. He was farewelled at the Wellington Wharf by hundreds of returned men, and Jupp's band played "Auld Lang Syne" and "He's a Jolly Good Fellow."

'In a recent copy of an English paper there are excellent portraits of Mrs Heaton Rhodes, Mrs Malcolm Ross, and Mrs Merry. It seems that Mrs Rhodes organised the New Zealand stall at the great Savoy Exhibition, and that Mrs Malcolm Ross is her very able secretary. That of Mrs Ross is a speaking likeness. The letterpress describes her as the wife of the war correspondent for the "New ■, Zealand Times. The other New Zealand papers must be wondering where they come in.

Matvrt.

Mr and Mrs> E. G. Low, both of whom were born in Wellington, celebrated their golden wedding on Thursday, February 13th. The anniversary was the occasion of a happy reunion in the local Goring Street Hall. There was a large gathering of relatives and friends. Mr Low's parents arrived in New "Zealand by the ship Martha Ridgeway in -the year 1840, followed two years later by Mrs Low's parents in the ship Bremen. The worthy couple were married in the year 1869 by the Rev. Robert Ward, father of the Rev. Josiah Ward, of the Methodist Church. _ Mr and Mrs Low have a family of nise boys and two girls, one of the former being at present with the Expeditionary Force in France. On the evening of the celebration there were present 24 grand-children and two grand-grand-children. A number of friends of Mr and Mrs Low's own childhood were present, and. the reunion was of the happiest nature. A sumptuous wedding breakfast was set out, at which the customary toasts were honoured, iand during the course of which the happy pair were presented by Mr H. Oakes, on. behalf of the members of the family, each with a gold sovereign case filled with sovereigns. The remainder of the evening was passed with song and dancing, the music of the latter being supplied by Williams' string band. The proceedings were brought to a close with the singing of " Auld Lang Syne," arid the general wish of all present was that Mr and Mrs Low would be spared to celebrate their diamond wedding.

Miss Ruby Rhodes, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Chas. Rhodes, of Rem-

uera, Auckland, is to be married on March 5 to Mr Furness, of Auckland. * -55- ■»

_As the 3Te.ee Langs goes to press Miss OEnone Morpeth, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs C. D. Morpeth,-of Wellington Terrace, is being married at St. John's Church to Mr Esmond Greig, of • Whiteeliffs, Taranaki. An interesting feature of this wedding is that the Rev. James Paterson, who solemnises this marriage, also performed the same office for the bride's parents.

.* * * The wedding takes place shortly of Miss Ruth Shirtcliffe, third daughter of Mr and Mrs Geo. Shirtcliffe, of "Wellington, to, Mr E. S. Harston, of Taumarunui.

Miss Gladys Campbell is changing her headquarters from the Marine Institute to No. 81, Hill Street, where she and Miss .Nannie Heath are sharing the big schoolroom, formerly occupied by Mies Gladys Sommerville.. All Miss Campbell's dancing classes will be held at 81 Hill Street, with the exception of the big Saturda ymorning class, which will be in the Marine Institute as before. Miss Campbell's hours do not clash with Miss Heath's classes, and the arrangement seems an excellent one.

Miss N. Heath, who has been on active service for the last 18 months, announces that she has resumed her practice as physical culturist and masseuse at 81 Hill Street.

Miss Estelle Beere /.announces that she will resume her dancing classes on Saturday, March Ist, at 10.15 a.m. Miss Beere has recently returned from an extended trip to Australia. "While in Melbourne she studied advanced stage dancing and mime under Espinosa, a London exponent at present in Australia. She has also brought back with her the latest modern ballroom dances.