NOTES FOR WOMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 72, 25 March 1915, Page 7

NOTES FOR WOMEN.

(From Our Lady Correspondent.) LONDON, January 2. THE FIRST SEWING MACHINE. j The first woman to use a sewing . machine died this week in the United States—a Miss Kilbourn, of Connecticut, ' who was 86 years old. ' When Elias Howe, the inventor of the : sewing machine, was making experiments with it, Miss Kilbourn, then a school : teacher, used to' help him, and so it befell .', that she worked the first completed one. A NOVEL CRECHE. is being opened next week in Nott.ing Dale, a near suburb of London,"where. laundresses may have their little ones looked after while they do their work, the winter nursery being surrounded with laundries, while a garden has been hired ' where the children can spend their time healthily in summer. SERVICE AT HOME. The Government has supplied special badges to be distributed this week to the [ employees of Messrs Vickers, Ltd., at their shipyard at .Barrow, these being intended , to express the Government conviction that j the men engaged in the production of munitions of war are doing as much to I help the country as those who have | enlisted. . REFUGEES' POCKET MONEY. A curious but eminently practical item is to be discussed this week in Manchester at a meeting of all those who are acting as hosts to Belgian refugees in that district, viz., the question of allowing refugees pocket money. It has- been ascertained in this connection that some kindly hosts who can afford it have opened small banking accounts for their guests, but it is felt that some provision should be arranged in all cases if that is possible, WOMEN'S VOLUNTEER RESERVE. There are-no less than 3,000 women now in the ranks of what is known as the Women's Volunteer Reserve, which, in bodies of 500, is drilling every night in and around London. Though the corps, receives no support from obstinate male authorities, the women-(who must attain the same'medical standard and. know the same drill' exactly as-men). nrho have been driUedrby old sergeants, are expert signallers, chauffeurs, telegraphists* sentries and dispatch ridere, and all can shoot, though none, so far, carry arms. — ...... v The uniform is a khaki coat and skirt and hat, the skirt buttoned down its length back and front At Gateshead, in Durham, the corps has been given official permission by theMayor to. take charge.of the children and old people in the event of a raid. HOMES OF- REST. • The .Conservative- - and Unionist Women's Franchise Association has' lately opened in South Kensington a large and comfortable bouse with a sympathetic object that 'has already been immensely appreciated. -It is called ahostel, but is in reality a sort of havenof rest for professional women (teachers, secretaries, etc.) out of work through the war. Guests, are at. liberty to stay, free: of all cost, for a month, enjoying the. peace and quiet of. the-place, with an opportunity of thinking out new avenues' of employment, in which, further, the association will do what it can to help, r j The. scheme has been managed by the co-operation-of members,- who-have--also-canvassed their friends for furniture,books, {pod, etc.. - VALUE OF THOROUGHNESS. From details just received of the first two years' working of the scheme started by the London County Council at Westminster Technical Institute, where scholarships arc granted to domestic servants, which take the form of instruction in "superior" household cookery," it.is found that the step is more than justified by results. Girls who formerly could only obtain a wage of about £10 to £16 a year,, after their course have been able to earn up to £40 and £50 a year, the. lowest wage permitted to those who have done well beine £26. 6 DOUBLE CHARITY. Tlie Society of American Women in London has maintained an interesting scheme in the form of a War Relief Knitting Factory at Islington, a very poor borough, to help women out of work owing to the war, which is run on novel and practical lines. About forty women are paid and kept regularly at work all day knitting socks and comforters, jerseys and mittens, and other articles appreciated by the men on active service.

They can buy a substantial hot dinner on the premises for 2d and a good tea is provided free of charge. There is also a comfortable clubroom, where the workers, as well as other women in the neighbourhood, can meet for recreation. Every 15/ sent in by a subscriber provides wages, insurance, and working material for one woman for a week, and also provides three pairs of hand-knitted socks, or equivalent garments, for., the wounded, the men at the front, or underclad women or children in England, the donor of such a sum then being at liberty to nominate someone to whom the «oods shall be sent. °