WOMEN'S CORNER.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15921, 7 June 1917, Page 2

WOMEN'S CORNER.

i Matter for insertion in this j column, should be addressed to the ! Lady Editor, and should be fully ; authenticated. Miss Hartley (Wellington), who has been spending a week in Christchurch, returned home on Tuesday evening. Miss Eaine (Timaru) is the guest of I Mrs Beckett (Sumner). J Miss Dobson (Ashburton), who has iiecn staying at Hanmer, spent a few (•ays in Christchurch, and returned hoire yesterday. Miss Ferens (Westport) arrived in ■ Christchurch on Tuesday, and left yes- ; ; :v:day for Glenavy, South Canterbury, ■ rr a visit. Mrs E. Grigg (Akanui, Ashburton) i . in town yesterday. I Captain Hardham, V.C., and Mrs ■ ::r=Jhaiii (Hanmer Springs), are spendI r; few days in town, and are stay- ' iz at the Clarendon. i Mrs Graham (Dunedin) and Miss J •> ? aham returned home on. Tuesday, i Mr and Mrs F. Harley (Greymouth) I r.-ived in Christchurch on Tuesday night on a visit. Surgeon-General Henderson arrived from Wellington yesterday morning on military business, and returned in the evening by the Mararoa. News has been received of the engagement of Miss Erica Fell, eldest daughter of Dr. and Mrs Fell, of Maheno Bay, Wellington, to Captain Frank Wilson, N.Z.E.F., of Wellington. Miss Fell, who was on the staff of Chilton House School, left at the end of last year to join her parents in England, where Dr. Fell is in charge of a military hospital. An interesting little ceremony was to take place yesterday afternoon at the Council Chambers in the Wellington Town Hall, when her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool was to present the voluntary worleers' badges to those who are entitled to them. The badges, which aro exactly the same as those worn by voluntary workers in Britain, are verv neat and attractive-looking, and consist of the two letters "V.W.," headed with a crown. A civic luncheon -was given recently in Glasgow to mark the extinction of the debt on the tramways. Mr J. Dalrymple, the general manager, replying for the staff, said ho had learned so much during the past two years that ho would not hesitate for a moment to have the whole service run by women. This is the highest praise that could bo offered to women's capacity. It is a well-known fact that tho Glasgowtramways are counted amongst tho most efficient in the world, and such a tribute to women's abilities is most flattering. The barrel, skirt is' finding scant favour in England. The Paris correspondent of the "Ladies' Field" says that the more she sees, of it tho more detestable she finds it, with its bnlloonliko hips and hard, hoop-like tightness at the ankles. Nothing, she adds, would' induce her to say a good word in its favour. This should give a little moral force to colonial dressmakers to enable them to, modify tho ugliness of this fashion. longer skirts are also returning, though wo hop© trains aro far distant.

A wedding was celebrated at St. Nicholas's (Anglican) Church, North Goulburn, on May 9th, says the Sydney "Sun," when Mr Harry Garner, only son of the late Mr Richard Garner, of Christehurch, New Zealand, was married to Miss Ivy Abrahams, fourth daughter of Mr J. H, Abrahams, of Goulburn. The bride was attended by her sister, Maud. Mr Walter Foley acted as beat man, and Mr Alec Crow as groomsman. Nurse Cameron, who was matron on the ill-fated Marquette, and who was • staying at the Ashburton County Hospital for a few weeks, has returned to Christchurch. Her numerous friends will be pleased to learn that she has slightly improved in health. Among 'the many curious, notable, and pathetic developments arising out of the war, ono that - has just been brought to the knowledge of a gentleman in Auckland is worthy of being placed on record (states the Auckland "Star"). From his native town of Airdrie, Scotland, he has received news that one of his nieces there has lost her husband in tho w#r, and, being left with two . young children, she had to think of a way to increiase her meagre income.. >So, to quoto the word s of tho letter, she has become "an artist «n black and white" —in order words, she is tho lady sweep of Airdrie, earning sometimes as much as 10s a day oy "soopin' lums" (sweeping ■" chimneys). Very early in the war women chimneysweeps appeared in Germany; later, we heard of a few in England; and now the innovation has reached "the land o 1 cakes." How long must the war last before Wq see the lady chimneysweeps in New Zealand? No one would suspect a'Methodist gathering of flippancy, says the Melbourne "Age.' s Somo remarks that fell from Rev, E. H. Sugden at the conference in Melbourne last week, however, caused a ripple of general laughter among those present. Mr Sugden was making an announcement regard the arrangements for a reception at Queen's College. He urged those delegates who had their wives to take them to the reception. Those who wem. not so fortunately circumstanced, but felt they needed female grace to make them look complete at such a function, might take'their hostesses, and, if tho hostesses were not willing, then perhaps their hostesses' daughters. The suggestions met with ready approval. There was another wave of merriment when Mr Sugden, in order to clear up doubt in the minds of somo representatives as to whether they should "dress" for the reception, said it was advisable to dress to some extent in view of tho presence of wives, hostesses, or their daughters. Whether representatives *.v*oro academicals was a matter of choice.

A DESERT DABBY AND JOAN. We are prona to think that only in tho Anglo-Saxon ideal cf marriage is there to be fount! nu affectionate fidelity that no vicissitudes can weaken, no weal or woe alienate, no re oral power subdue. says the 'Tiuladdphia Ledger." Those who take solemn vows to hold "in sickness and in health," "till death us do part/' and -presently seek the divorce court to undo the tie might consider this simple story of the love of two old "hesthen" which is communicated in privnto advices from Cairo, describing tho condition of tho people in the Sinai Peninsula, lately released from Turkish rule: —"One day out in the desert, some of our troops -saw a queer bundle on the sand. It turned out to be an old Bedawi, nearly dead, and all skin and bone. They did all they could to make him happy, but his one thought was his wife. So the officers asked for volunteers, and a party started out into the desert to hunt for his wife. Not far from where they had found him they found an old, old woman, all skin and bone. They brought her in and prepared her a bed, etc.. bat she would do nothing but sit by tho old man's side all the time. They were brought into one of the towns, where they both died on the same day." Not all the virtug is on the side of those who despatch missionaries to tho conversion of the "benighted" of the earth.

SHOULD CLERGYMEN MARRY A SECOND TIME? Should ministers of religion who are lover fifty years of age marry a second And should the "catch" attrac-

u lVol j? s venturesome gentlemen r *u a lenient interpretation . . e provisions of the supernumerary ministers' and ministers' widows' fund, which in the case of the Methodist Church exceeds £500,000? At the sitting of the Methodist Conference of Australasia in Melbourne last week a prolonged and animated discussion took placo in regard to the action of the Medicaa Board of the Supernumerary una in refusing to recognise » local practitioner's certificate in respect or a minister between 50 and 60 years of age, who had made the great adventure a second time, and wished to make provision for his second wife under the bupernunierarv Fund. Dr. Wilkinson, of the criticised Medical Board, ignored the plavfullv sarcastic suggestion that perhaps the "Board had acted on tne assumption that the inclination to marriage in a widower over 50 years of age indicated in itself the need of a strict examination. He assured tho conference that the Board regarded itself as tho protector of the fund, and said that in the case of ministers marrying when over the age of 50 years more than an ordinary "bill of health" would be required. A special examination, having regard to the needs of the work, would, he said, be necessary. "Encouraging cclibacv!" commented Dr. litehett, in mournful tones. Tho special case under review, however, was favourably dealt with by direction of the conference.

TO-DAY'S RECIPE. Fruit Loaf—Beat Jib butter to a cream, and add Jib sugar. Mix together llh flour, 1 teaspoonful baking powder, each currants and raisins. Stir into tho butter and sugar 1 tablespoonful of golden syrup mixed with a little milk, and add all to the dry ingredients. with more milk if necessary to form the proper consistency.' Mix well, and bake in a greased tin in a hot oven for three hours. WOMEN'S BRANCH OP THE RED CROSS. MEETING OF COMMITTEE.

Tho monthly meeting of the General Committee of tho women's section jf the Canterbury and "West Coast Centre of tho Red Cross Socioty was held yesterday morning. Mrs A. Boyl e (president) was in the chair, and thoro was a largo attendance of delegates. Tho president said enquiries had proved that it was quite iinpossiblo 10 get tho necessary cold storage space in ships for sending butter and apples to ifgypt and Bombay. It had been decided to close the depot in tho Kquaro at 4.30 instead of 5 during the winter months. Regret was expressed at the retirement of Miss Todhunter from tho Enquiries Bureau, and eulogistic reference was • made to her vory valuable services. Dr. Bedford had visited tho Red Cross rooms recently, and had pointed out that it was necessary to take more care to see that returning transports were better supplied with comforts. _ At present there was a_ want in this direction, and many men had had to put up with rather hard faro during their passage out. Tho High Commissioner forwarded a letter from the British Red Cross stating that there was a prejudice against wearing "nightingales" and long calico nightgowns among tho wounded soldiers at the front, and it was suggosted that they might be appreciated by the Serbian wounded. The chairman read correspondence from various quarters refermg to the work of the Socioty in England, India, and elsewhere.

Tho department reported that 253 cases of comforts had been sent away during tho month, a larger quantity than had been sent for somo time; 130 of the cas©3 went to Bombay and Egypt, and the value of the whole was £4269. Fifty-fivo cases had come from Timaru.

The receiving department reported that a total of 16,2il articles had been received, 2000 more than last month. The sales department reported that' the value of material for garments sold totalled £1301 18s 4d, and wool £IS2 16a lid.

The bandago department • reported that during the month 06,125 bandages., etc., had been received. The comforts department reported that during the month donations had been received from 100 sources and gifts of money totalling £97 19s 3d. Books, magazines, golf balls, etc., would all be thankfully received. An anonymous supporter had offered to givo half a ton of honey if the beekeepers of Canterbury would provide the other half-ton.

Special donations totalling £1174 2s 6d were acknowledged from various sources.

! Mrs Wigram, in reply to Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, said that there had been no holding up of shipments so far as the articles she controlled were concerned. In March and April thcro had been a slight congestion, but, genorally speaking, she had been able to get at least five tons of material away by each boat.

Ihe surgical department reported that a rumour had gono round that the department did not need any more swabs. This was untrue; the depot did not need an increased supply, that was all. In the case of good workers tho depot thought it would b.s preferable for them to confine their attention to making.pnoumonia jackets capelines. and leg slings. Workers were also advised to make chest bandages in preference to "binders. *

LADY LIVERPOOL FUND. QUARTERLY MEETING. The third quarterly meeting of the Lady Liverpool Trench Comfort Fund was held yesterday afternoon, Mrs H. Kolland presiding over a large attendance. President, in her quarterly report, thanked members for the voto of sympathy conveyed to her and her family on the death of her son. Referring to the work done during the quarter, 6 he stated that the trench comxorts parcels sent to France, EkS 1 !™. P ° i r ia ' a " d to , New Zealand prisoners of war, together with goods for transports, an d several cases of dnn!7n S - r®*'*? Mi&s '(London) for dispcea amongst Xew Zealand soldiers in England, were of a total narppl c, °se on £oOCO. I a future the parcels for the prisoners of war were to be sent in cases to the Hi ? h Commissioner who would undertake to despatch them to the various canity; it was hoped that this would result in the parcels reaching the men quicker. The series of afternoon teas provided in conexhihV v. *1 Art ociet - v ' s annual exhibition had proved verv nrofitable, Proceeds from teas, produce stall, and art union, totalling over £200 Mr .H. A. Bruce had formed a carpentering class at Opawa and a number of residents met weekly in Mr Beanland'r workshop, and made up eases to pack fn T^ni 0 ? P arc el 3 and good? ,obo ® ellv ery Companv conveyed the cases to and from Opawa free of charge Mr 3 Withers had kindlv consented to .act as the Wellington representative of tho Christchurch. Lady Lnerpool Fund, and suonly' certain in- I formation. The fund had been asked ' to continue supplying holdalls and liussifs. During the quarter the following branches had been visited: — Kaiapoi Belfast (men' s ™rk par tv). Springfield, Russell's Flat. Kowai Rush, Brookside, Dunsandel Sheffield. Darfield, &*thbridge, Waikari and ScarmlL

Dealing with urgent needs for next quarter the report stated: —

''We have decided to send on board each transport, for the use of Canterbury men, a number of soldiers' caps or balaclavas. These are much sought after as comforts on board in cold weather; any left over are to bo sent to Miss MacKciijjie l'or the New Zealand Soldiers' Hostels in London. The response to our appeal for sanitary shirts has not been nearly so goou as we had hoped for. Branches are urged to supply more of these very necessary coiiiforts for the men in the hot weather they -will lie experiencing in France and Egypt later on. Handkerchiefs aro needed in thousands. The soldiers are using gas helmets so frequently, and need an extra supply of handkerchiefs to keep them clcan. Socks and foodstuffs of all descriptions are as urgently needed as ever. Mr Clutha Macken-zie,-during his rccent visit to Christchurch, said: 'The fly in the ointment is tlio tobacco issued. They don't send to the front tobacco that ' our men like; they send very inferior brands that our men can't smoke. I* is simply wasted, and it would be better if le.ss wore sent, and that of a better quality.' May I- here read an extract from a private letter received by last mail from a Christchurch boy 'somewhere in France,' dated March 16th. 'We got the Liverpool bucksheo parcels some days later. In tho one I got was a stick of Havelock tobacco. I got on it 'without delay. It was a treat to get a good smoke. . . . Had another Liverpool parcel the other day. They were very welcome, i can toll you. The one I got this time, however, did not have any Havelock tobacco in it. You ought to give them the tip—the bqys, like myself, would give anything for a good smoke.' May I ask for extra monetary donations to enable us to purchase another consignment of tobacco and cigarettes for our next parcels?"

Tho. report closed by urging that members should become subscribers to "The Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F.," and 'conveying thanks to all workers. • On tho motion of Mrs Chilton, a vote of thanks was awarded the President for her' report.

' Reports were received from the. fol lowing branches: —Addington, Slief field, Cheviot, Kaiapoi, Loburn, Kim berloy. Nelson, New Brighton, Pen darves", Rcdeliffs, Sumner, Spreydon Tai Tanu, Timvald. Westport, Wood-end-Waikuku and Waimate.

DR. SHELDON'S NEW DISCOVERY > THE MOTHER'S REMEDY.

Nigiit or Day, Mother is on the job. • Sho must keep her husband, herself, and the children well and happy. She has her little helpers, and the best of all is Dr. Sheldon's New Discovery for Coughs and Colds. When Mother appears with Dr. Sheldon's New Discovery in her hand, coughs and colds disappear from tho household. In the dead of night they work together, ar- ! resting Baby's Croupy Cough; in tho morning they frighten away Sonny's Cold in the Head before he leaves for school. When Sis gets Measles, Mother and Dr. Sheldon's New Discovery keep her safe < comfy; and Dad's Asthma has left him altogether since Mother introduced him to Dr. Sheldon's New Discovery. As to Mother herself —Oh! she hasn't time to be ill. so Dr. Sheldon's New Discovery takes care of her on the very first sign o7 a cold. l'or health and happiness in_ any household. Dr. Sheldon's New Discovery and Mother are the best ever. 7»ew Discovery, Is 6d and 3s. Obtainable Everywhere. 6