WOMEN'S CORNER.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16404, 26 December 1918, Page 2

WOMEN'S CORNER.

The Lady Editor will be jjleased to receivo for publication in tho "Women's Corner" items of social or personal news. Such items should bo fully authenticated, and engagement notices must bear tho signatures of both parties. Correspondence is invited on any matters affecting, or of interest to, women. The engagement is announced ol Miss Vera Humphries, third daughter of Mr H. Humphries, of Napier, to Major W. H. Johnson, M.C., late N.Z.E.F., younger son of Captain H. Johnson, of Wellington. The Hon. R. Moore and Mrs Moore are spending Christmas iveek at Overhigh, Port Levy. A party consisting of Mr and Mrs G. D. Cameron and family, Mr and Mrs D. W. McGill and family, and Mr T. Haminon, arrived at Coe's Ford on Tuesday, and will camp there for a few weeks.

Mr and Mrs J. W. Watson and Miss Doris Watson, Innes road, are staying at Akaroa for tho holidays.

Miss Mcintosh (Dunedin) is spending Christmas at Kaiivara, with Mrs Walter Mactarlane.

Liout.-Colonel and Mrs A. W. Hogg aro staying at "Ilfracoinbe," Akaroa.

Tlic Rev. L. Hunt and Mrs Hunt aro spending Christmas with tho Rev. and Mrs "The (jrttnge," Opawa.

Mr and Mrs Malcolm Powrie havo returned from their trip to Australia, and aro spending Christinas at itakaia.

Much regret is expressed in South Australia at the approaching departure of Lady Gahvay, the charming wife of the Governor, for England. No one could have more gracefully filled tho position, which, owing to tlie Avar, has been most strenuous. Lady Galway is exceptionally gifted as a speaker, and lier eloquence has done much for the cause, while her efforts on behalf ox the lied Cross have been untiring. In fact, Government House has been the centre of ail that society's activities.

In a letter by last week's mail mention is mado of co-operativo housekeeping that is being taken up by leading English families. The method is that a house generally obtained is large enough to. allow of three families (friends) having separate suites, the dining-room, cooking, and attendance being in common.

• Tho last meeting for the year of the Wellington Headquarter Executive of tho Women's National Reserve qf New Zealand was held last week, Dr. Plaits-Mills presiding. Numerous letters from sub-centres and centres had been received, showing the need for the W.N.R. to continue its work during tho repatriation. It was unanimously decided to "carry on*" To provide for the avenuo of usefulness for the future a conference of Dominion delegates has been fixed to meet in Wellington at tho end of February, to reconstruct the constitution and rules. All the Wellington branches have been heavily taxed during the influenza epidemic and havo done such fine Work that it was felt wise to discontinue all work till February 16th.

Among ladies who aro afflicted with superfluous Eairs Dr. "Waldran'a preparations prove n, boon, as they can bo applied with perfect safety. A special outfit for summer* use comprises Slssaago Cream for Freckles and Sunburn, Vanishing Cream for applying bel- - powder; Rougette, an emollient for tho lips, and a delicate powder, any of four shades. Prico 16a, postage lC^.Cd. MBS EOLIiESTON^ Dominion Buildings, 1 Cathedral square. "WEDDING. SULLIVAN—BOWMAN. At Holy Trinity Church, Avonside, on Tuesday, the wedding took place of Mr C. W. Sullivan, of Riccarton. to Miss Olive Bowman, youngest daughter of Mr W. Bowman, of Richmond. The Rev. Otho Fitzgerald officiated. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a lovely gown of ivory satin oharmeuso, and a tulle veil fall- j ing from a circlet of orange blossoms. | She carried a shower b«uquet of white flowers. Tho attendant bridesmaids, Misses Marie and Mary Bowman, wore smart costumes of cream serge and cream and eaxe-blue hats. Messrs W. Burridge and B. Flood were tho groomsmen. Both they and the bridegroom aro returned soldiers, the bridegroom being one of the original Anzacs. After the ceremony the bride's parents held a recaption. Mrs C. W. Sullivan's travelling costume was of grev cloth with which was worn a, pretty wiite hat.

At St. Andrew's Church, Wellington, Miss Jessie Wilson, second daughter of Mr William Wilson, of Wellington, and late, of the nursing staff of the Bowen Street Private Hospital, was married to Mr Alfred East, third son of Mr James East, of Gisborne, and a member* of the teaching staff of the Clyde quay school, Wellington. Mr East will be remembered by many of the gallant adventurers of New Zealand's Medical Corps who, for deeds of conspicuous bravery under fire, was awarded the' Serbian gold medal, with which he was decorated by his Excellency the Governor-General a few months ago. Tho officiating clergyman at the wedding was the Rev. Dr. Kennedy Elliott.

A quiet wedding was celebrated at the residence of the bride's parents, lyiastertpn, on Monday, when Miss Fanny Miller, eldest daughter of Police-Sergeant Miller, was married to a Sergeant Stanley Devenport. Quarterr master-Sergeant Noel Cameron was ' best man., and the Rev. Robert Inglis 1 was the officiating clergyman. ' WHAT IS YOUR COLOUR? Some people think a beautiful woman may risk wearing any shade. That's quite a mitVake. She must, like her plainer sister, ehoose a shade that is • suited to her own personality as well ? as to her own "colouring," declares a dress expert. If I wero «'«;ked how to decide about • colour I'd say: Wear the colour which S'ou are most at home in, and never u chooso a shade which you don't care ■ for just because it's the fashionable one ' of the day. j Of course, wearing a favourite colour may cot always be the most suitable, , but. etill very few women will attach i themselves to a shade if it is unbecoming. » You won't over be called dowdy if you choosp the colour of vour eves, so don't forget chat. " " ' The blue-eyed blonde has a larger • variety of colours to choose from than I her darker sister. A blonde has tlie monopoly of all blue—especially pale blue it undoubtedly is her shade. But

so also are white, grey, purple, or lavender and she looks an angel in black. There are degrees of "brunettene6B," if one may use such a term. The light brunette looks well m any shade of pink, brown —in fact, all autumn tints are extremely becoming to her, also certain shades of green. The dark brunette can wear almost any shade, but vieus rose and mauve should be ihe most." popular. Other harmonious colours are cortain shades of blue, golden tints, and omorald green. As for the Girl of the Karen Tresses, her colouring usual !v lends itself to the artistic selection of tints—crimsons, yellow, purple, emerald-greon, and blue. THE CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUxND. HAPPY HOURS IN THE GARDENS.

{ These are happy days in the Botanic Gardens, happy for children and mothers alike; lor the younger citizens or Christchurch have been provided by tho authorities with a playground of their very own, and mothers whom tho unceasing entertainment required by the kiddies at holiday time has rendered weary have the happy feeling that the playground has provided a need long wanted in the city. Visitors who were in Christchurch 011 holiday last year may remember that portion of the Gardens which lay immediately behind the kiosk. It was then rather in tho nature of a wild garden. There were shady trees in plenty, under which the grasses grew very tall; and there were dog roses and lupins and other wildflowers springing up where they would. There was little doubt but'that this, with other "wild" portions of the Gardens, ■but served to render them the more beautiful; they set off tic orderly flower beds and borders and trim lawns which prevailed in the sections under cultivation.'

But a better use has been found for the patch of land behind the kiosk. Throughout the winter months tho curator and his staff were busily employed in creating a playground for the city's children, with the result that during all these days of prolonged holiday childreu have literally thronged to the Gardens. All day long there is a hose of small people in the playground, romping about on the grass, chasing each other about under the shade of the big trees, riding in the swings provided for them, or, best of all, splashing about in the wading pool that is the most popular of all the opportunities provided for innocent diversion. The pool itself is wide and shallow; it is paved with shingle and dotted about in it here and there are little cairns of rocks, perched upon which many a small man or maid may be heard at any time declaring him or herself to be "king of the castle." The environs of the playground provide n charming picnicking ground for . the mothers; there is plenty of shade, the river runs coolly almost beside them, there is tea to be obtained close at hand. Visions of long, hot beaches with tho troublesome ninth wave that invariably catches Dorothy or Jimmie unawares, giving them an involuntary ducking and sending them screaming for maternal comfort, pale before the vision of the comfortable outing that may be had literally within the bounds of tho city, with_ all-day entertainment provided for tho children, and a mercifully short homeward journey. Auckland is even more advanced in the matter of children's playgrounds 1 than is Christchurch.' The Women's Civic League of the Northern city took up the matter as far back as four years and agitated for playgrounds on the American principle. Shortly afterwards one of Auckland's most benevolent citizens, the Hon. A. M. Myers,, presented Myers Park to tl.o city, and generously offered to provide within its bounds, a properlyequipped playground for children. The playground is now in full swing, and contains besides the paddling pool, numbers of swings, a helter-skelter, sand-heaps.' and numerous other diversions for the little ones. There is a matron m charge daily, whose duty it is to see that no small potential citizen gets out of hand. The Park is situated in tho very heart of the city, in a quarter that was formerlv a slum. ' The advantage, of a rhildren's play- ! ground in such a district does not need stressing to be realisjed. j