WOMAN OF MANY PARTS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21909, 9 October 1936, Page 2

WOMAN OF MANY PARTS

VISCOUNTESS EUBANK

LIFE OF SERVICE

"We are delighted with the warmth of the welcome we have received in New Zealand; everywhere we are greeted with goodwill," said Viscountess Elibank, who, with her husband, the leader of the delegation of the congress of Chambers of Commerce, arrived in Christchurch from Wellington yesterday morning. She is the guest of Mrs Norton Francis, Rossall street, and when a representative of "The Press" called on her yesterday, she was looking forward eagerly to meeting many Christchurch residents, especially those that had . known her brother, Brigadier-General W. N. R. I Madocks, a former resident of the Do- ! minion, who served in the Boer War I with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles. "We are charmed with the scenery and i e women of our party greatly appreciate the kindly thoughtfulness of the women of the Dominion," the visitor continued. "Why, these flowers 1 am wearing were sent to me as soon as I arrived this morning by members of the Women's Club." Work for the Sick Lady Elibank, slight, vivacious, and greatly interested in all she sees and hears, leads a very busy life. Her interests are wide and varied, but perhaps the work nearest her heart is that of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Some years ago she was created a Lady of Grace of the Order, and recently she has been created a Dame of Justice. The order maintains in Jerusalem a hospital for treatment of diseases of the eye, a hospital in which Queen Mary takes a practical interest. A linen guild, which provides all sheets, towels, counterpanes, pil-low-cases, and similar articles for the hospital, is presided over in London by Viscountess Mount and to the committee of this guild the Queen appointed Lady Elibank. League of Mercy riut her practical interest in the sick ana suffering is not confined to one hospital. In Peebleshire she is president of the League of Mercy, a big organisation which collects, locally, money for the maintenance of hospitals and forwards it to a central fund in London. From this fund money is distributed throughout the country as it is required, and the importance of the guild can be guaged from the fact that King Edward, when Prince of Wales, was president of the central guild. Lord Elibank has had much colonial experience, part of which has been shared by his wife. He has lived in New Guinea and South Africa, was administrator of St. Vincent in the West Indies from 1909 to 1915, and for the next two years was administrator of St. Lucia. During the years of the Great War, Canadian troops were stationed at St. Lucia, which was a coaling station for the navy, and, as such, likely to be attacked by the enemy. There were no white nurses on the island, so Lady Elibank organised a detachment of Red Crosß workers—the wives of the planters and professional men of the island-—who Undertook a course of intense training and became an efficient unit of the Red Cross Society. In Lighter Vein

An international outlook and a feeling of friendliness towards women of all nations is fostered by Lady Elibank and those associated with her in the Lyceum Club in London, a club supported by women interested in art, painting, music, and literature. Within the club are several circles representative of different nations, so that foreign women visiting the club room are certain to find many with whom they can converse in their own language. So successful has the parent club been in London that there are now 36 similar clubs in different parts of the world. Lady Ellbank’s versatility is further proved by her interest in the Women’s Automobile and Sports Association, of which she is president. The association teaches women the rules of the road, makes them proficient in map-reading and generally instils into them the necessity for considering the safety and comfort of others, while the more experienced members take part In national and international races and speed trials.

PLEASANT PARTY

Mr V, E. Hamilton, president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, and Mrs Hamilton, entertained visiting delegates, their wives and daughetrs, members of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, and other accompanying delegates, at a very enjoyable five o’clock party held yesterday at “Eglesfield,” Papanui road. Mrs Hamilton wore a navy marocain frock patterned in red and white in small design and a wide navy straw hat. Miss Mary Hamilton wore a china blue paisley crepe de chine frock and navy hat. Mrs Edwin Hamilton, who lent her home for the very pleasant party, wore a navy and white silk marocain ftock and navy hat. The gathering was particularly friendly and informal, many of the guests enjoying a stroll in the fine grounds at “Eglesfleld.”

At a meeting of the committee of Titania’s Bail, held yesterday at the home of Dr. J. Leslie Will, Fendalton, Mr Gerald Anderson, who presided, reported that he had received many generous offers of help for the ball, which will be held during Carnival Week, in aid of the Crippled Children Fund. It was decided to limit the number of tickets and to provide a buffet supner, •