CURRENT NOTES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23742, 14 September 1942, Page 2

CURRENT NOTES

Mrs Derrick Gould (Fendalton), who is visiting her parents, Mr and Mrs Arthur Elworthy, Timaru, will return home early this week. Miss A. M. Harman (Opawa) is visiting Mrs H. S. Harman, Wanganui. Miss A. L. Rees has retired from the office of president of the Poverty Bay branch of the Victoria League, after 15 years’ service. Mrs L. Balfour has been elected in her place. Mrs Dora Fair, wife of Mr James W. Fair, of Timaru, died suddenly in Nelson last week while she was visiting her mother, Mrs E. C. Kelling, Mrs Christmas, lady superintendent of the Ashburton Voluntary Aid Detachment. has been appointed MidCanterbury centre advisory director. Mrs Beatrice Rutherford, widow of Mr Andrew D. Rutherford, of "View Hill,” Seddon, died last week, while she was seated in a carriage at the Blenheim railway station, awaiting the departure of the train for Seddon. She had been in ill-health for some time. The monthly meeting of the PapanuiMerivale sub-branch of the Plunket Society was held in the Papanui Plunket rooms. Mrs B. E. H. Whitcombe presided. Nurse Thomson’s report for August was as follows; Visits to rooms (Papanui and Christchurch respectively); Adults. 390, 163; babies, 373,160; children, 21, 2. Visits to homes: Papanui, 61, 20. New babies: Papanui, 17; Christchurch, 7. Dr. Needham examined 21 older children. Smart waterproof berets are being issued to members of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and some are already being worn, states a Press Association message from Wellington. One of the felt hats issued to W.A.A.F.’s has been withdrawn and the beret issued in J ts place. The beret is of blue-grey serge and carries the usual R.N.Z.A.F. brass badge. The Cashmere Garden Club held its September meeting at Mrs R. B. Dagger’s home, Hackthorne road. Mrs N. G. Mitchell presided. An “Exchange of Plants” afternoon was enjoyed by the members. Tea hostesses were Mesdames V. McKibbin, M. Boyce, L. Riedle, and Miss Salmond. Referring to the recent advertisement for married women to serve as part-time office assistants in Government departments in Wellington, the Public Service Commissioner, Mr Boyes. said on Thursday that what were wanted were experienced workers such as stenographers, typists and general clerical workers. “Machine operators, such as calculator operators, are very scarce," said Mr Boyes, “and we would welcome applications of this type. Wages in all cases will be proportionate to the hours worked and the rate for the particular class of work.” A Dominion drive for cleaning rags for the armed forces is to be held at the epd of this month by the National Council for Reclamation of Waste Material, in co-operation with the Girl Guides’ Association. It is estimated that the forces require 115 tons of rags yearly for special, cleaning purposes. The Air Force needs 100 tons. Rags cannot be obtained from wholesale or retail softgoods houses, and the appeal must therefore be to the general public. The National Utilisation of Waste Committee in Wellington has received 20 bales of clothing from the Army, numbering several thousand garments, including hundreds of socks, pullovers, flannel shirts, underclothing, and battle-dress, all in need of repairs, and reconditioning. The voluntary services of women prepared to refoot socks by hand, to darn socks and underclothing and sort and recondition clothing are ■urgently needed. The committee advises that organisations or individual helpers prepared to give any help in this manner may take the garments to their homes or their own headquarters in order to facUltgte prompt and .efficient workmanship. ! Advice that voluntary aids were re-1 quired by the Wellington Hospital Board was, received at a meeting of the Mid-Canterbury Centre of the Bed Cross Society at Ashburton. It was stated that £1 15s would be paid towards the living-out expenses .of any V.A.D., and the period would be-for not less than six months. Mrs L. Christmas said that a number of voluntary aids would 'probably be willing to go to Wellington. Mrs A. N. Grlgg, M.P., said that girls should not be sent to Wellington if they would be required in Canterbury. There was tome talk of closing the Christchurch Sanatorium because of shortage of staff. It was decided to make' inquiries about the availability of board, and also if travelling expenses would be paid. Mrs B. H. Gilmour presided at the monthly meeting of the committee of the Lyttelton branch of the Plunket Society when Mrs Taylor and Mrs Firm in were welcomed as new members ol the committee. Regret was expressed at Nurse Mcßae’s pending departure to take up a position as a district nurse in Dunedin. Nurse Mcßae’s report was as follows:—Lyttelton: visits to rooms, adults 102, babies 95, preschool children 11, new case 1, home visits 35. Heathcote: visits to rooms, adults 7, babies 7. The wives and mothers of men and women missing in Japanese-occupied countries are invited by the North Canterbury Red Cross Society to attend a gathering to be held on Thursday afternoon at 3 o’clock at the Canterbury Women’s Club, Manchester street. On Wednesday next. September 16, the Christchurch Plunket Society makes its annual street appeal for funds. Stalls will be found in Victoria square for the sale of delicious cakes, cooked food, produce, books, plants, and flowers. The depot for collectors and for flowers will be at the Jockey Club rooms, 128 Oxford terrace. —1 WEDDING CAKES. Ethne Tosswill is happy to be able to announce that she still has stocks available of everything necessary for the complete Wedding Cake. Order yours early at Ethne Tosswill s, 123 A Cashel street. 6 AMBF.RLEY HOUSE GIRLS’ COLLEGE THE Board of Directors has decided to close the School at the end of this year for the duration of the War. So many of the e'der girls are needed to help on the farmfi, transport is difficult, and staffing, both educational and domestic. Is not easy. The Board greatly regrets the Inconvenience to parents of present and prospective pupils. A. E. FLOWER, Chairman of the Board of Directors. 8735

WOMEN’S EFFORT MORE THAN TON OF WOOL KNITTED More than a ton of wool has been knitted into comforts for soldiers by the women of the Geraldine and Temuka zone since the war began, in addition to the completion of 11.858 footless stockings. This Information was contained in a report submitted by the zone wool controller (Mrs R. H. Orbell) to a meeting of the zone executive. The report showed that 16231b of wool had been issued through the Geraldine depot, and 7051b through the Temuka depot. Geraldine had completed 10,416 footless stockings, and Temuka 1440, The secretary (Mr P. G. Withers): The wool controller has balanced the ton of wool to a quarter ounce. “I would like to congratulate the women of the district on the wonderful effort they have made, and to acknowledge the marvellous work of the wool controller (Mrs E. P. Orbell) and her many assistants," said the chairman (Mr D. C. McKechnie). OBITUARY MRS G. H. SEWELL The death of Mrs Grace Sewell occurred at Timaru last week. Born at Wakanui, she was the eldest daughter of Mr Thomas Paterson, of Lismore. After her marriage she went with her husband to Ruapuna, where Mr Sewell managed the estate of Mr John Ballantyne, and later went' to live at “Willowbank," Mayfield. Mrs Sewell was an earnest church worker and was well known for her generosity and hospitality and kindly disposition. The Rev. E. N. Blakiston, first vicar of Mount Somers parish, conducted the burial service. She is survived by a daughter (Mrs I. Owers, of Christchurch) and a son (Mr H. Sewell, of Waitohi). GALWAY GUILD AT SOUTHBRIDGE LETTERS FROM MRS CHURCHILL A “Thank You" booklet sent by the Women’s Voluntary Service for Civil Defence (London), with a covering letter from Mrs Churchill, proved interesting reading for members of the Southbridge Lady Galway Guild at their monthly meeting. - Members decided that as a Christmas effort as large a quantity of clothing as possible should be taken to the next meeting for dispatch to headquarters. Thirty-one garments were received at the meeting. Mesdames Maw. Galpln, Greenwood, Moorhead, and Horne were appointed a committee to receive and display garments.