For WOMEN

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23811, 3 December 1942, Page 2

For WOMEN

CURRENT NOTES

Mrs R. Blackford (formerly Miss Olive Strachey, of Christchurch), who for the last few years has been engaged in war work in the Middle East, writes interestingly of her experiences to a friend in Christchurch. Every Monday, she writes, she visits the hospital in Cairo, and early every Tuesday morning she leaves for the desert and canal and returns to Cairo on Friday night or Saturday morning. She visits all the British and the one New Zealand hospital (Canal), looking up all the New Zealanders, who received sweets, cigarettes, note-paper, and various comforts that they really need. Every week she writes letters for them to their parents and does all she can for them in the time. She mentions that, on one occasion, Lady Freyberg, and more often Mrs A. P. F. Chapman, a daughter of Mr and Mrs T. H. Lowry, of Hawke’s Bay, accompanied her on her visits to the New Zealanders. At the time of writing Mrs Blackford was indisposed and was spending a month in the Sisters’ Rest Home in Garden City. Her husband, Colonel Blackford, has been in Teheran for the last year. The Comforts Circle of the Canterbury Provincial Patriotic Council has at present a good stock of wool lor scarves and mittens, and as the wool room will be closed for a fortnight from December 23, those in charge would be very grateful if knitters would call before that date for wool to knit during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Many knitters are urgently needed for this work. Much useful patriotic work has been completed during the year by members of the Christchurch branch of Columba College Old Girls’ Association, who meet regularly to knit for the armed forces, entertain servicemen at the Welcome Club, and respond to any appeal for help made upon tnc members. To mark the close of the year’s activities, members met yesterday for lunch at the National Club, where representatives of kindred associations were specially welcomed by the president, Mrs Crosby Morris. For the last two years, Mrs James Murphy, a prominent member of the Women’s branch of the Navy League, has held a knitting bee at her home in Garden road, Fendalton, where about 15 women, mostly resident in the vicinity, meet every Wednesday. They specialise in the making of pullovers and of seaboot stockings, which they make in an unusual pattern. Realising that the feet of stockings wear out more quickly than the logs, they knit two pairs of feet for each pair of stockings. The feet arc ribbed to fit snugly round the ankles and the legs of the stocking fit over them. So expert are the knitters, that hundreds of woollen garments have been made by them and handed over to the Navy League for transmission overseas, and all have arrived safely at their destination, Yesterday, the circle hold its last meeting of the year, when visitors were invited to share Mrs Murphy’s

hospitality, and while members knitted a play was read by Misses N. and M. Enright, and songs were sung by Mrs R. J. McLean. At the fortnightly meeting of Nelson College Old Girls’ Knitting Circle, held on Tuesday night at t.ie home of the president, Mrs A. H. Rothonberg, six letters were received from old boys of Nelson College now serving in the Middle East, thanking the circle for parcels they had received. Each parcel contained a balaclava, cap, socks, scarf, mittens, and toilet requisites, and (ho writers said all the gifts were greatly appreciated. At the anniversary services of the

New Brighton Methodist . Sunday School the Rev. J. Richards preached, his subject being “The Word of God as a looking glass.” In the afternoon a pageant was arranged, and the address was given by the Rev. C. Knight, of St. Chad’s, The evening service was conducted by the Rev, W. E. A. Carr. Special hymns were sung by the scholars and junior choir, assisted by the senior choir and teachers. The conductor was Mr N. McLean, Mrs Jackson was organist, and Miss L, Cooke pianist, and accompaniments on the violin were played by Miss Burns.

For the use of returned servicemen in Chalmers No. 2 Ward Recreation Room at the Christchurch Hospital the Christchurch Women Helpers of tne Returned Soldiers’ Society, has presented four bridge tables. In acknowledging the gift the lady superintendent of the hospital, Miss G. Widdowson, has written to the secretary-trea-surer of the society, Mrs J. S, Kelly, thanking the women helpers for their gifts, which she says are in great demand at all times.

The Riccarton group of Wives and Mothers of Men Overseas, which works in co-operation with the Returned Services' Association, has decided to help at the Paddy’s Christmas market to be held this month in aid of the Welcome Club. This decision was made at the last meeting of the year—a garden party—held yesterday at “Ham,” the homo of Mr and Mrs Edgar Stead, Riccarton, where a large number of women whose sons or husbands are in the services overseas were pleasantly entertained in beautiful surroundings. The monthly letter issued by' the New Zealand Red Cross Society (North Canterbury centre) announces that the head depot of the papier mache making at 214 Papanui road, and the painting depot, Winton hall, St. Albans, will be closed from December 10 for the period of the school vacation. Papier mache articles, the letter records, are now reaching the highest standard, which reflects credit on all workers. Another big batch of arm, leg, hand, thumb splints, slings, basins, bowls, flasks, and tumblers will be handed over to the E.P.S. for distribution next week. The depot in Cashel street, together with the Voluntary Aid Department and the Prisoner of War Inquiry Bureau will be open as usual throughout the Christmas season, but I unless urgent calls arc received from headquarters, sub-centres will not be called on during the Christmas holidays. However, should any sub-centre require sewing, flannelette pyjamas and blanket dressing-gowns, ready to be made up, may be obtained at the depot. More girls from the Wellington schools and colleges—lso from Wellington Girls' College for instance—have volunteered to go to the Nelson district in January .and February for fruit picking than accommodation can be arranged for. Vacant school buildings and empty houses will be used to accommodate the pickers in parties under supervisors, and the girls will be well looked after, stated the Girls’ Vocational Guidance Officer in a report to the Wellington Colleges Board of Governors. The National Service Department has agreed to pay the return fares of the girls and the supervisors will be paid £2 a week.

No dry, chapped rotißh skin for you this winter—Get Lemon disco, the all Lemon Skin emollient—from McKenzie’s, Woolworths, and elsewhere. 1

SALE AT HOSPITAL

SUM OF £2O RAISED

Each year, members of the Hospital Lady Visitors’ Association arrange a sale of the useful and attractive goods made during the year by the patients in the hospital, and, at the same time increase the takings by the sale of flowers and cakes. This year’s sale was held at the hospital yesterday, and, although it could be conducted only for two hours in the forenoon—not in the afternoon as in previous years—it was very successful, and the sum of about £2O was realised. The following were the stalls and stall-holders:—Cakes, Lady Hosking, Mrs Percy Cox, Misses Lillian Bowen, J. Lee, and M. Corkill; work, Mrs P. Wynn-Williams„ Misses Barker, and C. Cardale; flowers, Mesdames P. R. Climie, Leslie Stewart, and Duncan Stewart.

100 YEARS OF AGE

MRS M. J. DIAMOND, OF CARTERTON

(P.A.) CARTERTON, December 2. Mrs Martha Jane Diamond, of Carterton, is to-day celebrating her hundredth birthday. She was born in Clonmel. County Waterford, Ireland, on December 2, 1842, of Cornish parents. Her father, Mr Jordan, a civil engineer, was sent to Ireland to carry out Government work.

With her parents Mrs Diamond went to Melbourne, Australia, in 1856, and there married. With her husband she came to New Zealand in 1877 in the Union Steam Ship Company’s ship, Arawata. Shortly after landing they came to Carterton, taking up farming. Her husband died in 1917. She has five daughters, Mrs M. Hart (Palmerston North), Mrs H. Hall (Wellington), Mrs John McKenzie (Carterton), Mrs A. E. Hall (Carterton), and Mrs E. M. Colder (Wellington). The only son living is Mr Charles Diamond (Hastings). There are 10 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. Messages of congratulation have been received from His Majesty the King, his Excellency the GovernorGeneral (Sir Cyril Newall), and the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser).

Mrs Diamond still enjoys fair health.

ENGAGEMENT

The engagement is announced of Lieutenant George Lancelot Rolles f on, N.Z.M.C. (now overseas), younger son of Mr and the late Mrs F. J. Rolleston, of Timaru, and Marion Isabel, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs S. Blackley, of Heretaunga, Wellington. Shirley Methodist Church.—The Shirley Methodist Sunday School anniversary was celebrated on Sunday, the preachers being the Revs, W. E. A. Carr, N. P. Larson, and C. Harrison Bell. There was special singing by the scholars at all services, the conductor being Mr G. Martin. Mr J. Blacklock was at the organ. Imports of Cups and Saucers.—An extension of 50 per cent, of the present allocation for imports from the United Kingdom of table china and earthenware has been made, according to advice received by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. The additional allocation will be used as far as possible for imports of cups and saucers. If importers can secure further supplies, applications for licences will be considered.