CURRENT NOTES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26203, 29 August 1950, Page 2

CURRENT NOTES

Mr and Mrs Denys . Rhodes, whose marriage took place a few weeks ago at St. Margaret’s, Westminster, London, will leave England next week by the Rangitane for a six months’ visit to New Zealand. Since the wedding they have been staying at Berkhall, Balmoral, lent to them by the King, and they will spend a week in France before leaving for New Zealand. Mrs Rhodes, who is 25, is a niece of the Queen, and was a bridesmaid at Princess Elizabeth’s wedding in 1947. Her mother, Lady Elphirtstone. of Carberry Tower, Midlothian, is the Queen’s eldest sister. She and her husband met 18 months ago, when they were both working for the United Europe Movement. Mr Rhodes was assistant to Mr Duncan Sandys, and accompanied Mr Randolph Churchill' on a lecture tour of the United States last year. At the wedding, Princess Margaret was one of the four adult bridesmaids who attended the bride and the bridal party was completed by two small bridesmaids and two pages. Mr Terence Rhodes was his brother’s best man. Four hundred guests attended the reception, and not since the marriage of Princess Elizabeth has so dense a throng of spectators congregated outside the church to see the bridal party and the guests arrive.

Mrs L. G. Wellbrock, Church lane, left Christchurch last evening for Wellington, where she will join the Corinthic for a three months’ visit to Australia. Two new members were welcomed by Mrs Muschamp, who presided at the August meeting of the Riccarton branqh of the Dominion Federation of Townswomen’s Guilds. A talk on psychology was given by Mrs E. Collins, who later, entertained with recitations. Mesdames Muschamp and Tomlinson were appointed delegates to the annual council meeting to be held in Christchurch next month. Competitions resulted as follows: three fancy cakes. Mrs Gibson 1, Mrs E. Fisher 2; something new from something old, Mrs Gerahty 1, Mrs Hodge 2. Hostesses for the afternoon were Mesdames Garland, McDonagh and Powell. “Never in the world have I listened to such fresh, clear, and natural singing as here,” said Mr J Andrews, of Hamilton, when judging the women’s national song section in the Wellington competitions. “I have not. heard any artificial singing.” Miss Nola Taylor, daughter of Mr and Mrs W. H. Taylor, St. Albans. Christchurch, was placed second in this section. An enjoyable programme arranged by Mrs Reeves and her concert party was given at a musical afternoon party, held by members of the Sprevdon subcentre of the Red Cross Society. The president (Mrs W. Connor) welcomed the guests. A bring and buy stall was held to augment the funds of the subcentre.

Six hundred and thirty-three dinners have been served to school children in 14 school days by trainees in the Stratheona Home Training Hostel. This was reported by the matron at the monthly meeting of the board of managers. The farm committee reported that work on the property was well in hand. Since the last meeting many applications had been received from mothers needing help and from prospective trainees. Housewives in the United States have not the same approach to spring cleaning as New Zealand housewives, according to an article in an American magazine. They are told (1) when you begin to feel tired, leave the house and go to the movies, (2) while you are working, stop once an hour and rest with your feet up, (3) don’t move heavy furniture, (4) use all available man power—husbands, too, (5) dress appropriately for the job. Wear jeans or a play suit. New Zealand nurses are aiming to raise £16,000 towards furnishing a memorial chapel in Westminster Abbey to Commonwealth nurses who died on war service, and to establish memorial scholarships for post-gradu-ate study for nurses and midwives throughout the British Commonwealth. At present, nurses are concerned to raise money for the scholarship fund. This will commemorate in perpetuity the 3000 nurses who died during the war. By last November, £70.000 had been raised by nurses in Commonwealth countries—each country raising the funds to finance scholarships for overseas study by its own nurses. The New Zealand target of £16,000 is expected to allow one nurse to study overseas every two years. The secretary of the Christchurch branch of the Registered Nurses’ Association (Mrs A. Fuldseth) said yesterday that no plans for raising the money in Christchurch had yet been made by the association.