WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2515, 17 July 1915, Page 11

WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE

Auckland women "have como to the fore recently by establishing a women's branch of tlio National Reserve, their object being to assist-and. further as far as possiblo tlio aims and objects of the men, and to be prepared to do a little on their own account should occasion ever arise (states the "Herald"). With all other Auckland women, they have taken active' part in the work for the .wounded which has lately . been going forward, but, in addition, tlioy are:quietly following out a distinctive programme of their own, which is certainly helping greatly to-raiso the !general standard of efficiency among 'such as belong to the National Reserve, i" The'total number cf women rccruits ■enrolled on the National Reserve in is now nearly 400, and among thein are many business girls willing .to give of their scant time in order to prove their vatriotism, married women,, women. of" all ages; each one eager to follow the lines of instruction laid down. Mrs. C. R. Smith, of the ,St. John Ambulance Association is president of the women's branch. Nursing and Signalling Divisions. ' All members of the 'Women's National Reserve .are required to take, or to have takon, the St. John Ambulance course in. _first aid. Dr. Kenneth M'Kenzie, assisted by members of the association, is acting as honorary lecturer and surgeon, and the preliminary course has just been completed,, ail those sitting for "the examination obtaining a. firstclass pass. Members l are now busy at home-nursing, which includes treatment of certain diseases, fevers, judging symptoms, and rooriy advancod forms of roller bandaging, etc. After this course has been completed, advanced field work will be taken by. which members will gain,- so -far as under conditions • of peace it is possible to gain, knowledge of some of the actual work done on the field. While the nursing course is compulsory, it is but. one branch of activity, however; there are others in which members are showing remarkable zest and aptitude. One of .those is tlio signalling ' division,_ which", under ' Scout.injster. I'earce, is receiving instruction' iff semaphore and Morse signalling!' .There are now . 100 members 'in" this ■ class, and instruction nights are " a striking testimony to ; the , fact. that' 'Auckland women as well ns'men/are vitally interested in' tbe matter of home' defence. Tlio idea is that if ever need should arise, women can' take the' place's of men and relieve them to some extent for more-important work." That, in a few words, is the whole! object of the women's branch, not to. hamper or' interfere with the actual wort of the men, hut to .be able to render'prompt and efficient service to ' their' country should need arise. I'A Night at Rifle Practice. < The latest activity of the women's 'branch, and one that has achieved instant and remarkable popularity, is the formation of a rifle /club. • The idea, has caught on so swiftly that it seems as though Auckland women- had only been waiting some such opportunity to demonstrate their eqgerness to handle actual war-weapons./ As this enthusiasm, is,-no doubt, more . or. less general,it should bo mentioned at once that the i-ifle club membership list was full within a few days of being opened, the diffi-. culty with too largo a membership being lack of rifles and opportunity for .practice. . • i Rifle practice is at present being held at tho Defence Department's miniature range at the Drill Hall. The rang© is 25.vd5., the target the ordinary bull'seye.- Arrangements were made for . a well-known marksman to act as instructor, but. the idea, was taken up with such eagerness that three instructors are now .kept going from seven till clo'se on ten" o'clock on practice nights! . :'A recent Dunedin wedding, was, that of; Miss Muriel Rutherford , Waddell, (laughter of tlje Rev. Dr. R, Waddell, to Sir. Gerald Anderson, son of the Rev. Mr. Anderson and Mrs. Anderson .(England);' ■ . > Another afternoon tea: at which' the 'Australian nurses were entertained was that given by tho Couucil of the Trained Nurses' Association in Miss Tehdall's rooms j;esterday. There were present, in addition to the guests of honour, Mrs. Porter, Mrs. F. M'Lean, Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Young, Miss Bicknell, Miss Inglis, and Mrs. Macdonald. The matron of the Hospital desires to acknowledge the following gifts:— Eggs and illustrated papers, Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool; 2 large parcels of old linen for troopers, per, Mr. T. N. Field, M.P., from Red Cross- Society, Nelson; eggs,' lemons, orange's, 1 sack of oysters, 3 cases, of apples, for troopers, from _ Military Comforts Supply*. Co. and Military Hospital Guild; old linen,' Mrs. De Castro, Mrs. Key worth, Miss Smallbone, Mrs. C. E..Richardson; jelly, for troopers, 'Mrs. Maurice Turrell, Mrs. Gibson (Ngaio) ; flowers, Miss Coupland (Lower Hutt). ■..., , . • ■ ' : - -