SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2541, 16 August 1915, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Wedding at Palmerston North. The wedding took place last Tuesday, in St. Patrick's Church, ' Palmerston North, of Sir. John Bedo Condon, of Wellington, youngest son of Jlr. Maurice. Condon, of Belmorc, Sydnoy, and Miss Margaret Helen M'Kenzie, daughter of the late Mr. John M'Kenzie and Mrs. M'Kenzie, of.Tokomaru. The Rev. Father Cronin, of Foxtou, performed the ceremony.' The bride, who was given away by her brother-in-law, Mr. E. Pl. Daniel, of Hastings, wore a gown of ivory white charirieuse with, an overdress of floral ninon, and an embroidered tulle'veil with a- wreath of orange blossoms. Miss Rita Brooks, of Wellington, and Miss Mariorie .Daniel, of Hastings (nieces of the bride) were bridesmaids, the former wearing ivory silk with rose-coloured swathed belt and rose mob cap, and the latter bine satin trimmed with Maltese iace and a iace mob cap. They carried bouquets of lilies ftiid Irish heath, arid also wore gold crosses, the gifts of the bridegroom. Mr. T. Judd, cf Tokomaru, was best man, and as the bridal party left tho church Mrs. C. D. M. Brook's, of Wellington, played the_ Wedding March. The bride travelled in a navy blue costume, black velvet hat with white ostrich feathers, and foxaline furs, the gift from the bridegroom. The Soldiers' Room. The hostesses for each evening at the Soldiers' Room this week aro as follow:—Mrs. Joseph (last evening) Mrs. C. H. Stephens, Monday; Mrs. Ponsqnb.y and Mrs. T. Ward, Tuesday; Mrs. Mooi'house and Mrs. Pearson, Wednesday; Mrs. C. 11. Smith-and Mrs. Willis, Thursday; Mrs.' H. D. Crawford arid Miss Duncan, Friday; Mrs. G. Tripo and Mrs. J. Tripe, Saturday.' That tho "homey"- atmosphere and comfort to be found at.'tho'Soldiers' Room-aro making themselves felt is evidenced, by the increasing number of soldiers who visit it, and ,who have not failed to express their appreciation of what is offered them there. A billiard table, music, fires brightly burning, ; arid opportunities for reading and writing pass various odd moments very pleasantly. • The club hoiiso. at Her&taunga no longer being'occupied as . a military , convalescent hospital, tho lady members of tho Wellington Golf Club will play, their' monthly silver putter, competition on AVednesday next. Entries on 9.4 train as usual. . ' ' Military Hospital Guild Soldiers' Comforts' Depot. Gifts for tho above fund are acknowledged as follow:—Miss Cowie, scones, cake, oranges; Mrs. M'Master, 2s. 6d.; Mrs. Bland, marmalade; Mrs. J. Hutcheson, £1; Mrs. E. Hadfield, 25.; Miss Patterson, scones; from Johiisonville and Ohariu Valley (per Mrs. Paratt), magazines and vegetables; Mrs. 1). Campbell, eggs; from. Now Plymouth, og«s; Miss Joseph, fruit; Mi's. A. Aulliams, soup; Mrs. Bridson, soup Mrs. Pollen (ICarori), eggs; Mrs. W. L. Meek, g°"2s ; Mrs. Nicholson, 2s. Gd.j Mi\ Sheppiwd, hooks; airs. Plimmer,eggs; Mrs. H. D. Crawford, cako; Miss Straohan, soup; Mrs. M., Gs.; Master M., Is.; Mrs. Hilcy, £1;. Mrs. Tweed, soup; Dr. Gunn, two boxes., onions; Mrs. P. Blundell, soup; Miss AAilkmson, cake and eggs; Mrs. Maitland (Pieton),

eggs; Sirs. 'Anderson (Lower Hutt), books: Mrs. Parkinson, £1: Mrs. H. E. •Nicholls, soup; Miss Tamblyii, jelly. Presentation of Badges. On Saturday afternoon the' ceremony which is fast becoming a familiar ono in these days of warfare, that of the presentation of badges to tho nurses who are leaving on active service abroad was once again held, the nurses on this occasion being tho six wlio liad been selected for the purpose of relieving nurses in Egypt, who might be suffering' from over-strain, or, if that were nob necessary, to return in chargo of our wounded soldiers, when next they came. Her Excellency, tho Countess of - Liverpool presented tho badges,, 'tlie ceremony taking place in tho Parliamentary Library. Tho Minister of Public Health, the Hon. G. W. llussell, in welcoming tho presence of Her Excellency at this special occasion, paid a high tribute to the work , which was being done in connection with the war by the women of New Zealand, and especially by the nurses. Everywhere there was the keenest eagerness on the part of women to assist in some way or another, if not on active nursing service, then in any other way that was possible. He told his hearers that the scheme formulated by the secretary ■of tho Nursing Sisterhood was now under'consideration; and tho members of the St. John Ambulance Association were also asking for official recognition, a claim which also was to be gone into. , After tho badges had. been pinned upon the nurses, by Her Excellency the Minister of Defence, tho Hon. James Allenspoke warmly of the fino work which had been accomplished at Trentham by. tho nurses who were now leaving, and on behalf of the' soldiers, of the Government, and of the- New Zealand people, thanked theoi for all they had done.' New Zealand had now supplied one hundred and eighty nurse's on service abroad; and should it be necessary they would send more, although there was a certain danger in depleting the hospitals. Stillj the people of. New Zealand were prepared to make'any sacrifices for the sake of the 'men who were giving all they had for their King and their country. The Minister also added that as our soldiers by their gallantry and dash had made New Zealand so he was sure tho nurses who left this country would do their best to uphold that reputation. The strain of competition among nurses wjio came from every quarter would be very.great, but he was sure that the nurses from the Dominion would,-be equal to, and ho hoped even better than those from other countries. AVhen the history of the war came to be written, it would be found that the women of New Zealand had in their special work done as splendidly as had our men. Among those who were present at the ceremony- \Vere: Mrs. \Y. F. Massey, Sir Joseph and Lady Ward, tlie Hon. A. Ij. Hcrdman, Sir Francis Bell, the Hon. W. Eraser, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) and Mrs. -Luke, Colonel G. F. C. Campbell and Mrs. Campbell, Miss Bicknell, Sirs. F. M. -B. Fisher, and Mrs. Hugh Buckler. Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool also presented each nurse with a box of chocolates, and in addition Mr. D. J. Nathan-.had sent a parcel of books for the voyage.