SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 73, 19 December 1917, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Scottish Women's Hospital. In the course of her lecture at the Pioneer Club yesterday, Mrs. Abbott stated that the upkoep of tho Scottish Women's Hospital units was about £8000 a month. Among tho activities sho said, 1..0 a unit 0f.300 beds attached to the French Expeditionary Force in Salonika. Wo have 200 beds with field dressing station of 40 beds, and motor transport column in Macedonia, we liavo two field hospitals, 100 beds each, and motor transport column, on tho Rumanian frontier, and we have a Serbian refugee hospital, caring for 2000 Serbians, in Corsica. Latterly we have added a 200-bed hospital in the French firing line, and an orthopedic, centre iu Salonika—a Calcutta unit. For the Red Cross. Lieutenant-Colonel Moorhouse has received from Miss Sommerville tho handsome sum of £32 for the Red Cross Fund. This amount is tbe money which was to havo been spent upon prizes for the boys attending the Croydon School at Day's Bay, but when the question was put befors them, as to what they would like dono with the money, tho hoysunanimously decided that it should be given for the benefit of our wounded soldiers. Such a thoughtful action is to he greatly commended. Kindorgarten "Break-up." The Berhampore Branch, of tho Wellington Free Kindergarten' Union hold its "breaking-up" coremony recently, at the Masonic Hall, Adelaide Road, Berhampore. There was a very large attendance of parents aiid friends. Tho hall was prettily decorated by the teachers. Misses Newton and Lake, with coloured paper chains, tho work of the pupils. Miss Riley (tho principal) outlined tho work done in the school, and thanked the parents and friends for their kindly sympathy. During the afternoon Misses Newton and Lake, who havo been in charge since the school opened, were presented with a silver and cut-glass bowl each, suitably inscribed, from tho parents of tjio pupils attending tho school, as a small token of the esteem in which theso two ladies are held. Botlit suitably replied. Much regret was expressed at tho resignation of Miss Newton, who is leaving to take up other duties. During the afternoon tea was served, and each child received a present from a woll-ladon Christmas tree. The parents also received a gift from tho tree, which was the work, of tho children taught at tho kindergarten. Danoe for Soldiers. [ A dahco in honour of tho Thirtythird Reinforcements is to bo held at [ the Soldiers' Club, Sydney Street, this evening. It had been decided previously that thcro would bo no dance this week, but special circumstances have arisen which prompted tho committee to arrange a speoial danco 1 to-night iu honour of tho Thirty-thirds. I Lady holders of bluo tickets are asked to ho prosont.

The Samo EdUoation&l Pattern. In the course of the annual report of Fitzherbert Terrace School, Miss Baber expressed the opinion that the Government in its methods of education aimed at turning everyone out on the same pattern. "All must learn science, particularly home science, and spend thereon long hours, whether or 10 they havo a bent that way, whilst those who, perhaps, have brilliant abilities for other subjects receive no encouragement, only handicaps. Jnthe primary school, for example, consider the absurdity of a clevoi pupil spending ono day out of five learning cooking, which her mother could teach her in half f n hour I In the higher walks of education tho university is blindly following the foolish lead, and proposing to add to a girl's trials in matriculation, a test in home science. This is again handioapping the serious-minded student. In the case of schools such as mine, my idea for the boarders, at any rate, is that they should learn, while at school, everything that they can of those subjects for which school perhaps provides their ono opportunity, and leave tilt later tho lessons of housekeeping." j Madame Elaio Dairies, who is to sing in "Tho- Messiah," at ths Town Hall this evening, is in private life ' Signora Navaretti, whose husband is at present secretary to the Italian Consulate at Molbourne. Signor Navaretti claims descent from the famous Medici family of historical note. Madame Foley, of Wellington, gave an entertainment in the Town Hall, Featherst'on, on Monday night, in the form of an exhibition of fancy dancing by her pupils, and a publio dance, resulting in a gross sum of £14 being raised towards tho Trench Comforts Fund. Extensive alterations have recently been made in connection with the refreshment room of the Returned Soldiers' Club that are a decided improvement. A gift of Sapper Moore-Jones's Anzac sketches has lately been made to the club by a generous donor, and, needless to say, the gift is greatly appreciated by the mombers. Visitors to the club are invited to view them.