SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 69, 16 December 1918, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

St. John Ambulance Brigade, The ,St. John Ambulance- Brigade Red Cross Committee held their last meeting for .1918 on Thursday afternoon. There were present, Ml'. 11. H. Seed, in the chair, Sir Eric Gibbes,, Mefdames Preston, Exle'v, Gaby, Helyer, Wallis, Galvin, Jlagill, and Gillman (lion, secretary). Beloro the business commenced a> voto of condolence was passed to the . relatives of iho late Mrs. Collett, who laid down her life in the cause of humanity \vhilo nursiiig 'during the epidemic in Petone. Mrs. Collett had been n. tireless worker for the St. John Ambulance Brigade Bed Cross since the begin- . ning of the war. Several letters were read, acknowledging receipt of goods sent to England and Aolea, ond expressing satisfaction with all sent. Accounts ivero passed for payment totalling .£475. It was decided to hold all the- goods now in stock jiemlihg the return of the sick and wounded soldiers, expected to nr'rivo by (he end of February. On the outbreak of the epidemic the workers went out to' do what they could in the .way of nursing and cooking, while the depot was kept open for the distribution of gar. menls so urgently needed, with the result Hint many pneumonia jackels, etc.. and children's garments have heen distributed. It was resolved to close the. workrooms till February 3 next. The St. John Ambulance Brigade, and Red Cross Society, Star Boating Shed, acknowledge goods arid donations from the following:—Hukiinui Bed Cross Society, Otaki St. John Ambulance aiid Bed Cross, Maiigaitainbka Red Cross (,t'n), "A Mother" (55.), Johnsonville W.N.R. (£i 95.), Rongotca Bed Cross Guild, Hnnnia •Red Cross, Mrs. Cairns, Manaia Patri' otic and Bed Cross Committee, Kilbirnie Lndies' Presbyterian Guild, Pihnma Red Cross, Feilding % lied Cross, Mnngaveka Red Cross Society, Otakeho Red Cross, Eketahuna Rod Cross' and Equipment, Elsllmrpe H«l Cross Guild, HalcombcStatiway Bed Cross, Wailiia Red Cross (.£10), Auroa Red Cross Guild, Miss Eglington,- Johnsonvilie School, Mufitiii School, Berhainpore School (per Miss Scott), 'AVainui-o-mata Red Cross Guild, i'etone High Rchoof, 51rs. Wentim (XS), Mrs. Haslein, Mrs. Evans, Miss I?ossette, Miss Ilulbci't, "'Mrs. Hussey, }leturneil Soldiers' Club, Miss Dickie, Mrs. Green (as.).

Mess in Surgical Dressings. Professors' wives in Ihe University of Washington, Seattle, claim the honour of being the first in their country to prepare sphagnum as a surgical dressing, sriys "Popular Mechanics." This moss is very abundant in many regions, notably along the north-western const of America, and because of its softness and absorbent properties is proving a wonderfully successful substitute for. absorbent cotton. In the first few months of their work the wives Of the. faculty niom'bcrs, in conjunction with the Seattle lied Cro«s. prepared and shipped to Franco thousands of surgical dressings and hundreds of ambulance pillows. Later, the women students in. the University and women in many other . States took up this work of mercy with eagerness. Because of the. character of the cellular structure of the moss it is able when dried to absorb several times-as much moisture as absorbent cotton made into pads. Theso moss pads have the. further advantage of not. adhering to the wounds. '•Each is made by placing a given quantity of the sorted moss between a sheet of wood-pulp paper nnd a layer'of nonabsorbent cotton. The whole is then placed in gauze, and run through an electric wringer. Tln/'ptids are sterilised on reaching their destination.

Major anil Mrs.' 'Massey are visiting Chj'i.stchurch.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson' aro visiting Mrs. E. D.'Johnson,.of Fendalton, Christchurch. . ' .

According to'_ft Melbourne paper Datno Melba has received a cablegram from tho Jung'commanding her presence in Engla.nff, and will accordingly go Home this monjSir

Mrs. P.-Steele, of t'endnlton, Christchurch, is visiting l\pr parents, Mr. and airs, G: W. Wilton, of Wellington.

Mrs, Andrew Burns and her sister, Mrs. Barry, who have been in Wellington for some time, have' returned to Christchurch.

The Hon. A. F. Hawke and Mrs. and Miss Hawke have gone ,to Invercargill.

In spite of a rather boisterous wind a very, pleasant time .was spent by the members of the Kelburn Tennis Club at their courts on Saturday afternoon. The occasion was both a welcome to Mr. C. W. Rarle, (he'club captain, who has just returned from Europe, and the formal opening of the courts' for the season. Mrs. C, W. Gafle acted 6a hostess, and with the assistance of several other lady members, provided and dispensed delicious afternoon ten.

Mr. and Mrs. Norman Burton returned (o their home- in Auckland on Friday last. ■ During her stay in Wellington Mrs. Burton has been, as always, very active in patriotic, church, and social work, including valuable assistance during the epidemic. Mr. and Mrs. Burton aro planning a visit to England iu tho coming year.

Mr. and Mrs. G. P. AVilson spent the week-end at Titahi Bay. They purpose spending the summer months there.

Madame Johnston Topliss is leavingWellington on Tuesday for Christchurch, where she will take the solos for Dr. Bradshaw at the Christchurch Male Voice Choir concert, to be held in that city on December 19 and 21.

The death took place at the Thames on Friday, from pneumonia following influenza, of Mrs. Ritchie, wife of Dr. J. Jtitclvie. Mrs. Ritchie, who was only married at the beginning of the year, was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Watts, of Fcilding, and-for a munhei' of years worked under the Wiingahui Education Board, tier,- last position being' at Taihape. Tho epidemic has' hit Mr. and Mrs. Watts very hard, they having lost a son and two daughters, while Mr. Watts also lost a sister.

At the Telegraph Offico on Friday afternoon Mr. A. J. Talbot taiporintejident) presented Miss M. 0. ■ Browne, of the bureau staff, mid Hiss 11. Patterson, of the counter stal)', with tokens of ■esteem from their fellow-officers, in view of their approaching marriage.

Miss Sheppard, secretary Hon. Division Women's National Reserve, lias been laid up with influenza, but is now ebnvalcscent.

Navy League's Ladies' Auxiliary, The Navy League Ladies' Auxiliary hold the last meeting ./of the year ill the rooni6,- tn Bftllanco Street, Inst week. Mrs. HallThompson presided,, and there was a good attendance of members, A'- letter ot thnnks was received from Mr,.Moore,..of the Missions to Seamen, regarding the help given by members to the inmates of the mission temporary hospital during the cpidWc,: Miss Laurenson organised the work, and with the. help of Mr. Snndlands each day collected comforts and took them to. the hospital. The president acknowledged .receipt of X 8 from the■ Ifawcra Patriotic Flower Sta:l; JSIBS from Mr. Ml,' of Marlborough; and. £W from' Mr. Broriie, all of which is to go to King Georgo's Fund. for Christmas Comforts for Sailors. The. Fictdn branch of the auxiliary sent .K>o; to be spent on Cliristmns. comforts for the filen of H.M.S. New Zealand.' The. treasurer reported that she had forwarded the JMO voted at a previous meeting to the fund for purchasing the freehold of the Agnes Weston Hoine for. Sn-ilrffs at Devohpoft. Miss Laurenson repotted, tliafc she Had dispatched ten eases of goods to Various sailors' homes in England l . .< ' . The money made by Mrs. Lever's very successful raffle has been, spent entirely for comforts for'men.of the trawlers of the Dover Patrol. A latter*was received from Lady Drury acknowledging (he arrival at the High Commissioner's office of several cases of goods. These are probably garments sent by Mrs. Harding, of Petone. It was decided.that the first meeting of 1019 should he'"lipid on the first Tuesday in February. . •

Doctor's Tribute to Women, \ "Women doctors run 'these hospitals in France just as well as they are riin by men," said' Sir Watson Cheync at- the opening of the session tit King's College Hospital Medical School, Denmark Hill, S.l'l. Women are admitted for the first time to the Medical School -this session, and already sixteen pro on the books, stales tiro "Daily News.'-' —

Women's War Work in the United States.. Women have.been Riven ii large share of responsibility inthe administration of Jilie waivlnbour supply programme of the 'United Stales and the employment Service liy Ihe Department of Labour (states the Washington correspondent of tho "Daily News''). Two:women, one representing management; the other representing labour, have been added to caeh. State Advisory Jioard of employment service, an additional two Women being ndd,ed to every- Community Lnbortr tioai'd. Women members of these, community boards nro to have full power of decision, in all opinions concerning the method of rccj'uitjiiy and' distributing labour.

Nerve Cures, y ' Colonel Maudsley has been investigating on behalf of the Aiistralum C'oinmoinvoallli a ■ farm' rind hospital' where remarkable cures of nervous cases have, •been effected through the simplest psychotherapy, states a .'London correspondent. Men who had not spoken for months' rccoverod their speech after a single interview in which tho doctor imposed his superior willpower.. Limbs have ten straightened and muscular capacity regained. Hypnosis is'not-used.

After the cure the men 'slay on the farm lor varying periods, and- are then discharged. Colonel Maudstcy was most impressed, and recommends similar instruction to deal with s,ueh cases, of which .at least a thousand have been sent to Australia.

Miss Margaret Mackenzie, of George Street School, Dumxliiii lias been nominated bv North Canterbury and Otago.as noii-officinl. member'for the South Island on tlio executive- of the New Zealand Educational Institute..

It is amazing even in these days of freo aud compulsory education how many people there arc who live with closed windows! It took an epidemic to let us kuow it, but one cannot help wondering if the epidemic will induce people to change. Fresh air is the first essential for good health. Sir Isaac Newton oitly made one speech before the Convention Parliament, -lie said: "Sir. Speaker, I move that the windows be opened." And that, probably, was the most sensible thing said during that session. At a later date another Parliamentarian once gave notice to ask the Prime Minister of tliigland : "Whether! having regard to the prevalence of influenza among lu'einbers of the House of Commons, lie wiU reconsider the ndvisitblciicss of a daily adjournment of tho House for a half hour between, the hours of seven and nine in-the evening, with a. view to the better ventilation of the House by the admission of fresh air through, opened windows.'-'- It is scarcely to be wondered at-if some decisions' ol the Commons were somewhat fusty when fresh air could only be admitted by notice of niotiort.

The (natron of the Taumaru Military Hospital acknowledges the following gifts:—Mrs. Lord, jam and marinalude; iUiss Medley, walnuts; Mrs. Mborehouse, buns; (Mrs. Wilson, cakes; Mrs. Dalrymple (Bulls), lemons j Miss Shirtcliffe, cake; Mrs. Guthrie (Feilding), honey; Mrs. Ferguson, cakes.; Mr. Weston, .£5; Lady Liverpool, eggs (twice every week); Mrs. Nntlmn, cakes -(every- week); Mrs. Sherratt, lemons; Mrs. Ferguson) cake (every week); Soldiers Comforts, fruit; Red Cross Society, cigarettes (weekly); Miss Hnyward, cake; Mr. C. Wilson, X 10; Miss Allen, £1; Mrs. Bale, £3; Miss Parsons, magazines: Miss ShirtcliftV, cake; Soldiers' Comforts, apples (fruit weekly); Mrs. Siren, eggs; Mr. and 'Mrs. Cooper,, ,£3; Mrs. Warburton, eggs; Mrs. Mason, eggs'; Miss Skerrett; cakes; Mr. Ewen, cards; Miss Dc-iiglas, eggs; Mrs. We-rcl, e«»s, scones, cakes;' Levin Cfoquet Club, if" 7s. .fid.; Mrs. Mackenzie, cigarettes; Mrs. Sherratt, .£7; Mrs.' White, £i; Mr. Partridge, J& 55.; Mrs. Atkinson, cauliflowers ; Miss Kennedy, cakes and cigarettes; Mrs. Bale, -C 3; Miss A'nn Stnveren. £1 Is.; Miss .Rutherford, dishes; Mrs. Ward, eggs, tarts; Miss G. Rathbono, .£5; Charles Haines and Co., cake and chocolate; Mi's. Lord, eggs, jam; Mrs. Nathan, eggs; Mrs. Lysnghv, npoles; Y.AI.C.A., cigarettes (weekly) and writingpaper; Soldiers' Comforts Guild, cigarettes and fruit; Mr. Williamson, apples; Miss Belty P.hind (sale of Te Mahavntnrigaj. .£2O; Red Cross Society, chocolate, snap, tobacco, etc.: MR* Monckfon, vC3; iriitu Pnlliljonp. mke; M'ss Ewpn, 'cnlw;

llj« W i, lut> l, «. china; Miss Rutherford, earpot; Mrs. Bishop, sweets. Probably some il.-MMs lmv!> V'ou mnitted owing to the I rush'of work durinn- the influeiizn epi- ' dc-mic. Th» hospiM lias been bnillv in need of funds, Mid Hip matron gratefully acknowledges donations of money fpnn-sevora-1 patriotic-'-'shoijs ■ and. societies' "•ho gnnoronsly r.-wponded w.hen appealed to.

• A women's 'mooting will be held in the Library, Newtown, this afternoon at 3 o'clock, and will be addressed by .the Labour candidate,' Mr. R. Scmple, aiul to-night in Fulford's Hall a meeting in support of the Labour candidate will bo addressed bw the Rev. A. K. Archer, T. Tiriiiille. A. L. Mont'cith, nnd the candidate, Mr. R. Semplb.

Into the crowded bus came a young mother carrying her few months old bpby, writes the'"Daily Chronicle." The I wo'males among the passengers ignored her entrv, and for ' a full minute she slran-hmigby one arm. atkl held lior child in'the' other. Then up sprang a young and bretty W:A.A.C. "Please take my seat," she said to the mothrtr, "and excuse, my keening you standing. Hut I was waiting to see how long llin'-p men would let you stand. I forgot thbnjrh."-ndHed thr W.A.A.C, "all tho men nro in France."