WOMAN’S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 244, 9 July 1921, Page 4

WOMAN’S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR.

(By

Imogen.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Miss Bosher, Plunket nurse for the Palmerston and Marton districts, has quite recovered from her recent illness, and will resumo duty on August 13. The Hon. C. Louisson, M.L.C., and Mrs. Louisson are at present staving in Auckland. The marriage was celebrated at Los Angeles. California, on May 24, of Misa Daisy Shere, youngest daughter of the late Mr. J. C. Shera and Mrs. Shere, of Palmerston North, and Mr. Francis Moffat Hope. The wedding took place at the residence of Dr. and Mrs. Edward H. Chamberlain, the latter being a sister of the bride, and formerly of Feilding.

A meeting of the committee of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children was held yesterday afternoon. Mrs. F. Chapman presided. There were also present Mesdames J. R. Glasson, J. Kirkcaldie. L. A. Line, A. Hoby, W. F. Ward, and Chatfield. Numerous cases were reported upon that had been carefully investigated, and others of alleged cruelty to children were brought before the attention of the meeting. Others again had been satisfactorily settled. Amendments to legislation in clauses affecting women and children, as suggested by kindred societies, were approved of and endorsed.

Mrs. Wilder (Hawke’s Bay) is visiting Wellington.

The engagement is announced of Miss K. Lott, of Auckland, formerly of the staff of St. Matthew’s School for Girls in Masterton, to Commander S. E. Thomas. R.N., H.MjS. Chatham, states an exchange.

After a long succession of male chefs, who for centuries catered to the appetites of the Benches of Gray’s Inn, a woman has just taken up the post. She is Mrs. Florence Lyniath, the widow of the last chef, and although the Benchers aro still rubbing their eyes at such a revolutionary change, they agree she is worthy of the position. In her black silk dress and white apron, and with a chef’s white cup on her greying hair, Mrs. Lymath is the figure of dignity. Every evening during term, in accordance with the old custom, she enters the Hall of the Inn at the end of the dinner, preceded by a beadle with his wand, and hands the ball of fare for the next day to tho treasurer.

The death of Mrs. G. S. Jakins, of Auckland, removes another pioneer settler of New Zealand, Mrs. Jakins, who was 78 years of age, was the daughter of the Rev. J. Hobbe. one of the very early missionaries to New Zealand. She was born at Hokianga in 1842, and at the ago of 2-0 was married to Mr. Jakins, who came to this country in 1839. Mrs. Jakins is survived by her husband, two sons, five daughters, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Sir James and Lady Allen and family have now moved to a flat in Knightsbridge, and tho High Commissioner is finding this situation a considerable benefit to him (states a London correspondent). The pressure of business is so groat in New Zealand House that Sir James Allen found, when ho lived further west, that it was impossible for him to got exercise, but by this change to Knightsbridge he can fit in some walking into his day’s programme.

A successful social and dance was held under the auspices of tho Lower Hutt Hockey Club on Thursday evening. Interspersed with the dancing, the mueio for which was played by Mr. Pilcher, musical and elocutionary items wore contributed by Mrs. Eddie, Messrs. Shearer, Bennett, and Allan.

The Post and Telegraph annual ball, to be held in the Town Hall on Monday evening, promises to be a great success. Arrangements for late trams, leaving for tho suburbs, hhve been made. Excellent music has been secured, and everything has been thought of that will add to the enjoyment of those attending it.

The marriage took place at First Church. Invercargill, on July 6, of Miss Edna Henderson, elder daughter of Mr. Walter Henderson, of Invercargill, io Mr. W. Wadworth', son of Mr. W. J. Wadworth, of Christchurch. Misses L. and M. Henderson attended their taster as bridesmaids, and Mr A. H. Wadworth was best man. The groomsman was Mr. Williams. Among the presents received was a silver chafing dish trom .the Otatara Ladies’ Golf Club, of which the bride was secretary for some years. The marriage took place in St. Mary’s Church, Addington (Christchurch),, of Miss Dorothv May Coulter, of Dunedin, to Mr. Frank Noel Holder, D.C.M., of Woipiro Bay, and late of Napier Miss Margaret Coulter attended her sister as bridesmaid, and Mr. Walter Holder, M.M., was best man.

Th*> death occurred in Palmerston North of Mrs. A. H. Scriven, wife of the Rev A H?. Scriven, of Kiriwina, New Guinea. Both Mr. and Mrs. Scriven are well known on the mission fields of the Malay Archipelago jn the interests of the Methodist Church of New Zealand. The deceased lady first went to New Guinea as a missionary sister, and was subsequently married to Mr. Scriven, who was also engaged in mission worx. During her life. Mrs. Scriven showed great talent, and was a devoted worker. She had returned to the Dominion on furlough, and was visiting her mother, Mrs. L. Jamieson, of Foxton Line, when she took ill. The Rev. I. Paternoster will be the speaker at the devotional meeting to be held in the Y.W.C.A. Clubroom at Herbert Street on Sunday afternoon. All newcomers and visitors to Wellington are invited to the meeting and to the tea and social hour following, .the usual social will be held at 8 this evening m the Herbert Street Clubroom. An interesting programme of games and music has been arranged. The Greymouth correspondent of the Christchurch "Press” telegraphs:—Recent deaths of women at chi d-birth m Greymoutb. have directed public attention to the practically complete absence of modern facilities in the town. llie public hospital does not receive maternity cases; there is no private institution; and expectant mothers al e com lulled to seek accommodation at pieces for tho most part lacking in modern equipment and conveniences. There lire serj few registered maternity nurses in town, and sonic attendants on the m.otheis have had little or no modern training. Some houses receiving accouchement cases have but one or two spare rooms available for the purpose. For a town of the size and wealth of Grey mouth, the position is best described as a scandal.

PROTECTING MOTHERS MATERNITY MORTALITY RATE MINISTER SAYS LEGISLATION IS NEEDED The Minister of Health (Hon. C. J. Parr) stated yesterday that tho rat® of mortality in maternity cases in New Zealand would be the principal matter to ba discussed at a meeting of the Board of Health on July 27. "The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world, 6.5 per thousand,” • said the Minister. "New Zealand comes a close second with 6 per thousand. As I have already stated, the figures for this country call for immediate and searching investigation, and this I have ordered to be made. I cannot rest content as Minister of Health until we have stopped all avoidable deaths incidental to child-birth, and placed Now Zealand at the bottom of tho list instead of at tho top. I believe that this can be done, and so far as I am concerned it must bo dono. I am not blaming anyone especially. I am satisfied that there are several factors which contribute to our unenviable record. We are not going to got reform by abusing tho Health authorities, or the doctors, or the monthly nurses, but by coming to the aid of the Education and Health Departments in a common effort to make maternity safe for the mother and safe for the child.

"Our policy must be to enlist the hearty co-operation of all doctors and midwives in necessary reforms. We must educate and help the mothers, and we must promote the best education, training, and practice for doctors, nurses, and midwives inside and outside our medical school and maternity hospitals. I think the proper care and safeguarding of mother and child must bulk much more largely in the teaching of medical students and nurses than has been the case in the past. Every monthly nurse should be kept up to date, so that she may be a safe and reliable helper. I shall make suggestions, to the Board of Health in the direction of improving the knowledge and practice of ail existing maternity nurses and midwives. Lectures and demonstrations to midwives may writer into our programme, so as to bring their practice up to date, and convince them that their help and co-operation is essential. Conferences with the University authorities, the 8.M.A., and the doctors with a view to getting their help must also be arranged. “I am clear that some legislation is necessary. For instance, under the existing law an untrained and uncertiiicated woman may take in one case at a time if there bo a doctor in attendance. I find that there are a good many of these cases. I think I must draw Parliament’s attention to this matter, and ask it to review this practice. In the meantime the Medical Officers of Health, all over New Zealand are now inquiring into every death in childbirth, and the cause, and we are getting some interesting information. Inspection of all private nursing homes must be greatly improved. 1 hope by a policy of friendly co-operation with the various interests concerned soon to effect a substantial reduction in our unjustifiably high death-rate. The matter is one of national importance.

Public Works Department Dance. A very successful dance was that of the staff of the Public Works Department held in St. Peter’s Hall last evening. It was their fourth annual dance, and eacn vear it seems to have grown in popularity, judging by the way in which it is attended. The decorations of the hall were cliarmingly earned out with nags, lycopodium, and coloured streamers, radiating from the central electrolier to the sides of the room, while summery-looking alcoves of white trellis work, covered with lycopodium and blossoms, added a rustic touch to the General ensemble. Artificial blossoms decorated the stage, which was comfoiL ably furnished for those who looked on at the dance. Supper was « e jy ed J n the adioininff room, which. decorated with flags, and the LaWes ranged with large bowls of pink a’' a “uve flowers. The chapormm were Mrs. Kirks Mrs. Campbell, and Mis. Uavin. The committee responsible for the arrangements of the evening Misses Friis, Howe, Nathan, Pope SandFurkert (Engineer-in-Chief), Mr Birks (Chief Electrical Engineer), Mr. W ere o ™ in °g ®fi Ktive ’ Th ° oughly enjoy Howo and Mr. rotaries were Miss B. " • u W. F- C. Vine. GOLF HOME LINKS CONATION MEDAL Und; r the apices of the CoroXn Medal match Ki nlaved on the home links of each was pia.y WPP k beginning June 20, club during the week, begi b clubs choosing tl ixlonging rX Xiarion about 30 are entitled £ Compote for this challenge trophy Sr bTen unusually good, are as under. s CO re. Par. Result.

Mrs, Collinson. Ma87 IS 69 81 12 below TiaWatU Miss Nolan, Pot er92 16 76 82 4 «* Miss Flux. Hutt.... 90 15 78 78 •• Miss Gambrill. Mir86 5 81 83 2 M u,m ar • • Mrs. Hickson. .Mauneakicbie • ••■ ■•••••■• Miss Joseph Hagley 92 15 77. 87 15 72 79 74 2 2 M i s s Snodgrass, Otago (played at Westport.) Mi8B Brown, Napier 95 12 85 86 7 79 84 80 1 1 Miss Withers, Mira95 12 83 83 square Miss Holmes, Au ch96 17 79 79 Lady Boys, Gin Oh98 IS 80 81 1 over par Miss Halley, Cam97 14 83 82 1 bi . MJ « b Williams. 98 16 82 80 o 0 t»n et o ■ ... Mrs. Hay. Hamilton 93 10 83 79 4 »« Mrs. Jt'OasldU. Ho106 18 90 86 4 Mrs"’ sice. Westport 105 16 69 84 5 Mrs. Smith, «n! 108 20 S3 32 6 Miss Gibson, Patea 106 10 87 eo 7 Miss Rundle, New Plymouth 100 10 90 82 8 •• Miss Marchban IM H 66 Wellington — 77 9