WOMAN’S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 302, 15 September 1921, Page 2

WOMAN’S WORLD.

\ MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR.

(By

Imogen.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

The death took place in Auckland omiss Shirtcliffe, who for many years wav a valued member of the teaching staff of the Addington. State School, where she held the position of infant mistress. It was only axfew months ago that Miss Shirtcliffe resigned her position, on which occasion she was the recipient of presentations from the children the Addington School, and from the'parents, old scholars, and friends.

Mrs. Larner and Mijs Cecile Larner, of Auckland, are visiting AVellington.

St. Mary’s Homes, Karori, acknowledge with thanks the following contributions, (monthly)Johnston, and Co., 'tea; Nathan and Co., butter; Bannatyne and Co., sugar; New Zealand Trawlers, fish, weekly; Mrs. Miles, oranges and sugar for marmalade. Other contributions were received from Mrs. Richardson, Airs. Brown, Mrs. Nicholl, Mrs'. Dickie, ..Miss Coates, Mrs. Kebbell, Mrs. Harper, Mrs. Hejiea, Miss Bray.

5 •. There have been several 'gondolas on the Thames since Pepys described ttio advent of one when the Thames was a crowded waterway in the days of Charles M (states -a writer in the “Alancbesttr Guardian”). But they have never become naturalised —indeed, the gondola .is the only thing of world-wide reputation that does not exist outside of its city of rigin. The edelweiss, the orchid, heather, hansom cabs, cocktails, mantillas, bagpipes, ’bouillabaisse, ragtime, clogs, 'polo, Welsh rarebits, golf, Bombay duck, pukkapoo, tiffin, cricket, cabarets, —all are - acclimatised. .Even jaunting cars aro all over Ireland, and the hansom cab has beeij seen in- America. Nevertheless gondolas are, now being made on the Thames by Mr. .Harry. Milham, of Strawberry Hill. They are to be almost ds long as Venetian gondolas (26ft. instead of 30ft.), and will hold six ■people—longer ones to hold ten. The first gondola will be finished very shortly, and will bo launched- with suitable cereraopy. They, are being made cf polished mahogany with carved, and. gilden figureheads. They are the first gondolas, I believe, ever built on the Thames. Of bourse gondolas have tried since Pepys’s days. I remember a brace of them about ten years ago at Henley, worked by gondoliers who had come over to the “Venice in London” Exhibition at Earl’s Court, where the stay-at-home Londoner’ travelled a good deal in gondolas on a painted Grand Canal.

Mrs. F C. Turner, of Eketahuna, is a visitor to Wellington. She is accompanied by Miss Turner, whose marriage with Mr. P. Murray-Ainslie, of Christchurch, is to take place next month. They aro the guests of Mrs. E. J. Burt, Tl\e Terrace.

On Friday evening Mr. and Mrs. Hislop, of "Rehua,” Wilton Road, Wadestqwn, gave a! party in honour of their n’eee, Miss Winifred O’Connor, who recently attained her majority. The host and hostess' received their guests, who numbered some 70, in the vestibule. By throwing open the folding doors between the drawingroom and diningroom ample space was provided for dancing, and another room was reserved for those who preferred a game of cards. An interesting programme of song and story, with a competition, was also given, and a most enjoyable'time was spent. After supper the toast of “The King” was honoured. Following it, Mr. Hislop proposed the toast of his niece, the latter’s father, Mr. R. C. O’Connor, responding.-?■ Thb Rev. S. Robertson Orr, in expressing the pleasure of the guests for the evening’s entertainment, made happy'reference to the deep interest taken by their host and hostess in every good cause, both public and social. Mr. Hislop suitably replied. The gathering broke up about midnight with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem.

At the Wesley Church, Lower Hutt, the wedding took place recently of Miss Beatrice Maude Wills, second daughter of Mr. R. J. Wills, of Essex, England, and Mr. Percy Edmund Tremaine, of “Itinga," Island Bay. Tho Rev. Rows performed- the ceremony. The bride was given away by Mr. C. Staff, and "wore a sand-coloured georgette and crepe de chine frock, and prettily trimmed nigger brown hat. She carried a shower bouquet" of freesias, cyclamen, and maidenIfitir fbrn. Mrs. C. Staff ‘accompanied the ■bride as matron .of honour, and wore a black cbarmeuse frock and henna toque, and carried a bouquet of freesias. Mr.'J. W. Nl'Keich was best man. A reception was held after the ceremony nt the residence of Mr. and Mrs. C. Staff, Hume Street, Lower Hutt, where only intimate friends and relatives were present. Later Mr. and Mrs. Tremaine left for their wedding tour, the latter travelling in a navy serge coat frock and Rose du Barry hat.

For tho month ending August 31 the matron of the Women’s National Reserve Residential Nursery acknowledges with many thanks gifts Jroni the following: • Mrs. Walker and Wadestown branch of the reserve, Hawke’s Bay Fisheries, Miss Corliss, Miss Gwen. Knight, Mr. Preston Mrs. Davis, Mrs. J. C. 'Firth, Thimble Club, Mrs. Barclay, Mrs. nett, Mrs. Franklin (Dannevirke), Karori branch W.N.R., Miss Freeman, Seatoun branch W.N.R., Karori Road branch W.N.R., Mrs. Castle, Mrs. Townsend, Miss Peach, Mrs. Pritchard, Mrs. McArthur and Lower Hutt branch, Mrs. Chatwin. , ’ »

The women’s section of the Farmers” Union confer this week nt Geelong; and tho conference ought to be productive ofresults greatly beneficial to country dwellers; states an Australian exchange. Since country women have come to the fore, some practical ideas have eiqan-. ated from brains accustomed to cope with difficulties hitherto considci-ed inseparable from country life. ' Tho conference will/deal with the housing of country teachers attached ■to State schools, and strongly advocates wetorms such as approaching tho civic authorities of the larger country towns to provide central rooms, to be 'known as "Mothers’ Rest Rooms,” to ho used by allisections of tho community, and that branches and members individually put themselves out to welcome immigrants to Victoria. To this end it is considered advisable that as soon as possible a city committee ba formed to get in touch with newcomers 'wishing to settle here, and then in order that they should receive a friendly welcome, sand word to tho local branch nearest the district where the strangers intend to try their fortunes. All tins is evident of a-splen-didly helpful spirit, /ind it> deos not end here. It would not bo a woman's, organisation if it did not try to better the conditions existing for children. Consideration will be given to raising tho school ago from 14 to 15 years. _ An effort is to be made to secure qualified medical practitioners for medical inspection in the country schools, and that branches of serum institute lie established in country districts. Every rural woman who has been faced with emergency knows how well nigh impossible it is to obtain anti-toxin and vaccines, etc., when such are urgently needed._ So they will all welcome this application to the Health Department. The conference will also recommend stricter child protection. It would like to see the staff of policewomen increased, and their authority in tho matter of supervising young women and children enlarged. As might bo expected, this lasttmentioned desire emanates from a metropolitan branch, while the executive is responsible for the hope that in the future divorce and assault cases will bo heard jn camera.

1 At an. inquest held- at Shoreditch (Engand) a child who died of enteritis, the mother said she had been feeding it on barley water and cow’s milk. Dr. G. i.E. Froggatt, the medical superintendent of Shoreditch Infirmary, said ho had a 'strong objection to barley water for young children under six months ol<L "The only thing you get out of barley water," ho said, "is starch, and there is no digestive fluid in the stomach up to the age of six months that will digest starch. I am strongly of the opinion that the starch water children get is the cause of a lot. of intestinal complaints. There is no starch in mothers -milk. It is a fashion that has grown up which is very detrimental to children. I have discussed the matter with a West End physician of great experience, and he agreed with me."

Londoners need no longer go to Hammersmith to find the Beggar’s Opera. The streets_of the capital are becoming cue vast scene in themselves (says an exchange). The German Band disappeared as a Jesuit of the war, and the Unemployed Band now fills the London streets as a result of the peace. In nearly every shopping area there is music. There are brass bands in the Strand, in Oxford Street, in Kensington; there is an orchestra of two violins, a piano, and a ’cello, which haunts Regent Street and its neighbourhood. There are portable organs and singers everywhere; violinists, banjo players, and meh with guitars serenade the saloon bars of quiet publichousee. In addition, there was near Southampton Row recently a 'barrel orgap with bagpipes and a Scottish woman dancer, while scatter Ad up and down the streets wcid gramophones, tin whistles, concertinas, and clarionets. But it is tho _ music of tragedy—one of the outward signs of unemployment

Sir William Orpen's statement that men are becoming more handsome every day seems likely to cause some controversy (states an English exchange). In- • spection of an old family album—a fading relic of Victorian days—did nott-ing to bear out Sir William’s contention. The men of a century ago appeared to be quite as good looking as the presentday man about town. Their whiskers - seemed eccentric and their clothes cutrageous, but th&ir features appeared in several cases to be even stronger and better cut than those of the modern “knut.” A visit to the National Portrait Gallery had a similar result. There was no evidence in support of the famous artist’s point of view. It was impossible to trace on the walls any progressive improvement /n looks. It was equally difficult to find any evidence of a distinctively legal, artistic, off medical face. It' was obvious that Sir Homy Irvin,, in a wig would have been hailed as typioallv legal, and that. Mr. Justice Darling, without his wig, mirfit have been mistaken for a. family doctor. Much apparently depends on clothes.

Men are usually supposed to be very superior carvers to women, but in some parts of the world they are not thought. so, and even in this part of the world wives and housekeepers often shudder to see joints, being hacked into hideous shapes, states an Australian writer, in Yorkshire, it soems, many women are the carvers in the homes, and one of them' gives rather interesting reasons why they aro. / "A good carver, she says "can make any joint go twice ns far bv carving to advantage. 1 give my family what I think they ought to have, not what they .want. I always take thought for the morrow whendispensing the rations of to-day. that is impossible to a man carver, because he hasn’t a cook’s eye. As carver I can - indulge my fancies. I need never have the tail end of a fish or a jinnies* slice of roly-poly. Children respect the carver, bo when mother carves she scores over father.

The Wanganui “Chronicle” reports thedeath of an old resident, Mn. Anris Price, who was one of. the best-knoiWi musicians in the Dominion. She was a native of Sydney, but at an early age, was sent to Europe for a musical education studying under the old masters in Italy and Erance. On returning to Sydney she married, and, with-her hue- . band, came to New Zealand, arriving in Dunedin fifty-three years ago. From there they went to Napier, where they lived five years, and then resided ten. years in Christchurch, where Mr. Price died' . Mrs. Price then went to Wanganui, over thirty'years ago, and established her music studio, which has loomed large in the local musical x world since.

Miss Booth (Carterton) has been spending ajew days in Wellington.

1 Sister D. A. Strongman, who has been on the staff of the Nelson Hospital for , the last twelve mouthy, has resigned, having accepted the position of assist-ant-matron of the Greymouth Hospital.

The marriage took place in St. Peter s t Church, Kaikoura, last week of Miss Hilaire Bullen, daughter of Mr .and Mrs. F. 'Bullon, "The Lakes,” Kaikoura, and Mr.,H. E. Hyde, Langridge Station, Marlborough, son of Dr. and Mrs. J. r. Hyde, of Otago. Miss G.' Trolovo and Miss E. Hyde were bridesmaids, and the bridegroom was attended’ by his brother - and Mr. J. Barnes. Tho Rev. C. F. Saurfders performed the ceremony.

Major Holmden, M.C., Mrs. HolmdeOj and their small son arrived in Auckland from London on Monday. Major Holmdon has resigned) his commission, and intends to practice his profession in Auckland. West Coasters’ Reunion.

There was a large attendance of .members of the West Coasters’ Association at a meeting held last night (Mr. J. J. M'Grath presiding), to make arrangements for .the annual reunion and social in the Town Hall next month. The catering was left in the hands of tho chairman, secretary, and treasurer, and the ladies’ committee. It was decided to distribute tickets with various city, business houses for sale to all who desire to support the object. As already announced, the proceeds will be devoted to the Wellington Public Hospital. Thesecretary rGportod that tlio services of an efficient orchestra had been secured. Tho meeting was most enthusiastic, and the committee looks forward to a record attendance at tho social, which is the first to bo hold since the outbreak or war iu 1914.