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Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 149, 25 June 1915, Page 9

Parliament was opened by commission yesterday, and quite a large number of people assembled to watch the various quaint little ceremonies which attend the inauguration of a new Assembly Outside the Parliamentary buildings a number of ambulance nurses braved the drizzling rain and persistent mist, and rattled collection boxes invitingly, so the new members and others were not allowed to forget that Wellington i« going through a strenuous carnival time The ladies' gallery and fche chairs ■on the floor of the House were all occupied, showing that the feminine interests in politics has not lessened in spite of the war and its attendant distractions. Among those present were Sirs, and Miss Massey. Lady Miller. Lady Ward. Mrs. Pomare, Mrs. and Miss Buick, Mrs. and Miss Hine, Mrs Stratham. Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Lcp, Mr.s Henace Tau, Mrs. Sidey, Mrs. Scott, find the Misses Field. The ceremony of "swearing-in/ 1 the members was conducted with much dignity by the new Clerk of Parliament (Mv Lowe). It is a quaint, old-fashioned proceeding, and the various manners of kissing the book, either with a hearty smack, off-hand monchalance, or hurried shyness, was regarded with interest by the onlookers. The Speaker's little procession of three, as he proceeds to the chair with his proposer and seconder, and the placing of the mace on the table "after he has taken the chair, are all little old-world ceremonies, and in these hurried days it is quite refreshing to find some still extant. Mrs. Massey and Lady Bell are entertaining Her Excellency the Countess of (Liverpool and the members' wives at tea after the formal opening this afternoon. The entertainment organised by the Misses Hohn took place in the big Town Hall last evening and drew an excellent attendance. About 250 children took part in well-arranged patriotic tableaux. The first, representing the Allies, was very effective. Each country appeared separately, with a banner bearing the name of the country represented. Mr. Clarkson opened the programme by singing "Rule, Britannia," and Frank Clift gave a sail6r'3 hornpipe, Rodney Pankhurst sang the "Marseillaise" in his usual sweet style, and Una Dawson gave a graceful French dance. The Russian dance, by Lottie Clift, Dori3 Cox, and Olive Beadnall, was effective. The Belgium tableaux was very pretty. Little Edna Purdie gave a clog dance, surrounded by a group of children, in Belgian colours. The Servian dance was given by Hilda Clift, Thelma Allingham, Theo and Leslie Halpin, May Johnson, and Marjorie Kershaw. Ella Camithers in an Indian costume gave a recitation. Canada was represented by Indians on march, and Italy by a tambourine, song, and dance. Rodney Pankhurst sang tho "Men of Harlech,'' and Rita Arnold danced in the quaint Welsh costume. Then followed the Blue Bells of Scotland, the Minstrel Boy. and England, Dear England, each illustrated by a dance. - A poi-dance and haka appropriately costumed were well done, also the Japanese tableaux and dance. The second part of the programme was chiefly songs and recitations by children, so well done that the onlooker wondered if it is only recently that children have developed so much talent and self-possession, or whether in days gone by the boys and girls who were only allowed out at night as a great treat in the holidays occasionally, and were usually in bed and asleep at 8 o'clock, were not "mute inglorious Miltons" or talented musicians and reciters, only nobody knew, and much talent was lost. The adults helping were; — Miss Gweu Shepherd, Mr. Wallace, and Mrs. -L."W, Hahlon, who each f^ave appreciated items, and the Wellington College girls' orchestra played well under the leadership of Miss Medley. All contributions of flowers and pot plants for the Tramway flower stall should be sent to the Central Office, opposite the Chief Post- Office, to-day, or not later than noon to-morrow Mrs. Macintosh invites all willing to help to meet her at the office at 5 o'clock this afternoon. Miss Wall, niece of Mrs. Middleton, of Bidwili-street, -writes of the unpleasant excitement which attended the bombardment of Westcliffe-on-Sea lately. She was awakened by two terrific explosions, and terrible noises like the smashing of tons of glass, and she struck & light and opened her window. However, a constable called to her to put out the light immediately, as the enemy was just about the town. Miss Wall found that a bomb had fallen within about a hundred yards and the gai-den fences were ablaze. A lady recently from England tells of the universal green or black blinds which are used at night now al) over England. It is the business of the police to call at any house showing a light at night and demand that it should be put out, or shaded from view outside. Sydney housekeepers are rejoicing because having made a considerable outcry about the excessive price of fish, some arrangement has been made to enable the public to get reasonable fish, which will be taken from the markets at 5.30 a.m. by carts fitted with cold storage chambers, and carried round the city and to the suburbs- " Penelope"' says : " Much complaint is being constantly voiced against our legislators for deeds done and undone, but in this case our best thanks and gra-titude will . be due to one who has at last solved the great problem of how to make good fish a cheap article of diet for the people, and one easily obtained by all. Indeed — and especially in these times of dear living — this is a great thing to have accomplished." A quiet wedding was celebrated at Fendalton, Christchurch, when Mr. Thomas Jordon, barrister and solicitor, of Masterton, was married to Miss Edith Miriam Thornton, second daughter of Mr. John Thornton, of Fendalton. The bride was attended by her sister, Miss Katharine Thornton, and Miss Margaret Jordan, sister of the bridegroom. Mr. H. Miller, of Masterton, was the best man. Nurse Abbott, of the Kensington Private Hospital, Wellington, leaves by the s.s. Maori for the South to-night to say good-bye to her relatives before joining the Hospital Ship. To-morrow evening, at the Young Women's Christian Association, Man-ners-street, Dr. Hard-wick Smith will give a health talk to girls and young women. No charge is made for admission. A cookery demonstration svill bo given in the association's room at 3 p.m. to-morrow Mrs. Mas.sey and Lady Bell entertained the wives and daughters of the members of the Legislative Council at afternoon tea. in the Cabinet room today. The euchre party and dance arranged by Mr. Whitford, of the Tramways Committee, was a very pleasant and successful affair. A large number of tables were occupied and play went on till 9.30. A programme of music and recitations followed supper, when Mr«-. Dunn, Mies Chapman, Miss Ella and Master M. Liardet, and Messrs. Dunn and Grimes took part. Miss Una Simon was the pianist

The Wellington South Nursing Division met at the Newtown Library Hall on Tuesday evening last for the fortnightly meeting. There wa-s a fair attendance, presided over by Mrs. Preston. After the business of the meeting the evening was spent in roller bandage work, under the guidance of Miss Redmond. In these times, when so many girls are thinking of entering the nursing profession, it is interesting to read "Queen Bee's Summary of the Requirements of a Nurse." She writes as follows: — "Six qualities are needful to make a good nurse ; namely, an equable temper, sound nerve, minute observation, retentive memory, habits of neatness and cleanliness, and tactful sympathy. A nurse should never disregard her own -health or personal appearance, not only because it is essential to her well-being, but because attendants on the sick should always appear cheerful and hopeful. Sound nerve is often a matter of training, but. its root really lies in unselfishness. Any one who forgets self in the desire to aid others will not be troubled with trembling or, fainting, and the faculties of observation and retentiveness of memory are bound to be developed if the nurse takes a deep Interest in her work as far as possible beforehand, keeping everything punctually to the arrangement. Consequently she is not likely to be discovered in bustle or confusion in any case of emergency Moreover. •if a doctor is in attendance, the same nurse should be mindful to hold herself at his disposition. She should respect and obey his directions, even though hor opinion may differ from his. She should remember that an invalid, however irritable, should be treated with unfailing gentleness and patience. Nothing can excuse a nurse for losing her temper or being irritable with her patient." Herrings are a staple diet of Britain and France, and when the war started many prophets foretold that the naval fighting would kill the herrings. It is calculated that eve 17 time a big naval gun goes off in the North Sea 1.000,000 herrings perish. But that is a merely negligible quantity of that most prolific fish. . The North Sea is the home of t)\t> herring ; it is shallow, but just deep enough to allow the herrings to spawn vindisturbed by submarines or by no-matter-what commotion overhead. Consequently there is but little danger of the herring supply failing on account of the war. My. and Mrs. Hine and family are staying at 97, Upland-road, Kelbuvn, for the session. Dr. and Mrs. Thacker are at the Royal, Oak. Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Scott are also visiting Wellington dxiring the session.