WOMEN IN PRINT.

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 100, 25 October 1916, Page 9

WOMEN IN PRINT.

Nelson is a very busy town from a patriotic point of view, and it is wonderful how much excellent work is accomplished there. The two big efforts foL- the Silver Bullet- Cannonade and the Daffodil Day are only just things of the past, and now a great effort is being made in response to the Red Cross appeal, and doubtless will prove just as successful as the organisation is so good, and givers generous. Last week the ladies who take charge of the Bed Cross shop every Thursday gave an extra day for this object, and the response in goods was most satisfactory. Eggs, cream, flowers, cakes, produce of all sorts simply poured in from the town and surrounding districts, and at the end of the day £54 11s had been taken, and there was a great surplus of goods to be sold for the ordinary fund next day. Patriotic folk lend motor-cars each week and the goods are collected regularly from the outlying districts. The boys at the college gave a capital entertainment last week in aid of the Belgian Fund, which they have regularly and consistently supported, making it their special object always. There is plenty of talent in the college among masters and boys, and the Christy Minstrel Show' which finished the programme was delightful, as there are many tuneful voices., and the spirit of mirth was most infectious, and the members of the large audience thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The Bishop of Nelson made a touching appeal on behalf of the Belgians, and sold three pieces of Belgian needlework for J33 each. A meeting was held at the Municipal Chamber on Monday night, when the Mayor, Mr. Harley, presided. A member of the Sydney-street Soldiers' Club Committee gave an account of iho work of the club, and it was agreed to give a regular contribution in money to the club, and a committee of ladies was formed to send regular contributions of salad vegetables, fruit, and eggs. Nelson people fully appreciate what is being done at this club for their boys as well as for others from all parts of the Dominion. They have a very cosy club room there for soldiers, with a billiard table, piano, gramaphone, books and magazines, and writing materials. Different parties of la/dies attend and provide morning and afternoon tea and also supper for returned and visiting soldiers, all of which is greatly appreciated.

Miss Barnes will take charge of the Triangle Depot on Friday next and Miss Dumbell and Miss Smith on Saturday.

An .excellent suggestion comes from the Victoria, League of Auckland that the league in New Zealand should adopt the yeSow kowlrai as its flower badge, and that any special efforts should bo mado when this flower is available. The beauty of the kowhai is undeniable, with its pure yellow petails coming from a nut-brown sheath, with the daintiest lender green foliage. It makes exquisite pictures when painted or photographed, and if sent to our boys at the iront would doubtless be as acceptable as the pictures of tree ferns and cabbage trees which, appeal to them so much.

The work of the Punjab Mission among the women and girls in Jagadliri is steadily increasing. Miss A. E. Henderson, in reporting on the year's operations, describes the period as uneventful but one of hard trial. The, need for Zenanas among the Purdah Nashin women is stressed, in view of the difficulty in languages. She expresses deepest and most grateful thanks to those who have sent gifts to cheer and help the mission workers. Miss Henderson is labouring in the Amballa district, Punjab, India, and expresses a wish that all gifts for women's work be forwarded to her by post. She hopes to come to New Zealand on furlough at the end of 1918, or early in 1919.

Miss Rout writes from the Soldiers' Club at Tel el Kebir and says that she had hoped to remove further down the railway line, but was stopped by the military authorities on. account of air raids. There are enough men left to make quite sufficient work, and it is possible to expend money to good advantage. She had £30 profit from the running of .the canteen from May to August, and had sent it to Lieut.-Colonel Samuels for the benefit of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. It wa-s probably to be spent on a gramophone, games, etc., to be placed in the recreation tent to brighten up the leisure hours in camp. Another sum of money was to be spent in a picture film outfit, which was to be run for the benefit of the New Zealanders and Australians. A still further portion of profits was to bo "used for an athletic and gymnastic apparatus and for installing baths. Miss Rout says : "I am running the refreshments here free. We have a good many stores of different kinds—maizema-, oatmeal, flour, fruit, etc.—which can bo made up into a.ppetising dishes. quite cheaply, and which give them the change of food they need so much. Some of the Royal Engineers (British) are- here and have helped most effectively in installing baths, setting the stove, and doing various plumbing jobs. They have been a. grand help all along. I have a contribution box, and when the men can afford it they do put in subscriptions freely, but some of the British boys simply haven't the money for fruit salad and such-like, and it is so necessary. Fresh fruit such as figs and Egyption pears, etc., are very cheap, hut involve much preparation. . . ' I find the military authorities here very easy to get on with and most appreciative." Miss Rout quotes some of the letters received from various commandants and also some from the soldiers, and from their mothers and other relatives, and mentions how they help land encourage her in the work in this arid hot country. Misses Rogers, Murch, Ballantync, and Mrs. Crowther have been transferred to Salisbury Plain, and a.re helping Miss Mackenzie in her New Zealand Club.

The part that women are playing in this great war, particularly the mothers and wives of soldiers, has met with further l-ecognition, this time from the veterans of New Zealand. Yesterday, upon conclusion of the conference of the New Zealand Association of His Majesty's Veterans, Lieut.-Colonel Porter, C.8., spoke in glowing terms, and saidhe would like to place on record the veterans' appreciation of and admiration for the bravery and splendid service being rendered to tire Empire by ■the Australasian Forces; their deep sympathy with the parents in their sacrifices, and. more particularly pride in the wives and mothers giving their sons and husbands so uncomplainingly. The women were the greatest sufferers; the men's duty was to fight, but the women, suffering silently, were showing the most endurance. The country owed thanks to the women for giving their men for the attainment of the victory that must come. Mr. J. Capper mentioned the case of a widow in his district who had sent four sons; one had paid the sacrifice, one was missinc, and another seriously wounded. The resolution was seconded by Mr Stidolph and carried unanimously.'

A tea and "social" will be given tomorrow to the delegates who have lately returned from the Y.W.C.A. triennial conference in Sydney. ' An interesting evening may be expected, as the delegates will give an account of their experiences.

Christchurch has initiated a. "bottle" campaign in aid of the Lady Liverpool Fund, and results on a large scale are expected. Empty bottles are collected and sold by auction. Linwood School has collected 10,000 "empties," and at Dunedin 307,500 have been sorted and put into 2077 cases.

The engagement is announced of Elsabel, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Ross, of Foxton, to Walter, seventh son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Crow, of High Park, Warracknabeal, Victoria.

The footprints of babies are now being taken in many countries, says the Daily Express, as a sure means of identification. The system is so simple that any mother can. adopt it for herself. All that is necessary is to cover the sole of the child's foot with printer's ink by means of a roller, and then transfer the impression to a sheet of paper. The ink can be cleaned off the foot with alcohol. Care must be taken not to disturb the impressions before they are dry... There will then exist for all time a record of the baby's identity which would carry weight in any court of law in after years. No matter how much the feet grow, the lines will have grown with them, and their pattern will not be changed. If such records of the. Tichborne and other claimants had existed, Judges would have been saved much anxious thought.

Miss Rita. Lawson, niece of Mr. John " Humanity " Lawson, some time ago learned that the Australian, and New Zealand soldiers in Britain wanted news of their countries. With characteristic energy she at once appealed for eighty of the leading Australian and New Zealand newspapers. The result was phenomenal, for she was soon receiving papers and magazines from hundreds of admirers and friends. Her enterprise necessitated the writing of some hundreds of letters and the expenditure of many hours weekly in sorting and distributing, in addition to her ordinary stage work. For the last two months she has been resting at her bungalow at Shoreham, where she has been rehearsing a new sketch.

A woman's hat made out of the covering of a man's discarded silk hat at a cost of 21 cents, a pair of boy's knickerbockers made out of half an old-faehioned cape, .a girl's petticoat made out of odd scraps of material, waistcat linings made out of hatband linings or old washleather or old gloves, bedroom slippers adapted from a felt hat, a scarf made out of old stockings—such were some of the miracles of thrift exposed to public admiration and example at a recent National Economy Exhibition in the West End of London.. No theatre during the run of a popular play was more crowded than the exhibition itself, which attracted constant throngs, eager'to pick up ideas by which the pressure of, hard times might be relieved. Labour-saving appliances to enable the diligent but overworked housewife to dispense \vith the services of a maid were examined with close attention. Nothing could more clearly illustrate the strain, that the risei in prices has imposed upon the domestic budget. Outside the exhibition, appeals for the saving of waste paper and offers from storekeepers to make an allowance for bottles, tins, and other returned empties were a striking evidence of the new. importance that is attached to the spending of every penny.