WOMEM IN PRINT.

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 5, 6 July 1917, Page 9

WOMEM IN PRINT.

The reception to welcome Mrs. Massey and L&dy Ward, which was given by the members of the Mercer-sireet Red Cross depot yesterday afternoon, was a i particularly -pleasant one. Her Excel- 1 fericy the Countess of Liverpool was present, and fliere was a large attendance of committee and workers. Her Excellency and Mrs. Luke made brief and cordial speeches of welcome and congratulations on their safe arrival after so many perils and dangers. Mrs. Massey, in reply, thanked all present for their kindly welcome, and expressed her great pleasure at being at home again. Speaking of Red Cross work, she said she had visited the headquarters of the British Red Cross Society in Pall Mall with Mts. A. Pearce, and had been shown over the building by the secretary, Mrs. Hastings. Here they had been given the, newest patterns and a list of necessary garments which Mrs. Pearce had brought out to New 'Zealand. There had been nothing new since then. They had also gone to the workrooms in the Royal Academy, where work was con: ducted much as in the Wellington rooms, but of course on a larger scale. There were rooms for cutting-out, making of garments, making and rolling bandages, etc, each department being in charge of a, supervisor. The committees in England greatly appreciated the work dons in New Zealand and in other parts of the Empire. Especially had they expressed satisfaction with the rugs, blankets, and flannel goods from New Zealand, which were better than those from other places. Mrs. Massey thought the Work here was on the right lines, and the -workers had little to learn' from England. She'had attended, the .'annual meeting of the Red Cross, presided over by the Duke of Connaught, which was most interesting. Then the receiving rooms of Queen Mary's Needlework Guild, in Buckingham Palace, wei'e visited, and thel same, work of distributing to the hospitals going on. This guild received work from all over the world, especially India. In Ireland the same work was carried on on a largo scale also, and a speciality in Londonderry was the work of collecting the Sphagnum moss from the bogs, which is dried and teased and made into pads for wounds, as it has strong healing and antiseptic qualities. India and Canada were both doing splendid work, and, speaking more in, detail of what Canada was doing, Mrs: Massey said that every day the Canadian authorities sent their motor cars to the hospitals to take patients for drives, 1 and had also established special institutions for disabled soldiers to learn trades. Lady Williams had done a great work in supplying food to Belgian rofn£ees, and had also given a cottage in Devonshire as a rest-home for New Zealand nurses. ■ Lady v W»r3 also expressed her cordial thanks for the .warmth of the welcome accorded to them. She spoke more especially of the work, of the St. John Ambulance Association, which works side by, side with the Red. Cross. This was very interesting to those who realise that this association has been a useful guide and education for at least the last twenty-live years in the Dominion. The Duko q{ Connaught is Orand Prior of the Order, and Lord Ranfurly is, director. She visited the headquarters at St. John's Gate, where work similar to that at the Red' Cross headquarters was going on, and the sight was a-wonder-ful one,, bo many cases going out continually to different hospitals. Here one could see the original gate of the Priory, which dated from 1594. The great sales of gifts for-Red Crpss at Christie's were spoken of, and the ambulance work at the railway stations, and other work conducted, but all the organisation of the men would not have gone far if it had not been for the continual steady work which women had put in at the different work-rooms ever since the war began. Very beautiful illustrated books, containing the ancient and modern history of the Order, were presented to both ladies on the occasion of their visit. After the speeches, which were listened to with great interest, and heartily applauded, tea wae served. A charming little . programme was given, in which Miss Dall sang, the Misses Segrief and M'Enroe gave two delightful duets, Mr. Pope a song, and Mrs, S. Harcourt"a recitation. Next mouth a committee of young girls at' Thorn-don will be in charge of the Wellington Red Cross shop for the third Tuesday, as no Friday is available, and it is hoped that a special interest will be takeri in their work and every encouragement given to them to continue their patriotic efforts. Sewing meetings have been held at their homes, in rotation, and it is Very gratifying to find that the a,ft l of fine sewing, both plain and fancy, is being cultivated among the young ones, and that the results would have, pleased even the 'critical eyes of the grandmothers of: the past. The girls have arranged also for a good supply of home-made goods, and bread will be a specialty, also some good produce from tie Wairarapa. Mrs. Herbert, and the ladies associated with her, have decided, in view of the great demand for tickets for the children's fancy dress ball on Saturday, to arrange another dance in a large hall in the near future. Mr.- P. Robertson, of Avondale, Auckland, has received advice that his daughter, Miss Susan Annie Robertson, who began her university education in Auckland, has obtained the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the Edinburgh University, being one of two students to pass the final examination with honours. Dr. Robertson has since been appointed medical officer to the War Hospital in Perth, Scotland. The latest donations to the New Zealand Nurses'' Memorial.. Fund are the following:—Mrs. If. W. Mackenzie, Wellington, and Dr. Ada Patterson, £1 Is each; Mis'a Johnston, Wellington, £2 2s; Miss E. C. Gates, Ashburton, Hospital, £3 3s; Sister Ruth Gilmer, 10s; Mies S. Warnoch, Motueka, ss; Dr. , Johnston, Carterton, £5 ss. Mrs. Hugh Beetliam, of Brancepetli, Masterton, is in Wellington at present. A Woodville girl, Miss Flora M'Lea-n, is assisting to keep her mother's bakery business going by taking one of the delivery rounds. This is one of tlio ways in which it is quite reasonable and possible for a girl to help—also quite admirable in war time. A military wedding was celebrated in Masterton on Wednesday, states the Masterton correspondent of The Post, when Mr. C. T. Porrin, a returned soldier, who is now dispenser to the New Plymouth Hospital, was married to Miss Gwladys M. Joy, of this town. Speaking at one of the Baby Week meetings in Ch.ristchurch prior to a lecture by Dr. Truby King, Mr. D. Cx. Sullivan made reference.to Hie fact that New Zealand had one ( ol the lowest birth-iatfeS in < the 'world, • Dr. <iTiiiby King, when it came to his turn to speak, corroborated w'lmt Mr. Sullivan said on i he sulijeet, and added that it had always struck him -as particularly unfortunate that N« Zealand should have a low

"birth-rate, partly because the country eo> badly needed population, and partly because the native population was so infinitely preferable to the imported- or emigrated article. A very pleasant evening party was held in t)he Pioneer Club on Wednesday evening, when the Spinsters' Club gave a bridge party in aid. of their day at the Red Cross shop next month. The rooms were decorated with spi-ing flowers, and a sale of sweets added to the fund. The delegates attending the Red Cross Conference are as follow:—Lipperlon Conference are as follow: —Lepperton mart and Red Cross Fund, Greytown; Carterton. Sub-Centre, Mrs. Hughan and Mrs. Murray; Marton Sub-Centre, Mrs. Beckett and Mrs. Dodds; Martinborough, Mrs. W. Martin; Lower. Hutt, Patriotic Guild, Miss Stuart-Forbes; Ohau Centre, Sirs. John Kebbell; Kaponga Sub-Centre, Miss M. Pierce; Taiha.p.3 Sub-Centre, Rev. W. F. Stent; Wanganui Sub-Centre, Hon. Mr. Carson and Mrs. Linated; Otane, Mrs. Pay and Miss M. C. Mundell-; Masterton, Mrs. ■ Coradine; National Reserve, Newtown, Mrs. M'Laren and. Mrs. Lippitt; Upper Hutt Women's Patriotic Sowing Guild, Mrs. B-aJlantyne and Mrs. S. Kirker; Wellington. Catholic Knitting Gnild, Mrs. J. E. Gamble and Mrs. O'Sullivan; St. Andrew's Women's Guild, Mrs. Searer and Mrs. Hall; Berhampore Branch, National Reserve, Mrs. Watt and Mrs. Allan; Baetihi Ladies-Guild, Miss Day; Carnarvon, Miss M'Kenzie; St. John's Ambulance Brigade, Overseas, Wanganui, Anohdeacon. Reeve; Foxton, Mrs. Frank Robinson and Mrs. James Robinson; Napier, Mrs. T. Hi Lowry; Waipukurau, Mrs. Paget and Mrs. Broad; St. John Ambulanofe and Patriotic Red Cross, Hawera, Mrs. Lovell; New Plymouth, Mrs. Crooke and Mrs. Walker ; Featherston Liverpool Equipment and Red Cross, Mrs. Quinfcm Donald and Miss Card.