Palmeeston Doings.

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 801, 5 November 1915, Page 7

Palmeeston Doings.

Dear Christabbl, — ON Friday night the pupils of Cra---ve'n School enacted a little comedy of school life, entitled "The Cup," in aid of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. This little play, whicK was written by Miss Willie Fraser, one of the principals, is set in the period of crinolines and poke bonnets and other early Victoria<n monstrosities. The scene is laid in the orchard, under apple trees laden with blossom, in the grounds of a very select seminary. The statue which holds the cup was picturesquely represented by Mr. Stevens, of Wellington, who is in charge of the vocal development of many of the Craven girls, and who sang very sweetly thei. simple music which fell to his lot. The. music, by the wav. was arranged by Mt. H. E. Gunter.

Apparently Miss Willie Fraser has a very keen sense of humour, as the little comedy is really a clever skit on their own select academy for young ladies, which is known to be one of the most exclusive in New Zealand.

The principal characters were taken by Miss M. Armstrong, the frirl 1 who did not wear a crinoline or ear-rings, and was therefore despised, Misses Betty Abraham, N. Russell, E. Joske, and N; McHardy. There were also nymphs iw4h>'danced in graceful woodland fashion, making a striking contrast to the stiff quadrille of the, crinolined maids, who walked through the measure to the monotonous counting of 1, 2,. 3, 4. A solo dance by Sambo, the black boy, was quite the best dance of the evening. Sir. Lionel Abraham, sa a Beggar, and Mr. Ronald Abraham as a wounded soldier, completed the male caste. Miss Alison Greig sang the "Nymph Song" very sweetly, and. was recalled for it. There was a loud call for the authoress at the conclusion, and Miss Fraser was led on to the stage by the scantily clad statue.

There was a large and fashionable audience, who bought sweets and flowers, the latter including the most exquisite roses. At Miss Eraser's invitation about 200 men from the ambulance camp aft Awapuni were present.

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Strang are leaving for England early next week. Mr. Strang's eldest son, Alexis, who was attached to the machine-gun section of the Wellington Mounteds, is now recuperating in England after being wounded at the Dardanelles.

Among the wounded who returned to this district last week was Mr. Waldo Stevens, son of Mr. James Stevens. Mr. Stevens is attached to the Ambulance, and has had several trips back to New Zealand, but on this occasion he had been ill with fever. Trooper McKenzie, son of Mr. Wm. McEenzie, was also among the wounded who returned.

A couple of years ago Gustave Dikran, who posed as the Prince of Albailia, came through New Zealand on a lecturing tour on behalf of a Presbyterian College in his native country. He was a guest at many a Presbyterian manse, where his credentials were not doubted, and school-rooms and halls belonging to the kirk were placed at his disposal for his lecture. Though he wore the dress of an Englishman on the street, he wore the uniform of his country during his lecture. His correspondence was embellished with a broad crimson satin ribbon, with a large gold seal just below the signature.

The Prince was a very susceptible young man, and fell in iove many times in the course of his travels; he preferred a fair face backed with substantial means. However, doubts gradually began to arise, and the Prince left hurriedly for Australia, where he was finally exposed, but not until he had become enf aged to the daughter ©f a high kirk dignitary in South Australia.

During his stay in £Tew Zealand he persuaded a well-known Wanganui photographer to take a number of pictures of him, and so excellent was the result that one enlargement, taken in uniform, which includes a Turkish cap, was placed for advertising purposes on our local railway station. The other day a few festive patriots, seeing what they believed to be a portrait of the Sultan of Turkey, took careful - aim, with the result that with the first shot the glass was shattered, and tbe face of the would-be. ruler of Albania was then plastered with paint until it presented a sorry spectacle. Feeling they had avenged some fallen comrades, these worthies moved on —to enlist, we hope, where their energy can be devoted to the task of wiping out the real Sultan.

A meeting was held in the Council Chambers on Thursday night to discuss the project of sending six nurses from this district to the Front. The Mayor presided, and Mrs. Gill, a prominent

member of St. John's Ambulance Guild, and member of the . Hospital Board, took an active part in the discussion as to ways and means. A committee has been set up, and a number of ladies will be appointed to collect during Show Week to raise the necessary funds.

Speaking about the war and the tendency of our newspapers to find a scapegoat for every mistake, and hold a postmortem over every reverse, allocating praise and blame, and exposing our weaknesses to the curious and vulgar gaze of our enemies, a French woman in New Zealand writes: —"It must be tremendous to be a Joffre. Of course there is only one, God bless him, and the local literary lights have not yet discovered his blunders. When they do, they will, no doubt, remedy them— at their desks. Did we suppose that Britain was blunder-proof, just because there had been no reasons for blundering? Did we really suppose that if Britain held up her finger all circumstances and conditions would scuttle away to their rightful places, just as the letters of "Good-night" shoot into place on a picture screen? In short, had we led ourselves to believe that Britain led, others followed? Well, all we have tp do is to stand aside and watch ourselves go past. If there have been mistakes, and probably there have, surely it is not necessary to satisfy the enemy with descriptions of them." How the French worship their Joffre; he can do no wrong. If only the British were as loyal to their leaders! Such implicit faith at a time like this must be a national asset.

The headquarters staff of the Defence Department,which has occupied a building in Rangitikei-street since tlie arrival of the War Office in our midst some few years ago, has now transferred itself to the newly acquired property adjoining the Artillery Barracks in Mainstreet, recently purchased from Mr. Eliot Warburton.

Mr. Albert Beswick, son of our postmaster, died in Malta on the 26th of last month. Young Beswick, who is an old St. Pat.'s College boy, was just 21 years old. He left here at the end of July with a small party of Ambulance. Last advice from him stated that he was leaving for the Front, but he was apparently overtaken by illness on the voyage, as he was landed at Malta, where he died.

Dr. Reginald Stowe, of our city, is joining: the staff of the second hospital ship Marama. Dr. Stowe is giving up a large practice here to take his turn at being the good Samaritan, and binding up the wounded by the wayside.

Among the wounded to return by the Willochra was Lieutenant Douglas Gif-ford-Moore, better known as "Pip" Moore. Lieutenant GifEord-Moore, who is the eldest son of our well-known barrister of that ilk, went out with one of the Reinforcements. He was reported wounded, but his parents were unable to get any information as to where he was, and were naturally getting anxious when the good news arrived last Saturday that he was landing at Dunedin. Mr. and Mrs. GifEord-Moore went to Wellington to meet their son.

Dr. Martin's youngest brother, Gunner Tom Martin, was among those wrecked on the transport in the Aegean Sea. He succeeded in swimming ashore, a distance of over a mile. Gunner Martin is- with the New Zealand Artillery.

Mr. Douglas "Vernon, son of. Mr. J. E. Vernon, rector of our High School, has been siven a commission in the Army Service Corps, of which he is senior lieutenant. Douglas Vernon has been soliciting six-and-eightpences up the Mani Trunk for the past year.

Dr. Beedie, of Kimbolton, has been appointed House Surgeon to the Dannevirke Hospital. Dr. Beedie, who is tx young Scotch doctor, came out to New Zealand a few years ago. He married Vera Mcßeth, of Kimbolton, who is a grand-daughter of the Shannons, once well-known residents of your Clif-ton-terrace. Your friend. Awapuni.