SOCIAL GOSSIP

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 817, 25 February 1916, Page 22

SOCIAL GOSSIP

Dear Chkistabel, — LADY Elleson Macartney, the wife of the Governor of Tasmania, and her daughter spent' a few days in Wellington on their way to England. They stayed at a private hoardinghouse, and were not left entirely to their own devices because a war rages m Europe. The entertainment offered was of a mild kind, suitable to the time, and appreciated by the visitors. Lady Elleson Macartney's manner charmed those people who were privileged to meet her, and the general opinion is that lasmania is very fortunate. In her honour, Mrs. Massey gave a quiet tea party at "Ariki-toa," the residence of the Prime Minister, last Friday afternoon. Almost the only guests were wives and daughters of Ministers, Judges, and Government officials. Though very much better, Mrs. Massey is by no means completely recovered from Her illness, and she is not able to get about very much just now. * * * * Miss Valerie Corliss is on her way back to New Zealand, after a two years visit to England, where she has achieved success at the Royal Academy ol Music. Mrs. Corliss is with her daughter, and will probably receive a warm welcome from the Victoria League, in which she has always taken a very active interest. * * * * Mr C Young, an Australian artist of some "fame, has been collecting impressions of New Zealand and putting them on canvas. This Mr. Young is no relation to the large Young family at Welto2ton' * * * * Dr Newman, M.P. for Wellington East, is battling for "Pensions to Dependents by Right." Because his only son was able togo off at short notice, to the war, Dr. Newman does not imagine that all other men can do the same. Instead, he does what ho to smooth the path of patriots less fortunately placed, and because he knows his New Zealand he is confident that when their minds are made more easy, thousands of men will flock to the colours, men, who at present dare not leave their dependents to face the world, perhaps alone. * * * * -Mrs. Henry Smith, of Wellington, is a passenger for England by the Tainui. Her only son, who enlisted with the Australians at the commencement or the war and who was in the famous landing on Gallipoli, is now m England. After months of fighting, he was. invalided Home, and has since been given a commission in an Imperial regiment. Mrs. Smith hopes to see something 01 him before he leaves England again. At the recent Conference of Patriotic Committees, some understanding was arrived at between the Minister for Public Health and the delegates. . Ihe trustees of the funds have, no desire to assist the State to evade its liabilities, and the State very evidently considers that some alleged necessities are comforts and should be provided by the

funds. However, the Minister and the delegates parted pleasantly, and apparently understand each other. We have not yet heard that unanimity of action between the various districts has been decided upon. We should very much rejoice if a leader should appear among the men who are running the funds, and we should like to see a woman -with a big say in the matter. Women realise that assistance is useless if it is not given when it is urgently required. * * * * Mrs. Coulls, one of the very active members of the Soldiers' Room Committee, is not very well, and is unable to be hostess_ on her own night this week. The New Zealand Natives' Association is taking Saturday night, when Mrs. David Findlay was to have assisted Mrs. Coulls. * # * * Mr. Guthrie, M.P. for Feilding, has heard that his "dauhgter, a nurse attached to the Australian Army Service, is suffering from appendicitis. « » * « Miss Campbell ,of Christchurch, is visiting her sister, Mrs. Arthur Harper, at Karori. « # * * The Prime Minister opened the British Exhibition in the Town Hall and speeches suitable to the occasion were made by him and by other public men. All through the week the Exhibition has been well attended. At last the public have realised that we have been pouring monej' into the German pocket for years. Never again ! All necessities of life and all necessary luxuries are shown in the Exhibition. They are all Brtish and colonial made, and they represent only a few of British manufactures. In future there will be no excuse. We shall know what to buy and what not to buy, and while there is one member of the Anti-German League here, Wellington importers will never dare to offer us German goods. We never hankered after the German clothes, nor do we want German boots, but we do hope that a nice enterprising chemist will soon make it possible for us to enjoy a really bad headache. At present having a headache is a very expensive luxury. * * * * In Miss Holmes, the Anti-German League has a very great asset. She is a cultivated speaker, and is the happy possessor of a very large fund of humour. She is moderate in her expression of opinion, and is a very valuable member of any committee. The Anti-Ger-man League has enlisted her sympathies, and is to be congratulated, for Miss Holmes exercises a widespread influence, and her name is a hall-mark for the League. Many people have attended the Exhibition this week on the chance of hearing her explain the objects of the League. . *• # * *• On Tuesday night several members of the League addressed the crowd in the Town Hall, and no one received a better hearing than Miss Day, whose voice alone charms any audience into attention. Madame Boeufve also delivered a forcible address. * * • * * Mr. Neil Pearce, another mother's only son, has set out this week for the seat of war. He is the youngest child of Mr. Arthur- Pearce. His cousin, Mr. James Crawford, the only son of Mrs. Harry Crawford, wears the King's uniform, and is serving somewhere in Europe. Mr. George Pearce also has two sons in the firing line. * * * *• Mrs. Massey was hostess on Wednesday night at the Soldiers' Room in Syd-ney-street. She took the place of Mrs.

Kernot, who was not able to be present that night. * * * * Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ross, of Auckland, are staying in Napier at present. * * * *■ For one penny it is possible to buy in the Town Hall an excellent recipe for knitting socks. The pattern has been well tried, and it makes a well-shaped sock. The proportions are correct. * * * * Sir Robert Stout has received news of the death, in Glasgow, of his cousin, Mr. Thomas Stout, a gentleman Avhose name is known in Scottish legal circles. The late Mr. Stout lost his son in Flanders not Jong ago. Sir R. Stout's doctor sons are in the firing line. His daugher, Miss Janet Stout, is doing her second year's training in the Napier Hospital. Lady Stout is an active member of the Anti-German League, and though she is not as strong as she was a year ago, she is very busy, and is an energetic member of many committees.

Though we hide our claws wherever it is riot necessary to use them, we of the sex still possess such articles, war or no war. A bright young girl was receiving good wishes froni her friends just after her engagement had been announced. One of these persons who purr loudly, when they are feeling awfully scratchy, said: "I think I. knew your fiance once dear —years ago" (smiling self-consciously)—when we we were both young and "foolish. "Oh," said the young person, not to be outdone, though quite ignorant of the facts of the case, "that was his brother—l think he is just 10 years older." Very nasty of the young person, and very silly. If she really wanted _to_ hit back the other cheek is the most irritating of all replies when one is dealing with cats. * * * * It seems that motor cars are wanted badly to convey concert parties to and from Trentham Military Camp. Those persons who have motors have lent them over and over again for the purpose, and the Y.M.C.A. and other bodies have come to the conclusion that the same people cannot be called upon for ever. Therefore, we shall all have the privilege soon of subscribing a trifle towards providing suitable means of transit for those who sing and those who accompany the singers. * # # • # Less than a penny a week from a few thousand patriots would relieve the organisers of these concert parties from all anxiety, and would assure for the men in camp a pleasure which is very real. The thing only needs to be mentioned. It will be done. "Conscious as we are of other peoples' shortcomings," we realise that some one is neglecting an obvious duty, and if someone else will only move in the matter, we shall be charmed to contribute. All the same, we think that a cheque for £100 or so from a substantial patriot would provide ever so many taxis, and would make things quite pleasant all round. (Were its little feelings hurt?) «• * * * Why on earth can't someone persuade the Government to collect by taxation everything which is necessary and let us be done with it? If ten shillings is required for the State out of every pound, the sooner we know it the better. We can drink cold water from the spring and go without butter. We can proceed to cut our coat according to our cloth, and live the simple life. But it would be so much more comfortable 3f we know exactly how much is required to give every soldier everything he ought to have and everything which can make his life happy while he is in training and afterwards. That is the only necessity fast now. To that end

we should give cheerfully unto our last farthing, but we are getting bored with overlapping, etc. We want a director, and it must be a person of sense and sympathy, not a politician and not a lover of limelight—and not, oh not, a red taper. # « « « There is on foot in Wellington at least a scheme for helping wounded soldiers, while they are still in hospital, to learn some handicraft. Dr. Hope Lewis, of Auckland, is interesting himself in the matter. It is said that many men lie in the hospital week after week, tire of reading, and often weary of life, and that many of them are in a fit condition to he taught something, if the teachers could visit them regularly in the hospitals. The Technical Schools in New Zealand long ago offered assistance of this nature, and it is believed that a start could be made before the men are able to be up and doing. * # * » Many of these disabled men can never return to their former occupations, and if the handicraft they learn can only be a hobby for them in after life it will at

leasb help to make their existence happier, and the knowledge that people are interesting themselves on behalf of the returned men will do a great deal towards persuading them that there is much in life still which is worth while. * # * * The Langham Hostel for Returned Soldiers is now an established institution. The beginning is a very humble one, and the support of the public will be very much appreciated. Books, magazines, furniture, or subscriptions will all be of help. Th e hostel is recognised by the Government, and is approved by those in authority. It has already been a great comfort to homeless men, and it will probably be of very great use to many more in a future which at present seems dark and very vague. Mabel.