Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 839, 28 July 1916, Page 16

Social Gossip

Dear Chbistabel, SOME of the shops here have opened up their spring models, and it appears that we are to wear really pretty hats, on which the solitary apple, apricot, or flower will be very noticeable. The wide brimmed sailor shape is very popular at Home this summer, and it will probably be "the one and only" for daily use here. Already, in the, shop windows and tucked away behind gjlass screened doors in shops, have I observed many very pretty samples of the sailor mode. * * On one or two there are tissue flowers, very dainty and pretty, but on most there • is seen a moire ribbon with or without a tiny nosegay, apple, plum, apricot, small-orange, or lemon. A few extra elegant affairs are trimmed with a Mgh upstanding bow or with a tall spray of pretty roses. * » « . » Wellington is known all over New Zealand as a place where pretty hats may be bought ready made or to order. It is rumoured that the wives of country members of Parliament save up all the year for their annual trip, and that they never leave town for home at the end of the session without purchasing their new spring hat, or hats for the little daughters. * * * * One of the most frugal-minded women whom I know has a great weakness, and .that is "hats." She says she simply must have a new hat with each season, two new hats if possible. She wears her frooks and her coats until they are threadbare, but her hats are always very up to date, so much so that few notice how worn and tired the face beneath them is growing. The war is playing havoc with the looks of some of us. This lover of hats lives in a country town, and she used to make them her excuse for coming to town. Now she cannot come, for the railway fares are much more expensive, and all her spare money goes to the Red Cross.

Yet, to my amazement, she still sighs for something pretty and new—and she is ordering two new hats by post, and one of them is to be a sailor, the other a turban. She would also like a picture hat, the crown veiled with tulle and the brim edged with flat petals, but "she supposes she will have to do without it." (I don't think.; » * « « Little ruchings of taffetas will be seen on hats as well as on frocks this summer—at least, so I read in English papers. Elephant grey is to be a fashionable colour, in coats and skirts, frocks, and straw hats. A fair-haired girl informs me that she can wear grey if she lines her hat with black. There are moments when yours truly does recognise the wisdom of Providence. Had this scribe been born beautiful, she would have spent her entire life, struggling to keep her looks. As it is, she finds vast amusement in looking on, and real pleasure in the good looks of other people.. ♦ » ■» ■» As a few months ago we all sympathised immensely with Mr. and Mrs. Balcombe Brown in the loss of their older son, so now we rejoice with them because the other son, Captain Rainsford Balcombe Brown, has been awarded the Military Cross for destroying a German, balloon. '■» « e"' « The most recently appointed Rhodes Scholar of N»w Zealand, Lieutenant Athol Hudson, is reported "Missing— Bellieved to be killed." He was a graduate of Victoria College,, and of him much was expected.. He and four soldier brothers are sons of the late Dr. Hudson, of Nelson. He was a dlever student and a fine athlete. » • • * Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Studholme (Ruarnui) are staying at the "Grange" with the children of the Countess of Glasgow. By now the Countess is well on her journey to Bombay. • • • +■ Mrs. C. Maclean and Mrs. A. Gardiner (Napier) are staying in Wellington and will be here for some weeks. • » m >» On Wednesday, 19th July, at St. Johrf's. Trentham, Miss Kathleen Connell, the elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Connell, Upper Hutt, was married to Mr. Jack Harrison, a corporal in the 18th Reinforcements. The bridegroom and his best man, Mr. Stanley Blow, a private in the same regiment, were in uniform. The bride wore a suit of cream gabardine and a picture hat, trimmed with ospreys. She carried a very beautiful bouquet. The bridesmaid., Miss Eileen Connell, wore cream with a brim hat lined with pale pink.

There was a family party at the residence of the bride's parents after the wedding, and later the. newly-married pair left by motor for a brief honeymoon, the bride wearing a dark blue coat and skirt with a pretty hat. * ' ■* \ ■* * Sister Brandon, who has seen much service abroad, and is now on the nursing staff of the Rotorua Millitary Sanatorium is in Wellington for a short holiday. •* * * * The engagement is announced of Miss Miriam Mason, only daughter of Dr. J. M. Mason and Mrs. Mason,: Lower Hutt, to Lieutenant Ashley Duncan, A Company, 18th Reinforcements, Trentham. ♦ There is an article by Mr. Noel Ross in a recent issue of "Land and Water." It is called "New Zealand's Share." N.T.B.—which, being .interpreted, means Not Too Bad, for it is only a few years since the young soldier-journalist was a boy at college here. * • • » In the same number there is a most. Interesting article by a ,Miss Moore on Canadian women in England. There are 2000 living in England, exclusive of the Canadian nurses. Canadian slang will no doubt be all the rage among the kind people who are befriending these Canadian women. The expression, "These are some eats," ought to take oil well, for the phrase, ''A bit of all' right," is getting rather worn out. Try "These are sure some eats," next time you get a box of chocolates. *■ ♦ • In her article Miss Moore mentions the Oceanic Club, 21, Hill-street, Berke-ley-square, which has been organised by the Victoria League Committee and Council for-the convenience of women from the Dominions. As all the world knows, the Dowager Lady Jersey is president of the League. Here in Wellington there is a small branch, which is connected with the Home League. Mrs. Rankine Brown is the hon. treasurer this year. The Victoria League should bind together the Women of the Empire. When the war is over there will! certainly be a great and increasing desire for closer . anion, and all leagues and clubs which have this object, in view should be well supported by our sex. * * * «• I never can understand why the women of Australasia, have not formed some kind of league which would give opportunity for interchange of ideas, etc. The word "Anzac" is surelly an inspiration, and some day it may be used as a> sign among us, a sign which will be as useful as is the mysterious understanding among Free Masons. Women who have shared a common anxiety and grief will never be strangers when they meet one another.

made, and' then another rather fascinating room where they use up all the old linen sent in. Old sheets, tablle cloths, curtains, cretonne—nothing was despised provided it was clean and the things they evolved were little short of miraculous. Then the shoe-room was another fascinating place where they made, all sorts of bed and invalid slippers, special boots for frost-bites and trench-foot, and so on. They use all sorts of odds and ends, carpet, plush, tweed travelling-rugs, travellers' samples of clothes, etc., nothing seems to come amiss, and the slippers had the most delightfully professional air. "It was hard to realise that the makers were for the most part the "idle rich," who, before the war did practically nothing useful and probably didn't even do tlieir own personal sewing and mending. The ground floor was taken up with a restaurant, where the workers can get lunch and tea, and) the secretary's office and' so on. Below in the basement were {lie sterilising rooms, packing-rooms, and immense storerooms where all the materials are stored and also the finished goods. "The stables, etc., of the mansion had been converted into carpenters' shops and here a lot of men were busy making splints, crutches, etc., that were being padded upstairs. It looked rather odd to see intelligent clean lines and clean linen collars above the workman's overalls, but as these are mostly barristers and men of that sort, they keep up their ancient liabits of cleanliness. If they are as good at their own jobs >as they are at tneir carpentering, they should do well, for the things were beautifully made and so nicely finished'." \

Miss Doris Evelyn Gear, one of the acknowledged belles of Wellington, was married at the Lower Hutt last Monday to Lieutenant R. W. Botliamley, the third son of Mr. A. T. Bothamley, Clerk-Assistant of the Legislative Council. Wellington. The bride is the younger daughter of the late Mr. J. Gear, founder of that great Wellington enterprise, the Gear Meat Company, and of Mrs. Gear, of Porirua. The Rev. A. L. Hansell, vicar of St. James's (Anglican) Church, Lower Hutt, performed the wedding ceremony. The bride was given away by her brother, Mr. J. E. GeaJ-. The wedding was very quiet, and the bridegroom returned to duty at Featherston Camp the next day. His bride is living-at Featherston until he sails. * * * Miss A. Martin (Golder's Hill) has returned from a holiday in Dunedin, where she was the guesb of Mrs. Cheeseman. • » • ♦ Mi-s. Cosgrove, wife of Dr. Cosgrove, R.A.M.C.. and her child returned to her home in Sydney this week after some months in Wellington. . Miss Campbell's entertainment in .aid of the Red Cross comes off this Friday and Saturday. The booking is heavy, and it looks as if the affair is to be splendidly patronised. It is perfectly safe to say that the audience will be more than satisfied. Miss Campbell's talent for teaching dancing is indeed wonderful. She spares no effort, and she aims at perfection. Her pupils are fired with her enthusiasm, and they have worked magnificently for this great event. Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool will be present on Friday night. * * * * Miss Dorothea Spinney has been in Wellington again. She has been the guest of Mrs. Tombs in Burnell-avenre, and in her honour Mrs. Tombs gave a small and enjoyable tea-party one day this week. This Thursday evening she was the guest of the Pioneer Club. Miss Spinney has • managed to see a great deal of New Zealand since she came here last year, and has even been to Stewart Island, where she gave a wellattended recital. Tn the audience there were many fishermen who appreciated her enterprise, and who did much to make her visit to the island very pleasant. » * * » Tn spite of the dreadful rain on Tuesday night, Miss Halley's Dance Recital in St. Peter's Schoolroom was very well attended. Against a well-chosen back-