Wanganui in Wisps.

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 868, 23 February 1917, Page 7

Wanganui in Wisps.

. Deae. Ceeistabeij, ■\ ■ \

: \7kJTE> have had quite a cold snap since, I last wrote, so cold that it .made us look out our warm coats and "hot-watc-r bags, and made us wonder if :Our" summer was over. However, the • sun is. back" again 'with us, and we are all the better for the few cold days we " ha'd. 0 «' • .4» * - "The" beautiful winter goods now opening up make us sigh, for them, they are. so pretty. It would seem that our skirts are still to be short, but fortunately not necessarily shorter than of ,yore; our boots longer-, and our hats - either infinitessimal or very large. .1 . shall tell you more about these later,. perhaps next week, because we are not ; - really wearing our new pretties yet. • . ' . The sudden death of Mr. Hastings . at his shop on last 1 Saturday ;.. afternoon came, as a great shock to . •everyone. The late Mr. . "Moore, wha ! "was about 53 years of age," came to "Wanganui when a lad of 15, and, though" possessed of little else but' grit and a • determination .to . make . good, had enough Of these qualities to- succeed in-' building up a prosperous business. At :.tbo time- of his death Mr. Moore was •'Chairman of the Gonville Town-Board, and was at all times ready to do his share when his help was needed. To Mrs. Moore, and the. grown-up family ■Wanganui extends her sympathy. v . -v - ■ 4$ . • , Very Rev. 'Dean Hoi ley, who has laeen resident in Wanganui for some six > years, is about to take 'up new duties in Wellington, " having beert appoint-ed.-Provincial of the Marist Brothers in New 'Zealand. The'' Dean has done - much during "the short time he lias been in charge, of St. Mary's Church, ' proof of 'which is to be seen in : the • handsome buildings erected since he came here. He is a great lover of good . v horses and dogs, and .is generally a . very,, successful-exhibitor at the Show, ivhere his fine pair of' carriage horses are well known. * * ■» * ' Rev. Father S. Mahoney , has also "been transferred to Wellington. Both gentlemen carry "away with them a lot ' of good wishes. . ' , . ;•" ■; -"■»■' ■*' Dr. Owen,. late resident-surgeon at the Public Hospital, is in Wanganui for a few days. The Doctor-is looking very well in khaki, and hopes to-get - away with an early draft of Reinforce- * ments. - ■ ' ■_ . '■ ' » e ' • ». t Mail news coming -to hand brings home forcibly to us the scarcity and high prices of foodstuffs in England. It is generally known, of course,- that fresh/.eggs are absolutely impossible, fori ordinary people. They are ' all commandeered for. hospital use, and the . only eggs available-for general use are

preserved, and imported 'eggs. The latest idea is an artificial egg, made of goodness knows what. Where are our poultry experts and laboratory experts ? I am sorry I haven't the recipe,, but the hint is perhaps worth something? # o oe • Just now there is a fair amount 6i discussion going on about the choice of a spot 011 which to. plant our beautiful new Art Gallery. The- late Mr. Sargent ■desired that some of his immense wealthshoukl be expended in providing Wanganui with worts of art that would profit us and improve our tastes in that direction, and - that they should be housed in a building which would be a glory to our town. For some time_ the committee responsible for the administration of this'trust have been busy selecting a design from the many which were offering, and, having made their selection, the question of a suitable position is now. before the Council. / It'is interesting to see how c-ome of the, people, who have done so much to beautify the town, are fighting for the preservation of our"" few remaining breathing spaces, and although the Art Gallery will be one of our most valued treasures —worthy of the best we cangive it —I hope the Queen's Park will not necessarily have to be built upon to be improved. Buildings are generally Of some use, and sometimes even, they are things of beauty, but it is early days to think^of turning the old hill into Corinthian columns. Mr, Douglas St. George, who has been on the. staff ins the. local Traffic Qffice for fifteen years, has received notice of Iris promotion to, the position of chief clerk in the Nelson office. Mr. and Mrs. St. Georgo and family leave almost immediately for .their new home,. in. which we wish them every success. ■ -* , * * * Superintendent Wilson, well-known throughout .New Zealand, retired this week from the service, after a long and faithful stewardship of something like. 45 years. On the eve of his retirement Mr' Wilson was "presented--with a gold watch by the police of the Wangantii , district, and at the little function lots ;of pleasant things were said about everybody. -The Superintendent is worth a good many dead ones yet, and all sections of the community wish him and Mrs.. Wilson many long years of happy usefulness, with a little flower garden thrown in. «• » * , «• Now that the summer lias returned we are beginning our round of picnics. 'Last week the children of the Kaitoko School had their outing, arid a jolly day they had. Then the butchers and the bakers combined in an enjoyable day at Hipango Park. This is a beautiful spot .14 or lo miles up the river, which was given to Wanganui by Mr. Hipango to

be used as a picnic or recreation ground. Given a fine day, as yesterday certainly was, it is jm ideal spot, and all enjoyed themselves immensely. .Sports were provided for the children, the band was in attendance, and all we hope is that the butchers and , bakers did not put their heads together and decide to raise the price of meat and bread. They shouldn't picnic together- '.' , * * » » During the week the children of the Wanganui .schools held their swimming carnival" at' l -'the baths. A large number '. of, parents and interested spectators watched the different events, and the competitors did really well. Queen's Park School secured the coveted place of honour in both the girls' and the boys' championships, and the two swimming experts. Miss Kitty Rankin and Master Johnston, have been selected to represent Wanganui in the Dominion school championships to be. held in Wellington. # •.-'■*-.. « * Mrs. and Miss E. Brettargh are at present staying at Hotel Brae-burn. "».',' * ■ *' _» Mrs. Medherst and her three little children are holidaying at PJimrnerton. •>.-«■■ » « jj? Mr. and Mrs. Montague are -visiting Wanganui, and : are staying at Hotel Braeburn. * » ■ ■ 9. * ■. Mrs. Hume, of the Wairarapa, is in town for the races, and is a guest at > Foster's. Lieut. H. M. Douglas was married"on Saturday last at Woodville to -Miss Mollie Rose, of that town. Lieut. Douglas, who is a. member of the firm of Bullock, Douglas, and Currie, sails with the' 24th Reinforcements. On Thursday afternoon the Orphanage was the scene of a pleasant little gathering in honour of. the retiring matron, Mrs. Lindsay. This institution, which has grown from the proverbial mustard seed into a flourishing establishment, has amply justified its existence. «nd much of the good that has been'' accomplished can be directly attributed to Mrs. Lindsay. It was to show their appreciation of this that the well-wishers of the Orphanage met to drink tea with Mrs. Lindsay and, incidentally to give her a fitting souvenir of her good. work. -' «• * • ■ ' • Dr. A. Wilson will soon be leaving us for the Awapuni Camp prior to taking up duty, at the .New Zealand Base Hospital in England. His brother. Dr. Douglas Wilson, has been on active service since the early daya of the war and is still doing good work over there. One of these days Wanganui will' be doetorless, -so there will be nothing for it but to keep well. Many of our fancy complaints have disappeared as it. is, and I fear we shall have to do still better if we are going to make our doctors last out. * ■& * a A very, pretty wedding, of considerable interest, took place on Wednesday, /14th February, . at Christ Church, -when Miss Helen M. E. N. Hazcll, eldest daughter of Mrs. Hazell, postmistress at St. John's, was married to Mr Vivian C. Gosset, youngest son of the jate.A. H. Gosset and Mrs. H. B. Gosset. of Parnell, Auckland. The ceremony was performed by Archdeacon Reeve. The bride, who was given away by her uncle, Mr. F. C. Ross, of Kiwitea, wore a beautiful gown, the gift of her godmother, Mrs. EdwardNewman, ' 'Dunsinane,'' Marton. It was composed <->f creme crepe de chene and ninon. The pretty court train was lined with shell pmk ninon. The bride

wore the .usual veil and orange /blossoms and.earned a beautiful bouquet of pale pink roses and fern, the gift of the -bridegroom. . , ; ■.-''•■■:» * * •& The bridesmaids, Miss Nancy Hazell, sister of the bride, and Miss- Hilda "" Mowlem, wore very pretty pale pink nmon. frocks andblack hats, and carried posies of lavender and pink asters. They each wore a gold bangle, the : girt of the bridegroom, Mr, Pat Williams acted as best man, and Mr. Eric Theed - cousin of the bride, was,groomsman. \ , ' . "*• * '•» : » ,_ '' After the ceremony, the wedding breakfast was held at the residence of Mrs. Arthur Lewis, Wicksteed-street, who very kmdly lent her home for the occasion. Mr. Newman, M:P., in a. few very neat words, proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom, to which the bridegroom responded. .'*-■'* * > . The bride's going-away costume was a small black and white check relieved with black, and black hat with pink osprey. The bride and bridegroom, were the recipients of many beautiful and useful presents. Among the guests were: Mr. and Mrs. Edward Newman (of Marton), Mrs. Gifford Marshall, Mrs. and Miss:lsherwood (Wellington), Mrs. Hogg, Mrs. Theed (Hunterville), Mrs. Arthur Lewis. Mrs. Rochfort. Miss Leslie 'Williams, Mrs. Peter Harrison (Masterton), Mrs. McDonald, Miss Harrison, Mrs. Jack Harrison, -Miss Dorothy Harrison, Mrs. Mowa.tt. Mr. ahd Mrs. Walter Simpson (Bonny Glen), Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Ross (Kiwi- , tea), Mr. and Miss Varley, Mr: Isher- ' wood, the Misses Allison,'Mrs. L. Paterson, Miss Robinson, Mrs.-. Paterson Castlecliff), and Mrs. Hales. Mr. and Mrs. Gosset left by the mail for Palmerston North, where they are spending their, honeymoon., ' * * ••' *. * . The Y.M.C.A... was the scene' of a very festive little evening on last Friday, when about 200' people foregathered to hear sweet music and partake of the cup 'that cheers. The managers of the Y.M.C.A. practically keep open house for past, present, and future soldiers, ; and the energetic Secretary,; Mr. W. R. Taylor, spares neither time nor energy in trying to make .things go .with a swing. ■ The re-union on Friday was part welcome, part farewell, and wholly enjo3 T »ble. / * , *. ■ * ' # One day this week our town clock stopped work, but, unfortunately, shortcomings could . not be replaced 'byvoluntary ■ helpers, so for, awhile we hardly knew where we w,ere. Brisk business men, who usually get to work . between 8 and 9 o'clock, were amazed to find our glorified time-piece marking what might have been meant for midnight the night before, or midday the next day, and it was amusing' to see little knots of them standing outside the Rutland consulting first . their watches, then each other,: and finally the clock. However, men are under - standing sort of creatures, so they decided that it was- a moonlight saving and not a daylight saving dodge on the part of our wise old clock. * •• %• o • I notice that my suggestion of Spinning Jennies has brought forth a word of advice from Rieefton. Like you, Christabel, I think it was unfortunate that such a noble effort should have had such expensive consequences, but, surely, it must have been the "under and over the table" business that caused the trouble. Was there more under the table than met the ordinary eye? Moral: Hang your Jennies on the wall and don't use a table 1 Yours sincerely, WmBLTTXSB.