Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume XVII, Issue 909, 21 December 1917, Page 14

Social Gossip

DBAR C HEIST ABEL,—

TCT LEVEN German prisoners, ineluding a notorious sea raider and four wireless operators escaped last week from Motuihi Island in the launch of the commandant, which happened to be the only boat "on the island. Having cut the telephone communications,' they got away'with six hours start, and) at the time' of writing they are' still at large. Being Germans,' they presumably lack a sense of humour,' otherwise 7 they surely would have run: off with ' the Commandant himself y who, thfe newspaper report -says, had run' over to Auckland and back with the "German prisoners as crew and controlling the boat. So. simple and trmting is the-nature 'of. this Commandant that lie left this one and only boat in the hands of the German crew and trusted them to tie her to her moorings, while he departed," in peace; to his residence; Was- the German lieutenant commander tempted to kidnap. this, confiding; officer, whose name is Colonel Harcourt Turner, 'or did he. consider, that ,so amiable a'"- man was a good friend to leave on the island for the other German prisoners? '♦ • • e

An enquiry, is .being held. Whatever the finding, this Dominion must" -bear the | ridicule : of the whole world, and no man' can "venture to'predict.. what endless . suffering and 'anxiety may be caused ;by the disgraceful slackness of a system , which" allows, dangerous enemies' freedom of action in such terrible times.' Red tape is at work; and the public has one more anxiety for a Christmas box. Heigho. It is rumoured that a request will be made that in future a few of the- women members of the anti-German League shall form part of the guard over interned prisoners.

Meanwhile, we eat, drink, and try to be merry, for this is the Christmas season.' Last Saturday morning- the whole world seemed to be in town, accompanied by tall sons just back from school, or by daughters who seem to grow several inches every term. Such

& Christmas clack -was in the air, and. the shops are decorated as of yore, very prettily. One of the biggest drapery establishments is a study in green and yellow, and'' its magic cave is a place to die of laughter. At a certain magic mirror, thin, people look grotesquely fat and the fat people are beyond description.

- Crowds of people were in town for the Wanganui and "Wellington College cricket match, which was to happen the following Monday. Every senior college boy seems to have had a visiting friend. Parents .and masters and sisters and aunts filled the hotels, and the city took on quite a festive air.

In the afternoon the local club for Soldiers' and Sailors' Wives was opened, Dr. Platts Mills making a very charming speech of welcome, and Mr. David McLaren describing how the Club had become an accomplished fact. A very large number of wives and mothers and children ' " were present, also the officers of the Women National Reserve, whose organising' secretary, Mrs. Porter, first moved, to establish this Club and others like it throughout New Zealand. Mrs. Porter has •taken a warm and kindly interest in the scheme, and has been well supported by 'members of the Reserve and by the Hon. G. W. Russell, whose : Department in. August offered to pay the rent of a room which could- be used as a meeting place for soldiers' and sailors' wives in Wellington.

. Representative men and women have been working hard to secure suitable : accommodation, in Wellington, and at last bave taken possession ■ of " the "Charley's Aunt" flat in- Courtenayplace. The men of the committee, representing the Patriotic Society, . New Zealand Natives 5 Association* St. John's Ambulance, and other bodies have made themselves responsible for three months' rent: Administrative details will be left to members of the Reserve arid to the Club's members. At present there is no entrance fee or subscription. In the Wellington district members of the Women's National Reserve will keep in touch with members of -the Club, and it is believed that the same arrangements will be made in other districts. ■

In the newly-established Wellington Club there is a room .where the children of the members will be amused and looked after by members of the.. Reserve, who- have volunteered for that particular duty, and who will be in the room in turns for an hour or two at a time.

The opening ceremony was the occasion for a Christmas party, for which a pleasant programme of entertainment had been prepared. The club room was very prettily decorated with flags.- During the afternoon Mrs. BTanan- paid a tribute to Mrs. Porter, "to. whose sympathy and business capa- ' city' Mrs.~ HLanan, said.,,the- .Club owed 7i ts existence. Slie also complimented - all the people who- have had a hand in -organising the Club. The children's room will probably become a properlyrun creche eventually—a place where . mothers may leave their infants in the ' sure- and certain knowledge ; that .- no harm will befall them. On Saturday a tea party, at which viands suitable for the young were provided, " was held in the room set aside"for children, who all received: presents of fruit and sweets, etc. For some months the mothers and wives have met together on Friday afternoons. They will continue to do so in" the new premises, and later the club room will be open more often. In February the badge for wives of soldiers will be ready for sale.

If the - Club can bring into the lives of any women ;a . little sunshine, it surely will receive generous support from the public. One of the very earnest members of the Women's National Reserve has described this as a. Godgiven opportunity which should not be neglected by anyone. Eventually, the Club may become a hostel where visiting wives and mothers of soldiers may obtain accommodation. Many of them are strangers in a strange land, and have needless little worries added to their great sorrow and anxiety.

Mr. and Mrs. Davis Canning, Air. and Mrs. Lane, and Mrs. Frank Ross (all of Hawke's Bay) have been in town. Among the] many who have already departed for long or short holidays are Miss Muir (The Terrace), who has gone to Gisborne, Mrs. Arthur Myers and her children, who have returned to Auckland, Mr. and Mrs. F. Samuel. Miss Tanner, who has gone to the East Coast, the Dr. Young "family, who are in residence at Heretaunga, and most of the people who possess country homes which are close to town and from which the head of the house can still get into the city for business.

btated that the women in invaded Belgium have been very hard put to it to find ways and means of obtaining winter coats. Material suitable for making warm mantles costs about £3 a yard, and even a very second-rate coat

runs into £12 The Belgian woman lias met, the situation in a verv simple manner. She has gone to the Sly store cupboards, extracted a couple of blankets, had them dyed a deep rnni Q+ l made up into a. winter wV ( !f g ® to patterns of mah™* " ? n i eW Parl f lan winter coats .® ; r a :; marked resemblance to' • ordinary blankets. The material was' very thick, and dyed m violets and greens. Ihe explanation of this may be that enterprising, manufacturers have transformed their store of blanket cloth into material for winter clothes, and are setting it as the latest thing, thus realising a large profit on their stock One thing is certain; that is the blanket cloth is to be the fashion for coats and mantles next winter.

Advice, from London recently announces the engagement of Ella, third daughter of Mr and Mrs. Speetermai, of Ridmo.unt, 100, Priory-road West Hampstead, N.W., to Harry I. Cohen son of Mr and Mrs. Albert Cohen! Dunedm, New Zealand.

* « * # +r,^ er -i] na f y f Tiend . s in Wellington will deeply grieve to hear of the sudden death at.Dunedin last week of Mrs. Mallard,- wife of Mr. J. 1 J. Maiis™.' formerly local manager of the Insurance Company and now general manager at Dune din. The cause of Mrs . Mallards death was hemoirhage of the brain. For verv rW J ?% VS , Mrs - Mallard was a resident of Talavera-terrace, Kelburn, and was highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends -It is not so long since she lost- her elder son Jack, who was killed m action. The shock of the news of iiis death no doubt contributed lareelv to her own death. Mr. Mallard and the daughter and son who are left to nini have the sincere sympathy of the community in their sorrow.

The engagement is announced of Miss Ruth Shirtcliife, third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. Shirtcliffe, Wellington, to Major E. S. Harston, son of Mr.; and Mrs. Harston, Napier. ' ■ ' Mabel. Recently a Christmas party for convalescent and ex-hospital soldiers was given- by Mr. and Mrs. Hempton at their home in Thompson-street and a yery jolly, time was spent, with dancing, competitions, etc.; also some Very keen billiard matches were,,played. These parties have been given by Mr. and Mrs. Hempton since the first lot of wounded arrived, and are thoroughly appreciated by the : soldiers. Competitions were. _ won by Miss 3>imock and Private Welby. At the conclusion (f Auld Lang "Syne" was sung by the company. The soldier guests then sang "For They Are Jolly Good Fellows' 5 and hearty cheers were given for their host and hostess.

A wedding that created great interest in Wellington last Friday was that of Miss Vera Kearns, formerly of the Walter Johnson Revue Company at His Majesty's Theatre, to Mr. Ashley Reed; one of New'- Zealand's leading jookeys. Miss Kearns is the daughter - of Mr. 'Jack Kearns. well known in vaudeville in Australasia for the last twenty years. ■ Mrs. Kearns, her mother, who died four years ago this month, was known to old vaudeville patrons as Miss Ida Roslyn. In the daughter many theatregoers see a striking resemblance to her mother. The bridegroom, Mr. Ashley Reed, is a son of Mr. George Ashley Reed,; of Trentham. who is at present laid up in- a private hospital and who, unfortunately, was unable to be present at the wedding ' ceremony. However, directly the nuptial knot . was tied bride and bridegroom visited him ,on his sick-bed.

The scene of the wedding was St. Mary of the Angels, and it speaks well of the popularity of the happy pair that the church . -was crowded." Rev. Father Yenning officiated, and Mr. Kearns gave his daughter away. The bride looked dainty and sweet in her bridal'array. Her. bridesmaid was Miss

Maud Reeve, W. Bell was best,.man. The subsequent reception was held at Godber's, in Cuba-street. There was quit® a large number of guests present at the wedding breakfast, Mr. Harry Burgess acting as chairman. • The usual toasts were hon-oured,-and. Mr. and Mrs. Ashley Reed finally 1 departed amidst the good wishes of all for Auckland, where the honeymoon is being-spent-.- .

The Fbee Lance wishes to acknowledge, seasonable greetings from the following and "at the same time heartily reciprocates these expressions of good-, will: —New Zealand's High Commissioner in London (Sir Thomas Mackenzie) and Lady Mackenzie, the Chairman, Members, and Executive of the Wellington Harbour Board, Australasian Institute of Marine ' Engineers, Powell River Company, Ltd. . (VanManager and Staff of the. United Insurance Company, Ltd., the Sisters of Compassion and the Inmates of their Homes and the Poor, Mr. J. B. Brinsden (Dunlop Rubber Co), The Goldberg Advertising Agency, Ltd.

The message. conveyed by one '/of these seasonable cards is so happy and fitting in its thought that we quote it herewith:—-"The Chairman, Members, and Executive 'of the Wellington Harbour Board, in sending you the Season's -Greetings, sincerely hope that the coming year may bring Victory witlx. Honour and Security to the Allied.. Cause and that tested in the furnace of War we may emerge with our failings purged away and virtues strengthened." "Hear, hear," say all of us.

We have also received a handsome card all the way from the fightingfront in France. The sender is "3/912," whose yerse from the trenches we have been pleased to publish from time to time. The card he sends is presumably one - of those specially printed for our boys in France to send to their kith..and kin in faraway New Zealand. Itpictures, in colours a New Zealand soldier leaning against a milestone, upon .which is inscribed: "France to New Zealand—l3,ooo miles." In the rising smoke from his pipe he visualises Aotea-Roa (the Long ' White Cloud) together, with the outline of! "God's Own" as it rests in the Pacific. In the background are the ruins of a French cathedral, affording ■ ample suggestion of the trail of Kultur as left by the ravaging Hun. As a memento, this card is of historical: interest. The greetings it bears will be reechoed from end to end of Aotea-roa.

The action commenced by . Samuel Kraetzer, of . Christchurch (private racecourse detective) against the New Zealand Free Lance, claiming £100 damages for 'a statement in its "Turf Gossip," alleged to refer to Mr. Kxaetzer, was withdrawn when the case was called on- at the Wellington S.M. Court on Wednesday, last. The' original statement had been - corrected and withdrawn in the following issue of the Free Lance, and this correction was repeated on November 9 when, at Mr. Kraetzer's instance, Messrs. Bell, Gully, and Myers wrote to the proprietors of the Free Lance demanding the name of their informant. The proprietors of the Free Lance firmly declined to disclose the name of their informant, and Mr. Myers admitted on Wednesday that this would have been against the ethics of journalism. In view, therefore,, of the correction published on November 9, which satisfied Mr. Kraetzer that . the - Free Lance had no desire to injure him, the action was withdrawn, Mr. Myers explaining that it would not have been commenced had his client been aware

of the published correction. Mr. Myera appeared in. Court for the plaintiff, arid Mr. A. Blair for the defendants. - y