SOCIAL GOSSIP

Free Lance, Volume XVIII, Issue 948, 12 September 1918, Page 18

SOCIAL GOSSIP

DBAB CHRISTABEIi, —

THE Countess of Liverpool Committee workers had a dreadful day for their street sale of flowers and produce on Friday. It was very wet, and after the first few hours very cold. The effort was to raise extra, money for the Christmas gift parcels, which are being packed and despatched to' the men at the Front. Parcels are sent every month, but for Christinas an extra exfort is made, and it is hard that so admirable an object should not have been better backed by the weather. *'* * * • Stalls were set up at the usual places and those who assisted were the usual " workers at the Town Hall, including, of course, the Mayoress, Mrs. Luke, and the hon. secretary, Mrs. A. Crawford. Her Excellency the Countess of "Liverpool took a hand at several of the stalls, including the one at Wood-ward-street corner, where the Hon. Sec. and Mrs. Dymoc-k and Miss Eraser and Mrs. Purdy, the organiser of the sale, were in charge. Most exquisite flowers were on sale in the streets, alsp pretty balloons, .which members of the Spinsters' Club sold • for the fund. Eggs and cakes were quickly sold, including those which Her Excellency presented. The Mayoress was busy all day at the Town Hall, where the depot was situated, and she was there assisted by Mrs. Stott and Mrs. Fordham and several others. * •* * ■ * The sale of raffle tickets helped to swell the total of about £300—not much considering the object of the sale, but it is believed and hoped that another and different effort in, the not far distant future will add at least a little more to a fund which does so much for the comfort of our soldiers. Tire man in the street very much admired the way in which helpers stuck to their posts on Friday regardless of the weather, which was vile.

We read that troops under the command of •■Lieutenant-General Sir Charley Ferguson performed the gallant and arduous task of storming the junction of the Drocourt, Queant and Hindenburg systeims on September 3rd. Sir Charles Ferguson is the eldest brother of Captain J. Ferguson, who married Githa, youngest daughter of the late Mr. T. C. Williams, and who was in command of H.M.S. Jienbow about the* time war broke out.

lii last week's cables came the news of Colonel 0. Humphries' death. He was a New Zealander who went to Franco in the ranks of the "Old Contemptibles." He was then a. youth, but evidently a soldier horn, for in that gallant company of highly-trained men and veterans he so quickly distinguished himself that hei was made a sergeant in the field. He had served continuously since and risen to very high rank. In the ranks he won the D.C.M. and Bar, and later after promotion, the Military Cross. Of him his Brigadier said: "He is the bravest man I ever saw."-

Letters from England mention that some of the younger passengers of the Tainui declare they enjoyed being torpedoed. They were so quickly saved and so soon safely landed. Among others on board was Miss Louie Fitzroy, who went to stay, with Lady Russeil as soon as she arrived in London.

A friend writing by the last mail mentioned that he had seen Mr. George Sutton (Wellington) in London on leave, and that Captain Eustace who now has a staff appointment in London, had been enjoying a fortnight's leave, which he had spent with his wife, drifting leisurely down the Thames.

Miss Katet Stocker is driving an Army motor lorry.

Mrs. George Johnston, wife of the General, and her little daughter, were still in France last Jxily, but will probably be, going over to England this month.

Surgeon-Captain Jack Simcox, who reported seriously wounded, is the second son of thei Rev. IT. E. T. Simcox, vicar of Porangaliau, for the last 40 years. Captain Simcox went away with the 16ths and has been in the Front line trenches and field dressing posts during the last 18 months.

Major Duff (Kereru. Hawke's Bay) has won the IXS.O. and was in Scotland on short leave in the summer. His mother is living at Lossiemouth, where people spend their leisure hours in collecting spagmun moss for the hospitals.

Miss Janet Russell, second daughter of General Sir Andrew Russell, who has been living in Paris for some time, was in England in July. * # Wellington bakers are reducing the price of bread sold over any counter to od. For this small blessing the public is truly' thankful. By way of evening things up, the cost of the harmless necessary reel of cotton has risen to o-J-d. In 1914 it was 2-J-d. For this and other worries we have the Kaiser to thank. (Continued on page 19 )

Countess Morner, who owns a block of flats bordering the harbour front at Kirribilli, Sydney, is just now sojourning in the City with the Harbour, having arrived recently from America. According to the "Bystander," the Countess is about to makei her third plunge into matrimony. By her first marriage she become Mrs. Havrilah White. 'Next time she went to the altar ft was to marry Count Morner, a former Swedish Consul in Sydney. Now, says the' gossip referred to, she has consented to become the Marchioness de Rudidguy. The Marquis is stated to bei a British subject with a French title. How about Anglicising it to "Ruddygore ?"