SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8294, 4 December 1912, Page 5

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Mrs Birnie leaves to-morrow for a stay of some months in Melbourne and Sydney. Mrs and the Misses Fitzherbert are staying at Miss Morton’s, Golder’s Hill. Miss Vera Chapman returned from Auckland by the Main Trunk yesterday. Mrs Downing (neo Jensen), Dannevirko, is in town to meet her mother and sister. Mrs Toncycliffo (Gisborne) and her niece, Miss Y. Hamilton, are guests at the Hotel Windsor. Mrs Sydney Kirkealdie is among the passengers by the Malwa, due at Auckland on the 18th inst. Mr Justice Chapman and his family will shortly move into Miss Richmond’s house, Hobson street. Dr Fitchett (Public Trustee) and Mrs Fitchett, who returned from Auck-

land and Rotorua yesterday, are staying at Day’s Bay House. Miss G. M. Stoneham (Dunedin), who was the fortunate winner of the grand piano at the recent competitions, loft for the South last evening. ' Mrs Hobday, wife of the vicar of St. Matthew’s, Brooklyn, is expected by the Moana, due hero to-morrow from Sydney. Mr Arthur Guise—-recently private secretary to Lord Islington—and Mrs Guise leave for London via Canada on December 20th. Among the passengers returning to the Dominion by the Orama, now in Melbourne, are Mr and Mrs George, of Kelbumo, and Mrs D. J. Stuart and Miss Olive Stuart. Mr and Mrs J. E. Henrys, of Thomdon quay, are giving a reception on Friday evening to the Manly swimmers, Messrs Solomons, Hay, Riddingbon, and Tartakover. Mrs V. Jensen and Miss Hilda Jenson, of Rowan Bank, Upper Dixon street, who have spent the last three months in Australia, are expected today by the MauuganuL The. “British Australasian” announces the engagement of Mr Rupert Jones, sou of Mrs Orbed Jones, Como, to Miss Harlrie McQadum, daughter of Mrs McCailum, Healosville, and the late Mr Lachlan McCollum, Limestone Ridge. On Saturday afternoon the ladies of Belvedere met together at the house of Mrs E. Elagle, junr., to bid fare wed to Mrs Cheshire, an old and respected resident of the district, who is leaving for Auckland to reside with her daughter, Mrs Boocher. Afternoon tea was served in the dining-room, which was beautifully decorated with sweet-peas and lycopodium. The district nurses of the St. John Ambulance Association Nursing Guild are holding their annual Christmas tea and tree in St. Peter’s schoolroom, Ghuznee street, on' Wednesday, December 18th. It is a function which, simple and unpretentious to a degree, impresses upon one with intense vividness the breadth and scope of the work done by District Nurses Sexton and Macandrew in our city.

The Dowager Countess of Cork and Orrery, who was one of the reigning beauties sixty years ago, died on October 10th, in her eighty-fourth year. She was a daughter of the first Marquis of Clanxicarde and sister of the present marquis. It is said that when she was married one of her presents was the joint gift of all who had vainly aspired to her hand. The countess was a witty talker, a student of history

and letters, and a writer of verse, while she also edited the family manuscripts. She was the possessor of some famous jewels, and had a necklace of five rows of pearls, each about the size of a smalj marble. Her husband died in 1904, a .year after they had celebrated their golden wedding.

A most enjoyable social and dance was held at the Porirua Mental Hospital °n Fridal evening to celebrate the Hospital football team’s success in winning the senior League championship and Charity Cup. The largo concert hall was tastefully decorated, the club’s colors being very prominent. During the evening Mr Holder, on behalf of the supporters of the club, presented each of the players with a beautifully designed gold medal suitably inscribed. Mr Elliott, the oldest playing member of the team, was also presented with a handsome silver tea set, by the staff, to mark their appreciation of his long services and splendid play. A most enjoyable programme of music was supplied by the following: Mrs Barnes, Misses Castles, Dear, Messrs Barnes,

Dear, Roots, Ward, Elliott and Hicks. After a splendid supper a flashlight photograph was taken of the gathering, and dancing was continued until the small hours.