NOTES FOR WOMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12241, 12 September 1925, Page 10

NOTES FOR WOMEN

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

The Municipal Fire Brigade are holding their annual dance nest Thursday. Mrs and Miss Elworthy and Mrs W. N. Bond, “Claremont,” Timaru, will leave England in December on their return to New Zealand. -A well-attended meeting of ladies was held in the Mayoress’s room at the Town Hall (by the kind permission of Mr Norwood) to make arrangements for Rose Day. In the absence of the Mayoress through illness, Lady Luke took the chair. Everyone present formed a committee, and all were asked to make roses and get as much help as possible for that work. Rose Day is to be held on November Ilth, and the proceeds will be towards the War Memorial, and it is hoped to make the day as big a success as it was last year.

The monthly meeting of the Pctone Plunket Society was held in the council room. Mrs G. Cook (vice-president) was in the chair. The-following subscriptions and donations were gratefully received: Petone Borough Council £lO. Mr W. T. Strand £1 Is, Mrs &. Cook £l, Mrs Yeomans 10s, collections £4 os, Mrs Caley £1 1%, Mrs Linehan £l. Mrs Crowther ss. Mrs Davies ss. Mrs Roche. Mrs Lockheed, and Mrs Blacker clothes. It was decided to hold a big effort in November to augment the funds. Nurse Thomson reported as follows: Visits to homes 102 visits to rooms, adults 239, infants 236, total visits to rooms 475. This was an increase of 112 over the previous month, which is most gratifying. The Governor-General and Ladv Alice Fergusson visited the Y.M.C.A. in Wanganui on Thursday afternoon. Mr and Mrs Alherione. of Wellington. are staying in Christchurch. The Hon. Mrs Tahu Rhodes, Miss Biomley Cocks, and Mrs William Deans, commissioners of the Canterbury Girl Guides, and Miss N. Bennett, district secretary, with two hundred Girl Guides in their charge, intend visiting the Dunedin Exhibition in November Mrs E. Harris and Miss Elizabeth Harris (Cashmere Hjlls), who are at present in England, are returning to New Zealand by the Ruapehu, leaving London on October 30th. Mrs Charles Birch (Wellington), who has been the guest of Mrs Algar Williams in Christchurch, returned north on Thursday. Miss T. Burke (Wellington) is visiting her sister, Mrs’ M. Phillips, in Gieymouth. Mr and Mrs Roland Foster left by the Sydney boat yesterday on their return from Wellington. Mrs Foster was the recipient of a ouantity of beautiful flowers on her departure. On Wednesday afternoon Mrs Foster visited the Berhampore school, and heard some of the class singing there, with which she was delighted. She was afterwards entertained to tea by the staff and sixth standard pupils. Mr and Hts J. Wilson are visiting Christchurch. Captain and the Hon. Mrs Tahu Rhodes and family, who have been spending a few weeks in Christchurch, returned to “Meadowbank” on Thursday.' Miss Madge Gilbert, who has been on an extended holiday in Wellington and Nelson, has returned to Pahiatua. Mr and Mrs H. E. Turnbuil, of Wellington, have 'been visiting the Waikato. At her home in Rossal street, Christchurch, Mrs E. J. Cordner entertained a few friends in honour of Miss Stella Murray, the New Zealand contralto, who gave the first recital of her New Zealand tour on Thursday night. Miss Skelton, an English nurse, who is paying a visit to Christchurch, was entertained in the Nurses’ Club room, Royal Exchange Buildings, yesterday by the president and council' of the Trained Nurses’ Association. ' Sister Lloyd, who has been fulfilling the duties of home sister at the Palmerston North Hospital for several weeks past, has been appointed to the charge of a home for women at Christchurch. Sister Lloyd, who formerly resided in Palmerston North, and who was a member of the N.Z.A.N.S. during the war, serving on the hospital ship Maheno and in hospitals in England and France, will leave on Monday to take up her new duties. The League of the New Zealand Pen Women opened their club rooms in Colwill’s Building, Swanson street, on Tuesday afternoon with a “housewarming.” Speeches were made by the president, Mrs Mary Stuart Boyd, Mrs Carr Rollett, Mrs Laird Cooke, and Airs V. Macky. The league was in receipt of many beaiutiful gifts from members to whom votes of thanks were passed. Letters of congratulation were read from Alias Mary Bird Oayes, vicepresident, Northern California League of American Pen Women, and Lady Adams, who had recently been the guest of honour at a luncheon given by the Berkley branch League of American Pen Women. Intimation has reached Wellington that the late Captain George Sandham. AI.C., who passed away in a war hospital some time ago through war disabilities, that in response made tor posthumous recognition on his behnlf for war work at Gallipoli and other spheres of military activity, the authorities in London hnve awarded a “Vellum Vote of Thanks,” which will be sent to his widew in due course. This document is embellished in beautiful illuminated text, and is to be signed by His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught. Posthumous honours as indicated ere not inconsistent with the status of this ancient and modern Red Cross organisation of St. John. Captain Sandhany who served with the Royal Army Medical Corps in conjunction with the joint committee of the Order -f St. John and the British Red Cross Society, _ was an expert ambulancier, and his death has been greatly deplored by members of the St. John Ambulance Association and other workers in its subsidiary Red Cross branch.

Aliss Turton has returned to Wellington after a visit to Dunedin. An International Conference of the Nursing Profession was held at Helsingfors, Finland, in July last, and New Zealand had five nurses present—as representatives, including those nurses who are studying at Bedford College in connection with the new chair of nursihg at the University in Otago. The conference was a very large one, there being some hundieds of delegates expected, and the whole of the largest hotels in Helsingfors had been requisitioned to house them, while the women there had made great preparations for their reception and entertainment. The president of the National Council of Women of Finland was at the head of their committee of arrangements. The annual gift evening in connection with the Presbyterian Orphanages was held at Kent Terraoe schoolroom on Thursday night, and was os successful as usual. A large number of gifts in money and kind were received and also flowers, sweets, cakes, etc., were sold, with good results. A musical programme was given, the orphanage girls binging, while songs were given by Air A. Wilson, Mrs Wilfred Andrews, Air W. Petty, and Mr R. G. Blow and Miss Edna Purdie recited. Dr. Gibb, who presided, expressed the thanks of all, and to Air and Mrs Mills for their work, and

exnressed regret that Mrs Mills was obliged to retire from her position as matron of the orphanage owing to ill: health. Mr Mills was also going on holiday for three months, and he presented them with £SO from the subscribers and wished them" both a pleasant holiday., Both Air and Airs Mills spoke in reply and .thanked the donors for their gift.

According to a report of the National. Council of Women in Sydney, they are there taking action in a number of matters, including training farms for women on the .and as well as men, and the new migration scheme in Australia, a survey of girls in .industry, and vocational training, the League; of Nations and the teaching of ,- midwifery at the ■‘University. ..

Writing froni Sydney to,_a friend » . Wellington, Aliss Afary Seaton, a member of the Wellington branch of ; the National Council of Women, says - she has met the 1 secretary of the New South }Wnle?>C<ul.nct^-53ll?> jpic£t;, enson/ There is only one'council m New South Wales, in Sydney. About 50 tocieties are affiliated, each sending two delegates.. The societies pay an affiliation fee of one guinea, delegates pay five shillings, and associate members also (but these have no vote). They issue a bi-annual report only. Though they have children’s courts and women J .P.’s in Sydney, the council is very dissatisfied with the homes for mentally defective children. , Sutton Place, the old home of the late Lord Northcliffe, is to have a new experience, as the Duchess of Sutherland has invited all the Boy Scouts from Mile End to spend a week there, and she is going to be there herself to welcome them. They are’w be allowed to play golf on the nine-hole links and to fish in the lake. Colonel John Dodge, who is a son of Mrs Lionel Guest, and a Conservative candidate for the division, suggested the invitation. The Queen is fairy godmother to all sorts of lucky. institutions. The London Museum owes Her Majesty a great debt of gratitude. Ever since the collection was established at Lancaster House the Queen has been collecting and presenting exhibits, and she loves to wanter over the beautiful old house. Her latest gift is an embroidered portrait of Queen Victfiria in her coronation robes; a fine piece of work of its kind. The museum is just now reaping rich benefits of the excavation activities in the city. A brown porcelain jug. labelled “God Save the King*” was like a brand-new piece of ware. Not a scratch on its glazed surface; yet that jug is all hut 300 years old, and had been lying buried near Leadenhall street I

It is a curious fact that the. largest subscription so far received to the fund for the structural repairs of the Oxford Union comes, ■ not from any of the wealthy and important ex-presidents of the society, but from a lady who lias' attained the noble age of 102, Mrs Tylden, the sister of Dr. Bellamy, at one time librarian of the union,' and for many years president of St. John’s, says a writer in an exchange. After her widowhood, Airs Tylden kept house for her brother at the lodge. Mrs Tylden is a lady of vivacity, most remarkable for her years. On her lOOtli birthday five Queens went to tea with her—Queen Alary, Queen Alexandra, Queen Alaud of Norway, Queen Olga of Greece, and Queen Aiqflie of Portugal. She not only entertained them, but played the piano for them. On her 102nd birthday she entertained her tenants to tea, and to them also she gave a pianoforte recital. A pretty wedding was solemnised at the Masterton Methodist Church recently, when Aliss Rita Alay Wilton, eldest daughter of Air and Mrs AV. C. Wilton, of Masterton, was married to Mr Stanley Perkins Carr, second son of Mr H. Carr, of Masterton. The Rev. W. Beckett officiated, and Aliss A. Jones presided at the organ. In attendance upon the bride were her two sisters. Misses Edith and Daisy Wilton. The best man was Mr Thomas Carr, and the groomsman Mr Arthur Russell, of Wellington. A meeting of interest to women will be held on Wednesday, September 16th, at 8 p.m., at the Pioneer Club, when Aliss Amy Kane will give the report of the Conference of the International Council of Women, recently held at Washington, and which was attended liv four delegates from New Zealand. Members of affiliated societies and other women interested are invited to be present.

News comes from Sydney pf the opening of a new tea-room there, this one for blinded soldiers’ benefit, there being one already for the benefit of the Red Cross work among the invalids. These are staffed always, by voluntary workers, the prettiest girls ,in are to be seen there ' at 'iffiieS; and they do not seem to tire of the work, or, if they do, they still keep it going, for there is never a lack of workers. Lady Braddon, in opening the new rooms, said that they were to the' tjufi by those who were not forgetting tlie sacrifice which all soldiers had made, and particularly those who had lost the great blessing of sight. Each day in the week a different lady will be in charge with a different staff of workers. The luncheon rooms at the Feminist. Club are run in the interest of the Prince Albert Hospital, and the attention of the charming bevy of workers day by day is undoubtedly one of the attractions to the rooms. They wear white frocks of any kind they may possess, with a becoming little head band and apron, all to match. What impresses one is that these girls could spend all their time in amusement if they liked, but, the manager said, they never miss their turn, and when going abroad, or away on visits, make arrangements for their place to be kept. The kitchen and servery is in charge of ladies as well, the result being a most excellent menu, and the profits of the place are said to be very considerable and satisfactory.

Recently the membership of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem was conferred on Aliss Al. H. Alacandrew by the Chapter General, with the sanction of His Majesty the King, and on Tuesday a gracious inviiation to attend at Government House was sent to Aliss Macandrew, who received the eight-pointed star of St'. John from Her Excellency the Lady Alice Fergusson, patroness of the Wellington District Nursing Guild. The honour has been awarded in recognition of meritorious war work in England under the joint committee of the Order of St. John and the British Red, Cross Society. Miss Macandrew, who has been an active departmental worker of the St. John organisation (including the auxiliary Red Cross branch) was formerly matron of the Ashburton Hospital. A diploma will follow from the Chancery in due course. Writing to a member of the League of Nations Union in New Zealand, Aliss England, who is spending a holiday in flie Old Country, says: “I hope you will like to know that I am going to Geneva to see the Assembly of the League of Nations, and will try and find out all J can about the Protocol. People who understand the League’s work seem to think it is well worth working for. It has in it the germ of real power to promote international friendship, but certainly needs support. I think you will also be interested to hear of the tour I have planned for September. I leave England on August 31st to go to Paris to meet the Quakers working there and to see all I can of French social conditions under their guidance. Then on to Geneva for four days, wtiere, apart from.the League Assembly, I hope to see interesting work under the guidance of the European Students’ Relief secretary; from there I go on to Vienna, where I stay at a hostel for relief workers managed from England, and have introductions of all sorts, so that I shall see child welfare work, Professor Chizek’s Studio, where the children do such good drawing, and also meet various interesting Austrian women. Then on to Prague, Dresden, Berlin, Hamburg, n.nd Copenhagen. There I shall spend a week seeing schools, etc. 1 should see plentv, for 1 have the kindest letters from the "resident of the TTniversitv Women’s Federation there offeriug all assistance and hospitality, and, besides, a letter of introduction to Lord Granville, the English Ambassador, given me by a cousin who was in Copenhagen at the Embassy himself, and is now British Minister at Riga. You will see that, with all this kind help. I have at: least a good chaimi? of scaiug much of the social conditions and v-00-m-’s work of these countries, and shall have much to tell you when I return.