SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12538, 30 August 1926, Page 5

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Her Excellency Lady Alice Fergusson returned on Saturday from a visit to the Tongariro National Park. Miss E. A. Holton has returned to Christchurch after a holiday visit to Wellington. Miss Reid, Wellington, is visiting Christchurch. Mr and Mrs C. D. Sole, of Stratford, left last Friday morning for Wellington. Miss Walker, assistant at the Central School, New Plymouth, left Wellington, en route to Australia last week. Miss Fitzgerald (Dunedin! is in Wellington. Mrs H. Batsen, of Wellington, is on a visit to Napier. Mrs Runnerstrum, of Wanganui, is on a visit to Wellington. Miss Marion Brock left Wanganui at the end of last week to compete in the competitions at Wellington. Mrs J. Nelson, of Wellington, is spending a holiday in Havelock. ■ Mrs Hunter, of Wellington, who has been on a visit to Havelock North, has returned home. The Misses Kenny, of Wellington, have been on a visit to Napier, and have been the guests of Miss E. McCarthy. Mrs T. E. Thomas and Mrs T. L. Thomas left Wanganui late last week for a trip to Wellington. Mrs T. L. Spurring, of Wanganui, is at present visiting Wellington, where she has been taking part in the competitions. Mrs Atack is a Wellington visitor to Christchurch. Miss Eileen Parkes, who has been visiting Wellington, has returned to Auckland. Mrs Howitt and Miss Isobel Howitt, of Lyall Bay, were in Auckland last week, having come up to attend the Howitt-Shirtcliffo wedding, which took place in the Somervell Presbyterian Church, Remuera, on Thursday evening. Mr and Mrs S. Abrahams, who have been visiting Honolulu, Auckland anil Wellington since the early part of June, returned to Palmerston North last week. Mrs W. E. Bethune, Wellington, is i visiting Auckland. The engagement is announced by the Christchurch “Press” of Hilda, second daughter of Mr and Mrs J. A. Valentine, New Plymouth, and Ur Angus Harrop, of the editorial staff of the “Daily Mail,” London. Miss Valentine, who was formerly a student at Canterbury College, lived for a time in Hokitaka, where her father was inspector of schools. Dr Harrop, who is a native of Hokitika, is also an alumnus of Canterbury College, and prior to leaving Christchurch lor London he was a member of the literary staff of “The Press.” The marriage will take place in London on September 20th. By the death on Sunday of Mrs Isabella McLennan, of West Melton, at the ripe age of 90 years, after a residence in Canterburv extending over sixty-four years, the diminishing ranks of the province’s pioneers have suffered another deprivations (says the “Press.”) Born at Strathcombie, Ross-shire, Scotland, on June 15th, 1536, Mrs McLennan lived in the reigns of four Sovereigns, just as her husband did in those of five. Se was married at Garve, in her native country, at the age of twenty-two years, to Mr Donald McLennan, her married life extending over fifty years, her husband predeceased her seventeen years ago. In October, 1861, Mr and Mrs McLennan set sail for New Zealand by the then well-known ship Mystery, landing at Lyttelton in January of the following year, after an unusually fast passage for the period. Mr and Mrs McLennan remained on the Lagmhor Station for twenty-two years, but in 1884 removed to West Melton, where the latter resided till the time of her death. Of a family of ten,. she is survived by Miss McLennan (West Melton), Mr A. McLennan (Inspector of the Bank of New Zealand, Wellington), Mr. D. McLennan (editor of the Timaru “Post”), Constable McLennan (Linwood),' Messrs Evan and James McLennan (West Melton), and Mr Colin McLennan (Courtenay), and nine grandchildren. Mr and Mrs Tillett (Madame Esta d’Argo) reports a London correspondent, gave a very delightful party on Monday night for Miss Millicent Knight, the gifted New Zealand singer, who has left by the Corinthio with her parents on her return to the Dominion. There were a large number of guests, several being from New Zealand—including Mr Hubert Carter, Miss Kathleen Cruickshank, and Miss Myra Hassen—Miss Knight contributed four songs to the musical programme, which was given early in the evening, and it is recorded that she was in splendid voice and sang beautifully. After music there was a kinematograph entertainment, and then a dance. It is not unlikely that Mr and Mrs Willoughby Knight (who, prior to coming to England a few years ago, resided at the Lower Hutt), will make their home in Auckland. Miss Knight hopes to make a tour through the Dominion, and if she carries out this intention she is sure to please her listeners. A quiet wedding was celebrated at St. Mary’s Church. Carterton on Wednesday, the contracting parties being Mr John Malone, of Wellington, fifth i son of Mr P. J. Malone, County Gal--1 way Ireland, and Miss Theresa Anmo Burgess, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs H. R. Burgess, Carterton. The Rev. Father Hagerty was the officiating clergyman. The bride was attended by Miss Vida Edge, and the duties of best man were carried out by Mr Hugh Fabe. The young couple left by the afternoon train for Wellington en route for Sydney,.

Her Excellency Lady Alice Fergusson has promised to open the annual loral bazaar and sale of work of St. Thomas’ Church, in the Large Hall, Riddiford street, Newtown, on Thursday next. Another woman who has invaded man’s domain successfully is Mrs Hammer, an Englishwoman. She is the pioneer of women in the electrical profession, and has just been elected vice-chairman of the electricity committee of Hackney Borough Council. Strangely enough she took up this work after her marriage, for she was trained as a teacher. Three/ years ago at Scarborough she gve her first speech in front of hundreds of men engineers from all over the country, stressing the need for electricity in the home.