YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11506, 19 August 1899, Page 3

YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

The first meeting of the committee of the Y.W.O.A. for the new year was held in the rooms, Moray place, on Wednesday, 16th inst. Mrs North, president, was in the chair, pnd every member was present.

The Rev. W. Curzon-Siggers wrote expressing his great, regret at not being able to bo present at the annual meeting and wishing the association every success. An anonymous subscriber wrote enclosing £1 towards the funds of the association. The secretary was instructed to reply thanking X.Y.Z. for the kind and practical interest taken in the association. ■ ■ " ' .

Mrs Fish wrote re the scarcity of domestio servants as follows: —"I should be glad if you would kindly bring before your committee the matter of the scarcity of good domestic servants, and aßk if they could offer any suggestion as to the remedy for the evil. There were many about; but from ill-health, incapacity, or other causes they are useless, and the good ones are in constant demand. I way state that I interviewed the Eight Hon. R. .J. Soddon when in Dunedin, and asked if he would be in favour of assisting some to emigrate from the Home country to supply the want, but he said emphatically ' No,' the Government would not entertain any proposal of the kind. In a very short time there will bo no domestics of any kind to be nad, the girls preferring factory or public life to entering private families. This is a grave evil, and some steps must bo taken to remedy it and bring before the girls the great advantages of service in a respectable family with a Kind mistress against the uncertainty^of dressmaking, millinery, or factory work." The Committee instructed Miss fetatham to reply to Mrs Fish, saying that they quite agreed with all she said, and much regretted thoy could see no way of helping in the matter. They think that there is a crisis in this as in other matters, and that many of the ladies themselves are to blame for the state of things, although the fault is not all on their side, but the innocent and kind mistresses have to suffer with those who are guilty of working thengirls too hard, and until both servants and mistresses realise their responsibilities and duty to each other, there is no possibility of a cliange taking place in the present unsatisfactory state of things. . The ladies reported that the work for the bazaar was going on steadily and satisfactorily, and the secretary was instructed to got some circulars ready for distribution with the reports for 1899. The annual meeting had lieon a decided success, and the thanks of the committee were unanimously given to all who assisted to make it so.

Spring is coming/ Prepare your ground for Nimmo and Blair's " Standard " Seeds, pure and fresh, and always reliable.—Advt. According to a recent investigation of lightning strokes in trees which a German has carried nut, the beech tree is less often Etruck by the flash than any other. It is unwise to tnko shelter from a thunderstorm under any trees ; but if it is a case of needs must the beech is the best, and the oak or poplar among >l—* •-■jrst.

CHRYSANTHEMUMS. TO TIIE EDITOR. Sm—ln reply to " Old Member's ' letter in your issue of this dale, I may inform him that the Chrysanthemum Club is yery much alive, as it has a membershin of close on 300, ana the committee tikis year expect to distribute , some 2000 plants amongst the members. Plant distribution lists were sent to all members in June last, and if " Old Member did not receive one he must have changed his last known address or the list got lost in transmission through the post. Perhaps he will be good enough to communicate with the undersigned.—l am, etc., H. Adam. Hon. Sec. Dunedin Chrysanthemrun Club. August 17. TO THE EDITOE. Sip.,—ln"your issue of- this morning I was surprised to notice a letter signed "Old Member " in which lie says there is every reason to beliove that the Dunedin Chrysanthemum Club is a. thing of the past. lam afraid " Old Member" must be of a very retiring disposition not to have made some inquiries before writing the above-mentioned letter. Howover, to save him any further trouble. I may state that the Dupedin Chrysanthemum Club is anything but defunct, as at present its members lists contain over 300 names, and if " Old Member" would bo a little more open and let Mr Adam, the secretary, have his name, he, I have no doubt, would have great pleasure in forwarding him a schedule of plants and to receive his subscription.—l am, etc., ••.-.: ' ' Phoibus. August 17.