PERSONAL AND SOCIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24205, 25 January 1940, Page 16

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL

Mrs D. A. J. Rutherford, of Queen street, is visiting Christchurch and Wellington...

Nurse S. Mackintosh, of the Oamaru Public Hospital, who has been> .on annual leave,' has returned; to duty.

Mrs J. W. Stewart, of St.' Leonards, has left on a short ,visit to relatives in Taranaki.

Miss Joan Stewart, of St. Leonards, has returned from a visit to Queenstown, where she was the guest of Mrs W. A. Stewart.

Mr and Mrs J. : M. Kay, of Maori Hill, and their daughter Joyce are spending the holidays at: .Hanmer Springs. ■ :..■•• * ': ■ •:. -*-. ■.:•■ ..■■-'

Miss Margaret ahd ; Imelda' Tylee will leaveby the express this morning en route',-to':Wellington',- where- they will, attend the National- Eucharistic Congress'celebrations.'

Miss Margaret H. Sutherland, who is to be a January bride, was recently the guest of honour at a delightful " kitchen" afternoon tendered to her by Lovell's Flat friends. In the evening the bride-to-be was entertained by friends at Milton, who brought gifts for the pantry. Prior, to her departure from Te Houka School, Miss Sutherland. was presented with a gift of crystal. *•

Standard.". stbokings for German women were to make their appearance in the New : \Year.' They, will be of thicker'thread and closer mesh than fashion has- hitherto-! decreed. This is made 'necessary'iby the fact, that the rationing laws; allow a woman to purchase only four—or, by special permit, six—pairs in 12 months. "It is not compatible with our war-time raw material economy to manufacture gossamer silk stockings," comments the Angriff. "Every woman will, however, find four or six pairs qf stockings a year amply sufficient if they are made of tougher material. Government specifications which have been sent to the manufacturers forbid the use of the finer counts of thread. Six standard colours are prescribed.

A most enjoyable afternoon was spent on Thursday last in the grounds of Miss L. Harwood's residence at Lower Portobello. The day was beautifully fine, and the juveniles who were camping at the Harwood settlement entertained the company with songs, recitations, playettes, and choruses, the following taking part:— Joyce and Cecily Swete, Frances Morrison. Yvonee, Maureen, Lorraine, and Beverley Stempa, Clare, Grace, Denise. Kitty, Pat, and Mary Ryan, Marv Chirnside,- Lorraine Pistor, Maise Faithful, Shirley and Monica Mason, Eileen and Wilma Jennings. Eileen Jennings acted as announcer. The adults present were:—Mesdames Swete, Pistor, R. Harwood, Stempa, Mason, Chirnside, Miss M. Harwood. and Messrs Chirnside and Wilson. The hostesses were Mrs W. Jennings and Miss L. Harwood.

" Death at the Bar" is the title of Miss Ngaio Marsh's new and exciting story of crime, published by the firm of Collins. The Sunday Times critic remarks: "In 'Death at the Bar Alleyn is wholly detective; his private affairs play no part; his detecting is well done, as indeed so ingenious,. and yet simple, a crime requires. As usual with this author, the characters are well drawn too, though from the time the story, turns to "detection'it is the police who are chiefly in the limelight. All ! tli e' ■ bore credit : to ; Ngaio':.- Marsh for .avoiding any flatness or tedium; the chief. constable may be improbable, but he is a lively and real character." The Observer said: "' Death at the Bar' is a closed circle, murder set in a holiday, pub with some rather queer local,characters. Solution depends on an elaborate double bluff, but I cannot help feeling that Miss Marsh's prejudices have run away with her. Interest and suspense, however, 'which are the main things, are very satisfactorily maintained all the way, and Inspector Alleyn is more quietly Ronald Colmanish than ever."

London is to lose, the famous Regent street fur house of Revillon. It will close its doors on January 31, The firm was founded over two centuries ago in Paris by an ancestor of M. Victor Revillon, president of the company. It opened a branch in London 65 years ago. Members of 'the . Royal Family, including Queen Mary, have bought furs at Revillon's for the last'so years. When -the Paris house first opened its London branch, ermine was the fur of royalty. A mink coat cost from £6OO to £3OOO, and practically the only standbys were sealskin, seal musquash, and Persian lamb Furs were worn then purely £or r warmth. The enormous variety of skins used, from dormouse to ocelot, has transformed the trade. There are now more dyed ermines in London than would formerly have been .sold in a century. War-time trading.difficulties, particularly the inability to get over raw materials, prompted the decision to close the London branch.

The Duke and Duchess of Kent will, it is understood, make their home in Kensington Palace this year. The move will not be made. for some months, because of the extensive improvements which are to carried put. These will include new furnishing, modern lighting, up-to-date bathrooms a new method of heating, and an electric lift. In making the decision to occupy Kensington Palace the Duke it is believed, is fulfilling a frequently-expressed wish of his greataunt, Princess Louise, Duchess ol Argyll, who lived in the palace for many years until her death last month. The Duke is the principal beneficiary under her will. Kensington f^. ace i which is Crown -property, .Is full 01 royal associations. It was there that Queen Victoria, daughter of Edward Augustus, Duke .of Kent, .and the Duchess of Kent, was born.;in 1819, and it was there that in 1837 she learned the news of her accession to the throne. The palace has not been occupied by a Duke of. Kent since those days. One of the most historic parts of the palace is ,the " lost .staircase" down which the young Princess Victoria walked 'in,her night attire to hear that she had become Queen. .It has been known as the "lost staircase" since it was cut off from the State rooms to which it gave access

Miss Geraldine Hamer has returned from a trip to England and Australia.

Mrs Gordon Denniston, of Alexandra, is the guest of Miss Ogston.

Miss Audrey Meek is the guest of Mrs W. H. Youren, of Wai-iti, near Napier.

Mrs E. Denny is the guest of her daughter, Mrs Maurice Joel, at her seaside cottage at Purakanui.

Mrs W. Garrett has returned from a visit to Hanmer Springs and to the Centennial Exhibition, Wellington.

Dr and Mrs Norman Greenslade, who are the guests of the latter's parents, Mr and Mrs C. J. Payne, will leave by car at the week-end on their return to Greymouth.

Miss Margaret Ogilvie, of Anderson's Bay, is spending a holiday at Hanmer Springs as the guest of Mrs J. M Kay ¥. * * Mrs H. C. Lane, who has been the guest of her sister, Mrs W. F. Alexander, returned yesterday to her home in Christchurch. * * * Mrs Inwood, wife of the late Rev. F. Inwood, of Cashmere, and sister of Archdeacon Purchas, of Christchurch, is' the guest of Mrs David Todd, of Roslyn - * « Mrs R. S. Black returned to Dunedin by yesterday afternoon's express after a visit to the United States of America. She was accompanied by her uncle, Mr W. M. McKenzie. of Newtown. Connecticut.