Chronicles of the Enfranchised.
ON September 19, 1893, by the passing- of the Women's Franchise Bill, the women of New Zealand became an object lesson to their sister women all over the world, —unwillingly, (00, so fa,r a* a large number of them were concerned. Against the indifference of some, and the passive resistance of others, it was a long- and uphill fight for freedom which ended in a victory for the plucky and patient Women's Fra.nchi.se League on that henceforth historic date. Many years of arduous and in many instances entirely unaccustomed toil ; of cheerful endurance of the hardships and privations of a new country ; of never-failing kindliness, charity, and hospitality; of the vital Christianity which lives its creed without waste of words, had passed over the pioneer women of New Zealand in silence. It was their daughters who realised that the privileges which were theirs, might well be supplemented by the rights to which they conceived themselves entitled, with advantage to the public good.
The Pioneer women had done their work well. It was their noble lives of endurance, courage, and cheerfulness which created the home-atmosphere in which these clear-headed, 6trong-willed women of '93 and the years preceding gained their mental and moral equipment. " Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's." and ere we pass on to the woman of to-day with her enfranchised freedom and its responsibilities, let us stand with bared heads to the toast of " The Pioneer Mothers."
CROWNING OUR SOCIAL FABRIC naturally stands the wife of his Majesty's representative, Lady Plunket — a gentle, almost girlish figure, — and next to her in social importance and prestige, Lady Ward, the popular wife of our popular Prime Minister; and Lady Stout, the clever, yet most womanly wife of the Lord Chief Justice. Of a quiet yet most conclusive dignity, Lady Plunket, though fulfilling the exacting duties from which her position renders it impossible to escape, yet confesses her most vital interests to lie in the many philanthropic and benevolent institutions in which, wherever she goes, she never faik to display a warm and womanly sympathy. Especially is this the case with all projects for the protection of women and children, and the comfort and care of the aged.
The brilliant figure of Lady Ward, a hostess by instinct no less than by circumstance, has been rendered as familiar to English readers as to colonial friends by the recent splendid funct ionso ns of the Colonial Conference. Her views, sentiments, toilettes. and tastes have been co fully exp 1 o ited by reportere that little can bo said without incurring the tedium of a twice - told tale. That little, however, may be embodied in a brief yet significant sentence. The role of colonial "grande dame " and official hostess is so congenial to Lady Ward, that her pleasure in it lends the crowning charm to her rendering o f the part.
Lady Stout, the wife of the Chief Justice. i<, like the wife of the Premier, a New Zeaiiri'ci 1 b\ bath, and the interests, hopes. fea.rs, and ambitions of the be^t and most intelli-
gent of her count rj women aie heii al-o. Lad\ Stout was born in Dunedin, her parents (Mr and Mr~ John Logan) ha\mg come to New Zealand from the \Ye.>t of Scotland eaily in "54. Doubtless the interest which Lad\ Stout hats alwa\-- ukui m i>olitics had it-, suggestion in her earliest em lromnent, for her father, Mr John Logan. wa* Secretary to the Superintendent of Otago during the whole term of Provincial Government, and the little girl no doubt breathed j)olitics unconsciously. Sir Robert and Lad\ Stout ha\e a. fa.mil\ of ti\ four .sons and two daughters. —the eldest son ha\ing followed his father's professional footsteps, is an LL.B. of New Zealand University, . and is practising his profession with one of the leading legal firms in Wellington. Lady Stout's activities in political and social reform questions have been as modest as well-directed, and though for some years circumstances have prevented any outward expression of her influence, the brief notes of her views on some important questions, which I shall give in another section of this* article, will be read with interest.
From the portraits of these official leaders of the happy enfranchised we may pass to the wide ranks of those women whose birth, position, or means, or a happy combination of all three qualifications, enable them to rank as representative of our social life and hospitalit\. The section, is a wide one. North, south, oast, and west, all over New Zealand, the women of to-day, as exponents of the new. more conventional, and luxurious hospitality worthily uphold the traditions of their pioneer mothers' homlier, yet, in a sense, more exclusive '"open house." Only a. generation ago the mistress of a big up-country station in New Zealand exercised an involuntary hospitality ontireh regardless of her personal prcdileotions. Distances between homestead and homestead were long; hotels and accommodation houses, like railways, conspicuous by their absence; and the runholder practically kept open house in "men's quarters" and homestead alike. This state of things.
however, is now relegated to a few sparsely-settled districts, * ami the queens of country life of to-day are free to exercise hospitality with discretion, and limit it to the circle of their personal friends and acquaintance.
Unfortunately for the purposes of such an article as this, we New Zealand women, despite our political freedoms, up-to-date pursuit of professional and business lif<>. the University education which we sharewith our brothers, and many other pleasant emancipations, shrink from publicity. We are a living and healthy contradiction to the incessant cry that the modern woman is consumed with a passion for notoriety. Thus "A Complete Guide to Beauty," "A History of the Maori Wars," or a " Monograph on Queen Victoria." mig-ht — any or all of them- -have been more easily compiled than these modest Chronicles of the Enfranchised, who prefer not to bo chronicled — >an explanation which must be taken to moot the nonappearance of many well-known figures in each branch of women'i d<»\ elopniont. socially, professionally, and ethically. Mrs Williams (of Andcr-on'-, B:i\. Dunedin), wife of his Honor Mr Justice William.s. i*, a daughter of the lato Mr John Woslcy Jago. well and widely known throughout New Zealand for his untiringefforts and unwearied zeal in the cause of temperance. Mrs Williams wan married in 1877, and has three daughters. In her charming home at Anderson's Bay. Mrs Williams enjoys the exercise of a, quiet and refined hospitality, in which she is ably seconded by her daughters. Mrs Cutten (alt-o of Anderson's Bay, Dunedin), is one of the Cargill family, whose prominence among" the early settlers of Otago, and whose public services and private influence and helpfulness have made the name, of Cargill familiar as a household word in Otago. Mrs Cutten is the eldest daughter of the late Captain Cargill, and arrived in New Zealand with her parents in 1848. MJ6s Cargill married in 1850 Mr Cutten, who had, by the way, been a fellowpassenger with the Cargills in the John Wickliffe. Mr Cutten was a member of the legal profession, but in tho«e arcadian times there was no demand for lawyers, and Mr Cutten, with the wise adaptability
of our pioneer fathers, took up the thing nearest to-
hand, combining the business of auctioneering with* that of shopkeeping, and later holding a Government appointment, becoming the first editor of the Otago Witness, and generally identifying himself with the progress of the community. No more capable, self-reliant, and active a personality than Mrs Cutten's could be imagined. Kindly, helpful, practical, and of the keenest intelligenceand high moral worth. Mrs Cutten'6 influence has reached far beyond the* circle of her own large family, and made itself felt on the little comni v n ity of earlier years in a. very marked mannar
Mrs A. E. G. Rhodes (of To Koraha, Meri\ale. Christchurch), nee lloorho use, belongs to a family whose name is proudly and intimate I}' connected with the early history of the Canterbury Settlement. Mrs Rhodes is very fond of outdoor and i-> an enthusiastic motorist. She ia one of the best-known and most ]>opular of Christchurch hostesses, the lovely grounds which surround her Ixxiutiful home enabling her to play the role with e\er\ accessor \ for the pleasure of lier guests. Th© approach to the beautiful houM? and grounds of Te Koraha is along 1 -
one of those delightful hedge-rowed lanes which make Christchurch unique among New Zealand towns.
Mrs McAdam (of Oamaru), daughter of the- late James Herbert McGill, Esq-. of Melbourne, Victoria, is fond of outdoor exercise, especially cycling and golf. Her indoor hobbies are literature and pyrography. Having travelled a good deal in India and Ceylon before her marriage, Mrs McAdam thoroughly appreciates the delightful freedom New Zealand enjoys from all venomous reptile and insect life, and considers it the ideal country for such simple outdoor enjoyments as camping-out, picnicking, etc. Mrs Cecil Coote, nee Miss Oldham, is an Englishwoman by birth, and belongs to an old English family. Her husband is a eon of Sir Algernon Coote. an Iri«h baronet. Though she has passed most of her life in New Zealand, Mrs Cecil Coote' s frequent trips Home have kept her in touch with English life and influences. Fond of entertaining, Mrs Coote laments the yearly increasing difficulties raised by the scarcity of servants and their incapacity. In a climate like Nelson she thinks that the easiest and plea^antest forms of entertaining are croquet and tennis parties in summer and bridge or euchre in winter. The lack of efficient domestic service renders dinner parties and dances too formidable an undertaking. Like many hostesses all over New Zealand, Mrs Coote recalls with whimsical tenderness the earlier days of colonial entertaining, when riding parties, picnics, and dances went with the swing induced by "plenty of men." Even ten or fifteen years ago, when servants were easier to get and less elaborate preparations were expected, the pleasure of entertaining " a little and often," instead of the big formal crushes so much affected now. was at once a simpler and more enjoyable mode
of life. Unfortunately the photographs of garden and grounds, sent during Mi-> Coote's absence from home, were not such as could be reproduced with any hope of success.
Mrs G. P. Donnelly (of Hawke's Bay), whose maiden name was Airini Karawia Tamai-whaka-kitea o te Rangi. holds rank among her people equal to that of a Kuiopcan princess, and comes of a long lino of priests and warriors. She has had an English education, and having been much in colonial society, as well as ha\ ing paid a vi«it to England, whoro she was received at Court with the greatest kind) .ness and courtesy, Mrs Donnelly brings some knowledge of the world as well as tho innate dignity and splendid generosity of her people to bear upon her unbounded hospitalities. Her own people have ha<l no more able and unwearied advocate tha-n the Princess Airini. During the many years in which her own immense landed interests kept her involved in almost constant litigation, Mrs Donnelly was accustomed to appear personally in court, where 6he showed marked ability in conducting cases for herself or in the interests of her people. All schemes for the welfare of the Maori race find in her a most generous supporter. She is extremely fond of golf and fishing, a fearless horsewoman, a good whip. and a keen motorist. Mrs Donnelly — one is ahvaj s bo tempted to drop the prosaic name in favour of the pic turesque title of Prm cess Airini. which itthe proper indication of her rank and lineago — has onl>' one daughter "Mrs F. ('. Perry), whose children will carry on some of the purest blood of a brave old race, whose fate apparently is to be gradually absorbed in the more virile strain of their pakeha conquerors and countrymen
As repreeentath c of the most up-to-date hospitalities of country life in New Zealand, the portraits of Mrs Hugh H. Beetham, of Brancepeth, in the North Island,
| and her daughter, Mrs Marmaduke Bethell, of Pahau Pastures, in the South Island, may be taken as typical. Mrs Beetham (nee Miss Ruth Bidwill) is a daughter of the late C. R. Bidwill, of Pa-hiatua. Mr Bidwill belonged to an old Devonshire family, and was one of the pioneer settlers in the Wairarapa district, taking up land there about the year 1840. Miss Ruth Bidwill was married to Mr Hugh H. Beetham, of Brancepeth, Wairarapa, in 1879, and of the four children of the marriage Mrs Marmaduke Bethell is one. A brilliant and fearless horsewoman in her girlish days, Mrs Beotham is an excellent whip, a capital judge of a horse, and thoroughly enjo\s owning a good mam equine prize takers. An enthusiast in gardening, Mrs Beetham's roses and narcissi render the Brancepeth gardens quite famous in the district. The views of Brancepeth House and grounds are of interest as showing that the New Zealand '"sheep run" has given place to the country gentleman's «eat of older lands. Like the many other homesteads on large estates all over New Zealand, of which it is typical, the Brance peth house is fitted with e\ery comfort and luxury for the entertainment of the friend> with whom Mrs Beetham loves to fill her hou^e. At Brancepeth carriage exercise has somewhat given way to mctoring.
Mrs Marmaduke Bethell (nee Beetham) inherits her mother's taste for outdoor amusements, — tastes naturally fostered by the delightful opportunitieo afforded by station life in a temperate and exhilarating climato. Mrs Bethell is an enthusiast in hunting, shooting, tonnis, and golf. In the note she was kind enough to 6end in answer to my request, she say 6: "We have just returned from a week's deer stalking at Brancepeth. Altogether I have shot a dozen etags this year. I got a good royal (12-pointer). also an 11-pointer. It is hard work, as one has to camp out and be up at 4 every morning." Mrs Bethell speaks of her love of riding and the pleasure her house-parties for hunting with the Brackenfield hounds give her. Wood carving is one of her indoor hobbies; a mantelpiece carved in entireh Maori design. which proved most effective, was shown at the Wellington Art Society's exhibition. The claims of her little son and the interests of her garden supply a delightful balance to Mrs Bethel l'« love of outdoor 6poits. and round her life to harmon ious completeness. Mrs Percy Ward (nee Craig), of Oaniaru. declares herself an ardent golfer. and writes : — "My main hobby i 6 golf. 1 think it is an ideal game for women — not too much exertion i f played within reason, and probably in no other game can skill take so well the place of strength. I am the captain of the North Otago Ladies' Golf Club. I am \ery fond of camping out and spend at least two months each summer in camp. Whilst there I go in a great deal for rabbit shooting, and the photograph I send was taken when I was out with my rifle. It is astonishing the amount of tramping about - one does while shooting, and how it improves one's walking powers." Truly typical of the breezy, energetic outdoor women <jf X<>\v Zealand Mr-> Ward is \piv foiul of trurfl-f'Tiincr — practical crarden-
ing, I expect, not the muslin-gowned, bluesashed variety — and is on the committee of the local horticultural society.
Miss Lucj Powdrill, of Patea, is the only other lady who has sent me any tangible proof of her taste for shooting, though I know there is a very fair percentage of cheery, modest sportswomen scattered over the country districts of New Zealand, who enjoy nothing better than an hour or two after rabbits, while, as in the case of Mrs Bethell, we can boa6t of a few successful deer stalkers among our outdoor women.
With these few rapid sketches of the leisured women of New Zealand — women whose birth, position, means, or advantages entitle them to stand as representatives of the upper classes of a very democratic country — a necessarily brief glance at this section of "the enfranchised" must close. We shall find others of their number among the outdoor, the professional, and the philanthropic women, who stand as typical of their respective sections.
THE OUTDOOR WOMAN promises to become a rapidly increasing expression of her sex in New Zealand. Climate surroundings, the influence of
I modern education, opportunity, and, most of all the subtle penetration of an exhilarating freedom, which i« an integral part of the air of our islands all combine to thi< end. The present generation of joutig- matrons in New Zealand 16 of mow imposing height as a rule than their mothers have been ; the young girls, and their still younger sisters, many of them promise to bo in very truth " daughters of the gods, divinely tall, and most divinely fair." One is continually impressed by the number of women met in 1 the daily round of -treet, and shop, ami homo life, whee height at one time would have been considered quite exceptional, but now, unless to the interested observer, is a matter of no comment. New Zealand women, alwajs on the "gui \ivo" to know the latest thing in , women's ta-tes, accomplishments, and hobbies all o\cr the world, are just as anxious, to lose no time in imitating anything that appeal* to iheiu. For many years they have ■sueco^-fulh run their golf club« and made tlicm-ch iv a \ery important i factor in that fa-ciiKitin<r exercise. The contesting teams of Jadic« for tho golf and tennis championships enjoy unquestioned the freedom of their " little journeys" in the interests of sport, and are billeted among the locai players exactly on the vame lines as their husbands or brothers, wlio constitute the tennis, golf, football, and bowling teams j of the year. The "true inwardness" of , any rno\ement breathes from the motives [ and 6entiment^ of the mo\ers. — the real future is foreshadowed in tho actual present. Therefore, •so far as is practicable, I have gathered the \ lew s and experiences of the women in every department which the available time and space and the absolute difficulty of persuading my fair countrywomen to any co-operation have | rendered possible. Let us for a space con- I sider the typical outdoor woman, her ' varied sports and amusements, through her own glasses,— -they are cheerfully rose- I coloured, you may be sure, for pessimism and open air have nothing in common. | TENNIS And the Women Who Pl\y It. | Miss Essie Holland, of Auckland, is a New Zealander by birth, and is a daugh- i ter of Mr J. J. Holland, of City road, who represented Auckland in Parliament from '96 to '99 and was Mayor of Auck-
land in '94. As a steady, excellent tennis player who has distinguished herself in handicap and championship tournaments, Miss Holland's experiences are certainly a-n object lesson in the benefit delicate girls may derive from systematic and moderate physical training and healthy sport. That Mies Holland is also an excellent musician — having made the study and teaching of music her profession — renders her an ideal instance of the wellhala.nced good-all-round girl of whom it is New Zealand's privilege to boast. Miss Holland says: — "I was compelled to leave school at rather an early age, as my health broke down with over-study. To regain my I joined a gymnastic class and" went thioiiirh a course of physical training, spending three years at it. I took up "principally Indian clubs and foils, and although very young, I became expert enough to give public exhibitions of both--in fact, I may say that I was the first girl in Auckland to give exhibitions of light Indian club swinging. I can't 6ay enough for The value of this training to me. and I think that it is a great nit> that all girls — especially those livinsr in town — don't follow a course of the same kind. Physical culture seoms almost to have taken the place of gymnastics hero but of that training I cannot speak from experience. I have studied it slightly, and think that a mistake is made in the lessons being of too great a length. More frequent lessons of shorter duration would. I think be more beneficial I have gone in for lawn tennis a. great deal during the last three years. I have played in several ha-ndicap and championship tournaments and I can speak strongly in favour ol the game as a pastime for girte. Jlv physical training has always been of groat advantage to me in playing tennis. J don't know of any other form of e\erci«o that haa quite *o many physical and social advantages. To get real enjoyment out of tennis one requires a. good deal of physical energy and endurance. and. above all, coaching in the strokes and fine points of the game. It always seems to me such a pity that girls, when they are beginning to play, have no one to advise and coach them. Why cannot our tennis clubs follow the example of our cricket clubs and obtain a coach for their younger members?"
The opinions of Miss Nunneley, champion of New Zealand in ladies' lawn tennis, are of the greatest interest, experienco and practical good sense combining- with her own splendid achievements in the game to render her our highest authority on tennis. Speaking of outdoor frames generally for women, Mies Nunneley 6ays : — " Co mp a red with the number of women in the colony, I think the proportion who go in for sport of any kind is far too email. In my opinion every woman who can possibly do 60 should devote a email amount of her time to an outdoor game, for an hour or two every week does much to keep one in good health. The city woman, unless she plays tennis, is rather handicapped, as the golf links are often too far out for her to join them, so the comparatively few women who pla.\ are people with ample leisure, and it is often found that the people with most leisure have
least energy as far as outdoor
games are concerned. Hockey is essentially a game for young girls, and a great many more might ir<" in for it. as. given a. piece of ground of
sufficient size, the condition of the surface, if flat, is immaterial. Personally I think every girl should be made to play. » game of come kind. My special line ia, of course, tennis, but given the same opportunity, I should be equally enthusiastio over golf ; my spare time being limited and the links co far away. I have been obliged for the last two years to give this up. The finest indoor game in my opinion, and one -which I have played a great deal, is billiards, and a great deal of exercise can be had on a. wet day round a billiard table. The present calibre of ladies' tennis is not to be compared with that of 10 years ago, for it has improved immensely, the most noticeable difference being in the Wellington province, which could now put a team into tho field capable of holding its own creditably in any country. Clubs are springing into exist-once in many small places, and judging from the tournaments held and the number of entries, both of which are increasing every year, one forms the conclusion that whatever is happening in other games, tennis is going ahead." Miss Holland in Auckland, and Miss Xunneley in Wellington have thus contributed valuable opinions as to the outlook of lawn tennis in their respective provinces. New Zealand, however, is a bicrgcr place than our kinsmen over the water realise, and Miss Flora Campbell's remarks on the subject clearly indicate the very different conditions under which the women of the North and South Islands pursue all outdoor sports. In Miss Flora Campbell. M.A., Dunedin (Otago lawn tennis champion. 1906-7), we have a brilliant exponent of the " inens sana. in corpora sa.no," for when after her name she writes " M.A.", her friends add " With honours." Miss Campbell ascribes her success in tennis to the
training in physical culture she received at the Otago Girls' High School and to such girlish games as fi\es and hockey. She goes on to say : " Otago will always be at a disadvantage in icgard to tennis as compared with the other provinces as, owing to the climate, we in Otago can practise only half a year, while the other provinces can and do practi;-e all the year round. Thon, again, we have no grass courts here, while all championship tournaments are held on grass courts. As regards practice, one game in the morning when one is fresh is worth half a dozen gam<>n in tho evening when one is tired out."
Miss Campbell is the possessor of three handsome cups as evidence of her preemmoncp as an outdoor woman, while her position on the teaching stuff of the Otago Girls' High School is mdisputable proof of her standing as an intellectual and cultured woman.
Miss Winifred Tucker, I n v c rcargill. who is one of the bebt and keenest tennis players there, writes: "I have be c n very pleased to see how the interest in lawn tennis has revived during the last year or two. I consider tennis one of the finest outdoor sports for girls, and am euro it only requires to be played to be a p p reciated. One little point has cften struck me, and it is one that beginners will do well to guard against. Never speak to your partner if he (app a r en 1 1 y) poaches one of your strokes at the net and misses it. Nothing eeema to put a. man off more for the time be-
ing. It is a privilege that a man ha^ | and is more often a winning shot than j otherwise. But how often you see it m<-t with 'that look' and hear the significant comment ' usual !' "
Our hockey players ha^e not piovocl in ' elined to discourse much on the charm- ' and advantages of their favouiite game:
with the form idable "sticks." which give them so redoubtable an air as they '' catch their trams" for the hockey cround. Spick and span, ankles showing beneath well-cut skirts. nattj coats which will soon be thrown aside in fa%our of the tiim blouse beneath, or golf jerseys, whose warm colour makes a grateful spla~h of colour on the dim land scape, shining hair whereon the sun makes raornmjr trlories tied back simply and almost eclip-ed by *er\ iceable motor caps and or the more jouthful Tarn o' Shanter. these girlish exponents of hockey are radiant with health and •rood -pints A trifle dishevelled no doubt on the return trip, but that indeed would be a miserable snag to stick on — mere self-conscious \anitv. No. these are the feminine smallnesse* which sport and outdoor life replace by frank and jo\ous freedom, by the ease bred of entire ab -once of self-conscious-ness.
Mis« Woodhou-sc, pre-t-ident of the Dunedin Ladies' Hockey Club, is ul^o the senior lady plajer there, and began her hocke\ career in
1902. She was club secretary in 1905 and captain 111 1906-7, also first secretary appointed by the Otago Ladies' Hockey Association. A genuine enthusiast in the game, Miss Woodhouse is also very fond of «olf. and is a member of the Otas-o Golf Club Without the keen and kindly mteiesf with which Miss Woodhouse entered into tho spirit of this
l game now as when she started some years . ago. > Mies ) Dora Lee*, captain of the Otago > La-dies' Hockey Club, was hon. sec. for her . club for two years after its formation in > 1904, and this is the second \ear of her • captaincy. The Otago Ladies' Hockey . Club was the second ladies' club formed j I in Uunerlin. i j _M:ss C. Nhcn, of Gieenmeadows. Napier, is captain of the Iluia Ladies' Hockey Club, and is an excellent and enthusiastic player, which, in the hot climate of Napier, is saying more than a little. IN THE MATTER OF GOLF we get to a branch of women's sport which, while it certainly becomes more popular every \ear among women of leisure, will always remain in our busy colonial world — where e\ery woman is a Martha to a certain extent: "careful and troubled about many things" — restricted to a comparatively >mall class. Few women, even among the well-to-do, have the time to spare for golf because the scarcity and incapaciU of their servants render so much <-uper\i«ion of house and children necessary. I I have been fortunate enough to obtain portraits of «e\eral very notable pla\ cr~ from different parts of New Zealand, among whom Mit^s K. Rattray, of Craig hall, Dunedin (holder of the New Zealand Ladies' Championship for 1898 99 and 1900), certainly takes pre-eminence. The championship was instituted in 1893 on the Otago links at Roslyn. There were not 1 more than a dozen competitors, and the event was decided in one lound of 18 holes (medal play). After that for three years wo played match play. and again reverted to medal play (three rounds) foi three more yea re. but in 1900 it was agreed to play match play as long as the English championship was played that way. The New Zealand Championship 1* an annual competition, and is held alter-
deeds, not «onk are contenting them. \ section of mv article, I really do not think An admirable maxim for sport of all I one single portrait or opinion on tinkinds, and one which men are inclined to 1 matter of hocke\ or hnhmg would ha\e think — the wish, no doubt, beinjj father to been forthcoming, the most seductive cir the thought— the hardest condition foi culais falling totalh turn Raided b\ these feminine players in any game. In this , too retiring e\)>oneiits of the outdoor life, instance, however, it would have been di->- ' Mi-s Gladys Morton, of Christ- ('oilertinctly acceptable had the %aliant young Chri-tchurch". captain of the (hi i-tchurch captains of hockey teams championed their 1 Ladies' Ilockev Club, "lavs centre for favourite game with the pen as well as ' waid. and declares herself a- keen on the
iiately m the Noith and South Maud • Last year it na 3 in Chri-uhmch and tinyear take- place at Auckland m Ausjum. Mrs W. Bid will of Rototawhui. Wanaiapa, comes next a^ hawntr bis n .Ww Zealand champion m 1902. when tin- competition took place on the Otago Link-, Ro-hn, Dunedin. and Miss K. Rattra\ was runnerup. Though she has made fjolf her " tour de force." Mrs Bidwill is an enthusiast in all outdooi sport-,, and considers them an important factor in the full development of mind and body, apart fiom the in dividual enjo\ment to be derived from a reasonable indulgence in them. Mrs Bid will i 6 a veritable tower of strength to hei local fellow-golfers, haxiri" ben-n champion of the Wairarapa Ladies' Club almost con tinuously since its commencement. Miss Wilford (now Airs Horace Wilson, of Fordell. Wanpanui), is the only other lady who has twico held the New Zealand
Ladies' Championship. Her portrait I have unfoitun-itelv been unable to obtain.
Mrs Edmund Wilder, of Nga Pan, Canterbury, won the New Zealand Championship in 1894, the competition that year being at Christchurch, and Mrs Melland. of Dunedin, being runner-up. The following year the positions weie re\crsed, Mrs boinpr champion and another Otago player (Mrs Higjnno) runner-up. Miss Mendelson, of Tiniaru. is a fine player. and was runner-u]) for the New Zeal'ind Championship in 1906 Mi*s M. W. Scott, of the See Hou«e, Dunodin. is al«o an excellent and enthusiastic player. Mi^s Scott is a member of the Otago Ladies' Golf Club, and beside having been champion of her club, wa« also winner of the Hawke's Bay Opt n Championship in' the 1906-1907 soason
Mrs Ogston. Dunedin, is the present champion of the Otasro Ladies' Golf Club, and is a strong and enthusiastic placer.
Mrs Vernon is a Chii-t-church pla\er of repute, and wih runner-up for the Ne.v Zealand Championship in 1897. She has been captain of the Christchurch Ladies" Golf Club and al*o its champion pla\er.
There are, of course, -.cores of excellent players members of the different clubs that are scattered over New Zealand, whose names. portraits, and achievements are not recorded here, but the portraits given may be taken
as representative I anglers, pioneers on •' the vva\s of many of the fact that 1 waters." j:olf is well and Mrs Butterworth, of Uunedin, has done notabU pla\cd a good deal of fishing in the South Island, by New Zealand and wonders that more women do not go women in l>oth in for so fascinating a 6port. The little North and South "'snap" she sends me of herself was taken, I-lands. wh"n fishing in the Waipahi.
rll!OlTr ll!OlT FISH INC.
Fi<-hmg ha« not nuintr a fishing expedition on the Waia- \et become pain, w liere <-he and Mi-. P.ntterworth ha\O wideK populai ' done a -^ood deal of hshing together.
conMruction will rapidh come into favour throughout the fi-hing season. In a country entirely free from wild animals and reptiles of all kinds, with colonial women's self-reliance and resourcefulness in camping out and the needs of outdoor life, and with the low price of fishing licences all to be considered, there is surely an excellent prospect of New Zealand women becoming rather notable anplers presently. Meantime I consider myself fortunate in obtaining the>e little snaj)^ of «ome Otago lady
Mrs Rattray, of Dunedin, ie al-o a keen angler, and the onh picture I have been able (in her al>"nce) to obtain was taken
amonir N,.w Zealand woim n po"ibl\ for reasons connected with " that Domestic Service Pioblem," which renders it -o difficult to leave home. Partly too, perhap-, because much of our fishing 1, m coinparatnelv loneh place* where women * lequire the pie-,ence of others to give them that complete sense of comparnonship and security which is much more necessary to feminine than to" masculine enjovme:it. No doubt as the sport becomes more i>opular week-end parties of entirely feminine
iVliss JI. Sise has done a good deal of •■angling with fair -success in .South Canter bury, chiefly, I believe, m the Pareora River.
In considering the musical section of mj •countrywomen the difficulties of the topic gather thick and fast around me. It ks natural that more discords can be noted from the consideration of the moet harmonious topic in the world than am •other, just as temperance advocates u'c the most intemperate arguments. Therefore it is as well to prelude all that fol4ows by the confession of faith contained in the acknowledgment that doubtless many magnificent musicians, prima donne. -and performers of all kinds are unrepre•sented here. Many ladies thought that ~" better late than never'" was a more '•dignified axiom to follow than the " quickly done, twice, done" motto which would have permitted the inclusion of their portraits, so they embodied in their experience the refrain of an old «ong, " Late late, too late." Many ladiee were like their sister women in every section in which r e p r cs c ntatives have been sought — too modest and diffident to permit themselves to appear in print. From the wealthy Tioitess of the •"first families'" to the striving biwne*-* woman of the leading " establishments," never >-urely were ■so many persuasion-- wasted on the dc-crt air '
Mi«« Amy Murph\. a-> having att lirud the position of prima donna, in which •capacity she is now starring with "the Williamson >> c w Musical Comedy Company, must natur-a-lly head the list of the New Zealand women who are in tlie front rank of musical repute. "Mi^s Murphy was born in Dunedm. and •comes of musical forbears. Her eailieM; ambition was to be a great pianibto ing she never thought of, and when sho did sing at first it wa^ with what she. smilingly calls, "the tiniest little drawingroom \oice. of which nothing was e\er • expected." Her first appearance (in 1899) was in Dunedm at one of Signor SquarKe's concerts, and from that time under the sole tuition of her mother — Mi^ Murphy's progress has Iven a .steady ipcokl of in■creasing the excellence of her metluxK and -developing the beauty and power of her voice. ITa\ing been associat -d with all
the great European arti-t* who have visited Dunechn Miss Murphy's last app< arance in her native town was in the part of O Mimosa San in the productim of "The Geisha "' by the Dunedin Operatic Society. It wa« on the eve of Mis- Murphy's depaiture. with her mother and sNter. to join the Williamson Xow Musical C omedy Com pany. an<l -ho lecenod from the c-iowd d audi once of tho Opera Ilou-e a brilliant o\aticn and an affectionate faiewell. Mrs Hughu> John-o'i (nee Constance Ilathor ]e\) is a daughter of Dr Henry R. Hailierley. of Wanganui. Mi«-s Hather lo\ studied under Che^a her Oliorthur. a Belgian harpist and composer < I distinction. She toured Xew Zealand a* a member of the O\ide Musin Concert Company, and her harp phijing will b' icinenibored with niu li |i!o<i-%ino b\ tlio-e w1 < then hr.t.d it. Mill ughe-- Jo. n-on, how evor, l- ki'own farthei afield than m our small dominion. She ha-, nor long n mined from a \ i«it to England, during which she -tudied under the King's
harpist. Mr John Thomas. Mr 'I lioma* thought <-o highly of Mrs Johnson** capabilities that he promised to introduce hei. and offered her good engagement* in London. Beside many engagements both in England and New Zealand for solo and orchestral playing, I am told Mrs Hughes Johnson obtained from the London College of Music the Bronze Medal for harp playing- one year and the Silver Medal the following year. Music may surely then be considered to have been so far the profession of her life, though the charming; family group •seems to indicate that 6he is now launched on the successful domestic career of the young wife and mother. Miss Phoebe M. Parsons. A.R.C.M.. Lower Hutt. wa-s born in Wellington, and made her first appearance in public at the age of 17. when she sung the recit. and aria "Softly sighs" from '' Der Freischutz" at the the Wellington Orchestral Society's concert. In March, 1898 she left for London and entered the May term at the Royal College nf Music, where she studied for three years. The first jcar at the College Miss Parsons won a £20 exhibition, and in the -econd year obtained the degree of Associate Royal College of Music (A.R.C.M.). Th<-be~t singers in the choral class at the College arc always chc-en to sing at the State concerts m Buckingham Palace. Mm Pars>or.- «aii amongst the luck\ number each ji\ir she attended the College. The fctate concert i~> a very bulliant function of couise. the \ery bevt soloists and mu->ic— the King and Queen and all the Royal personages being present. and nearly alwaj s> ropresentatnes o f '<mie foreign Couit. The dres~e-> and
jewels are msgrnii-
cent. Computing the
standa.rdof mu«ic in
Now Zealand with tliat of EntrlNh piowncial tow us -which is of cour.sc, the only compari-on possible- .Mi-» Parxins considers that "the result is \eiy favourable to New Zealand. Musical tuition m New Zealand re>ls on a uo I general basis, and the colonial girls' general knowledge of musjc is quite as good aa can ho o\ nected "
Mrs Alice Gower-Burns, 01 Christchuich. Canterbury. who~e beautiful \oice m it^ finished xocalNa'ion hu> been he.ud an wi many important func-noim in the C'atheilial Cit\ that -he liar, long pa^cd the limit-, of mere local repute wa~ imicli iji <'\ idem-e Juimil; the Exhibition of 1907. Mr-> Gower-Bui n- 1- a daughter of Mi Kianmu^ Cower, C.X.. lonjj in the •>or\ ice of the Japane-e (.jiovei nuK'iit. and lati'i un<l<T Sir llcm\ I'aikein Xew South Walo-. ,\> to the function 1 , at which Mrs (Jower-Rurn- lias been the principal -o'oi-i well, the_\ compri-e pi<'ti\ well every notable occasion in CTiriMchiuch at which music foimed pait of the programme. Like a true woman. howi'\ei. t~he frankly confi&s-c^ that "The proud<'-t as well athe ha))]iic>t inoiiieiit of my musical caieer \\a~when the citizens of C hrwtchurch tendered me a complimentary concert to their appreciation of the many occasions on which I had f?i\en my help. All clashes of the community were represented in the laitfe audience, and I (.hall ne\er forget the kimineo* of their enthusiastic r<>ception. I ha\o >-ung at the concerts of the following f^reat musical artists: — I'he late Madame Belle Cole, Jean Gerar<ly. Chevalier de Kon«ki, Wat-kin-Mills, etc. You ask about my favourite composer's. I am very fond of the old English ballade
of Bishop and Halton. etc.. and also of tho little French songs of Chaminade and Gounod. With regard to the progress of mu«ic in Christchurch. I think it is wonderful. The Musicil Union, which at one time was almost oblisrrd to disband, for the la^t two or three years has been
obliged to repeat each c< nceit 10 enable all ite subscribers to obtain poat-^. We ha\e, of course, been \im\v fortunate in
luning in the past cle\er musicians
as Mr F. M. Wallace and Mr Tcndall, etc., I and in the present Ur Bradshaw, Messrs ; Wells. and others too numerous to i mention. j Of Madame Wielhaert lam =orr\ I can j give no particulars to add to the charm-
ing portrait she han been kind enough to send me, the few note; I hoped to ha.\o had from her never having re-ached me
Mrs Blanche Levi (nee Miss Joel) is a native of Dunedin, and received a largo part of her musical tra-ining here. Previous to her marriage Miss Joel was prominent in Dunedin musical circles both as a performer and as a teacher of \iohn and piano; she also sang a good deal, and was always greeted with enthusiasm by her audiences. After her marriage Mrs Levi resided in \Vellinf»-fcor>, where she continued her musical career, performing at concerts and conducting a ladies' musical society in that cifv. On the death of her husband lib Lew proceeded to London entered the Ro\a.l Academy and trained her Lit ■ nt iate a.t the fust examina-
tion after her arn\al in London. Remaining at the Academy neaiU four \eai~. Mrs Levi pei formed at matn of the Acadeim concerts from time to time, and played both in St. Janie*."-* ami QuoenV Hall. Mr« Le\fprominence as a -student in the Ro\al Academy was the means of the board of that institution making her an associate of the Academy. Miss Violet Mclnto-h. Invercargill, writes:-- " I am a New Zealandor. Wellington being niv birthplace, and an\thinsr that tends to leflect creditably upon New Zealand women or inspire others to achioxo honours for our name country entirely onh-tb my sympathies. The -ncce^t? whicli I ha%e nehie\ed in singing I nttribute mauiK to m\ <idmirable teacher. Sifter Mary Li^uori, of St. Mary's Con\ent, Wellington, under whom I trained the Associated Board and Royal College of Music's srold medal for * niriiiEr in the Ad\anced Grade with 146 maiks out of the possible 150 for 1904. and the follow nice \ear the A. T.C.1,, of the Innity College. Singintr is my favourite branch of the art of music In my opinion the real importance of music as an educational and lefining influence, apart from the more fmolous aspect of a mere means of -ocial entertainment, l- not sufficienth lealised by people who have the mean- and leisure which would enable them to attain a much higher standard than the mediocre one which too often contents them." Yet another of "'the native born" claims her due share of recognition in Mrs R. Hudson, one of our most popular vocal iots. In the little notes of her musical career which Mrs Hudson has given me the tribute she pa\ s to her teacher is too o-enuine and considerate to be passed over fn silence. Is there one among us who does not know the joy of recognition"When I ga\e up teaching music in order to study ringing I took lessons from Mrs James 'Wilkie. and -he was. from that time, my only teacher. When I wa«= 18 Mdlle. Dolores (then Trebelli) heard me 6ing and expressed the opinion that I could not have recenecl a. better grounding than Mrs Wilkie h-ul given mo. I made my first appearance in public in March. 1897. Since then I have be -n appeal ing constantly before Dunedin audiences. Speaking of Dtinedin audiences. I ha\e often heaid them spoken of as being cold. Indeed, they have never been so to me. I have always held that a Scotch audience is the finest audience in the world to sing to
Madame Chambers of Birkcnhead, Auckland, is an Englishwoman b\ birth, but came to New Zealand when \ery \ourig with her father. Mr 1 hoinas Buckland. Madame Chambers received tiie gioundwork of her miiMcal education in Dunedin from Mr John Leech and continued her ctudiet, m Auckland under Heir Carl Schimtt, lecoiwng tlie niii-hing course in Die-den, where she spent three \ear- studying \oca.l nation and \iolin pl.i\mg. Since her marriage to Mr Clui*. Cha,mbeis. who is an enthusia-t in music, Madame Chambers has been connected with the niU6ical woil<l of Auckland very intimately. She i> cxtiemely fond of teaching, and cultivates the happiest relations with her pupils. Her favourite composer is .Beethoven. Schubeit\ .nid Schumann's tongs are \eiy dear to her. Mi-— Man Morrison, of ln\ eiuirgill. is of Scotch birth, J.ud came to New Zealand with her people in 1897. She .-tudied in Ssdney under the bc<-t mailers proem - ablo, among whom she niention-> with afFectionate gratitude Mis Lottie Hyam. While un<ler her tuition Mi'-s Moitimjii met all the musical celebrities who from time to time vibitod S\dne\ in itself a. liberal »'<[ucMtioii in methods. among them the Hamlxiurgs Doloies. Edward Llo\ d WatkinMills, Padeiew-ki, Friedenthal. etc. Miss Mornf>on conclude'- : "In 1903 I won the gold medal of tho Associated IJoard for New South Wales, gaining 145 marks, out of a. possible 150. and in the end of the --amo >ear I took my degree with cap and gown. I have been in Invercargill since January of 1905. and like the place and people exceedingly. In my opinion the people of the South Inland are more gifted musically than tho North, — at lea-t I seem to ha\e met more musical people here." Of Mrs Murphy it seems most to the point at thi6 juncture to say that not only is she the mother of Mi<« Amy Murlihv the prima donna of
' Williamson's Now Musical Comedy Com-
pain, but aKo that -lio i-- the only teacher ] Miss Ann Muiphy h.i.s e\er liad. As an
excellent toucher ami an ablo musician. Mr-> Murph\ ha» been lonir a.nd fa^urahly knovMi in Dunedin. Mit~s Heatiice Richniond comes of one of our beM -known families, and was lorn ni Now PI, uiuuth. and began regular piano practice at a very early age. She took her M.A. decree at Canterbury College, Christ church, havinir at that time a J teaching rather than a musical career before her. Music. howe\er. \\at> always her , own highest personal ambition, and in ' college da\t, she found time to btudy under Mr G. F. Tendall, at that time organist at the Cathedral. Later on. when Miss Richmond deeidc*l to <le\ote herself enI tirely to mu«ic, '•ho trawlled in Euiope, and there -.pent four years studying under eminent teacher-. Mis-, Richniond made a successful debut on the concert platform ■*■ of the Bechstien IlalJ, London, but really prefers teaching to public performan ces. Some of Aliss Richmond's impressions of that musicaJ world of New Zealand, of which she now forms a part, are of very groat interest, and the publio generally no lose than the too limited world of musical performers would be benefited could her suggestions take practical form. She writes thus: — "I do much regret that it is co disconnected a woi Id; oach city hears the best talent fiom the other cities all too •dom ; but, unfortunately, no one can reduce the distances between our centres of population. If it
were possible, I
a in sure we should all |r,nn if. for instance, the Dunedin Philharmonic Oichestia could occasionally stimul.i'c us here to a little wholesome malry. or \ ice versa. One need 1 * to bo hoanng good music continually if a. high ideal 1* to Ik> maintained. It is not enough to ha\e the meteoric visits of great stars from England and iho Continent, who are apt to lea\e us in a state of bewildered admiration, but still ignorant of tho great m.i>s of musical literature. I believe that the musical taste of a community may be fairly judged by its appreciation of instrumental work it is a commonplace that |>oor singing is often more gratefully roc -ived than good orchestral or folo instrument work, and I feel
that a large part of the task of raising the musical standard will lie with our orchestras — at present not our strongest point.
Miss Crofte was born at Qucenstown. Her family came to Inveroargill when she was a little girl, and 6he has resided there ever since. Miss Crofts is associated with Mr Charles Gray, and as hie chief assistant largely contributes to the success of the music studios in Esk street. In Invercargill for many a year Mr Gray's name has epelt " music," and the fact that Mies Crofts is his " right hand " epeaks volumes for the soundness of Mr Gray's statement that she is "specially gifted in that rare art of imparting which constitutes the true teacher." Miss Crofts is very versatile. She leads the second violins in the orchestra, is a. most capable singer and a member of S. John's Choir and the Invercargill Musical Union. She lives a very busy life, and, thanks to good health and a bright, eunny disposition, she is invaluable in pouring oil on the troubled waters of a rather trying profession. Though 6he has little leisure, she finds time to cultivate photography, and has occasionally appeared in private theatricals with considerable success. She sketches and paints a little in water colours, and has keen artistic tastes.
When it comes to the question of philanthropy, large, broad-minded, and generous, it would be difficult to surpass the women of New Zealand. They breathed the atmosphere of helpfulness and catholicity of 6pirit in which their pioneer mothers reared them to good purpose, and have handod on to their children a spirit of kindliness which shows itself in hospitality to their equals and helpful sympathy to their inferiors. In reading articles or books on New Zealand, and realising trie genial and generous provision that ie made for the old. the high rates of wages, and the low price of meat, etc., it is difficult to belie\e that there are any
poor people in this happy coun-
try. It is a common enough expression t o hear among New Z c alanders, " There are no poor people," but poverty, like wealth, is comparative, and though New Zealand women are never confronted by the hideous, hopeless, repulsive poverty of older countries, they find much that cannot fail to appeal to their hearts end purses With the criminal class and the irresponsible, drifting, casual po p ulation from which it is recruited, no organisation deals so directly as the Salvation Army. The work and methods of this marvellous organisation are known all over the world, and it is only necessary to say that their Prieon-gate Brigade, their Rescue work, and indeed, all their efforts (except perhaps in music!) co m-ma-ncl recognition and respect throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand.
In the branch of the '" Women's Chrw> i tian '1 empt ranee Union" operating m I New Zealand we ha\e another organise tion with winch iiio-t people are familiar. Mrs Cole ilie pii'«ent able president of
the New Zealand branch, reminds me that "this branr-h was organised in. 1884 by Mrs Leavitt. one of the many missionaries sent out by the parent W.C. T. L*. of tho United States to spread it« principles throughout the world." There are 54 branches in this colony, and they number 1500 members, among- whom 20 different departments of work are undertaken. Mrs Cole continues: "Each union finds out the needs of its own particular district and works accordingly. For example— Dunedin, Timaru, and Greymouth Unions each support Sailors' Rests in these busy seaport towns. Wellington has a Girls' Club, and Invercargill Union a Home for Friendless Girls. Napier is working amongst the seamen at the port, and New Plymouth ha 6 a 'Rest' room for women in the , town, while Ashburton during the } winter months opens a. lunch-room for girls. Auckland, Blenheim, and Christchurch Unions each cater l for the public at temperance booths on their respective show criounds. . . . Legislation is watched and reported periodiI c.illy. Amendments to existing laws 1 are suggested, especially those which affect women and children. I'nder this head oame the agitation for Womanhood Suffrage, carried on for many years under the able superintendence' of Mrs K. , \V. Sheppard. The New Zealand
W.C.T.U. was largely responsible for the success of this campaign, while they acknowledge gratefully the help received from various statesmen. Agitation is still going on for the removal of ci\ il and political disabilities under which women suffer, and the Union docs not relax its efforte to obtain for women equal pay for equal work." Mrs Kirkland, of Belleknowes, Dunedin, may be taken as a very typical instance of tho active class of New Zealand women's efforts in philanthrophy. She was president of the Dunedin branch of
the W.CT.U. for many years, held office as treasurer of the N.Z. Union, was and is superintendent of evangelistic work and mothers' meetings. Mrs Kirkland also represented the New Zealand Union at the World's Convention of the W.CT.U. held in Geneva. At the London Convention of the British Women's Temperance Union, and at several other groat meetings of women social workers, Mrs Kirkland has worthily represented New Zealand women. A veteran worker, she is as keen in spirit as ever and devoted to the interests of the Sailors' Rest, which 6he and her fellow-workers instituted, though, as she rays with unconscious pathos, " There are few of the original workers
on the roll now ; are too frail to. 1 take an active inteie^t -many have obeyed I the call to higher service be yon d this life." , Mrs Dohrmann, of Studholme, Canter. bury corresponding secretary of the N.Z, ' branch of the W.C. V.U., is one of ita , deeply earnest members. She loves the 1 definition given by the late Frances Willard to the organisation of which she 1 was so 6trong and capable a leader — " Organised Mother Love," — and reminda me of the trinity of causes for which it works — "God, Home, and Humanity";
1 the comprehensive power of its watclu 1 word';. " Educate. Agitate. Organise." I wish that space permitted of my dealing at greater length with the far-reaching and admirable work unceasingly done ail over the colony by the W.CT.U. I Mrs Saundors Page, a daughter of the , late Alfred Saunders, Esq., was born in Nelson, received part of her education in England, and after her return to New Zealand was for 10 yeara mistress of the Ash burton High School. Mrs Page has been a. member of the Canterbury Women's Institute since its inception, and one of ite officials for the last 10 year*. She is also hon. sec. of the National Council of N.Z. Women. As expreaing-
her views, and therefore her influence upon the women's movement, I make the following extracts from her letter: — "I am specially interested in securing' the Elective Executive and Referendum, and in the leasehold tenure of land with periodical revaluation. In social work I think there is still much for women to do in bettering the conditions of destitute and unfortunate women and neglected children. I should like to see the latter cared for by special boards of men and women popularly elected. I am a keen advocate of local option ... in fine a democrat." Mrs Sheppard, of Christchurch. president of the National Council of New Zealand Women, is a Sootswoman by birth, but came to New Zealand as long ago as 1869. She was one of the first to join the W.C.T.U. when it began operation* in this country. As president of the Woman's Franchise department. Mrs Sheppard' s splendid services will always stand for ability, zeaJ, patience, and high courage. MrSheppard's name carries great weight among her fellow-workers in the Woman movement, therefore the following brief extracts from her letter will be of interest as indicating in what direction that influence is used: — "I strongly hold that women should take an active part in every scheme for the bet-t-erment of humanity. . . Thi6 de
sirable state of things can only he obtained as the fninclii-e was obtained: by organised effort. . . i would strongh urge that in every town, village, and hamlet women should associate themselves into groups of women workers, and that these should bo affiliated to our National Council. My ideal i» that of men and voiiitn working together for the common good, whether it be on go\erning- bodies or in the home." Mrs Hill, of Pukemarama. Napier, is an excellent exponent of a wido class of intelligent and highly-educated women who all of Now Zealand are making their influence felt for good. Not so prominent in the public eye as those able and energetic women workers already noticed, women of Mrs Hill's attainments, influence, and earnest connections are of inestimable value to our sex. Born in England, trained in an English school. and finishing her education at St. Mary's Hall Training College, Cheltenham, Mrs Hill obtained high-class certificates for t«'.iplnng, culminating in her (Jui't's Parchment. For two years after her arrival with her husband in New Zealand, Mrs Hill had charge of one of the large schools in Christchurch. She was actively associated with the petition for Women's Franchise, and was a zealous and tiucccssful temperance worker. On the committee of the Hawke's Hay Children's Home. Mrs Hill did good work and is justly proud of the fact that the increased activities of the Home having necessitated its being taken over by the State in order to secure the Government subsidy has enabled the energeticfounders to now form a separate institution for boys. Mrs W. H. Reynolds, w idow of the late Hon. William Hunter Reynolds, M.L.C., was a Miss Pinkerton. daughter of Mr William Pinkerton, runholder of South Australia and Otago. Mr and Mre Reynolds had a large family (four sons and five daughters). the bringing up of which engrossed the busy energies of Mrs Reynolds's early married life. But there came a time when it seemed to Mrs Reynolds that there was work waiting for her
in a wider sphere as well as in the care fully-guarded interests of home life, and the first expression of her benevolent impulses was the founding of the first Sixpenny Clothing Club in Dunedin. That wae more than 23 years ago, and though the parent club has now cea,sed to exist— newer conditions rendering it necessary, —
many branches sprang from its stem. It wa» the \ chicle for an immense amount of good, and during all its 23 years of bu«y womanlj acthities, Mrs Reynolds remained
its energetic secretary. Seventeen years ago her active and practical sympathy with her sex prompted Mrs Reynolds to start that essentially womanly form of fellowship with the busy and tired mothers of the working classes — mothers' meetings. One would have thought that these outlets for her energetic goodness of heart would suffice, but the adage of the willing horse rarely fails of application. It is to the willing workers in every fiVld that more work i> given, and the c loaning work of Mir. Reynolds' s life wi> —till to come. r I lm^ when the project of a Free Kindergarten Association in Dunedin was firet mooted — and that is now more than 17 years ago— Airs Reynolds was the woman par excellence whose help and sympathy it was felt desirable to secure. The possibilities of the kindergarten movement were new to her, but "he no sooner took up the serious consideration of tho subject than ite almost linutle-s potentialities for influencing the young appealed to her warm heart no less than her act n c organising brain, and the establishment of the kindergartens became, so to speak, the work of her life. The first f1 cc kindergarten was started in the poorest and lowest quarter of Dunedin. popularly known a 6 the Devil's Half-acre. The success of that first kindergarten, acting directly on the children who were coaxed into its haven of cleanliness and love, and indirectly on the parents who at first sent them unwillingly, and later hurried them off eagerly and thankfully, resulted in clearing the Devil's Half-acre from the face of the city. It was a hard task that Mrs Reynolds and her staunch band of committee men and women had taken up, and embodied a long struggle with all sorts of difficulties, among which the con- 1 stant financial difficulty was not the least.' For 17 years Mrs Reynolds's efforts on' behalf of the association of which she^ was president never relaxed. Other' branches were formed, other echoole opened, tho public educated up to the, point of honest appreciation, teachers trained, and, finally, the financial aid of the Government — aroused at last to the moral and ethical value of the work — secured. When in February t 1906, Mrs Reynolds left Dun edin for a prolonged absence at Home and abroad, she wae the recipient of a splendid dia moncl ring and an address of affectionate regard and recog nition from her fellow-citizens They felt it an inadequate method of showing their grati ; tude, but knew that in the ' thought that prompted lay thr true value. ■.
Scandrett has had some
entertaining of notable perfeonages to undertake during the several years in which her husband ha 6 been Mayor of Invercargill. She has been vice-president of the Guild of St. John's Anglican Church, Invercargill for many years, and is a member of the Committee of Management of the Victoria Home for Friendless Girls. A typical busy, cheerful, capable wife and mother, " looking well to the waye of her household," yet always alive to the wider interests of the neighbours and citizens among whom she has lived for over 40 years. While dealing with our women workers in social reforms and gen-
eral philanthrophy I cannot do better than
quote some of the views held by one who is eminently fitted to influence the progress of her 6ex — Lady Stout. wife of New Zealand's Chief Justice. " I am very much interested." I Lady Stout writes, "in jail questions concerning * the advancement of
As an example of that larg< , cla6s of New Zealand women | who, while taking small par' in the more public benefaction.' of their sex, yet their indivi dual benevolence and cheerfu' moral strength have influenced j the world of colonial women Mrs Scandrctt. of Invercargill may be taken as an instance Though brisk, busy, and ener getic in public and pri\sitc dutiea and pleasures, Mrs Scan drett is an old enough colonist to remember many things which already seem very, ancient history in the annals of this young colony. She remem bers, as a little child, beinp carried from the boat of the Ajax (in which she came with her parents to New Zealand ' ami being deposited on tic' harbour beach at Dunedin iusi' about where the Telegraph! Oflice now stands, — blocks and blocks away from the present' wharves and shipping. Close' beside the little groupof people' «tood one of the few vehicles' available in Dunedin at that time a bullock sledge. Mrs
women's education and social status, holding that it should be made compulsory for every girl to pa9s an examination in domestic economy, cooking, sewing, sanitation, and hygiene before leaving echool, to ensure her fitness for the duties of life, the rearing and nursing of children. . . I do not think that the boarding-out of infante and little children is as satisfactory as it might be. I think that a scheme of cottage-homes is much more likely to be of benefit to homeless children. I also
think that every encouragement should be given to people to adopt children, but no premiums should be paid to the adopting parents. It is not fair that, in the case of illegitimate children, the father should be relieved of his financial responsibility, and I think the Public Trust Office should have a special department for receiving premiums, the interest of which should be
l aid to the adopting parents to be expended in comforts for the child, but the principal should be kept until the child is of age or until the Public Trustee is satisfied that the money would be of more use in starting the child in life. In all legislation for the amelioration of wrong social conditions I think that we make a mirtako by not at once trying to do away with the cause of the evils. I think that
the records of Ashburton, Clutha, and In-
\crcargill prove that if we could do away with the indulgence in alcohol we would
soon be able to close many of our gaols, hospitals, and mental hospitals." Education is unquestionably the topic of the time all over the world, and all the world knows — or, if it does not, no one oan 6ay it is for the lack of telling — that we in New Zealand are well in the forefront in this matter, all things considered. Our State school system of education, though not by any means perfect, is as generous as would become a dominion of twice our size and population, and, moreover, is too well known to need notice here. The truest and best fashion of getting at the real enducational influences of our time and country ie to give some brief insight into the lives of those who. from their prominent place, through their position and their personality, must colour mentally and morally the young lives that develop under their influence. Miss Marchant, principal of the Otago Girls' High School, born and educated in Wellington, and daughter of Mr^ J. Marchant, ex-Surveyor-genpral of New Zealand, is one of these, and all who know her realise how firmly and consistently she works to uphold the best traditions of publio school life. In her own words: '"I have been associated from its commencement with the free secondary education system, and have always sought to render the education as practical as po*«ible. having given considerable encouragement to cookery and dressmaking clashes. Physical education has also formed a large part of the girls' training in this school. I believe that for our colonial schoolgirl hitherto there had been too much classical and mathematical training and too little practical, and I am sure the present generation will live to *cc a very groat change effected and a sounder and wiser course of
general training substituted for the present method — a slavish copy of Okl World systems."' Miss Baber, Wellington, as principal of one of the most highly esteemed pri\ ate schools in New Zealand, throws the light of personal experience on a different aspect of education from that treated by Mi« Marchan t — namely, that of the private school. Miss Baber, in her school at Fitzherbert Terrace, Wellington, introduced Nature study, brush work, designing, and clay - modelling on American methods into her school long before these modern aspects of education had found their way into other private schools there. Her principle is to " help the girls to help themselves by teaching them how to study. ' With the object of making them intelligent and broa>dmin<led women. " taking an interest in great happenings all over the world," Miss Baber ] has instituted a "Current Events " lesson in her curriculum. Realising that for the class of girls attending such a pin ate school as her own " the great object is to provide an ideal higher than the worship of money and of pleasure," Miss Baber endeavours to accomplish this> desirable end by opening their perceptions to the beauties of art and of literature of the highest standard. With regard to education in general, she says. " I think there are signs of reaction against the tyranny of examination results. This may well he when, after all theso years of the University turning out its hundreds of graduates, it is almost impossible to find any one who combines with her <legree oven the most meagre qualifications for a good teacher. What is needed is a college for training teachers on broad lines of cul
ture. At present . . a University degree being almost a cine qua non, much of that vitality a teacher co needs is lost in the effort to obtain it without corresponding gain."
Miss Freeman, 8.A.. principal of Girton College, Christchurch, is a strong force in the teaching world and must, by her extraordinarily vivid personality, have strongly influenced many scores of the future wives and mothers of New Zealand. Miss Freeman's moral a.nd spiritual ideals are as actively intense and high as are her educational enthusiasms, and her views on the necessity of a training college for teachers art- exactly the same as those e\ pressed by Miss Baber. On the subject of purely secular education Miss Freeman speaks as follows: — "Educate the mental and the physical faculties and you leave out the factor that makes ■such education of any leal value. De velop physical and mental power: merely, and you make a more accomplished liar, a more cunning thief. and a more skilful all-ro-md breaker of the law of Cod and man. Any moral training that the children get now in our primary schools springs from the personality of many of the teachers, because they are not so far removed from the olden days as to have loc-t their crricious memory, but another 25 \ears will wipe out that memory, and
v liat is now merely unmoral will become immoral." Mi"-- Morrah. RA.atidM.A.. octiug-priiicipal of the Wellington GirlV College, is an example of ■■all-round" interest.-, and sympathies in outdoor and indoor culture which cannot fail 1o render her influence most healthful and beneficial both physically and mentally. In tennis and golf Miss Morrah can Get her girls an expert example, and her intellectual achievements are broad as well as high. Mi-> Morrah* s notes on education are most interesting. I much regret the unfortunate oversight which renders the omission of the poi trait unavoidable. Miss Monah holds very strong views on the subject of a teacher's individuality being one of the strongest elements in her success. " Avocation for teaching is essential to produce, in conjunction with good training . . .
the highest kind of teacher." I single out Miss Morrah'e opinions on a certain aspect of teaching with much pleasure, the principle contained being, to my mind, a truth of great price:-— "lf our higher 6chools by study, examination, and sport teach the lesson of self-reliance, they may be doing good in a country where dependence on Government, friend, or stranger is regarded as a thing perfectly natural. People are only too ready to cast aside their responsibilities for others to take up. Many of the inmates of our chant able homes need not have been there if they had shown a little "self-reliance, and many would not have been there if then
|(lii!dreii and rehitiv es luid acceded then j ie>|)oti-ibilities." ' _ Mi.ss Snnthe. of St. Andrew's Collegiate ! I School, Dunedin, who is known a- an ex- ' I eellerit arid .shining- light among teaching ' i luminaries, i« par excellence what ma> be ! called an object le<-«>n in all the achie\e i mente of intellectual attainment which our educational system place-, within the reach of anyone with the neee-*-ai\ brains, and |H>rseverance to avail himself thereof Her record is at once a le&feon and an en eouragement to Xew Zea'and girls. She is a name of Dunedin and received her primary education at William Street Public School, whence she entered the GirlIliirh School a*, the holder of a Junior Education Board Scholarship. Two -wait. 1-iter she obtained a. Senior Education Board Scholarship, and after completing her course at the High School entered the Normal Training College as a student Hav-incr obtained her teacher's certificate Miss Smvthe engaged in private teaching. l l"\ at *' ie same time attended the Otago University, where she obtained her B.A. degree and then her M.A. degree with honours. This. I take it. is a record that any woman mitrht be proud of. j Mi«s Edith Hodgekinson is al<so a Xew I Zealander, I think, so it will be seen that ! we have arrived at a "self-supporting" stage, and can supply our own require- ! ment.s in the teaching world. Mies Hodge-
kinson studied for the teaching profession about 1888-90. Attended Dunedin University and Canterbury College for two and one sessions respectively ; passed the B.A. examination in 1894. and that for M.A. in 1895. taking honours in Modern Languages and fn Mental Science. Miss Hodgekineon writes: — '"In the main I think we have good reason to be satisfied with the education received by girls in our public schools and colleges. Girls receive the same mental training as boys and compete with them freely for all scholastic distinctions and rewards. This is favourable to the development of intelligence, independence, and strength of mind, and in these qualities I should think the New Zealand girl is equal to any in the world, while she is "also domestic and essentially womanly." Among New Zealand women journalists the name of Miss Colborne-Veel stands high. From her father — an Oxford man. a Keen educationalist for many >ea.rs editor of the C hristchurch Pross — Miss ColborneVeel no doubt inherited her literary tastes. These have found expression in much journalist ie woik etvsajs. articles, and reviews, which however, being largely upsiarnod. are so far without thoir due literary kudos. A \olume of verse over her own name has been appreciated by the public, which en-
j<ns all hor wiitmg. though or:l\ permitted to identify some. H<>- _ garding the prospect-, of literature in New Zealand Mm-, ('olbome-Veel has some in tereiting comments borne of her own evpenence to make as follows :— '• Distance from publi-her-,. magazine-., etc., is a great handicap, though that may be removed perhap-v thiougli the Lveeum Club's ititorvention on behalf of far-away writers. It may do some harm also by wearying editors with coloma.l work. rl'her l'he one advantage in isolation wa« that fornierK- a New Zealand contribution was somethingof a. rarity, and had its intrinsic alue in novelty of scene and treatment. This Lveeum example reminds me of another want in coloniaJ life — the absence of an\ literarj- bond of fellow<:hi?«. I agree with Mr Bertram Stevens of "The Nafivo Companion," who advocates a literary association in each town as a centre to which literary visitor*, would naturally turn, and
which would be a. meeting-place for conference between local workers."
Miss Dolce Cabot comes of a Jersey family, but was born in Canterbury, her people, being among the early settlers in the province. Until the age of 15 Miss Cabot was taught by her father, and at 10 year* old this singularly fortunate little girl had read through her French Bible, and the following year mastered her German Bible, reading three chapters a day regularly. A varied course of teaching experiences in different parts of Xew Zealand did not pre\ent Miss Cabot indulging her natural bent for literature, and she must always have been gifted with much energy and quick mental vitality, for while teaching a groat deal and writing a. little she also studied for her B.A. degree. Mies Cabot was keenly interested in the Woman's Franchise Movement, and aided the long and arduous struggle of her sister-women with some able journalism. She has been for the last 13 years editress of the ladies pages of the Canterhury Tinier. All that Mi*\s Cabot says of her experience in journalism, though interesting, is applicable to women journalists all over the world, therefore I merely quote her concluding sentences: — '" Above all thinirs she must be ready t<J bo treated on the s'ime terms as her male eolleasruo in c« -g jry respect save that of pay. to forfeit ever\ pleasure and amuseiront enjoyed by the normil woman, and to have no time to call her own . . . but for the right kind of woman journalism is a fascinating profession and occupies a unique position."
Tn Mit-« Jessie Mackay. the last of this trio of women journalists, we have by no means the least of them, for there is no more popular writer in the South Island than Jessie Mackay. Of Highland origin, she wa6 born in Canterbury. N.Z.. was brought mi in the oountry, and thinks '' n. country rearncr is a boon to anyone, especially a w r i t c r." Always fond of writing ■" per se " she vn'y took seri-<>u-»ly to journalism about eight years ago. Miss M a ckay's favourite form of literary work, she tells me, is ballad w r i t i n g, which she ligh t ly diemisses as "a drug in the colonial market." Her favourite exereiso is walknig, and she loves be6t to live by the .va- A busy teicher, she has no tiim for hobbies, but longs to travel, with historical and an t i q uarian research a a her objects. In Miss MacKay's opinion colonial writers should stay in the colonies ;iiid shape their woik on the lines natural to their lives find fiurroundincrs. S h «
herself would h at n and dr e a d the
h" ell ng. niclan- < hol> influences of Lorxlon. \\ 1t li t h es© — three i>pital in--tcincus of leading women journalists— all of them, \ou oliM'nc Ijum, hard-working women —l shall lc-i\(> a field growing Picrv \ear more < iov\<|c<l with labourers, .Mtli tlie result that much literary labour is like \ irtue '"its own reward." Writers in New Zealand struggle against the double "disadvantage of an overstocked market and a Mandate! jo ca^y that the work of untrained young, and inexperienced writers largely eatihfies it. Also, o\er and abo\e all, the low prices at which " literary a-geneie*.'" can supply the big weeklies which me the colonial journalists' chief market with serials, short stories, articles, ami e\erv kind of literary
" stuff." render rates of remuneration very moderate.
Chip of the mo*-t fascinating- branches of tnv to]>ic i* unfortunately closed to me by the cant-iron exigencies, of "professional
etiquette." We are immensely proud of our women doctors, and we have o\er 20 practising in various parts of New Zealand—some "on their own," some in partnership with masculine confreres — but lest the publication of their portraits and the mention of their names should savour of "advertising," they ha\e courteously (except in one instance), kindly, but firmly refused. One gracious lady doctor, however, sunny and joyous as so happ\ a woman may well be, will not. I think. mind my quoting from her letter since there is nothing to identify her with her utterances, and thus bring down the wrath of the most conservative profession in the world upon her devoted head: — "I entered the University in 1895, before there were any women practitioners in New Zealand, and at a time when prejudice against them was supposed to be very strong. I can only &ay that if it were 60, neither I nor any one of the small group of women students then in the Medical School even felt it. From oui professors at the University and doctor* at the Hospital we received the mo-t courteous consideration, combined with rigid justice— a justice however, never seasoned with mercy. Of the men student^ I have equally happy recollections. A delightful spirit of ' camaraderie ' prevailed between us. When a man had i-ar-taken of tea and bun-s in the ladies' cloak room, and toasted bananas with the wily woman on the lecture room hearth-stone. the least he could do was to sharpen her 6calpele when they met in the anatomical department. In practice later amon#«t those whom I have the honour to call 'my fellow practitioners." it has been am student days — the kindly word, the willing hand, they have never failed me. It it said that men do not like the idea of women invading the ranks of their professions, but the men have a delightful way of not making a display of their feelings. Indeed, the woman doctor is to be forgiven if she makes the mistake of
imagining- that she is quite appio\ed of. " In tho legal profe-sion women have not made so much headway in New Zealand as in the medical, and tlic only two l:id\ lawyers whoso portraits 1 ha\e been able to obtain are both resident in Auckland Curiously enough, too. the\ are clot-e and intimate friends. Miss Ilemus was bom in Auckland. wa^ educated at the Girls' Iliph School, fiorn which she matriculated, thereafter spend ing some years in her own home, mci dentally learning much in household a-> well as educational accomplishments - among the latter tho practice of shoit hand. Having determined to take up law as a profession, Miss Ilemus. entered ii solicitor's office, and combined with her duties there the necessary study for the Solicitors' Law Professional. Only tho c who ha\e tried taking up a itud> on serious lines after an interval of un foeussed mental attitude can umleietand the difficulties and disheartenmenti of such a oourse. Miss Hemus is therefoie to be congratulated on having ouceos^fully parsed her "final" and having been admitted to the practice of her profe-i-ion in 1906 She is, I understand, in with Mr Newmegen, barrister, of Auckland. Of her own future work and the prospects of women in the profe-^'on Mi^ Ilenmsays: — "I do not intend to speeial.ee in court work, but rather to give mj attention to conveyancing, finding that bianch more interesting. As to my reason foi entering the profession, it was to render myself competent to earn my own living rather than any idea that there was a need for women lawyers. At the same time, I consider that while there is not an actual demand for. there is still scope for women in the legal profession and I look upon our prospects as ■quite sufficiently bright." Miss Melville is also a New Zealander, born in Auckland and educated there, finding her route to her ultimate profession by way of 6cholarshios. praTimar school, matriculation, and Solicitor*;' General Knowledge Examination. For her " professional " Mi=s Melville took what classes were available at the University and studied privately with her friend Miss Hemus, passing successfully in 1905. and being duly admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court in the same year. She purposes devoting herself especially to the common I-iw side of the profession and looks forward to ultimately commencing practice in partnership with Mies Hemus. After a very brijrht little sketch of the immense pleasure she and her friend extract from the walking tours in the vicinity of Auckland which constitute their favourite form of exercise and which extend from 17 to 20 miles a day, or perhaps 40 for a week-end, Mies Melville makee some further comments on the prospects of women in
the profession as follows: — " I am strongly of opinion that town is the right place 1 for the young practitioner
until he is t h o roughly c xpenenced in the prac tical part of his work. I think no s olicitoi should be cons idered fully qualified until he hao had at lea-st two or thiee years' general experience in a city office of standing; for this would help to keep up the status of the pro fession as it can not be kept up now. when any outsider, with no practical knowledge whatever niiij qualify and commence practice, and gain his experience at the expense of his clients." And then, as conclusively pro\intr that the practice of a profession by no nu'aiis necessitates the relinquish ing of feminine tastes and pursuits I -hall quote aga-in from Miss j\lel \ iile'-i pivr-onal experiences : —"I would like to tell yon that I make all m\ own frocks (except when I am \er\ bu<-\) and trim my own hats etc.. and am not altogether igiiorant of the art of housekeeping. I mention thi-> 1-ocausc there scorns to me to be a widespread (and erroneous) Impre-~2.n1 th.it women and girls who lake up profp-»:opal work are altol'c'lit ignorant of all feminine accomplishments and doniestic virtue^; and I think «uch an impression should be removed from the public muni «t~ I behe\e it is one of the c:iu ci ol the opposition women frequently encounter in professional work For myself. I may say I have met with uniform courtesy and consider it ion fiom official -, fellow-prac-titioner.-), and. indeed, iveryone with w 110:11 I have come into conta^r 111 m\ woik." Mi^ Rout »ji Lorn in Tasmania in 1877, and has leside.l in New Zealand for the lar-t 20 years. After engaging in school teaching for a few years, she set up as a profesional f.horthand-writer ana t\pi->t in Chnstchurch. She holds a Pitman Speed Certicato for 180 words per minute (10 minutes' test); the Honours Diploma of the In corporated Phonographic Society of England, and is an authorised repoiter under " The Shorthand Reporters" Act. 1900.'' Asked for her w.-us on the possibilities of the business woman 111 New Zealand .\h-s Rout w,: — "Already New Zealand is beginning to offer exceptional advantages, to well-trained and competent women in various walks of life, and the future holds main a golden opportunity in store for them. Participating in the work of the world on level terms with their brother-men cannot be other than stimulating for both, mentally and morally. Fair and open competition will impose upon both the necessity of deserving to be fir»t before they are first." Mi~s Queale. a New Zealand girl successfully launched in business in Melbourne, is another sample of the business aptitude of our native-born. A " W«,t Coaster" b\ birth. Miss Queale is a licensed shorthand writer under "The Victorian Evidence Act of 1898." which qualifies her to act o!iiciall> in all the Victorian oourts. With respect to the prospects of women in her profession. Miss Queale writes: -"I think the profe«--ion is a good one for women who ha\e to car\e out their own path, though at the outset it imohes a tremendous amount of steady application. There is a good demand
for competent shorthand-writoi->, who can | always command #ood remuneration either in the position of salaries! clciks or setting , up independently. . . It is almost osen- I tial in connection with tho call mur that I the per-on concerned should al-o le a good t\ pewritor." With this glance at the possibilities of the individual business woman as afforded by the examples of Miss Rout and Mise Qu-eale, I shall pass to some typical instances of tho high status of the official business woman, as exempliiied in the case of two of our officials connected with public institutions. Mi^s Fraser. for the last four years matron of the Dunedin Hospital, is a Scots woman by birth, and recoi\ed hd training' as a nurse at the Royal Infirn iiy, Kdin- | burgh. Among other appointments held j by Miss Eraser, both in Scotland and in j the colonies, may bo mentioned that of night-superintendent of the Melbourne Hos- | pital. Beside being a duly certificated State restored i.-ii o. Mi^s Fraser is a
member of the Royal | British Nurses' Association. | Tho following extract from j Miss Fraser's summary oi I
the nursing profc non in .h'w Zealmd is cf i ntn t crest : — •■ It is 03 ! sl ntially a v o man's work. Al though nurs in<* know ho acquired liv in v c h -tiuh and o \ ]> orience. it must e\cr [ lie itiiifiiibered that the highest form of nursing is more a qiu-stion of i chnrßf-tor than of acquirements. To be a successful nurse head and heart must go j hand in hand. . . During the last 12 or 15 years the rapid strides made by medical science demand on the allied profession of nursing greater skill, consequently a higher standard of nursing education is necessary. I hope the day is not far distant when we i shall ha\e m the colony preliminary training schools — like what are in the Old ( Count r\ -where cnnduLites desirous of en ( ti-i ing the profession may have some preparatory training, and where only 6uch as have given proof of their fitness for the work shall be recommended and | drafted on to the \arious hospitals. F<om | a recent communication from the Old j Country T 'jam that tho Royal British Nurses' Association has under consideration at present a scheme for the granting ot diplomas in nuising, which, if carried will be a. step m the right direction and an additional and higher honour than a.n\ that exists at present in the nursing world By adopting some such scheme our pupil:would, in a measure, be speciilly prepared before entering the wards of a hospital and, as a profession, we would bo better equipped for keeping pace with tho de mands made by medicine. Much has recently been said regarding the small salaries of nurses in the colonies Therefore it may be of u^e and m terest to say that a trained nur«-o of the present day can command a fee of £3 3s per week, and a-s the ~uppl\ is not equal to tho increasing demand for private nur^e^. she ha.« no difficulty in finding employment." Miss M'Lean, Assistant-Inspector of Hospitals, etc., is an instance of the modernity of tho New Zealand Government in recognising when and | where women may bo officially em- j plo\ed with marked advantage to the State. Miss MLean's prcdec<> m>i- in oflice was Mrs Grace Neill. ami to the then existent duties of the position is now added the inspection of prnatc hospitals. Mrs Xeill who had hei-olf been a nur«e— did \on much to impiove the status of New Zealand nuws and in this Mi--s MLean's sympathies are entirely in accord with tho-~o of Mrs Neill, who |h> -os-ed the otcem and respect of tho public in an eminent degree. Mi-s M'Lean writes thu-, in a letter I ami rom space does not ]>crinit me to quote more fully : - -" Every day it is becoming more and more recognised that skilled nursing should bo available for not onh tho=e who can afford to pay for it, but for all who need it. ,md .1-1 more nu r-.es are pioperly taught 1 1 1 • • 1 1- work c\('v\ \o-ir. «o their knowledge will be of value in every part of the (oiiiitij in the future. In particular the woik commenced by Mi> Xeill, under the direct ion of Mr Se-ddon. is likely to affect all parts of th(> community: that is the establishment of the State Mat<'rnity Hospitals in the four , chief centres. 'llie fourth of i these ho«pital«. which I ha\e had tho pri\ dege of directing, has just boon opened in Christ(hiirch. Besides the immediate I) 'iieiit thr«e hospitals are to the mothers who are attended thoie about 24 nurses will each j year be trained in the special I duties of maternity nurses and !
midwives. and will then disperse throughout the country to give skilled attendance under the care ot a doctor when possible, or when there is no doctor available, will be qualified to act without him. These nurses will in turn take the place of those women who. by torce of circumstances, have had to act without any special knowledge, and who have in tho pa*>t done much good work, ami learnt — by oftentimes painful experience and risk to their patients — what otherwise they had no opportunity of becoming acquainted with.''
And here, while on the topic of women's ability to sustain, and suitability for. the larger duties outside their own homes of promoting the health — moral and physical — of their own sex and of the children of the community. I should like to give a few words to tho description of a typical orphanage and ite capable, kindly management and aims. This I am the more glad to do because, as> I ha\ c remarked elsewhere, the deservedly cheerful and optimistic impression ot New Zealand as a, colony, founded on the utterances of our visiting Premiers, and apparently confirmed by the liberal legislation which provider for the citizen apparently from ills birth in a State maternity hospital to his old age on a. State pension, is calculated to gi%e the idea, that private and peisonal benevolence is unneeded and somewhat, at a discount. Such, however, is not the case, and. Heaven be praised ! never will be, for with the adoption of all benevolences by the State would die out all those moral responsibilities of the individual which make for the building-up of <i kindly, broad-minded, and united nation.
In the work of the Church Mission and its expression in tho aims and effect of St. Marj's Orphanage, a typical instance of the private philanthropy which sweetens the hard-and-fast mechanism of State benevolences is found. The sisters of tho
Church bejjan their vvoiU in Dunedin in <|iute a small way, quietly and steadily working up to their pie-ent larger field of work in the gradual manner th.it is neces--ary where work is carried on by private suliscription and no State aid i~> asked for or received. In the orph in ige, the work of which was taken o\er l>\ tlu> Sisters in 1904, is embodied tho original work planned and carried out for many years by the *>vv<>et and l;c;iut ifnll\ self-effacing benevolence of the late Mis Neill, wifo of tlw-. Primate. There are now 21 inmates of the orphanage, and loom is always found for littJe waif*, and strays whoso mothers' absence in the hospital renders tho home for the time bein^ n.otherlesa. Also, though the work of the -istem of the Church in every branch is connected with the Anglican Communion, it has always l>een tho rule to refuse no child of whatever faith or upbringing a home, so long as room could l>e found. Now, however, Ihe urgent necessity to find room for all, or any orph ms of tender years, will be -hared by the recently-established Presbyterian Orphanage, which promises to be a most efficient and capable institution, well and liberally supported.
The Roman Catholics of the community, here at, elsewhere, it i.s needless to say, pros wle well anil generously for the waifs and strays of their Church, and pursue the good works single-handed, generously, ami eflieientlv.
The work of the Sisters of the Church is. however, a wry comprehensive scheme, of which the care, tuition, and training of the little ones of St. Mary's Orphanage forms but a j.ortion. Mothers' meetings, girls' clubs, children's clas'-o-i, all form part of the \\m k of which the mis>ion home is the cheerful and huupv centre. The Girls' Friendly Society — known all o\er the world ac a widely popular and successful association, numbering in its ranks many thousands of t'irle and young women — holds its meetings at the mission home. The outside work of the sisters —of whom Sister Ernestine is the head-includes weekly visitation of the Gaol, three isit.s a. week to the Hospital, and a general visitation, which averages something like 86 visits per week, in various parts of the city. Add to (his (ho oft-recurring apjK-als for sitting up with the sick and watching by the (load which reach the gentle, cheei ful sisterhood, and we have a. programme of service for others which never slackens the long year through. Sister Ernestine is a-lso a member of the St. John Ambulance Nursing Corps, and one of the committee of the recently-formed League for Promoting the Health of Women and Children. And this society, as embodying' the very latest proof of that progressive
— W. H. Bartlett, photo. spirit which marks the whole atmosphere of thought and action in I"^ew ZealaJld. is deserving of a few words in an article devoted to New Zealand women, since the movement is intimately connected with the best interests of women and children. The society has for its aims the betterment of the conditions of infant life, primarily among the poorer classes of the community (and incidentally among all classes). b\ doing away with many injurious misappie hensions on the subject of infant feeding end educating mothers in the proper feeding and rearing of their babies. The society was started by Dr Truby Kin,:. Medical Superintendent of SeachfF, one of our largest and most important lunatic asylums, and has in an incredibly «hort time consolidated itself under a -^tioiijz committee, organised an effective and comprehensive plan of campaign, won o\cr both indifference and opposition from the public, and now. having successfully impressed the Covernment with the imixirtance of its aim>. appe-irs in a. fair wa\ lo invoke the aid of legislature to enable it to carry out some much-needed reform*-. These latter apply especially to the more effectual inspection and «uper\is ; on of m fant homes registered under the Act, and of which there are no l<«»s than 59 in Dunedin alone. Hilherto the police ha\e been responsible for the inspection of the-e homes and their helpless inmates, and the facts ascertained by the actue investigations of Dr King and his co-workers make it amply apparent that however well in tentioned. such supervision was entirely ineffective in reaching the real state of conditions and surroundings in some of the homes
Whatever the birth or parentage of these infants may be. once born into the community they are there as potential citizens of the future, and the more unwilling- or unable their own parents are to equip those helpless little bodies for the battle of life, the greater the responsibility which lies upon the State to safeguard their welfare and provide at least that they should not be stunted for want of food, fresh air, .and the simple necessities of cleanliness and sanitation The fact that our birth-rate has fallen with ominous steadiness during recent jears make.*, the question of the preservation of infant life only the more grave and important. There can be no doubt that much of our infant mortality in New Zealand, where the physical type of the parents naturally compares favourably with the physical deterioration of older and more crowded countries, is due to improper feeding, and we must in all fairness concede that thie improper feeding is almost entirely due to ignorance and misconception on the part of mothers and nurses. To meet this ignorance and misconception- winch is quite as prevalent among the comfortably off and well-to-do as among the poor— Dr King and his ?X * .v* Ye ffuring the 1^ year kept petore the public a continuous couree of information— detailed, practical information—on the subject of the proper feeding of infante, and have successfully arranged for the supply of that "humanised" or specially prepared milk which they consider is the only effective substitute for the maternal nourishment. In fact, Dr Truby King, through the mechanism of the Society for Promoting the Health of Women and Children, is doing for Dunedin primarily, and for New Zealand ultimately, all that Sir James Crighton Bronne has been urging on the English public with regard to the saving of infant life.
Before closing this part of my topio, I think it worth while to give some very suggestive remarks by Lady Stout on this topio of infant life and preservation, because I think that much more might be made of the aspect of temperance, which directly touches on this, than is done by most advocates of temperance. Further, I should like to record my conviction that until some steps are taken to render it compulsory for every girl to learn and pass an examination in the broad principles of domestic knowledge which comprise the care and keeping of a house, the proper preparation of food, and the intelligent care of infants and children, we can never nope to rear a nation of healthy and' well-equipped men and women. ■ Concerning the effect of the alcohol habit on parents, Lady Stout says: — "We cannot expect healthy or intelligent chil<Lren from a parentage that is degraded
by the drink or drug habit. A great deal has been said lately about the drug habit and its bad effects, but the evils that are developed by it are as nothing compared with those which are the result of indulgence in alcohol. The proper feeding of infants has lately been very much considered, and is no doubt of great importance, but I believe that if the proper feeding of the mothers and fathers was attended to in the first instance, nature would provide suitable food for the infant. Investigations undertaken by an eminent Swiss doctor have proved that indulgence in alcohol in the parents of one generation has the effect of taking away the power of supplying natural nutrition from their children when they become mothers. I am sure that there are very few women — who have not become victims to the alcohol or drug habit — who do not take great pains to nourish and care for their children. I am
sure that if doctors would take the trouble to investigate the subject they would find that it is not the fault of the food given to the infants, but that it is the fault of thoir parents' habits that causes to a great extent the lamentable death-rate of infants under the age of five years. I believe also that the decline in the birthrate is also attributable to the same cause My experience has been that people who have no children are always anxious to have them, and very many children are adopted by childless women, with the most satisfactory results both to the children and to the adopting parents. I <lo not believe there is any danger in adopting children, as if the children are physically strong and healthy any hereditary taint can be eliminated by kindness, care, and good environment."
This brings my necessarily imperfect chronicle — so far as personal aspectt are concerned — to a close
Woman's Franchise being one of the keenest topics of the day, I think a word or two on its general results in New Zealajid seem indispensable. That it was won with a comparative dignity and patience, beside which rowdy demonstrations of the English suffragettes sink to vulgar unwomanliness. wo shall always be proud. As to its results opinions differ. Ask the Labour party and they will a tale unfold glittering with jewels of political achievement and splendid with uncut gems of future possibilities— and naturally so. The women of the working classes, wives of labourers and artisans, as well as female shop-assistants and factory workers, all vote and take an honest and vital pride in voting for the "Labour ticket" — i.e., labour representatives. They have everything to gain, and try to gain it. Roughly speaking, the passing of Woman's Franchise doubled the voting power of the
Labour party in New Zealand politics. The Conservatives, of course, speak and think with very moderate praise of female franchise. Their experiences have been the reverse of rose-coloured At the first General Election after the granting of the franchise to women those of the well-to-do and professional classes enjojed the exercise of their new privileges immensely, and, like children with a new toy, threw themselves heart and soul into the excitement of the electioneering campaign. In some of the centres their enthusiastic efforts brought about results very astonishing to the Government : as, for example, in Dunedin, where the three Opposition members were triumphantly returned. In the three years elapsing 1 before the next election their novel responsibilities had ceased to charm. Politics are but a dull topic to the average woman, and it is the average woman who counts. So, though at this election the women of the well-to-do classes voted individually, it was done without any intelligent organisation— except on the temperance question-— and entirely without realisation of the effect that three years' steady contemplation of politics and their possibilities would have on their sister women of the great intelligent working class. Consequently the electors told their tale in very plain ianguage. and the working women stood triumphantly beside the working man to applaud with ringing cheere the return of the Labour candidates. Since then history repeats itself. In one respect the women of New Zealand have proved the futility of ever predicting a certain course of action for our sex. Contrary to expectation, they look at measures before men, and instead of voting in an enthusiastic phalanx for the morally good man " per se," that individual finds himself exactly where he was before in politics — neither more nor less. Women's
voting has not so far had any perceptible effect on the personnel of the House of Representatives.
As regards the pages of this article which are devoted to the portraits of " Ihe Rising Generation," they are most interesting, not only because of their beauty, but because they are real. They also constitute a most cheering and comprehensive commentary on this necessarily incomplete " Chronicle of the Enfranchised," because in these portraits of lovely childhood and graceful girlhood one sees the future wives and mothers of a new nation. May they prove in every respect worthy of what will then be "the old generation."
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Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 32 (Supplement)
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17,642Untitled Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 32 (Supplement)
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