TABLE TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 55

TABLE TALK.

INVERCARGILL, December 14. Mrs P. Webb came back. from her visit to Dunedin on Monday. Mrs J. M'G. Watson and her sou, Mr S. Watson, left on Wednesday for a motor trip to Timaru. Mrs Murray Menzies (Dipton) accompanied them. Miss Sutton (Thornbury) is the guest of Mrs Gardner. Mr and Mrs H. Mitchel arrived from the north on Tuesday, and are staying with Mrs W. Mitchel (Waikiwi). Mrs M'Gregor (Mount Linton) was m town for Show Week.

Mrs M'Arthur (Lumsden Hills) is in town staying at the Grand Hotel just now. Miss O. Bean (Christchurch) is staying at the Grand Hotel with Mrs M'Arthur. Mr and Mrs D. M'Pherson (Otautau) were also in town. for the show. Miss Saunders (Otaxitau) was in town during Show Week. Miss M'Hutcheson, who was the guest of Mrs A. Rodger (Gladstone) for a few'days, has returned to Dunedin.

Last Saturday Mrs M'Ewan (Gladstone) gave a very enjoyable' tea in the afternoon at her residence, Herbert street. Some of the guests were Mrs Roberts, Mrs W. Saunders-, Mrs Hoyles, Mrs A. Jones, Mrs Foster, and Miss Bell.

TIM'ARU, December 14 Mr and Mrs Walton and their family and Mr and Mrs Simmers leave on Saturday for Lake Tekapo, where they intend spending '"■a, month's holiday. Mr and Mrs W. C. Raymond have taken a hut at the Opihi for the holidays. Mr Guinness has returned from "Wellington. » Mr and Miss Varney passed through Timaru on their 'way hack to Wellington from Dunedin and southern towns that Mr Varney has been visiting in the interests of the Y.M.C.A. Mrs Buxton has returned to Totara Valley. Miss Eva Day is spending some time with Mr and Mrs Day (Nelson terrace). Mrs W. Wright, who has been visiting relatives in Timaru, has left f3r Christchurch on her way home to Wellington. i Dr and Mrs Bowe (Maryburn) are at the Hydro. Miss Campbell, who went to England two years ago io do war work, has returned, and is staying with Mrs J. Hutchison (Latter street). The Misses Carter (Wellington) are the gues + s of Mrs Jones (tho Hydro). Miss Paine, who has been Australia for some months, has returned. Miss Hart, who went with her, is expected nextweek. CHRISTCHTTKCH, December 14. There was no ' doubt about the weather being warm and fine for the long-looked, for rose fete, as a hot nor'-wester blew all day. His Worship the Mayor opened the fete in the morning, and throughout the day crowds wended their way to and from the Domain Gardens. The proceeds, which amounted to about £IBOO, are all for the war funds—the Red Cross, Lady Liverpool, Women's National Reserve, and Patriotic Funds. The tea, ice cream, and fruit salad stalls did a very larsre trade, the hot day being conducive to thirsts and cool edibles. The river was a source of much enjoyment to the young, and the rose show was visited by many, and contained some very fine exhibits. A few present in the larsre crowd were his Worship the Mayor and Mrs Holland (president of the Ladv Liverpool Fund), Lady Denniston, Lady Ward. Mrs Bovle (■president of the Red Cross), Mrs W. Wood (president of the Women's National Reserve), andi M<-©dam?s Vernon, Wigram, Algar, Williams, Cottcrill. Fox. • Cordner. Thomson, B. Wood, Carev, Hill, Elworthy, Wanklyn, Lane, Sfevensen, Svmcs, Laurence, and the Misses Cowlishaw, Reeves. Wvnn Williams, Harley, Wood. Northcpte, Westenra. Helmore, Pincknev, Wilkin, Duncan (Wellington). Several visi+ors went out to the Aviation School on Sundav, when Mr Hill, the instructor, was flying for a short while. Present were Sir Joseph and Lady Ward, Mr and Mrs Wisram, Mr and Mrs Allen. Mr and Mrs B. Wood, Mr and Mrs C. Ward, Mr and Mrs Hewlett. Much regret was expressed in the city todny when the news came through that Sir Charles Bowen, of Midrlle'on, had died at his residence early this morning. This fine old colonist, who-has done so much for his conntry in his time, has led a. quiet life for the last, few vears, and much sympathy is felt for his wife and family. Miss Agnes Duncan (Wellinsrton), who has been visiting Mrs Allen (Mill House), has returned home. The annual cricket match. Otago High School v. Christ's College, is being looked forward to with much keenness by the boys here, and, given fine weather, it will be a most interesting game to watch. Christ's College team has a few good bats this year, and I expect Otago have likewise. GREYMOTJTH. December 13. Mr and Mrs L°ach have come from Mount Torlesso for a short s'ay. At present they are the guests of the Misses Scott (Tunumr.ha street). Miss Lewi? (Reofton) is the guest of Archdeacon and Mrs York at the vicarage. Mrs (Dr) M'Brearty and her two little children have gone to Christchurch for some pense. Mr James, the mine manager, is Cashmere Hills. Mr Hall, one of the victims of the shocking Runanga tragedy, is still in a decidedly precarious condition, although it is some weeks since the occurrence. Much sympathy is felt for Mrs Hall in her anxiety and suspense. Mr James, the mine manager, is now able to get about. There were crowded houses at Pollard's

to see " The Whip." On both evenings there was a full orchestra, and the music was most appropriate. Some present were Mr and Mrs Moss, Mr and Mrs Carter, Mr and Mrs Adams, Mrs Coates, Mrs and Miss Hannan, Dx and Mrs M'Broarty, Mr and Mrs M'Donnell, Mr ard Mrs Wykle, Mrs and Miss Morgan, Mrs Shroeder, Misses Smith, Mrs Whitmore, Misses Dunn, Wyldo, Bush, Keddell, White, Wickes. Tennis is now in full swing, and there is always a good attendance at the courts. Some of the most regular attendants are Mrs Fletcher, Mrs Whitmore, Misses Bush, Morgan, Wickes (2), Wylde, Bignell (2), Hannan, Smith, Low, Baxter, Messrs "Low, Baxter, M'Kay, Bush, Lusty, Brydon, Wilson, Morgan, Kitchinghami . Mrs (Dr) Macandrew, formerly of Hokitika, has gone to live in Christchurch. Her daughter, Mrs Stanley White, is going to live in Greymouth. Mr Geo. Mallinson (Aritika) has been on a lengthy visit to South Westland with the Commissioner of Crown Lands. Mx and the Misses Mallinson, were in town for a few days last .week.

WELLINGTON, December 12. The Christmas preparations in the shops are, in spite of the war, a revelation of what can be done by careful forethought for the comfort of the children of the Dominion, and there does not seern to be the slightest doubt about the cost being fully covered,- of course, by the grateful paterfamilias, and' also, of course, with the customary profit. You march into a fairyland opulent with trees, flags, ferns, and all the flora of the New Zealand section of the world. In one place the attraction is completed by a great cave adorned with th»

beauties of fairyland, in which the figures of romance appear at intervals, and at their head a great fine bearded old gentleman in Oriental guise, whom the youth fresh from his Nights Arabian mistakes for Sinbad the Sailor. But the younger people, less sophisticated, have no hesitation in treating as Father Christmas. There is about these figures and under the decorations of flower and leaf and national flaggery a vast world of toys. It stretches ad infinitum; it is bizarre; it is abundant; it is limitless, and its attractive charm is compelling. It inspires a babel of admiring . sound from infantile voices shrill with enthusiasm and the temptation to the parents of children with healthy lungs is irresistible. " Oh, Father Christmas!" a worried master of house and family was heard to ejaculate, " you will be the death of me, and, sooth to tell, between a stomach too full and a pocket too empty life will soon not be worth living." And alter that protest the good man was seen taking delight in making young Hopeful blow a strident trumpet and dangling a- doll that squeaked and talked and rolled its eyes and cost a fortune for the benefit of his little daughter, regarding the dollie and the daddie with speechelss delight and dancing eyes. The result of this sort of thing is a peace wave which for the moment discounts the war news and makes us all rejoice. All the agencies and movements and bodies and committees and leagues and companies—all the yasfc collection of heterogeneous beings who seem to live for the comfort of the distant soldier and think of nothing else; all these are busy beyond description and almost beyond endurance. Miles of parcels get made up, put on board ship, go off in processions over the sea, and presently miles of letters of thanks will come back with stories of escape from submarine pirates'. I spare you details of both processions; but already the papers are full of them, and they read uncommonly well. Society, which knew the Glasgows in the days of their Governorship, and liked their pleasant ways and kindly dispositions and generous hospitality, rejoices to hear that Lord and Lady Inskip have had a son born to them. Lady Augusta Inskip was Lady Augusta Boyle, and a fine-speaking, pleasant, beautiful ornament of Government House. The sympathy is wide, and tender and cordial in consequence. A. letter from a Taranaki boy at the front tells of Miss Bosina Buckman, the favourite singer of the North Island a few years ago, who began to shine in-amateur opera, and rose like a rocket to the operatic stage after preliminary training justified by her amateur performances. We have all heard how she prospered and made a name, especially in Wagnerian opera and hi the other modern style that hails from Italy, but few were prepared for such evidence of pluck as narrated by this Taranaki boy, who is proud commendably of the heroine from his native countryside. It was" during an air raid. Bombs were bursting around and guns booming, with nothing but a glass roof between the singers and the enemy. Nevertheless, Miss Bosina sang the trying music of " Tristan arid Isolde " without a tremor and without a singly quaver—in fact, except the quavers marked by the composer, and these pursued the even tenour—not tenor, the dear delightful, and all that—of their splendid way. The name of Bosina is greater in London in consequence. . A Sydney visitor at present in Wellington deserves to have her name recorded if only for the number of woman societies to which she belongs, and gives active service. Miss Collinson is a member of the permanent staff of the Sydney University, being tuior in history and assistant to the director. She is a director of the Sydney University Women's Union, a member of the Sydney University Women's Council, of the Workers' Educational Association of New South Wales (being their visiting delegate to New Zealand at the present time), and, lastly, a member of the Sydney Hygienic Society. The lady is over here purely on a holiday for recuperation, and during the pediod of recovery will see all the signts, hot and cold, so to speak. - But she will afterwards be in counsel on many of the subjects suggested by the numerous societies to which she belongs. She is a member of the Woman's Na+ipnal Council of New South Wales, and she is interested in the sister institution 'of Maoriland. She took part in the conscription referendum on the side of the ayes. As to the prospects of the present referendum she has little"" hopes of success, mainly, she says, because the Government, has got the wrong men on the Work—nifn only who speak from the intellectual and flag-waving points of view; the workers require to have the social aiio*"economic side put before them, and that side on one in Australia seems willing to take up. It is difficult to understand workers wanting the social and economic side, and even more to realise how the social and economic side can appeal to them as a fightina: inducement. But there are people who, whatever subject comes uppermost, always manage to divert it into the line of social eeonomica. However, it is more important to know that the referendum is in danger of failure. Then what remedy can save its life? I cannot conceive how a lecture on the cost of living can end in rousing 3000 people in a Town Hall to declare for immediate conscription sinsring the National Anthem, " Rule, Britannia," and " Tipperary." That is just what Miss Collinson of the many letters and honourable undertakes to siow, and good luck to her!

AUCKLAND. December

The residence of the Hon. A. M. - Mvers (Cintra) - wa-a once again the scene of a patriotic function, the fe+e on Saturday afternoon and evening- being a epecial effort made by the Women's Mutual xYid Society for collecting funds for the Wounded Soldiers' Comfort Fund. The weather was perfect, and the public was present in large numbers. The whole of the upper terrace was taken up with the various stalls,which took the form of tents plentifully decorated with greenery and flowers. The attendants at the variotis stalls were frocked in white, and in some form or another touches of yellow were introduced. The City Band and the Third Auckland Mounted Rifles Band provided the music. The fete was opened by Sir Fi-ederick Lang, who, in the course of his sneech, complimented the members of the Women's Mutual Aid Society -upon the good work they are doing in raising funds for the Red Cross and other patriotic objects. The drawing of the raflle for the motor car created great interest, the lucky winner being a visitor to Auckland—Mr C._ Tabb, of Opotiki. The Red Cross shop way last week-end under the direction of Mrs Meek and Mrs Bruce Hay, assisted bv Mrs Collins. Miss Freda Wake, Mis 3 N Mn<-Cormick, Mrs K. Archer, and Miss Rita Ashfon.

On Friday morning last the members of the Auckland Women's Patriotic League met together in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall. The object was to bid farewell to the retiring secretary, Miss B. Spedding, who is shortly to be married. The proceedings were opened by Mrs Gunson with a- neat little speech, in which a high tribute was paid to the work done for the league by Miss Speddir.g. Other speakers were the Mayor (Mr J. H. Ounson), Mr Limn, Mrs E Buttle, Mrs Wilson, and Miss Basten. Mrs GunsoU then

presented, on behalf of the members of the league, to Miss Speckling" a handsome canteen of silver, a lose bowl, and an album containing the signatures of the members of country branches and the heads of the various committees. Mrs Logan, wife of Colonel Logan, C. 8., Administrator at Samoa, is at present /in Auckland, and is staying at Arundel, in Waterloo quadrant. Mrs and Miss Una Buddie have left for the eouth, and are to stay in Wellington and Dunedm. Miss Neville Thorne George, who has been the guest of her sister, Mrs V. Riddiford, Upper Hutfc, for some months, has returned to Auckland. Miss Jessie Reid, Miss Cooper, and the Misses Gorrie (2), who have been making a short stay in Wellington, have returned, home.