TABLE TALK

Otago Witness, Issue 3337, 27 February 1918, Page 49

TABLE TALK

•Monday Evening. During the week His Majesty's Theatre was filled with appreciative audiences when tho Williamson Musical Comedy Company produced "Canary Cottage" on Monday and Tuesday, revived "So Long, Letty" on Wednesday, and brought their successful season to a triumphant close by the initial presentation in Australasia of "The Only" Girl. Tho delightful vein of comedy and pretty, catchy mxisic and the excellent acting of the principals earned an enthusiastic reception for what must be considered the best production of the season. Among thoso present during the week I noticed Mr &nd Mrs Theomin, Miss "Wilson, Mr end Mrs Aufrere' Fenwiok, Miss Bell (Shag Valley), the Misses Webster (2), Mr P. C. Weill, Mr and Mrs H. S. ■ Fenwick, Mr C. W. Eattray, Mrs Finch, Mrs W. O. M'Kellar, Mr and Mrs Oldham, Mr and Mrs B. Sise, Dr. and Mrs Russsll Ritchie, Mr and Mrs George Ritchie, Mr David Mills and Miss Mills (Sydney), Major and Mrs Cooper, Mrs A. Wallis, Mrs Hunt and Miss Hunt (Invercargill), Mrs R. Dawson, Mrs Oswald Napier, Miss Brooke, the Misses Hart (2), Miss Galloway, Miss Roberts, Miss Martin (Sydney), the Misses Farquhar (2), Captain and Mrs Nedwill (Christchurch), Mr and Mrs R. Gillies, and Miss Gillies (Kurow), Mr and Mrs HunterWeston (Timaru), Mr and Mrs S. Neill, Mr and Mrs Edmond and Miss Edmond, Mr and Mrs F. Carr, Mies Carew, Dr and Mrs Stanley Batchelor. On Tuesday afternoon Miss Webster invited some frienas to tea to meet Miss. G. Webster, who was spending a few days in Dunedin on her way through from Invercargill to Wellington. Among those present were Mesdames Christie (Wellington), Gallaway, Black, Woodhouse, Oldham, Nedwill, Maitland, "Vernon (Christchurch), and the Misses C. Williams, F. Demii3ton, K. Ulrich, T. Rattray, and Neill. ' On Friday afternoon Mrs George Roberts entertained some friends at tea at Whitelea. Mrs Roberts received her guests in the drawing room, and dainty and refreshing tea was served in the dining room. Among those present were Mesdames Martin (Sydney), Butterworth, Bridgeman, Stewart, H. S. Fenwick, Woodhouse, Fergus, Finch, and the Misses H. Williams, Farquhar (2), Martin, Free, Gladstone, Hart, and E. Haggitt. Miss F. Rattray has returned from Christchurch. Mrs Hunt and Miss Hunt (Invercargill) are staying at Wain's Hotel. Colonel and Mrs Christie (Wellington) are staying at the Grand HotelMiss K. M'Leai -left for Christchurch on Thursday. Mrs Nedwill has returned to Christchurch. Miss F. Denniston left on Satuiday for Wellington. Mr H. Parker, who is shortly proceeding to America, left on Saturday for Christchurch. • Mr and Mrs D. Aiken, who have been for a holiday to Lake War.aka, returned to town last week. Mrs Vernon (Christchurch) is the guest of Mrs W. G. MaitUnd, Cargill street. Miss Holmes (Wellington) is the guest of Mrs Allan Holmes, London street. Mrs Ellis has returied from Invercargill. Mri Reading (Wellington) is tho guest of Lady Sinclair. Dt Sydney Allen will lea-ve for England early next month, having received' a captaincy in tho medical branch of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. Mrs Logan, Miss Logan, and Mrs J. Mackenzie returned to Kelso on Monday. Mrs W. Menlov* and Mrs E. Menlove left on Saturday foi: Christchurch. Mr and Mrs Alec MacNcil and Miss MacNeil arrived from Sydney last week, and are staying at Onslow House.-

Mr and Mrs R. Glendinirig are visiting Christchurch at present. Mrs Stevenson (Wanganui) is the guest of Mrs Carr, Broad Bay. Miss Eileon Roberts is spending a few weeks in Mas'erton. Mrs Fred Lewis and Miss Nancy Lewis, of Maßtajtcm, are the guests of Mrs Thos. Brown, Broomlands, Montecillo. Soigeaut J. A. Robertson (Base Records, Wellington) left with the Thirty-fourth Reinforcements. Sergeant Robertson Is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Robertson (Glentanner). INVBRCARGILL, February 25. Mr.and Mrs W. Handyside have returned from their visit to Riyerton. Miss M'Ca-w is spending a holiday al Riverton. Mrs Coleman .(Wellington) is visiting her mother, Mrs Swinburne, Bluff. Miss Campbell left for a trip to' Christchurch this week. Mrs Wylie gave o, email bridge party on Friday night for Mrs Tennent, who is leaving here shortly for her new home in the north. Mrs Mandeno is the guest of her daughter, Mrs Cruickshank. S Mrs R. Dunlop gave a tea on Monday afternoon in honour of Mrs Mandeno. Soma, pf her guests were Mrs Eyre. Mrs Wild, Mrs Mandeno, Mrs Cruickshank, Mrs Tucker, Mrs Teunent, and Mrs Wilson. Mr and Mrs Mackenzie (Bushy Park) Wero in town for a <ew days this week. Miss Webster (Dunedin) is, the guest of Mrs Morrah, Gladstone. Mrs 0. Gardner (Lillburn), who lias been staying with Mrs J. Gardner, returned home this week. OAMARU, February 25. On Thursday afternoon Dr and Mrs Douglas kindly lent their grounds for a garden fete, held by the members of Columba Church. There was a very large attendance, and good business was done at the various stalls. The proceeds wero in aid of missions, with the exception of the sweets, fruit sal-ad, and jolly, which went to the Y.M.C.A. Fund. ~ Mrs B. de Lambert is visiting Dune din. Mrs and Mrs C. Verity (Timaru) are the guejts of Mr and Mrs Armstrong. Mr Erie Bishop, • who returned some months ago from the front, ; has resumed' his position in the local branch of the National Bank. Mrs Russell is visiting Waimato. TIMARU, February 23Mrs Goodwin (Geraldine) is staying with the Mkees M'Lean, Ardgour. .Mrs Perry is back at Cadogan after some weeks' visit in Dunedin and Christchurch. Mrs Ilullah, who has been with Miss Woolcombe, Trafalgar street, returned home las»t week. Miss Millton, who has been staying with Miss Knubley, has returned to Woodbury. Miss Goodwin is-staying at Orari Gorge. Mr .and Mrs Morton left for their new home in Christchurch. . ■ Mrs Nantes has returned to Napier. Miss White i 3 staying in Hastings. Mrs Fitzpatrick has returned to Auckland after a visit of some months to various rjart3 of the South Island.* Miss Cowan (Four Peaks) .has been staying in town, but returned home last week. Mrs Cane (Palmerston) has been with Mrs O'Callnghan, Highfield, for a few days. Mrs Duncan has gene to Christchurch for a few days. i-- CHRISTCHURCH, February 23. The annual distribution of prizes at Christ's College took place last night instead of at the usual time, the end of the year, on account of the non-arrival of the books. Their Excellencies the Governorgeneral and the Countess of Liverpool were present, accompanied by Messrs Helmore and Garland, A.D.C., and after the distribution of the prizes his Excellency made a short speech, and ended by asking the' head master to give the boys a holiday in hi*. honour. Others present were the Warden, Bishop Julius. Mi and Mrs Blanch, Mr and Mrs Flower, Mr and Mrs Merton, Mr and Mrs Hogg, Mrs and Miss Fox, Mr and Mrs Cowlishaw, Dr and Mrs Stevensen, Mrs Algar Williams, Mr and Mrs Blunt, Mrs Lang, Mr and Miss Sleight, Mrs H. Reeves, Mrs Millton, Mrs J. Thompson, and the Misses Cowlishaw, Blanch, Helmore, Turnbull (Wellington), Westenra Lane, Cocks, and many others. In the afternoon a cricket match Past v. Present Boys was' played, his Excellency playing for the old boys, so that a most enjoyable day was spent. There have been several small tennis parties during the week, the hostesses being Mesdames Wigram, Clark, Millton, Wood, Moore, and Humphreys. Amongst thos3 playing have been Mesdames Beswick. Reid, E. Stead, Cordner, Ferrar, Godley, and the Misres Miles (Wellington), ELLis (Invercarerill), Wilson, E. Helmcie, Rich, Humphreys, Harlev, and Lee. Tin" Christchurch Ladies' Golf Club held its annual meeting last Wednesday, when the report and balance sheet were read and officers for the ensuing year elected as follows: Mrs Boyle; captain, Mrs Wigram; secretary, Mrs Donald; treasurer. Mrs Hewlett; committee—Mrs Godley, and Misses Cracroft Wilson, Lee, and E. Helmore. Mrs Vernon has been visiting Mrs W. Maitland, Dunedin. . Miss M. Tabart is the guest of Mrs E. Palmer, Hawke's Bay. Lady Russell and Miss Russell (Hawke's Bav) are the guests of Mis Boylo. Miss A. Humphreys has gone to Mount Cook. • WELLINGTON, February 22. We are all very distressed by the death of Mrs Herdman, which has come just at the moment of her husband's promotion to the highest rank but one open to his profession. It is very hard on the judge and his family. In the midst of this tragedy the comments of the politicians are silent, and the bereaved judge has had the deepest condolence from all sidss. They were a very united couplo, and their story of effort together along the way of life is touching in itself, and makes sympathy very much deeper. From the first day of Im"start in the profession at Naseby near to the days when it was simply known as the Hogburn, through the days of the parliamentary membership of Mount Ida to the transfer to Wellington, and through the professional and political struggle there' the wife was truly the helpmeet of her husband, and made for him friends by her fine tact, and beautiful disposition. All this is well known to a large circle of friends and admirers, all of whom would have congratulated her on the elevation of hor husband after the long story of faithful effort, but for the intervention of death. Untimely it can be called, but not unexpected, because the poor lady had been ailing for a long time, and her death is known to have been a merciful re-

leaec. But for those who remain there it no l relief, and therefore the sympathy a. friends is largo and deep. The Board of Directors of the Young Women's Christian Association met this week for the first meeting of the year, and the members were pleased with the report that 90 new members have been put upon the roll, end to hear the long chronicle of the past year's good work. At a meeting of the Women's National Reserve Mrs Corliss contributed the chief feature—a .very enjoyable and instructive feature—with her lecture on Lord Roberts. She made her hearers realise the greatness of the noble old soldier's effort to awaken the nation to the need for national military service against the Prussim menace, which he so clearly pointed out as urgent, and the magnitude of the insulting, scurvy treatment * he had received at the hands of an ungrateul and short-sighted faction. Miss Collison, M.A.. of the Sydney Uni> versity, lecturer in history of that institution, and assistant director of the Workers' Education Association of Australia, is here and doing great work, having already made moat of her time since her arrival on Wednesday. Her first lecture, "Women and Work" dealt with the subject which is getting to be tJhe most prominent in the world, if it ia not already so.. It went over all the aspects of women's work in Australia—tho actual thingsi done,—with which she in her capacity has been personally connected. She explained that the association exists for tho higher education of men and women of all classes, and pointed out that its tutorial lectures are open to both sections of the association. In Sydney, she added, a apecial effort has- been made to provide opportunities for the working women in business houses, offices, and factories to study the subjects of a university course. There are "study circles" for literature, historv, physics, economics, botany, child-study, etc. " The one condition is that the demand- for the furnishing of tutorial instruction must ho made by a, sufficient number of people—naturally, because the association -does not *" care' to risk the offer of instruction to empty benches. Besides these circles the association's work comprises, lectures, social clubs, and libraries. , > The Pioneer Club had a tea for Miss Collisson, Lady Stout presiding in the midst of tea and lilies, with warmth of welome in every word and flower. During the afternoon the guest of the club delivered one of the most impressive speeches her hearers had ever listened to—vivid, logical, lucid; not at all dogmatic: very far always from the pedagogic, which invariably repels so strongly, and full of the saving grace of humour. The* main object was to impress the fact that the need for the higher education of women is growing faster every day. University women must help their less fortunate sisters of the industrial - classes: women must learn to weigh things and think them out for themselves; the world has no time for women who do not think. That was the general scope. Following up was the advice not to join too many societies, for in that way many women become all letters, and capitals in bewildering maze, but no knowledge and no practical result—in fact, an array of shams. It isreally the old bookman's advice to rend not many books, but one, and to read that well, frittering away no valuable time. The peroration was striking, unlike co much that is served up at women's meetings in these days. "Tho time has come," said 'Miss Collisson, "for us to realise that only as a trained and educated democracy can we .hope to avoid the bloodshed end terrible dangers of the rampant anarchis.'u that is now tearing Russia to pieces." Among the hearers of this remarkable address were Lady Stout (as aforesaid, presiding), Mrs Hanan, Mrs Justice Chapman;-Mirs and Miss Coleridge, Mrs Salmond, Mrs G. B. Moriaon, Mrs A. R. Atkinson, Mrs Jacobsen, Miss Helyer, Miss Hetheringtdn, and members of tha club geneially. Lady Sinclair has returned to Dunedin after a visit to he- daughter here. Mors Ri. J. Seddon is in Chris'church on a visit to her daughter, Mrs Bean. AUCKLAND, February 21. For tli6 third year running the lady members of the. Auckland Tennis Club have en-: tertained the members of other clubo, the proceeds from which have been given to the Victoria League Red Cross Fund: On this last oocasion the weather was perfect, and ■ play generally was good, many close games being fought out. The two first prizes were won by Miss Kerr Taylor and Miss . Freda Wake, both of the Remuera Cjub; -and the seconds were won by .Miss' Macdonald and Miss Menzies, of Parnell. The tea tables were plentifully decorated with the club's colours (red, white, and blue), and the cakes were provided by Ihe members. The Auckland Women's Patriotic League opened the work of the present year with a day of packing, the large supper hall in the Town Hall being once more the scene of strenuous work. On this occasion the Mayoress (Mrs Gunson), after having-'wel-conied the workers to renewed exertions, placed on exhibition some 2000 receipt cards of acknowledgments from soldiers received by the last. mail. ■ ■ ■ • Major and Mrs O'Brien, who have been malting quite a long stay at Rotorua, have ■■■ returned to their pretty home in Remuera. The marriage' of Miss Margery Towle (the second daughter of the late Mr E. C. Towle and- Mrs Towle, Epsom) and the Rev. F. G. Ward (rector of Camberra Federal Territory, Australia,, late chaplain of the Forces), was celebrated last week at St. Mark's Church, Remuera. The ceremony was performed by the Right Rev. W. Beatty. of Auckland,, assisted by the Rev. W. Beatfy, M.A., vica.r of St. Mark's; The church was - decorated by the staff of the Epsom Convalescent Home for Soldiers, the bride having: been an honorary worker at that institu. tion for some time past. The bride, who was given away by her mother, looked charming in a gown of ivorv satin with court train, the bodice of which was draped ! with georgette moimted over pale pink ninon . and finished with hand embroidery, the long, tight-fitting georgef:e sleeves being finished in the same manner. The orthodox wreath and veil wore also worn. There was one bridesmaid, Miss Lorna Towle (sister of the bride), who wore a pretty frock of cream net and georgette, tho tunic and eaeh being ' of a- deep primrose colour, and cream georgette hat. A shower bouquet, of cream and yellow water lilies was carried. The bridegroom was attended by Lieutenant •E. Rowlings, IST.Z.E F . as best man. After the ceremony a reception was held at the residence of the bride's mother, onTy a few intimate friends bein? invited. Mrs Towle wore a gown of black crepe de chine and georgette, and small black hat. and carried a bouquet of pink flowers; Miss DorothV Towle, a frock of cream net and laoo wita mauve sash, and mauve hat. and carried a bouquet of purple asters. The bride went awav in a black : and-white checked suit with touches of' saxe blue, and putty-ooiotired hat finished with the same shade of blue. The

future horn* of th>? bride and bridegroom will be in New South Wales. M 133 Marie Tempest, the world-known comedienne, is at present with her company in possession of His Majesty's Theatre, and crowded houses arc the rulo for each performance.