TABLE TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3342, 3 April 1918, Page 49

TABLE TALK.

Monday Afternoon. Mrs Charles Butterworth entertained Lady Liverpool at luncheon on Monday, and in the afternoon her Excellency was present at a tennis tea given in her honour by Mrs W. P. Edmond (Mount Lodge). A pleasant luncheon party was given by Miss Downie Stewart for Lady Liverpool on Tuesday. The table decoration was an artistically arranged bowl of pink carnations, and among the guests were Mesdames Lindo X esrguson, George Roberts, F. Fitchett, G. Ritchie, Allan OrbeH, B. Ritchie, and the Misses Macassey, Burt, and Sise. On Tuesday afternoon Lady Liverpool (patroness of the club) was present at an entertainment given in her honour by the members of the Otago Women s Club at their rooms in Stuart street. Her Excellency was received by the committee, and, after a short musical programme contributed by the Misses Theomm and Free and Mm Wolf, tea was daintily served m the adjoining tea room. Afterward* much interest was shown in the exhibition of valuable old needlework on view. The club rooms looked oharmTng with the artistically-arranged flowers, the pink antirrhinums and exquisite autumn foliage evoking much admiring- comment. Among the 100 members present were Meadamea Lindo Ferguson (president) Miss Gethcr (secretary), and Mesdames Oibell, Woodhouse, Statham, Gdkwon, Swell, Davies, Johnson, Aiken, Hutchison, Park, Cooper Butterworth, Edmond, Wilkinson, Wilson and the Misses Dunlop, Whnperw, Macassey, Nicolson, Ulrich, Wil kmson Barron, Cargill, Mowbray (Auckland), and Ross A pleasant afternoon was spent at- the Early Settlers' Hall on Wednesday,, when the Countess of Liverpool who is ,. .the patroness of the Federated Patriotic Societies of New Zealand, and takes a great personal interest in the work, was warmly welcomed by the committee and presented with an exquisite bouquet of purple orchids, pink and white flowers, and maidenhair fern with delicately hand-painted streamers. Delegates from many of the country branches were present, and the hall presented a festive appearance with its decoration of flags and dainty tea set out on little tables. A number of returned soldiers from the Dune dm Hospital were preesnt, and were by request introduced by Mrs J. E. Macfle to her Excellency, who chatted freely with the men, who on their part were gratified at the interest displayed in their welfare. Lieutenant Garden returned thanks to the ladies on behalf of the returned" men, and on his call three hearty cheers were given for Lady Liverpool as she was departing. Lady Liverpool returned to the north on Thursday. The town was unusually crowded on Thursday afternoon, and many people left later for their country residences to spend the Easter vacation. Captain Gordon Denniston returned to Dunedin last week after .an absence of ■ three years on active service, and was accorded a warm welcome by his many friends. Mr and Mrs Laidlaw (Matakanui) are on a visit to Dunedin, and are ■ staying at Onslow House. , Mrs Frank Fitchett and family left for Waitati on Thursday, accompanied by Miss F. Rattray. Mr and Mrs Eardlcy Reynolds are spending the holidays at Waitati. Mies Gallaway is the guest of Mrs Alfred Bell (Shag Valley) for Easter. Mrs V. Hitchings (Timaru) is staying at Onslow House at present. Miss Webster left for Wellington on Tuesday. . '• Mrs Denny Brown (New Plymouth) is on a visit to Dunedin, and is staying with Mrs Ernest Denny (St. Clair). INVBRCARGILL, April 1. Dr and Mrs Scott (Christchurch), who were staying with Mrs Keddell for a few dlays, returned home last week. Mrs W. Henderson left for a visit to Christchurch last week. Mrs A. Moffett has gone to Riverton for the Easter holidays. Mr and Mrs Oliver have also gone to Riverton for Easter. Mrs Allison is down from Dunedin, spending a short holiday among some of her friends. Mr and Mrs W. Mae a lister and M'r A. Macalister went to Qneenslown last week. Miss Basstian has gone to Lumsden for the Easter holidays. Miss Bell is spending a holiday at Riverton. Mr and Mrs O'Beimo arc staying at Waikawa for a few days. Miss Callander is spending the Eiaster holidays with her brother, Mt P. Callander, at Lillburn Miss Campbell is also spending Easter at Lillburn.

OAMARU, April 1. The annual bowling tournament is in full swing, and the town is crowded with visitors. The weather has been fine, but dull and cloudy so far. The Misses de Lambert, Piper, E. Robinson, Keddie, and Hertzlett (Wuimate) have taken a cottage at Hampden for the Eoster holidays. Mrs Rush (Hastings) is visiting her mother, Mrs A. H. Maude. Elvington. Mrs Darling has returned from visiting Maraeweka Mrs Fotheringham spen: a few days in Dunedin last week. Miss Alison Darling- is the gueet of Mr« Nichols, Kuriheka. Mrs Chaffey is the guest of Mra Douglas, Reed street. Colonel Chaffey has been staying at Kuriheka. Mrs Jasper Nicolls is visiting the North Island. Mr and Mrs Dick Fotheringham are spending the holidays at MJoeraki. Mr and Mrs Donald Macdonald (Christchurch) and' their two little girls are staying with Mr and Mrs Burry. Mrs and Miss Penwick, Maraeweka, hava returned from Christchurch. TIMARU, March 80. Mr and Mrs H. LeCrcn and Mies LeCren have returned to Fairlio. Mrs Egerton Reid and Miss Refd (Irishman's Creek) are at the Hydro Grand. Mrs M'Meekin and Kathleen are spending the Easter holidays in Christchurch. Mrs John Forbes (Wai-iti road) has returned from Dunedin. Mr and Mrs James Roberts and Misa Roberts (Dunedin) are at the Hydro Grand. Mrs Norman Davidson (Sumner) is the fuest oi' Mr® Howden for the Easter holiays. Mrs Cecil Perry is the guest of Mia Orbell (The Levels). Mrs V. G. Day has gone to Christchurch for the holidays. Mrs and Mies Douglas (Mount Royal) are at the Hydro Grand. Mr and Mrs W. H. Walton (Wai-iti road) have gone to Mount Cook. CHRISTCHURCH, March 80. Unfortunately, after a week of summerlike weather it has set in wet for the commencement of the holidays. The town is very full with soldiers on. leave with their friends, so it is to be ■ hoped it will clear and be fine for the Easter Monday holiday, which is always looked forward to by racegoers and picnickers. The Red Cross teas at the Art Gallery have been well attended during the week, and some splendid ooncerts have been given on different nights. Some of the performers hav« been Mr Nelville Smiths pupils, Mrs Wild* ing, Mrs G. Hutton, Mrs Burnes Loughnari, Mrs Mbnteath, Mr Williamson, Mrs Smith, andf the Misses Northcote,, Reading, Woofli Westenra, Fox, and one evening a" splendid concert was. given by Dr Bradshaw, of the Cathedral, with the choir boys. The hostesses for the week have been Mrs Erio Harper, Mrs A. Reeves, Miss Wynn Williams, Mrs H. Wood, Mrs W. Helmore, Miss Helmore, and amongst those present have been Sir John and Lady Denniston, and Mesdamefl Boyle. A. Rhodes, Buckley (Oamaru), L. Orbell (Timaru), Moore, Rich, Helmore, Vernon, Cotterill, Stevenson, Blunt, Fox, T% Cowlishaw, Beswick, A. Williams, Archer, Gould, Buchanan, Lane, and the Misses Elworthy, Drummond, Lee, E. Helmore, Martin, Featherston, S. Westenra, W. Harlcy. The Christchurch Ladies' Golf Club and the Men's opened their season at Shirley on Friday and Saturday in perfect weather. On Friday Mrs Wigram (captain) ■gave a small prize to the winner, who was Miss H. Wood 7 a «d on Saturday, playing for the A. Rhodes bovl iii Mixed Foursomes, Mrs R. Symes ' and Mr Montgomery won. Some of those l , present as players, and lookerson were Mrs Boyle (president). Mrs Wigram (captain), Mr and Mrs W. Wood, Mr and Mis A. Rhodes, Mr and Mrs Donald, Mr and Mrs Godley, Mr and Mrs H. Wood, Mrs Vernon, Mi' and Mrs Hewlitt, Mrs T. Cowlishaw, Mrs and Miss Wilkin, and the Misses Gould, Lee, Cracroft Wilson, E. Helmore, Northcote, Pinckney (Waikari), H. Wood, and Messrs Wilson (Bulls), Gould, Aitken, Helmore, Sleigh. Miss Pinckney (Waikaia) is the guest of Miss B. Northcote (Cashmere). Mrs Wilfred Stead is the guest of Mrs Stead (Park terrace). Mr and Mrs H. Reeves have gone to South Canterbury for the Esp>r holidays.^ Mrs Thomas (Timaru), who ';s been visiting Mrs Cbrdner, has return-cd home. Mrs St. Buckley (Redeas')'-''• i* the guest of Mr and Mrs H. K-i!::!:' (Racecourse Hill). Mrs Leslie Orbell (Timam), who has been visiting Mrs Elworthy. has returned home. On Wednesday the Lady Liverpool Committee ran a oaks s'all in Cathedral square for their funds. It was a great success, the cakes being sold out early and quickly. As funds are needed, ,-f is Jiotvkl the next response will', be replied to readily. Her Eixcellency the Countess of Liverpool presented a green enamel watch to he raffled for the funds, so there is a chance for our southern friends to have a ticket in this useful ornament. GH EIYMOUTH, March 21. Mvc Portcous is visiting her mother, Mrs Hambleton. Mrs Lawn, of Reefton, has been spending some days in Greymouth. Mrs Phillips, who has been a resident of Westport for many years, is the guest of Archdeacon and Mrs York. Mrs Whitmore has been visiting Christchurch, having eone there to meet her husband, Captain Whitmore, M.C., who recently returned Prom France. Captain Whitinor'e has come on a short visit to Greymouth. Lieutenant Franklyn, who is back from the front for the second time, is at home with his parents, Mr and Mrs Franklyn (Albert terrace). Mr and Mrs Wilson came up from Hokitika to assist at the nurses' concert on Monday. Mr and Mrs Wilson made their first appearance before a Greymouth audience in the Hokitika amateurs' pcrform,ance of "The Gondoliers." and their delightful singing made them firm favourites with the Greymouth public. Mr and Mrs £, J. Smith are back with their son Ernie, who is invalided home. WELLINGTON. March 20. News received from England is that Sister Brandon, of Wellington, is now in charge; of the convalescent hospital for officers &i Brighton. Sister BTandnn i= the grand; daughter of the. late Mr Brandon, one oi the earliest lawyers of Wellington, and hei mother was a niece of the late Mr HoWorth, of Dunedin. Her sister is married to Dr Hailey, late of Dunedin. She took to nursing a few years before the war. making all necessary preparation in Wellington Hospital, and when the war broke out she

offered her services, and, being accepted, ha been at work ever since. Her first service •was at Samoa, where she went with the ex pedition for the'* conquest. This force, it will be remernbsred, had a very dangerous time en route, which was very well described by the pen of one on board one of the transports. It waa shrewdly suspected that the pen was Sister Brandon's, and as the sister had considerable journalistic experience before she took up the nursing profession, the suspicion was not without some foundation. Her next service was in the Maheno hospital ship, with the Hon. Dr Collins, of Wellington, in charge as P.M.0., and she saw much service from Gallipoli 'over a vast area. When she left the sea service the sister did rl work in France and in various hospitals England, and has now been given the position of matron in charge of the officers convalescent at Brighton.' When last in New Zealand Sister Brandon had charge for some time of the hospital at Rotorua (military convalescent). Some Australian soldiers having arrived here unexpectedly, their transport being short of coal owing to the Newcastle labour troubles, it may be presumed, the city was - immediately concerned for their entertainment. They were first cheered to the echo aa they marched roundf the city with their band, and then they were received in the Town Hall with speeches of welcome and something more substantial. Private individuals did much for their comfort, and it was evident that they were having a good time. The warmest demonstration was by the Sydney Street Soldiers' Club. Mrs C. Etirte and her many helpers were 'very promptly in the field of preparation, and Mis Massey was with them from the first, feeling that the wife of the Prime Minister must be in the van when the honour of the Dominion's hospitality to the Dominion's cousins and fellow-subjects of the Empire, and soldiers at that, is in question. Time were some 500 present, fine, healthy, snnbrowned men all. But in the matter of physique it must be said for the sake of truth that these men arc not so stalwart and powerful or so tall as the average of the men New Zealand is still sending to the front. Mrs Masaey addressed them in sympathetic, kindly terms, as she well knows how. She hade them welcome, told them that all "New Zealand had heard very constantly what good fighters and splendid campaigners the men of Australia were, and what good comrades. She added, with the pleasant way she has, that the hostesses (standing all behind her as she spoke her simple, flowing words) —just like a mother talking to her boys someone said very happily—were very glad indeed to meet them and tender them this welcome. Thereupon the hostesses all gave three cheers for the men, and they did not forget to sing, " For they are jolly good fellows." The men, much touched and smiling broadly, some . of them with moist eyes, returned the compliment, giving the ancient ditty of the feasts of peace and war with astonishing vim. Then one of them answered Mrs Massey with great warmth, and the men cheered uproariously for +he ladies of New Zealand, for the army of New Zealand, and, but for the intervention of the Muse Terpsichore, would have gone on cheering till the morning. During the evening the gratitude of those visitors impelled them to be making speeches in honour of their fair entertainers, and to be making all sorts of demonstrations, warm and complimentary. The Hon. W. F. Massev was a visitor, a.nd his burly form was all over the room in the crowd as he talked with the men in oordfal fashion. Tho mascot of the regiment Waa a little ring-tailed possum which lived

■ ■i the cottf; of one of the men, and was brought out for inspection and admiration as it gambolled about the floor. It came out incidentally that the little creature lives on rose all events, at the present juncture,—and the ladies, after admiring it with the usual exclamations, wen: off in search of the food. On the whole the men were delighted with the cordiality of their reception and the friendly manner of their treatment. The sad calamity which has befallen the central country on the Auckland Main Trunk line has filled us all with grief. But grief has not monopolised all our attention. Belief has occupied a great deal of our time. In this the organisation of the Women's National Reserve has played a great and characteristic part. The appeal of the Fire ■Uclief Fund was made on Wednesday. That same evening offers came in thick of clothing from 6 o'clock till 10, and a considerable quantity was collected, -packed, and sent away by the morning train of Thursday. The centres of support were numerous— Clyde quay, Karori, Petone; Societies of St. Vincent de Paul, St. James, Bed Cross, Newtown, Island Bay, etc. Kelburn, of course, and as far as Otaki one could trace the stream of benevolence. It was a very touching response, and showed what the war has done in the way of organising effort for the benefit of others. AUCKLAND, March 28. For the third year in succession the Parnell Tenni3 Club have given a Red Cross tennis party, the proceeds from which have been given to the Victoria League Red Cross Fund. The weather was fine, although the rain which fell on the previous day made the courts somewhat soft for play. The progressive games were divided into two grades, and there were some very close games. Miss E. Brooks was the winner of the A grade, and Mrs Kebble-Archer the B grade. Aniongs* others taking part were Mrs G. Kent, Mrs R. B. Lusk. Mrs Harding, Mrs Taylor, Mrs Beere, Mrs Bur'on, and the Misses Egorton, Macdonald, Ziman, Beehan, Oliphant, Baker, MacCormick (2), Fratnr, and Dewes, etc. The Rod Cross shop is still to the front fcvery week-end, and much business is rc-snlt-illff. especially in vegetables and flowers. Miss Una Buddie, who has been visiting f) iends in the South Island, returned to Auckland last. week. Mrs and Miss Thelma Bloomfield have also returned from the south, and are staying at Carsren. Mr .and Mrs Hunter Brown (Wairoa) and their daughter arc., visiting Auckland, and are staying at the Grand Hotel. Mrs Luke (Mayoress of Wellington) is visiting her relatives in Auckland. Miss K. Bars*on is at present in Christchurch, where she has gone to act as bridesmaid to her brother, Lieutenant A. R, Barstow (group area officer at Dargaville). whose marriage to Miss B. Fuller, daughter of Mrs F. Fuller (Merivale), was to take place last week. Miss Edith Fenton, who is one aniontrst others to be made a member of the Order of the British Empire, has been actively connected with the work of the Victoria League since the outbreak of war, and for the past 18 months has been teaching the soldiers at Rotorua the art of making baskets. Miss Fenton is a sister of Mrs Hope Lewis, formerly of Auckland, but of late yeai-a a resident of Wellington. Very genuine is tho regret being felt all over Auckland at the news of the resignation of Archdeacon Mac Murray, which is to take effect one year hence. The reason given by Archdeacon Mac Murray is that his health

is failing;; but we all trust that ho may bo spared to live amongst us for very many years to come. MILITARY WEDDING. A very pretty wedding was solemnised ft St. John's Church, KosJyn, on Wednesday, March 20, when Miss rieatrioe Dunsford, youngest, daughter of Mr F. Lunsfc-rd, of The Limes, KosJyn, was united in the bonds of matrimony to Seoond-lieu.enant T. R. Abercrombie (Third Reinforcements), second son of Mr and Mrs G. L. Abercrombie, of Oaklands, Anderson's Bay. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Archdeacon Fitchett. The bride,- who entered the church on he arm of her father, was prettily gowned in ivory satin charmeuse. She wore the customary veil and orange blossoms, and cairied a beautiful shower bouquet of white flowers and maidenhair fern. The bride was attended by two bridesmaids —Miss Elino're Dunsford (sister of the bride) in a pretty frock of pale blue crepe de chine, an<S Miss Lillian Abercrombie (sister of the bridegroom) in a dainty frock of shell pink crepe de chine. The bridegroom was supported by Lieutenant -G-. Mitchell and Sergeant Cantrell. The church was mest artistically decoby girl friends of the bride, the colour scheme being carried out in red, while, and blue. The wedding guests were subsequently entertained at ihe residsnee of the bridle's fa her, only immediate relatives being present. After the cus'.omary toasts had been honoured the happy couple left by motor car for 'he north, carrying with them the sincere good wishes of a large circle of friends.