Of Interest to Women

Southland Times, Issue 24651, 24 January 1942, Page 7

Of Interest to Women

The Black-out Invercargill women are taking the lighting restrictions to heart and really trying to obey the regulations. There has been a steady sale in the local shops for black-out materials, though many housewives are using imagination to help them economize, and have thick paper, old heavy curtains, and used blinds set aside ready for use when the time arrives for the complete black-out. It has been pointed out that it is not necessary to darken every room in the 'house, as long as one room is prepared for the emergency. This one room may be lighted, as long as no lights are visible from the outside. To reduce sky-glow the complete black-out is not considered necessary, though here again Invercargill women are helping by drawing blinds and curtains and reducing the outside lighting as much as possible. Growing Up

Two women with children ready to start secondary school this year visited the Invercargill shops yesterday with one purpose in mind, to equip a boy and a girl with the uniforms considered necessary for modern schooling. Complete with a list of the required articles they set off. For the boy, the procedure was simple. Socks, shirts, pullover, cap, coat, and suit could all be purchased in the one shop; all standard lines, there was not much choice, but that simplified the problem. The only real problem was the cost, which showed that childhood days were definitely over and prices were reaching the adult class.. The school girl’s list was more complicated. The first and biggest item, the gym-tunic, caused as much thought as mother’s new autumn suit, and proved just as expensive. Those women who are home dressmakers will be the lucky ones when this item of dress comes up for consideration. The overcoat, blazer, hat, shoes and stockings were the next articles, all necessary, and all the cause of much discussion and comment. Because of the scarcity of stockings, sockettes may now be worn during the summer months, so that will mean one worry the less for many mothers. There is something about a uniform, and to prove it, or perhaps to prove that women have not the monopoly of vanity, the school boy carried off the packages, to reappear shortly wearing his uniform, and very proud of it and himself. Spinning Invention

An excellent spinning wheel has been invented by the wife of a farmer in the King Country. It is a small attachment to be used on a sewing machine, and costs only 35/-, whereas a spinning wheel involves an outlay of £6 or more.

Miss Millicent Beaumont, of Remuera road, Auckland, has a machine of this new type. It is fed with locks of wool direct from the unwashed fleece, and in the first operation spins a two-ply thread, the second operation making a four-ply thread. The wool can then easily be washed if desired. This inexpensive manner of converting a sewing machine into a temporary spinning wheel would be an invaluable asset to those who are doing an important work in providing wool to be knitted into seamen’s seaboot stockings and pullovers, and also to supplement the limited supplies of wool available for the knitting of comforts for servicemen. V.A. Refresher Course Under an extended age limit, women from 23 to 45 years who hold a firstaid or home nursing certificate and who are not engaged in any active war work, will have an opportunity of training as V.A.D.’s, in a refresher course being arranged by the St. John Ambulance Association in Wellington. In view of the shortage of trained voluntary aids, who are being absorbed for overseas service, for duty in camp hospitals, and in other ways, it is necessary to keep training further women to take their place. This course should appeal to married women, specially younger married women, who would be able to reach the hospital in an emergency more quickly than those voluntary aids at work in the city. It is intended to hold refresher lectures twice a week in the afternoons, on the completion of which, women will be enrolled for their 60 hours’ training at the hospital.

WEDDINGS

YOUNG—COPLAND The wedding took place recently at St. Andrew’s Hall, Gore, of Ruby Honor, fifth daughter of Mr and Mrs J. Copland, Isla, to Robert, eldest son of Mr and Mrs J. Young, Pukerau. The Rev. F. Robertson officiated. The bride who was given away by her father, wore a gown of cream silk taffetas made on classic lines, featuring a high neckline finished with orange blossoms. Her embroidered veil fell in graceful folds from a halo of tiny rosebuds to form a second train, and she carried a shower bouquet of lilies, roses and maidenhair fern. Frocks of similar design in delphinium blue taffetas were worn by Miss Isobel Munro and Miss Olive Ross, cousins of the bride. Haloes of daisies, abutilons and delphiniums formed the headdresses and their bouquets were of autumn tinted flowers. Isla Young, sister of the bridegroom, was flower girl and wore a frock similar to the bridesmaids and she carried a tiny bouquet of roses, lilies and delphiniums. Mr Harvey Young attended his brother as best man, and Mr Ross Copland acted as groomsman. Messrs D. Copland and J. Young were ushers. While the register was being signed Mrs F. Robertson sang the twenty-third Psalm.

At the Cosy Lounge the guests were received by the bride’s mother assisted by Mrs Young. A smart grey suit featuring pintucks was worn by the bride with red accessories when the couple left for ■ the north. WILSON—TOWNSHEND The wedding took place recently in the Church of Christ, Teviot street, of Charles Leslie, second son of Mr C. H. Wilson and the late Mrs Wilson, Lorneville, and Helen Maud, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs H. Townshend, “Oatlands,” Wallacetown. Pastor Grundy performed the ceremony and Mr J. Wood presided at the organ. The bride, who entered the church on the arm of her father, wore a dress of satin embossed cloque made on fitting lines, with high puffed sleeves and finished with looping and a spray of orange blossom at the neckline. The full skirt formed into a short pointed train. The full-length embroidered tulle veil (lent by a friend of the bride) fell from a halo of tulle and orange blossom. She carried a shower bouquet of cream roses and spyrea with maidenhair fern. Mrs W. Hastings, sister of the bride, who attended as matron of honour, wore a frock of sky blue taffeta made with a shirred bodice and fully-flared skirt, and puffed sleeves finished at the square neckline with lemon and blue taffeta roses. Her matching veil was held in place with a topknot of lemon flowers. She carried a shower .bouquet of lemon abutilons andmaiden-

hair fern. Mr lan Wilson attended as best man.

During the signing of the register Mrs H. J. Townshend sang “My Beautiful Prayer.” The guests were received at Elmwood Garden by the bride’s mother, Mrs H. Townshend. In the afternoon the guests were entertained at the home of Mr and Mrs H. Larsen, Tay street.

The bride travelled in a grey model frock and navy coat and hat with matching accessories. Before her wedding the bride received a gift evening from the residents of Wallacetown district. A presentation was also, made by the Tennis Club and the Wallacetown branch of the W.D.F.U.