THE SOCIAL ROUND

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 491, 6 September 1915, Page 4

THE SOCIAL ROUND

Mr and Mrs Rhodes and Miss Ehodea, of Bluecliffs, who have been staying in gkristchurch for some little time, left on Saturday for their home. Mrs C. 0. T. Rutherford, who has been staying with her sister, Mrs Tumor, Timaru, came up to Christchurch on Saturday, returning to "The Peaks" the same day. x Mrs W. J. Black, formerly of Kingsdown, is expected shortly with her two daughters from North Queensland. Mrs Black has a large sugar-plantation it Ayr, which is managed by her. two sons. She intends spending the summer visiting friends and relatives in Canterbury. Miss Mary Ross, Christchurch, is the guest of Mrs Arthur Barker, Geraldine, and will visit relatives in Timaru before returning home. T,he engagement is announced of Miss Doris Roberts, youngest daughter qt Mr J,*P. Roberts, Lake Pukaki, to Mr J. S. Matheson, youngest sou of the late Mr John Matheson, Simon's Pass. "Violet Day" in Timaru realised the sum of £156, which is being devoted to Red Cross purposes. - Mrs Denniston has left on a visit to her daughter, Mrs Abraham, Stratford. The Misses Rogers, Nelson College, are spending the vacation in ,Christchurch. Mrs Coltman, Wellington, arrived in Christehurch by the ferry boat from the north yesterday, and left again for Hanmer Springs this morning. Mr and Mrs H. Oppenheim, New York, Mr and Mrs D. A. Aitken, and their daughter, Mrs A. Lee Smith, of Dunedin, are the recent arrivals at Warner's. Mrs Babington came up to Christchurch from Timaru on Saturday. Mrs C. H. Tripp, South Canterbury, is holidaying at Orari Gorge. Mr and Mrs Scaife returned to Christchurch on Saturday after a visit to Mrs Scaife, sen., at Culverden, and are making a short stay in this city before returning to Dunedin.

Mr "W. Bnckhurst and Miss S. Buck--v hurst (Christchurch) have been staying at the Hydro, Timaru, during last week. Mrs Starkey, Amberley, is in town, '.Mr and Mrs Macpherson (Rakaia). are /staying at Coker's. The engagement is announced of Mr Bichard G. Young, fourth son of Mr E. Young, of Hamilton, North Island, to Miss Eva G. Selwyn, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs F. Selwyn, of Christchurch. , 4 The ladies of the Fendalton branch of the Eed Cross held a successful sale of flowers, cookery, etc., at the shop in Cathedral Square on Saturday morning, when a sum of £25 was netted. The girls of Digby 's College must be congratulated on their effort on behalf of the sick and wounded soldiers, which took the form of a sale of flowers and , sweets on Saturday morning, the result totalling £59. Miss Preston, New Brighton, is visiting, friends in Geraldine. Mrs Gordon Wood, Timaru, who. spent a few days in Christchurch last week, has gone on to Wellington to meet her L. G. Wood, who has been invalided home from the front. Mrs Bagshawe has returned to Timaru from a visit to Christchurch. Women workers are always glad to -. "gather reliable information as to the real pressing requirements of our soldiers at the front. An Australian paper gives an interesting account of 'an interview with some returned soldiers, and some of their" ideas are quaint, but very straight and to the point. „• Heelless socks were severely

condemned; the shirts sent were very

acceptable, but in moßt cases far too big, sleeves and tails being of excessive length. "Balaclava caps, well, now you're coming to the thing we could not do without. I cannot recommend any special shape, for, so long as it's a loltlaclava, we 'll thank you for it. Seems as if when you lose everything else the balaclava keeps you warm at night. . . If you're ever stuck for something to send, let it be a balaclava. . ~,. . . We don't like sweaters; they're too much of a nuisance putting on; a jacket, now, •we can slip on easy, over everything

else. Mufflers are acceptable, so long as they are coloured. Cholera belts, we hate the very name of them; but as the doctors insist on our wearing 'em, you had better go on -making 'em. . . .

Humans ain't the only living creatures in the trenches, so you'll be able, to guess why I don't favour knitted belts.'' The men spoke of the rapid wearing out of clothes, and the need for continually dispatching garments. The Australian system of forming committees for each battalion on the battlefield, arid of, forwarding the gifts from relatives in bulk under the care of officers going with reinforcements, was considered a very good one, and could be carried out better than sending parcels to individuals.

An unexpected visitor came to see me at the hospital oue day (writes a nurse

at the front) —no less a personage than the Bishop of London. An Imperial officer, whom I had met when I was up near the lines, asked him to call and see me, because I was a New Zealauder. I felt honoured. He had many questions to ask me, and told me he was nearly coming to New Zealand at one time. I said to him that 1 hoped he would still come. He replied that he would. It would give him much pleasure He told me that England was proud of the sons of the overseas dominions, particular those of New Zealand. I thanked him on behalf of my country. Then he spoke to me about my work. I found him earnest and sympathetic. In appearance he is youthful in figure, even boyish in gait, but his face is marked by the lines of experience. He has a keen spiritual insight, and I should say, he is intellectually clever. He spoke a few words of cheer to tlio wounded soldiers, which they much appreciated. Ou saying good-bye at parting, thoso lines from the "Legend Beautiful" came over the hospital ward like a benediction: — "To do thy duty, this is best,

and with the Lord to leave the rest.''