TRAVEL AND SOCIAL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1516, 15 May 1919, Page 5

TRAVEL AND SOCIAL.

“One would never think that the Huns occupied Brussels for four years,” writes an Australian soldier. “It is a fine city. The shops are beautifully stocked, and make a great display. Then, too, the streets are brilliantly lighted.”

The Executive Council at Perth, Western Australia, has approved of the removal of the following officers from the public Service: Carl Leschen, manager of the Government Savings Bank; Paul Bennecke, draftsman of the Lands Title Office, Crown Law Department; Johannes Gloe, draftsman of the Lands and Survey Department;' Charles Biermann, clerk of the Taxation Department.

The Royal Humane Society of New Zealand was constituted in 1898, and during its lifetime the Society has granted 105 letters of commendation, 152 certificates, 106 bronze medals, 84 silver medals, 7 gold medals, and 21 “in memoriam” certificates. The Stead gold medal has been awarded in three cases.

The medal ! riband which will shortly be the most common in the kingdom is that of the “Great War” medal which will cover the whole of the war for all fighting men. The riband, (says the Mail) has a broad centre of orange, and on. each side from the centre outwards are narrow stripes of white, black, and Royal blue.

Writing from Antwerp, an Australian soldier mentions that he recently visited Waterloo, the scene of Napoleon’s final crushing defeat by Wellington. It teems with interest, he remarks. A massive monument has been erected, and from it one can get a complete view of the whole of the old battle front. Napoleon’s headquarters are close by, as are also the Duke of Wellington’s, and the same houses the generals used are still standing! At the foot of the massive monument is a building wherein is painted a panorama of the battle, which gives one an excellent idea of war in those days.

Addressing a meeting of soldiers’ wives-' in Melbourne recently, Lieuten-ant-Colonel Sir James Barrett, a Melbourne doctor, said that it was not the fault of officialdom that there was not a terrible smash in Egypt after the landing at Gallipolk Not a hint had been given to the medical staff that terrific casualties were possible. It was owing to two officers that the smash was averted. General Birdwood told him that it was probable an effort would be made to land on Gallipoli, and, if so, there would be fearful casualties. Lieuten-ant-Colonel Barrett told Surgeon-Gen-eral Williams and General Selheim. General Selheim undertook the risk of giving permission for the expenditure of thousands of pounds upon stores against a possible need. He was willing to face the penalties of not referring to Headquarters. First, the prevention of chaos was due to the General having the courage of his opinions, and not worrying about consequences. There were 5000 casualties brought in the first day, and thereafter about 500 daily for about eight months.

The annual report presented at the Palmerston North branch of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society stated that the past season had been a most disappointing one for anglers. During the early part of the season the rivers and streams had been in constant flood, and during the latter part of the season for some unexplained reason the fish would not rise. The general opinion is that the fish are not in the streams, while others maintain that there are a large number of fish in the river, but they will not take the artificial baits offered. The best bag reported was one obtained by the late Mr. A. O. Torstonson, who landed six good fish, one 61b., two 51b., two 41b., one of 31b., and one of 211 b. These were obtained in the upper reaches of the Pohangina River. The fishing licenses taken out for the season were 104 adults, 37 boys, 10 ladies and nine half-year licenses. There were 60 game licenses issued for the season. The sport was disappointing as a whole, but the prospects for the present season were better than last year. Ducks are plentiful, pheasants and hares are better than usual, and quail are reported to be plentiful in the Foxton district. Red deer stalking was not by any means good, only three good heads being reported for the 15 licenses issued, Sambur deer stalking was more successful, eight heads being taken, besides several hinds from 10 licenses issued. Two young stags were liberated at Tiritea this season and are reported to be doing well.

I was at a conference recently,” said, the Bishop of Bangor at a St. David’s Day celebration in London, “where a working man, representing labour, said, ‘I don’t hold with giving the vote to women. When they are young they are frivolous and when they are old they are perverse.’ (Laughter.) But I do not associate myself with that view. I would never have spent such an enjoyable youth but for the frivolity of the young women of my young days—(laughter)—and now that those ladies have gone into the other category I have not found them entirely perverse. (Laughter.) Instead of- that I find them, in a good cause, wise and strenuous co-operators.”

When all is said, extravagance in regard to dress is not likely to be general during the next year (says the London correspondent of the “Australasian”). Prices for all domestic things are still prohibitive. No one notices this more quickly than the war-bride. Think of furnishing a home when cotton sheets are selling at 38s. 6d. a pair. I refrain from giving the value of linen sheets now-

adays. The smallest tablecloth is 18s., and towels are 275. for half a dozen. The cheapest bedroom suite is about £6O, and a set of kitchen utensils costs about £55. The bride of the lieutenant or captain in the British Army, furnishing on army savings, must solve several very knotty problems in the first few months of marriage.

The Thames branch of the Women’s National Reserve held a very successful afternoon function to raise funds for the Returned Soldiers’ Hostel in Auckland, a satisfactory sum being realised. Mrs. E. F. Adams, president, acted as hostess and made a helpful speech.

As so many people are suffering from loss of hair after the influenza, the following old-fashioned remedy may be given: Put about a dozen sprigs of rosmary in a basin with a pint of cold water, cover with a plate, and stand it. in a warm oven for about two hours to draw. When cold, pour off the liquid, and bottle for use. Moisten a sponge or flannel with the infective, and rub lightly the roots of the hair once or twice daily. The treatment, if continued for a few weeks will, judging by experience, .be found satisfactory, and the cost is little or nothing.

The house famine, referred to by clergymen as a deterrent to marriage because of the difficulty of setting up homes, is net the sole cause of the falling-off in weddings (says the London "Daily Mail”). An authority states that there are over a million and a half women in Britain who will have no chance of marriage, for the reason that there are not sufficient men. In 1917 the surplus of single women over single men was 1,337,000. Sir Robert Armstrong-Jones. M.D., told a pressman that he did not think the estimate of 1J million surplus of marriageable women over marriageable men was too high. A great number of girls realise that the chance of marriage is very small, and are getting employment with a view to establishing their future. “Many of these women workers,” he said, "paid the penalty by suffering from nervous troubles, and resorted to the use of sedatives. They smoke cigarettes, and some of them after their day’s work even smoked cigars. At dances it is the fashion for a girl to dance with the same partner all the evening; she does not get the chance of sorting the men out. A great number of people are prevented from marriage as they are unable to find houses. The flat system, although it favours marriage, does not favour families.”