LADY ISLINGTON'S ARRIVAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 905, 26 August 1910, Page 9

LADY ISLINGTON'S ARRIVAL.

A CORDIAL WELCOME. One could nut but rejoice that the weather was iu such a gracious mood when Lady Islington arrived in ■Wellington yesterday morning. 1 First impressions somehow have. a. habit of turning out. to be permanent, ones, so that it was. well that out city was first seen m bright sunshine, when everything is at its best. It seemed as though nearly the whole of Wellington wished to be pro-' I sent to wgjpme her, so many were the people gatljMed upon the wharf and the roads leading to it. Fla»s were flying from many of the buildings in town and from all the ship? in port, while 'the Turakina, as was. befitting tho occasion, looked quite.the gayest, of all. Long before ' half-past' nine, the timb at yihich Lady Islington was to arrive, every vantage point, had been secured by the early comers, all awaiting the arrival with the keenest interest and friendliness. CWle upon three hundred school girls from the different schools were arranged in detachments near the steamer, and a company of tho Permanent Artillery, as well as. the Amokura boys, under Captain Hooper, formed a guard of honour for tho landing. Tho official welcoming party, consisting of Sir Joseph and Lady-Ward and Miss Ward, tho Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. Wilford), Dr. and Mrs. Findlay, the Hon. G. Fowlds and Miss Fowlds, the Hon. D. and Mrs. Buddo, tho Hon. R. and Mrs. M'Kenzie; tho Hon. J. Carroll, the Hon. J. A. Millar, and'the Hon. T. Mackenzie, all went oh board and'were introduced to Lady Islington. Lady Ward, as did Mrs. Findlay also, presented her Excellency with a very lovely bouquet of freezias' and violets, and on behalf of the women of New Zealand welcomed her to New Zealand. Lady Islington replied that she looked forward with, great pleasure to her stay in NewZealand. J, ' On reaching the wharf, ' the school girls pre&nted the Hon. Joan DicksonPoynder,. tho daughter of Lord and Lady -Islington, 'with - a beautiful bouquet of violets, and then the little party of three, with Captain G.' C. Hamilton slightly in advance, walked slowly down-tho'wharf and. through the ..long lines of patientlywaiting people, not before tho passengers of the Turakina, who crowded the decks, gave three ringing cheers'for her Excellency. It came rather as a surprise to the people that they should walk through their midst instead of departing in then, motor-car, and it seemed to rouse them to even greater heartiness in their welcome. Hats' were wildly Waved and most enthusiastic cheers broke out all over the place, while Lady Islington, looking very interested and pleased vrith tho undoubted cordiality of her reception, bowed and smiled, her responsiveness, to their greeting. There was no .doubt about the fact that '■ the people were greatly • pleased and attracted by her. Only when the gates were reached at the entrance of the wharf did they stop walking, when,- getting into their motor-car, they drove away amidst more departing cheers. Lady Islington and tho Hon. Joan were both dressed in deep mourning. Lady Islington is dark, darker than the reproduction of the portrait taken of her some time ago would lead one to think, and is very delightful to look'at. .

' The paragraph in yesterday's issue relating to certain presentations in connection with the i recent Flower Pageant was incorrect in one particular. It was made to appear that Miss Richmond was one of the recipients. It should have' read that the presentation took place at Miss Richmond's residence, the recipients being Miss Sybil Johnson, who designed most of the' dresses, 'Mr. Petherick (secretary and treasurer), and Captain Davis, who was in charge of the marches, etc. Mrs. R. A. Douglas, from Wellington, is staying with her sister, Mrs. W. Howard Booth, Carterton, Wairarapa. ■; Mr. M. ,T, Brookes, manager of the Dresden Piano Company, on the occasion of his marriage, was the recipient of a handsome presentation from the directors of the company, and from the employees he received? a solid silver salver and tea and coffee service.