SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 923, 16 September 1910, Page 9

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Reception to Lady Islington. . It. was a very interesting function -'thai took".place ,in the Concert Chamber "ot ,tlie 'i'owi Hall yrsterday, when |im Excellency the Governor and Lady Islington: went the guests,, of honoiu' at eep'tioh, giyen' by. tho. me:nlK*rs of Hit: Executive Committee oftho Victoria League, fin - the purpiisii ofwe'lcomihg Lady Islington to. New Zealand. Lord Islington occupies: a high: position in itic Victoria League in. London,' which ■' is the parent of all the branches scattered throughout the world, and naturally he takes a very keen intenst in the league that has been established in New Zealand. ; A very large number of : people ; were present,, and 1 practicnlly- all wfci'u .members of tho league, which, it is interesting to learn,' has tho largest number, of members .outside: London. - ..Tho.: day was absolutely . perfect—Wellington ;ut its hdst--and evidencos of- a most; welcome spring were.'every where tu bo seen, both outside and inside. ■ Proliably • the Concert Chamber has never looked 'so nthactive us 'it. did upon tiiib Tho iwhite, : cold-looking walls .of . the room, almost hidden;as- they wero' with .foliage, palms, and : bamboo , grass,formed a stroiig contrast tb tlic delightfully '. warm-looking red .:. carpet'' which covered fbo wholo of the jloor. Lyeojio-' dium wTeathed nud. Cwin6d itself arouud the outside of tho. gallery railing, and about tho various gasnliers. l'he stago had been_ very prettily, arranged. Great clumps of bamboo were placed at - either •oni-.of it, while the front .was'arranged ■ with quantities of pink. camellias and lycopodiuiu/; .'Tho stage itself -had' beenmade x a most cniiifortnblo place for. the occupation uf the guests of honour, and was furnished with : couches and easy chairs', . while a cheerful carpet and several 1 coloured screens - added . a ' gay note of colour to : tho. 'scciic. Hoveral tea-tables ;were arrauged::at one -side of, the room,' and were..- most artistically decorated with hulhs and quantities.. of delicate primroses. .Mrs. Chatfield, J' tlic; , secretary -of 'tlie Iwigne,-Tmet ■ the 'viceregal party, consisting; of Lurd and Lady .Islington and, Miss .Cotton, with Captain .Muitlnnd, aide-de-camp in' atteiidahco, at the dooi;,-:.and.presented them, to the 'members of the Executive Committee-; ■ flonsisting of lady Ward, :< ; Mrs.-, Corliss,|Mrs.; Harris, Miss Coates,, and Mrs.-J. P.' Lulio, and then' to various members of - the amncil. V;

. Lady Ward presented her Excellency with' a f very beautiful;, bouquet of- azaleas' and .dQlicat'ely-coloured foliage, tied .with heiio. trijpe riDDon, and 'then' Lord'; and Ladj Islington,- Lady Ward, ; Miss' Cotton, and Dr.- Findlay took their seats,upon the platform. ' During the course" or a most interesting {speech, his Excellency 'ov pressed his, pleasure in having the oppoitunity: of identifying himself with thr, work of tho league in New Zealand. Ho explained, its objects; imd aims /and concluded with; tho hope that its work would prosper and become a vital part of ■ tho :parent- league in .Great- Britain;;,.' Dr. Findlay; also: spoke and dwelt ; upon>' l'h«' unifying' force ' that such a league; possessed among all the outlying pa;rts of tho Enipjre and hot, only;; would; it exist in times of-well-being;, but to evon a greater extent, in times of stress and trouble.

; A very. enjoyable programme of' music arid recitations formed part, of the entertainment of the'afternoon, while a-string' hand, stationed in (lie gallery, played at .intervals;- Miss'Anderson' played' a pianoforte solo,; Miss ,E. :,Wara/ Jliss-'.Beau-champ,' and .Mr. Carr : sung, and Mr.. Clark recited; Several of: the : members ■ of ttui league'!assisted in; bringing tea ■ to the very many guests • . lady Islington r.-oro a black , crepe de chine dress, and-,.over -it., a. long loose transparent coat, and a black toque with a black aigrette'iii the front of it. Miss Cotton wore black -costume and blacktoque. Lady Ward wore a dress of black ninon trimmed.with jet and-a large biacl; hat with plumes. : Mrs: Chatficld, an electric "blue. Princess dress with black laco yoke and large black:; hat. , <Miss Coates,; violet costume and black hat. Mrs, Corliss,-' a dress of black striped ninon over white- silk, a white . feather boa and a ■ black hot with plumes.- Mrs. Harriss, a dress . of brown shantnng trimmed .with cream lace and; a large violet hat.. Mrs. J. B. Luke , a. cream coat and skirt and black hat. Others who were present were Mr?. Grace, Miss Harding,; Miss Kichniond,. Mrs. Corrigan, Mrs. L'arhach, Mrs. Martiu,\ Mrs. Gibb, Mrs. D.- Nathan,', Mrs. M'Carthy,■, Mrs. Hane, Miss Kane, Mrs. Ziman, Mrs. Duncan, Mrs. Sidey, Miss, Nathan, Mrs. T.E.,Taylor, Miss . Millar, Mrs. Quick, - Miss Lloyd Hass'ell, Mrs. T. Duncan, Miss ,R; Rich-, inond, Mrs. Sinclair, Mrs. A. Myers, the Misses Sutherland (2),_ D.r. Gibb, Dr. Arnold Izard,: Mr. C. B. Morison, the 1 lion. Dr. ITindlay,. Dr. Martin, and, very many, others.' Some- beautiful •.anemones .were'sent.over.from the bay by Mr. R. Turnbull for the purpose of decoration, and camellias and bamboo grass frorirlsland Bay, from Mrs. Chatneld's home. , The Late Mrs, Watt. Concerning' the lato Mrs. Watt, wife of Lieutenant-Colonel John P. Watt, our. Wanganui correspondent states:—The deceased lady underwent a severe operation S. few. weeks-ago, and appeared to be; recovering, but' pneumonia supervened and proved fatal.' Mrs. Watt took a keen', interest, in the volunteering movement, and, wa?. always active in the. promotion' of bazaars,', etc., ! for their benefit The Garrison Band, in particular,- loses a good friend by her death. Sho leave a .husband,- two sons; and' two daughters. Meeting at Y.M.C.A, A J very, largo- gathering of, people assembled in tun Y.M.C.A. Buildings last evening for the'purpose of welcoming and hearing Miss. Anderson, ; the national organising secretary of ■ the Y.W.C..A., speak concerning the objects of her visit. Dr. Findlay presided at the.meeting, and Lady Islington was present. Mr, 11. N, Holmes gave air interesting little speeth, expressing the pleasure the Y.M.C.A.,felt in being given the opportunity of becoming acquainted with -Miss Anderson. He theu went on to speak of the work that ivas being done by the associations, and hoped to sec the sister one occupying some day soon a position similar to ' tlio one which their own occupied. "Thero was no-doubt of the importance of the ; work' that both did, and he hopotj that "both the . associations . would -•: ppovß' tlie value of their existence- by; lessening .'the amount of criminality that existed; . >Miss..'Anderson, ..who - was.: wariiiiy applauded.-:; when :rising to-- speak, ; gitve a brief' account 'of the work the Y7W.C.A. was doing in tho various'.parts' of, • the : world; in ..which it existed, In' European countries, as well, .as, in - China, Jap'an, • and" India ..they all had'.their bciiig, but probibly.; in-India tho , work that was being : done- had. the greatest; difficulties confronting; them. TheV'-Eurasiaii- 'race offered.a great-problem, and neede-J; very delicate handling. The buildings, belonging :to' :the; .in that country were.,;exi'eodingly. fine,\vahd- the greatest: interest was taken in the woflc. Miss Anderson could- not help refertiw? to the

United States, nnd to ths way in which the movement 'bad - gone nhcad. There everyone recognised that tho Y.W.C.A. w»s quite as important as the Y.JI.C.A., and they supported tho ono just as much as the other. Jliss Anderson whimsically stated that , she realised that it needed persons, of, intelligence and discernment to realise how necessary it was that it should bo encouraged. If this work were carried out to its fullest extent, there would not be the many places of refuge and succour that were so necessary arid so filled with inmates.

so filled with inmates. ' ' At tJw unci of the address several interes ting- lantern slides were shown, of the buildings,' students, and staffs of the various countries in which 'the institutions existed., A pianoforte solo by Miss Watkins,. a recitation by Mrs. SutcMe, and a son? from Mr. Clark Johnston brought a very enjoyable, evening to a close; not, however, before supper was handed vouiid and a vote of thanks passed to Miss Anderson. ■ ... , Farewell Tea,. Miss Eaton and Miss Moore, of the "Aladdin" Company, ' were entertained at a farewell tea by the Misses Mever yesterday, ■ afternoon. The function, which .took place at Kirkcaldie's,.was a very, pleasant oito. Among'thoso who were present . were: Mesdames Solomons and Price, and the Misses Healey, Macdonald, Deveny, and Sullivan.