VICE-REGAL LEVEE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 20, 19 October 1920, Page 8

VICE-REGAL LEVEE

-4 BRILLIANT SCENE AT GOVERNMENI HOUSE

NOTABLE OFFICIAL FUNCTION It is so long since residents in the Empire City have been invited to participate in that time-honoured symbol of loyalty to King and Crown, a Governor's levee, that those mny be forgiven who have supposed that it must have.passed into the limbo of Stnte functions of the paßt; but tho advent of His Excellency the Governor-General, Viscount Jellicoe of Scapa, has given open assurnnce that the levee h still a> function of importance. That the levee of yesterday_afternoon was eagerly availed of by a record attendance indicates that this interesting manner of paying- one's ■personal respects to His Majesty's representative is far from being out of .date, but on the contrary is a very real and simple way of demonstrating loyalty and individual imterest in His Jfajesty's choice as Gov-ernor-General. Yesterday's levee was, perhaps, the iiioslt brilliant yet held in Wellington. A notable feature was thn presence of so many uniforms. A levee is one of the comparatively few function* where ft ?o!<Ker, be lie officer or private, may display to, the full the honours he has won, and quite properly ninny took advantage of the fact, thus adding much to the 'glitter and the show. It is exceedingly fortunate that'the term of oach Governor is not marked by a great war; nevertheless, the recent war had a direct i>art in the display made at the levee. "With three or four generals in tho lino, and numerous colonels, and lieutenant-colonels, majors, captains, and lieutenants in attendance, each bedecked with his order and medals, the sight was certainly an inspiriting one. It is the first levee since the creation of the ■ Order of 'the British Empire, and its comiihindcr.s officers, and members were there in full force, adding a further decorative touch to the scene. His Excellency the Uovernor-Goneral, in the brilliant and handsome uniform ; of an Admiral of the Fleet, his breast. i Hashing with decorations, medals, and ribbons, rtood in the centro of the ballroom at its northern end, with Captain P. E. Mundy (South Wales Borderers). A.D.C.. ond'Captain A. R. W. Curtis 01th Hussars), private secretary, on his right;, hand, and Captain R. G. Southey (R.A.F.) on his left, each in the uniform of his regiment. The entrance used was the main eneranee to the ballroom, and the line moved up the western side of the room. The cards were' taken by Captain Mundy, and handed on to Captain Curtis, who announced the name in 1 sharp, clear tones, when tho one called J shook hands with His Excellency, and pawed on in the usual way. i ThofD having the right of private en- ■ tree commenced to file into the audience chamber at 3.45 p.m., and others camo 1 b?hveen that time and 4.25 p.m., durinu ' which period 1 about *>50 persons pnsred i through tho apartment. Here and there was a break in the continuity of 'the '.line. when.'with an expression of relief, I His Excellency would ieave his post to , chat with the Prime Minister and other ' members of the Cabinet, who, after pat- [ ing 'theft- respects, took up their posi- , tions in the corner to the" left of His Excellency. There were no incidents to mar thp 'smoothness of the affair, fine very old and much-respected gentleman, after presenting his enrd, passed Viscount Tellicoe by in a humorously nbfent-mind-ed fashion, and had to be reminded that His Excellency was really there and I prepared to exchange grips, with him. During the levee the ban!] of the Fifth Regiment nlayed on the back lawn, where 1 Her Excellency and her daughters stroll- '. Ed in the warm sunshine, chatting with groups of their new friends. Mr. A. C. Day (official secretary) was i in attendance, and his sen-ices helped to '• make the gathering the complete success : it undoubtedly was. %