VICE-REGAL BALL FOR NAVAL VISITORS IN WELLINGTON

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 69, 8 April 1937, Page 11

VICE-REGAL BALL FOR NAVAL VISITORS IN WELLINGTON

The beautifully cairn and fine evening was one pleasure added to many others which were enjoyed by over five hundred guests at Government House on Tuesday night, whfen his Excellency the Governor-General had invited many Wellington people to meet Bear-Admiral Lane-Poole and the officers of the visiting Australian squadron and those of the New Zealand Division of the Boyal Navy. The drive up to Government House is now brilliantly lit, and as the cars drove up and the guests arrived — mauy uniforms and also smart f rocks adding to the gaiety of the scene— everything seemed ready for the pleasures that f ollowed." The arrangements for the arrival and departure of guests were excellent, the Commissionaires lending efficient aid. The ballrooro. was completely cleared for dancing, only some groups of waving bamboos making a eef.ting for cqlourful groups. The loggia at the entrance was hompletely. carpeted in tones of blue and gold, with chairs and sofas ready for sitting-out, cigarettea on tables and shaded lights. The drawing-rooms were delightfully decorated with' flowers, large bowls of naixed flowers being used, gladioli in all tones, early chrysanthemums, dahlias, zinnias, and others with delicate greenery. The effect was charming. , Stands of schizanthus in their faint tones of pink, cream, and mauve were also a' pleasure,. and the vista into. the conservatory showed many hanging baskets of exotic flowers^ 1 with gloxionias, begonias, and f eriis massed below. The verandah has now been completely canvassed in, and electric points added, so that it was pleasantly warmed, and it was daintily decorated with flowers, and furnished with tables and comfortable seating. The long corridor was also well decorated and the • stand half-way along with fairy lamps and pink-toned flowers was mueh admired. The side rooms were all at the disposal of the guests, and in these were artistically grouped hydrangeas and gladioli. Supper was set in the dining-robm, billiard-room, and entrance hall, the "decor" in the two latter places being large bowls of white chrysanthemums and dahlias interspersed with long spikes of gladioli in flame tones. In the dining-room the "decor" was entirely of gold plate, branched candelabra, and handsome trophies which had been presented to his Excellency on his twenty-first birthday, his wedding, and on the occasion of his having been master and huntsman of houuds for many years. These were the subject of much admiration, being beautifully designed and chased. The dolicious supper, with many sweets and savouries was accompanied with vuriouB "cups," all of .the cheering kind, Iced coffee was aii enjoyable addition A,o these. Hs Excellency arrived in the ballroom soon after 9 o'clock, and dancmg began to the music provided by an excellent orchestra. He was accompanied by Major Purvis, Sir Standish Boche, and Captain Stuart French, who with Mrs Purvis assisted greatly in tha entertaining of the large number of guests, and helped much towards the success of a delightful ball. Mrs Purvis was in a slenderly cut frock of palest ice-blue satin slightly trained, and wore also a pearl neeklace. Lady Evelyn Drummond was in' chiffon, flowered in faint tones of blue and gold, and Lady Angela Dawnay wore powder blue georgette. His Excellency 's three daughters, the Ladies Mary, Celia, and Isabel Monckton, were pi;esent for part of the eveiiing wearing simply-cut evening f rocks of pale green-ninon.