INVESTITURE HELD AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 55, 27 November 1937, Page 13

INVESTITURE HELD AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE

More than 400 guests from Wellington and other parts of- the Dominion were present at Government Houso last nigtit, when. their Excellencies, the Goyernor-General and Viscountess Galway, held au investitude, followed by a rdception. lnvestitures are always most pieturesque and inspiring functions, and tliere was an air of great solemnity last liight when his Excellency,- who Mras in .uniform, conferred the various honours. This particular occasion was of especial- importance and interest, for t-hose who were invested wero -the recipients x)f honours conferred by his Majesty the King on the occasion of his Coronation iast May. Their Excellencies entered .the ballroom at 8.30 p.m., and, following the playing of the National Anthem, the investiture took place, Major Purvis annouqcing the names and the reasons for the honours conferred. All the guests were subsequently received by their Excellencies, with whom, during the investitude, were' standing Mrs. Purvisy • Oaptain . Stuart-Erench, Sir Staudish O'Grady Roche, Gaptain A. J). Oliver, Wing Commander Isitt, and Mr. D. E. Fouhy. Lady Galway was wearing, a slimfitting gown of ciel blue brocade patterned in gold, with along-ended corsage b.pw . lined with spnn gold tissne. Her jewels were a diamond . tiara and a chain of diamonds, with a ruby and diamond ' pendant. She was wearing nuiuerous- orders, among them her new-ly-conferred Dame of Grace of the Order • of St. John. / On one shoulder were two diamond ornaments, and she carried' a iianuugo-eoloured ostrich leather fan'. JSlfs, Purvis was m a slender, graceful gown of heavy wliite satin, patterned in siiver, and she carried an : ostrich feather fan in shades of gold. The Hau. Oelia and Isabel Monckton Arundel were also present. They were dressed alike in iee-blue rose-sprigged taffeta with pink sashes. 'Ijhe many guests proceeded to the drawmg-roomSj which were very gay with a prbfusion of iovely early-summer flowers— peonies, gladioli, delphiniums, delicate stocks, stands of foliage, plants and soft fern, irises and arum lilies— all of them ar^anged in the most artistic manner. In the billiard and dining-rooms and the entrance lia.l, where a buti'et supper was served, were still more floral decor'ations, equally attractive and arresting to the eye. The supper dislies were served with temptiiig cool "cup" drinks and the popular iced eoffee that is so intriguing a complement to botli savoury and sweet. Among those to whom His Excellency preseuted ordeis and decorations were Miss A. E. Jeroine Spencer, Omatua, Napiei-, who received the O.B.E., and Miss A. ,C. Inglis, Waipukurau, who received the M.B.E.