Lotus Flowers and Cherry Blossom

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 423, 3 August 1928, Page 4

Lotus Flowers and Cherry Blossom

MODEL SHRINES AND MINIATURE GARDENS ON FLAGSHIP IDZUMO | 1 JAPANESE “AT HOME” All the dainty floral art of old Japan was expressed in the beautiful decorations on board the flagship Idzumo yesterday afternoon, when ViceAdmiral Seizo Kobayashi and the officers of the Japanese Training Squadron gave a reception which was attended by a very large number of guests. Great branches of cherry blossom decorated the awnings that covered the gangway and quarter-deck, and appeared all over the ship. Quaintly beautiful models of Japanese shrines, the work of the men themselves, were to be seen, and, in the commodore’s room, a realistic garden with gravelled paths, beds of vivid blooms and picturesque little bridges covered a long table. Small trees grew in the garden, lotus blossoms and irises vied with each other in their beauty, and patient little fishermen sat with their lines waiting for bites that never came. Trophies of olden wars were exhibited in the captain’s room, and on the walls, and old memorial tablets, were explained to the curious guests. Every officer and midshipman on board placed himself at the service of the guests, and conducted them to every corner of tiie ship, explaining and pointing out the interesting features that were passed. The big shed on the wharf, alongside the Idzumo. was the scene of a strange entertainment that included wrestling, fencing games, ju-jutsu, and ; bayonet-lighting. The guests were presented by the honorary consul for Japan, Mr. A. B. Roberton, to the vice-admiral and the senior officers, before being taken over the ship, where they were entertained at tea. From the captain’s cabin to the galleys, and the sailors' quarters, the guests wandered, admiring, exclaiming, and puzzling their guides with a thousand questions, which were, however, quickly answered, for every officer seemed to have a speedy knack of finding any word he required in the amusing little Japanese-English dictionary which he carried. Among the guests were: Mrs. A. B. Roberton was wearing a frock of black mariette with light relief under a black fur coat and a black hat with white osprey trimming. Lady Lockhart wore a black patterned crepe faille frock under a coat of black sedan cloth bordered with fur and a black velvet hat with flat trimming of varicoloured feathers. Lady Jean Macintosh chose a frock of mist blue l’risca, and with it she wore a coat of dark blue cloth and a hat of matching shade. Lady Fowlds was wearing a frock and coat of black cloth bordered with fur and a hat of black panne velvet. Mrs. A. D. Campbell wore a mulberrytoned ensemble of creplla with golden fox furs and a hat of mulberry shade. Mrs. J. S. Brigham, black frock of georgette under black fur wrap and hat of black satin. Mrs. W. E. Boyle, frock of beige mariette under fur-trimmed coat of beige velour cloth and small amber hat. Mrs. A. W. Blair, black ensemble of trioolette with black musquash wrap and black hat. Mrs. R. Isaacs, frock of navy- blue georgette with fur coat and navy blue hat. Mrs. Edward Russell, petunia frock and hat of matching shade with marmot wrap. Mrs. Swanson, wine-coloured frock and coat and hat to Lone. Mrs. J. Park, tan ensemble with fur wrap and opal blue hat. Mrs. Watson Airey, black georgette frock under fur wrap and black hat. Mrs. Gillillan, black cloth ensemble, furs, and black and steel grey hat. Mrs. Bullock Webster, floral patterned frock under black fur trimmed coat and black hat. Mrs. Mervyn Reed, navy blue frock with blue and white appliques and blue hat. Mrs. Cecil Leys, floral frock under black cloth coat and small dark brown hat. Mrs. Ernest Davis, black fur trimmed coat and navy hat banded with ribbon velvet. Mrs. S. A. Stride, mushroom pink tailleur .with golden fox furs and hat to match. Mrs. R. Burns, fawn tailored suit with furs ajicl hat of flecked fawn shading. Mrs. Lawrence Ludbrook, navy blue fur trimmed ensemble and hat to match. Mrs. Noakes, black sedan cloth ensemble with furs and black hat. Mrs. Keable, petunia frock under black Persian lamb coat and black hat with grey mount. Mrs. Michaels, navy blue crepella frock and navy hat worn with fur wrap, i Mrs. John Roberton, black frock of georgette with fur wrap and black hat. Mrs. G. Wilton. Huapai, black cloth ensemble with furs and black hat. Mrs. E. Williams, navy blue tailored suit and hat of black felt. Mrs. PI. Brett, tete de negre tailleur and bat of matching shade. Mrs. A. G.-Talbot, black cloth ensemble, furs and black hat. Mrs. Clive, frock of black georgette with furs and black hat. Mrs. J. F. Shanly, beige georgette with hat to match and fur wrap. Mrs. Egerton, georgette frock under fur wrap and lacquer hat. Mrs. Murdoch Smifii. navy blue tailored suit and felt hat of cherry tone. Mrs Jnglis, black ensemble and feather trimmed hat to tone. Mrs. T. A. Low, Chinese blue georgette frock under fur wrap, and black hat. Mrs. Holderness, moleskin fur wrap over georgette frock, with hat to tone. Mrs. Coltman, black mariette fi-ock, with black coat and furs, and black velvet hat. Mrs. Hudson, black frock of georgette, black fur-trimmed coat, and black hat. Mrs. Holland, ensemble of black velour cloth and black hat. Mrs. E. A. Dacre, black ci'epe faille ensemble, with white relief, and small black hat.