SPRING FLOWER SHOW.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 96, 18 September 1914, Page 2

SPRING FLOWER SHOW.

AT Wiirra.EY HALL. I • A PRETTY SCEXE. The committee in charge of the annual spring flower show at the Whiteley Hall may well feel gratified that the exhibition which opened yesterday is one of the best that has yet been held. The present season has dealt very kindly with bulbs and other spring flowers, the result being that they are as near perfection as possible, and it is quite a do liglitful experience to wander round the avenues of sweet blossoms that are to be seen at such great advantage when arranged so artistically .as is the case at the Whiteley Ilall. Taking the effect as a whole on entering the building, the preponderance of white strikes the visitor at once, and yet there is aot really a sameness of color, for the various shades soon catcli the eye, and then one begins to realise that the picture is one to dwell upon as something out of the usual prosaic affairs of life. If anything so lovely as flovws can be called' a lure, then the Whiteley show may certainly be described as the lure of the beautiful. Tt is only when the visitor goes quietly round the tables and stands that the full grandeur of joyous spring i 3 -understood. iHoro axe hundreds upon hundreds of perfect blooms, many apparently alike, but each one having a charm of its own. The color scheme remains, but in detail it is ever-yarying. What in the mass appeared to be white proves to be ever-varying shades of yellow, while interspersed arc a number of brightly-colored blooms that add greatly to the general effect, enhanced by the foliage and blossoms of the pot plants and the gay colors of the hyacinths. A Striking feature of the arrangements is an archway formed of kowhal blossoms, which Just now dire ftt their feegt. The whole of Ilia hfick wall of' the i building is occupied by a very choice collection of flowers and plants exhibited by Mr. J. Gibson, the energetic and courteous secretary, antj he is certainly deserving of great praise .for liis exhibits, whkil ai'e well arranged ill tlneo tiei'Bi lYmking a very attractive backin'Ound to the show. This exhibit alone is well worth a visit, but the same can be said of the contributions by other large exhibitors, such as Mr. S. W. Shaw, Mr. T. French, Mrs. Moore, Miss McGahcy. Mrs X'ewton Allen,'Mrs. Corney, Mrs J. H. Frethey, and several others. Mention must also be made of the very fine collection of blooms, pot plants, etc., made by Messrs Duncan and Davies and the Morshe.id Xursery Co., who have successfully demonstrated that New lljmouth can" produce as fine a collection of spring flowers as can be desirsl.

PRIZE COMPETITIONS. < The decorated tables competition produced five candidates for honors, and the exhibits all deserve commendation. The winner, .Miss Irene Frcthey, well merited the first prize, her exhibit showing a delicacy of treatment, both in arrangement and colors, that is a great credit to her skill and taste. At the same time Mrs. Newton Ailen's table, which earned second prize, ran the pve-> mier table very close for tho award, a/ul Mrs. J. Gibson secured a well-deser.ved third prize. The buttonholes ilcsorvc special, mention for their attractiveness and makeup. The prize-winners were:— Girls over ten years—Madge. Iloaly 1, Edith White 2, Edith Short and Bulah lliivtuell being bracketed third. Boys over ten years —Eric White 1, Willie Short 2, Lindsay Williams 3. Bovs under ten years—Newton Roch 1, ' Cecil'McGahey 2, Rugby Wilson 3. In the class for collection of cut "bloomis (novices), Newton Roch tewk first pri?.e, Eileen Corney being second, while for a charmingly arranged mantelpiece, in white flowers only, Miss Mar-

jorie MeG&foey obtained a well-deserved first. Prizes were also awarded for the most original table and for novices. The for-' mer was annexed I>.v Miss Fret hey, wh<» had "with great skill and effect produced a miniature ladies' hockey imaton, the dolls representing the English and Tsraiuiti teams, and forming,, with uie white .'.goals and pretty surroundings, a very attractive and clever piece of work. Mrs. Roch took the prize for the novice 'Class with a nicely arranged table. OTHER ATTRACTIONS. In addition to tho flowem, there is a jumble stall, presided over by Mesdaiues i Carter a,iul Sharpe and Miss Veale, where | .an useful selection of articles j .awaits purchasers. The afternoon tea .and refreshment:rooin has been well organised, and yes- ' terday proved a great attraction. Mes- , dames Sole and Okey, with a number of ouergetic assistants, did excellent busi- ' inoss. ; The attendance throughout the afteri ,noon anil evening was very good, and there was a consensus of opinion that the show was an exceptionally fine one. ! It will remain open this afternoon and ; .owning, when it should bo largely pataoniscd.