THE STATE BALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1921, Page 9

THE STATE BALL.

A WONDERFUL SCENE.

NEW ZEALAND GUESTS.

London, Jul y 14.

Probably there has never been a more wonderful scene than that at Buckingham Palace on Thursday night, when the King and Queen gave a State ball in ‘honor of the King*and Queen of the Belgians. It was on a much vaster scale than the State, banquet of a few evenings previously. Some people who wore privileged to attend both these important functions were more impressed with the banquet (with its 150 guests and the richness of (he precious gold plate) than with the. hall, which was attended by 2000 people. In each instance ihe same Stale apartment was

used, but for the hall other rooms -were thrown open in addition. Those present included the New, Ze tland Prime Minister, with Mrs. and Miss Massey, Lady Allen and the Misses Allen, the Earl and Countess of Liverpool. Lord and Lady Ons’i. the ITon. J. \V. Fortescue, Lord ami Lady Islington and the lion. .loan Poynder. Sir A. J. Godley and Lady Godley. the ITon. E. F. L. Wood and Ln.dv Dorothea Wood.

“A big bluff giant stood in the inner doorway as I taw up, in simple’ black evening clothes anil knee breeches, ami beside him towered two beefeaters, as if they had fallen out of the century of Henry the Eighth. It was Mr. Massey, the Prime Minister of New Zealand.” writes “One Who Was There” in the Evening News, “and I wondered at this meeting of new ami old. this Antipodean link with ancient English tradition. But not for long did I wonder. For Lady Astor flashed past, crowned by a diadem o'f gorgeous diamonds, and hot on her heels tripped Mrs. Asquith alert and lithe, in a green dress anl train, while a freshet of of Parliament and peers bore mo up the stairs past Horse Guard sentries with drawn swords to a coruscating company above.”

Prior to the bell Mr. and Mrs. Massey and Miss Massey dined with Lord and Lady Astor at their London residence.