VICE-REGAL "AT HOME."

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 122, 26 May 1930, Page 3

VICE-REGAL "AT HOME."

POPULAR GARDEN PARTY. A HAPPY GATHERING. Their Excellencies the GovernorGeneral. Lord Bledisloe, and Lady Bledisloe entertained more than 1000 employees of Auckland business houses and commercial organisations at Government; House on Saturday afternoon. Though the weather was not ideal for such si gathering, the really cordial welcome which their 'Excellencies gave each guest and the excellence of the arrangments, made the party a most happy one. The success of the function was shown not only by the number of guests who accepted their Excellencies' invitation,' but also by the diversity that was to be seen among them. There were clerical workers, heads of businesses, typiste-. young office girls, skilled tradsmeh and manual labourers. Most of the men brought their wives. The informal nature of the function was its most pleasing feature. After the guests had been announced, their Excellencies moved separately among the different groups and engaged in many conversations. Music was played by the band of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind from a dais on the lawn. Lord Bledisloe took an early opportunity of visiting the bandstand, and after addressing a few words of encouragement to the blind musicians stayed a while and listened to clarinet and saxophone solos. • The drawing room, dining room and dining hall were beautifully decorated with crimson and gold chrysanthemums, and many of the people were greatly interested in a display of family plate in the dining rpom. A collection of Lord Bleclisloe's. snapshots in another room attracted much attention. Afternoon tea was served in the ballroom and also tinder an awning in front of the house. In holding the function Lord and Lady Bledisloe have followed the example of Their Majesties the King and Queen, who have given several garden parties for wage-earning folk at Buckingham Palace, and.also of their predecessors; Sir Charles and Lady Alice Fergusson.