TOWN HALL RECEPTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 121, 24 May 1935, Page 11

TOWN HALL RECEPTION.

JAPANESE NAVAL GUESTS. BRILLIANT FUNCTION. The At Home given as the final function in connection with the viiiit to Auckland of the Imperial Japanese Training Squadron was held in the Town Hall last evening, when RearAdmiral K. Nakamura, Prince H. Fushimi, Prince T. Asaka. Commander fvimozawa, and a number of officers and cadets were the guests of the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, and the City Council. A large and representative number of citizens attended, the gallery and hall being filled. The hall looked attractive with spotlights, coloured electric bulbs swung from trees, lovely autumn foliage, and festoons of lycopodium which were looped to the sides of the walls from the central covered electroliers. Tall palms were placed at intervals round tho front of the gallery, hanging baskets of ferns and wreaths of green leaves decorated each balcony light. The colour scheme of lighting threw shades of golds and soft greens over the whole scene. The stage looked like an Eastern garden with its tall pots of yellow, gold, and bronze chrysanthemums, laculia, and many hothouse plants, and a. profusion of all shades of autumn foliage and bamboo. The floor was carpeted with green, which resembled a huge plot of moss. The whole effect was one of the most striking ever achieved in functions held in the Town Hall. Shortly after nine o'clock the guests of the evening, with Commodore the Hon. E. R. Drummond and a number of naval officers from the New Zealand warshipfl in port, arrived, and were met by tho Mayor and party and escorted into the hall, where they wpre presented to the Mayoress, Mrs. Davis, and Mrs. Brigham, wife of the town clerk. The Mayoress wore a gown of black satin crepe, embroidered with motifs of steel beads, and short coat of dark green and nilver lame with green trimmings. Mrs. Brigham, who assisted to receive the guests, wore a black lace over pastel pink and a shoulder wrap of deep rose ostrich feathers. The National Anthems, British and Japanese, were played by the orchefitra; Mrs. Harold King sang a Maori welcome, and Mr. Fagan rendered some tenor solos. Dancing was indulged in during the latter part of the evening. The supper room was magnificently decorated in the same tones as the hall. Admiral's Appreciation. ''The friendly relations of Japan and Great Britain are based on the mutual understanding of each other." said RearAdmiral Nakamura through an interpreter. "I and some brother officers were here 12 years ago and we are glad to be back and meet old acquaintances. From what I have seen I believe that tho friendly relations of the two countries have become stronger than ever, and that they will continue to grow. (Applause.) I wish to express to you, Mr. Mayor, and the citizens of Auckland our heartfelt thanks for your welcome and kindneso since we arrived." Tho councillors and their wives present include,!: Sir George and Lady Richardson, Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Anderton, th<- Hon. T. Blood worth and Mrs. Bloodworth, Mr. and Mrs. C. Bailey, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Jennings, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Coakley, Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Andrews, Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Burton, Mr. and Mrs. l>. Carr, Mr. and Mre. F. E. Lark. Mr. and Mrs. B. Martin, Miss Ellen Melville, Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Phelan, Mr. nnd Mrs. J. A. Mason, Mr. nnd Mrs. A. Rosser, Mr. J. Sayegh, Mr. J. Donald, Mr. N. V. Douglas, Mr. 0. U. Grant, Mr. J. S. Stewart, Mr. J. W. Yarnall.