VIVID AND IMPRESSIVE SCENE AT OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 286, 30 August 1935, Page 4

VIVID AND IMPRESSIVE SCENE AT OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Guests at Prime Minister’s Reception

With all the ceremony attendant upon the occasion, the opening of Parliament was held yesterday afternoon. So far as the women were concerned, the event took the form of a fashion display where one might show off io Un fullest advantage one's latest hats and frocks. The galleries were packed and were really not large enough to accommodate the many who wished to witness the opening ceremony. The reception room in the old Parliamentary Building, also, was anything but. large enough to hold all who attended the reception given by the Prime Minister and Mrs. Forbes

Spring fashions were evillent on every hand, and, with the infinite range of colour that is available this spring, it can readily be imagined that the frocking of the women presented a decidedly kaleidoscopic picture. A more sombre note was struck by the members' of the Legislative Council, who wore formal evening dress, while a definite splash of colour was lent by the scarlet robes and grey wigs of the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, and the Hon. Mr. Justice Page, near whom stood the Commissioner of "Police, Mr. W. G. Wohlmann, in a striking uniform. ■On the other side of the chamber sat the ladies privileged to occupy a place “on the floor of the House”— Mrs. G. W. Forbes, Mrs. J. G. Coates. Lady Carncross, Lady Statham, Lady Ransom, Mrs. J. Bitchener, Mrs. Adam Hamilton, Mrs. C. E. Macmillan, Mrs. Masters and Lady Myers—their frocks adding yet another glint of colour to the general scene. In the galleries were scores of well-known persons and relatives of members and many visitors. Sitting on one side with Mrs, A. Purvis were the four children of their Excellencies the Governor-General and Viscountess Galway. They were wearing coats of deepest saxe blue with fawn velvet hats. Miss Jessie Forbes was also in the Ministerial gallery and two of the daughters of the Rt. Hon. and Mrs. J. G. Coates. ’ Her Excellency Arrives.

When all were seated in the Chamher, her Excellency arrived, accompanied by Sir Standish O’Grady Roche, A. Viscountess Galway was .a striking figure in a gown of golden brown chiffon velvet, worn with a light brown fur and a wide-brimmed velvet liat to tone, with a narrow band of gold round it. She also wore a big posy of violets pinned to the corsage. She was presented with a beautiful bouquet by the Speaker of the Legislative Council, Sir Walter Carncross, who also presented one to Mrs. Forbes. His Excellency’s arrival was most impressive. Attended by highlyplaced representatives of the Navy, the. military and the Air Force, Lord Galway, who was in uniform, was preceded with due formality by the Usher of the Black Rod. Drawing up in the rear of the retinue that attended his Excellency were Major Purvis and Captain Heber Percy, in vivid uniforms. Prime Minister’s Reception. After the opening ceremony the majority of those present repaired to the old Parliamentary Building, where a reception, which was attended by their Excellencies, was held by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, and Mrs. Forbes, who received their guests a't the entrance of the reception room. Mrs. Forbes wore a becoming frock of Albert beige lace in a leaf design, with a vivid flame buckle’ at the waist. Her hat was of black straw with a lace-edged brim, and a diamante buckle in front. Miss Jessie Forbes wore a squirrel coat over a grey and red patterned frock and red felt hat. The room was gaily decorated with clusters of deep-lined magnolia, greenery, pussy-willow, with here and there vases of glowing icelaud poppies. Afternoon tea, at which countless tempting delicacies were served, was laid on tables in various parts of the room. Included among the guests were members of both Houses and their wives. Lady Ransom wore a black floral patterned frock and black hat; Mrs. J. G. Coates (black georgette with fur-trimmed jacket and black straw hat), Mrs. R. Masters (orchid and black patterned frock with black straw hat), Mrs. Adam Hamilton (black and white ensemble), Mrs. C. E. Macmillan (deep amethyst satin, hat to match and white fox fur), Mrs. J. Bitchener (black frock and small matching hat), Lady Myers (Marina blue frock and 1 . hat to match, grey squirrel fur). Lady Carncross (orcbardtint satir with hat to toue, white furs), Lady Statham (green floral chiffon, black hat. witli scarlet flower), Mrs. Purvis (black ponyskin coat over black frock, small black toque), Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Buckliu (black fur eoat over black frock, wide black felt hat), Cav. Doth and Signora Formichella (navy taffeta with elbow sleeves composed of taffeta flowers. wide hat), M. Arinand Nihotte, Mr. and Madame Feng Wang (black coat with fur collar, small black hat), Mr. and Mrs. W. Penseler (black, with short fur cape), Mr. and Mrs. F. Dyer (black coat, hat to match trimmed with gardenias), Mr. R. H. Nesbitt, Mr. and Mrs. James Payne (black coat over linden green, hat with stiff veil), Mrs. B. B. Wood (bracken brown velvet ensemble), Mrs. Knox Gilmer (navy suit and hat), Mrs. Frank Hay (black ensemble), Mrs. T. 11. Sprott (black coat and hat), Mr. and Mrs. G. Muntz (black, costume with white jabot, small black hat), Lady Gray (black velvet coat, and hat with touches of white), Lady Poinare (black ensemble with white fur), Captain and Mrs. L. Vaughan Morgan (sand coat witli fur collar, matching hat). Mrs. R. F. Bollard (black ensemble), Mrs. A. D. McLeod (black).

Major-General Sir William SinclairBurgess, Wing Commander and Mrs. T. N. Wilkes (navy coat and hat), Colonel and Mrs. Cunningham (brown fur coat over royal blue), Rev. S. Katz, Bishop and Mrs. Williams, Archbishop and Mrs. Averill, Bishop and Mrs. West-Watson, Bishop and Mrs. Hilliard, Bishop Fitchett, Mrs. Austin Cook, Professor and Mrs. Florence (black), Lady Findlay (black), Mrs. Wills (navy coat and hat), Miss Hinds (brown), Mrs. C. J. B. Norwood (black fur coat, brown hat), Mr. and Mrs. C. A. L. Treadwell (navy chevron striped coat, navy hat), Mr. and Mrs. C. TV. Tringhain (tobacco brown coat and hat), Air. and Airs. Eric Riddlford (ink blue coat, and hat). Airs. Fred Ward (black lace dress, black hat),

Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Y. Seddon (light navy dress, fur cape, navy hat), -Mrs. S. J. Smith (black georgette and lace), Mr. and .Mrs. .1. (’. Anderson (brown and gold, brown hal l. Mr. and Mrs. lan Duncan (black ensemble). Mrs.. D. Ardell (brown ensemble), Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Park (black dress and bat), Mr. and Mrs. T. N. Smallwood. Mr. and Mrs. Milligan, Mr. and Mi's. 11. F. Too* good. Mrs. Hubert Nathan (black dress, black hat of shiny silver), Mrs. W. Perry (black dress, furs and hat to match). Mrs. H. F. O'Leary (carbon blue suit and hat), Mrs. Sandston (midnight blue dress and hat), Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Luke (nut. brown dress and wide hat), Mrs. W. 8. Pearce (black frock, wide velour hat), Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Gillon (navy dress with Chinese red and steel trimmings, navy hat), Mr, and Mrs. J. J. McGrath (linden green ensemble), Miss Wilkinson (nigger and white coat and hat), Mr. and Mrs. John O’Shea (grey lace, light navy hat), Mrs. Pat Holden (brown and white figured frock, brown hat), Mrs. P. Thomson (wine coat, and hat), Mr. and Mrs. C..Malfroy (black dress, toque with eye veil), Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Sievwright. (floral silk, fiat to tone), Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Leicester (Durban brown coat and Breton sailor hat), Mrs. Howard Reid (navy frock and wide hat), Lady Luke (black frock ami hat), Mr. and Mrs. J. D. ■ Sievwright. Mrs. Tocker* (Christchurch), Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Coleridge (brown and gold, brown hat), Mr. and Mrs. J. Parker, Mrs. Bennett, Miss Downie Stewart, Mrs. Charlesworth, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Atkinson (black and white frock, large black hat and kolinsky coat), Mrs. Veitch, Dr. and Mrs. J. Henderson (black and white), Mrs. Percy Wrigley (black coat and hat)i Miss Helen Montague (duckegg blue and brown silk ensemble, brown hat), Mr. and Mrs. M. Denuehy (brown lace, black hat with ostrich tips), Mrs. Alec Lawson (brown and white spotted ensemble), Col. and Mrs. F. Symon (navy and white), Miss Sybil Carncross (cobalt blue marocain and lace, blue hat), Madame Tarbayeffi (black dress and hat), Mrs. 0. Benge (clove grey), Major-General and Madame Merlin (black dress with white vest, black hat), Mrs. J. Ppw (primrose and black-figured dress, black hat), Mrs. J. Darling (royal blue coat and hat), Mr. and Mrs. Barry Blundell (beige coat, brown hat), Mr, and Mrs. D. F. Bauchop (beige ensemble), Mrs. J. A. Doctor (forest green coat and hat), Mrs. F. Leckie (black coat and hut). Mr. R. C. Addison, Paymaster-Comm., E. L. Tottenham, Mrs. C. M. Bothamley (sand costume and hat), Mrs. George Nathan (black coat with fur collar, wide black hat), Miss Phyllis Bothamley (dark brown ensemble), Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Reilly (black fur coat and tricorne hat), Mr. and Mrs. 0. C. Mazengarb, Mrs. J. Bennie (willow-green georgette, hat to hatch), Mrs. G. P. H. Davidson (black coat and hat), Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Troup (navy and white), Mrs. F. Clay ton (black with sable cape), Mrs. Lionel Nelson (navy and white dress, navy hat), Mrs. Semple (black), Mrs. H. Kirkcaldie (black and white, green hat), Mrs. Andrew Wylie (black with white spots), Mrs. Kyle (navy ensemble), Mrs. Wr B. Taverner, Dunedin (cyclamen-patterned georgette, hat to tone), Miss Butler (black coat and hat), Mr. and Mrs. G. Mills (black suit and hat, furs), Mr. and Mrs. J. Halligan (black, small hat with eye veil), Dr. and Mrs. C. E. Adams (wine ensemble), Mrs. Leonard Hunt (currant red frock and hat with white osprey), Miss M. McLean, Miss Harcourt (navy ensemble), Miss Jean Forsyth (navy with touches of duck-egg blue). Mr. and Mrs. W. >S. Wauchop (black frock with crescent bead trimming of black, red and chromium, black hat), Mrs. Guy Scholefield (navy suit and hat), Miss Greenwood (navy and white), Mrs. S. G. Smith (blue lace and georgette, hat to tone).

Mr. and Mrs. G. McNamara, Professor and Mrs. Belshaw, Mrs. L. Angus (wine and fawn ensemble), Mrs. A. D. Bayfield (black georgette and black hat), Miss A. G. Simpson (floral georgette, brown hat), Mrs. F. Reading (black dress with silver collar, black hat), Mrs. G. E. Carter (wine ensemble), Miss MacGregor (burgundy ensemble), Miss M. E. Greenwood, Mrs. Ansell (prune gold-threaded marocain, prune hat); Mrs. Godfrey Magnus (black), Mrs. S. Myers (black coat aud hat), Mrs. M. Crowe (black suit and hat), Mrs. J. E. Perry, Mrs. Holyoaks, Misses Richardson (2), Mrs. T. P. Fotheringham (black and white pencil-striped ensemble, white hat), Mrs. J. Hislop (brown figured dress,' brown hat and furs), Miss Van Staveren, Mrs. Grafton Bothamley (navy blue), Mrs. Warwick Blundell (nigger-brown eoat and hat), Mrs. Thurston. England. Mrs. G. W. Clinkard, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Armour, Mr. aud Mrs. W. J. Mason. Mrs. H. D. Raphael. Rev. J. R. and Mrs. Blanchard. Madame de Mutiny (greeu dress and hat). Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Furkert, Mrs. Henry Hall. Mrs. H. Lundins, Mrs. A. J. Mazengarb, Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Norman, Mrs. L. Sin-cair-Thompson, Mrs. L. O. H. Tripp, Misses A. Addison (tunic frock in two shades of brown, brown beret toque), M. Muntz (mustard frock, brown beret tarn), E. Morgan (brown frock and hat, fur coat), B. Kebbeli. Alfredton (wine caped suit and beret tain), M. Gilmer (navy taffeta suit and hut), J. Gilmer (dusky-pink crinkled crepe frock, hat to match). A. Pearce (grey pencil-striped suit, navy halo hat), j. Elliott (slate-blue frock, navy liat).M. Malfroy (navycoat nnd hat), A. Pomare’, (black with touches of red). N. Moncton, Hamilton (brown and beige), M. Jones (duck-eggblue nnd navy), M. Bennie (brown velvet and gold), N. Luke (navy frock with touches of pink, halo hat), M. Grose (fawn coat and red liat), and many others.

The Waitaki Boys’ High School Old Boys’ Association has issued invitations for the annual ball to be held at the Mayfair Cabaret next Friday. No little trouble has been taken to see that the dance is well arranged.