FLORAL BALL

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 10, 7 October 1936, Page 4

FLORAL BALL

Congress Delegates at

Town Hall

MANY GUESTS

"A floral ball” is the best way to describe the ball given by the ■Wellington Chamber of Commerce at the Town Hall last night in honour of the delegates to the congress of the Empire chambers of commerce. It was the last of.the night functions that have held Wellington in their sway for the past week, and was certainly a ■ fitting finale to a week of gaieties such as have not been experienced in this city for many years. Between six and seven hundred delegates, members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and other well-known persons were present, and what with the rainbow colours of the decorations and the beautiful dresses worn by the women present—it was one of the most fashionably-frocked gatherings ever held in Wellington—the ball assumed an air of' extreme brilliance. Flowers formed the general scheme of decoration, the work being carried out by the ladies’ social committee oi the Wellington branch of the Red Cross Society, with Mrs. Denniston Wood as convener. The entrance foyer was a sight to behold. The guests passed first of all under a latticed archway of red and pink roses and then under one of purple and cyclamen-tinted wisteria. On each side were tubs of giant hollyhocks in vivid reds, pinks, and the brightest of yellows, and the balustrade of the red-carpeted stairway was entwined with huge red and bricktones roses and bamboo leaves. The whole was illuminated by coloured lights. Within the hall were flowers, flowers, and still more flowers. The front of the gallery was hung with purple wisteria, and every few feet was an inverted glass standard of red, -white, and blue, which was illuminated from withint Running along the sides of the hall were latticed arches which turned the areas under the gallery into attractive loges. These arches were entwined with roses of every hue, with here and there a touch of greenery, by way of contrast. In front of each pillar stood a dark green tub of shrubs. The sections beneath the gallery were fitted up as lounges and were furnished with modern settees and easy-chairs and with many little occasional tables on which stood vases of long-stemmed narcissi, all of which had been sent by Sir Heaton Rhodes from the famous garden of his home at Tai Tapu, near Christchurch. Hundreds and hundreds of daffodils, all sent by Sir Heaton, were used in various parts of the hall. In addition to all these were masses of the most delicate azaleas. The area under the centre of the gallery was also fitted up as a lounge, the furniture being of the comfortable wicker variety. Here, too, were many glorious daffodils and also tubs of vivid hollyhocks. Along the back ran a claret buffet —a very popular spot between dances. A very patriotic note was struck by the wall of flags composed of the Union Jajjk and those of the Dominions and colonies which was suspended above the gallery. Hollyhocks and Roses.

Perhaps the most colourful and exotic section of the entire hall was the stage, the front of which was covered with greenery, with clusters of giant oriental poppies at each side. In the centre of the stage stood a pergola of yellow and red roses and greenery, while on the terraced steps were tubs and tubs of enormous hollyhocks—some bright red, some pink, some yellow, and others vivid orange. As a background to all this was an old English manor house, with quaint latticed windows. A bizarre touch was added to the decorations by festoons of coloured lights running to the sides of the gallery from the central chandelier—which was covered with a yellowstreamered shade with a base on which was stencilled a cheeky half-moon. Two orchestras played the music for the dancing, and during the evening Miss Estelle Beere’s ballet was loudly applauded for its “Waltz Rhythm” presentation, for which the girls were artistically frocked. Those who took part were: Lady Patricia Stanhope, Misses Sheila Coates, Meryl Daniels, Ruth Skerman, Claire Mack, Ngaire Horton, Patricia Marshall, Grace Lawrie, Nancy Springhall, Patricia McNamara, Margaret Evans, Wilmot Horton, Jonet Wilkie, Patricia Reade, Joyce Howe, Eiia Chapman.

A feature of the ball was the buffet, supper, which was served at long white-clothed and flower-bedecked tables in the Concert Chamber, which also held its quota of flowers and was decorated with many flags. Tempting dishes of every description were most attractively served, there being an unusually large variety of delicacies to please the palate. A charming gesture on the part of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and one that added yet another floral touch to the proceedings, was the presentation of a shoulder posy to each of the visiting ladies and of a boutonniere to each of the delegates. The dance committee comprised: Mr. R. H. Nilnmo (convener), Mr. A. It. Hislop, Mt. F. W. Miller, Mr. C. Mack. Mr. M. S. Galloway, Mr. E. M. Bardsley, Mrs. C. J. B. Norwood (who was wearing royal blue satin With diamante trimmings), Mrs. W. H. Gledhill (in black lace over silver, with shoulder spray of red roses and maidenhair fern), Mrs. A. G. Barnett (whose striking frock of twilight blue corded silk had wide deeply-quilted revers and a ■belt of silver sequins), Mrs. E. M. Bardsley (who was in black georgette and lace).

The guests were received by the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood) and Mrs. Norwood, who later met the Rt. Hon. Viscount Elibank (president of the Federation of Empire Chambers of Commerce) and Lady Elibank and escorted them to the official loge, accompanied by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates and Mrs. Coates. Lady Elibank was wearing a trained frock of powder-blue taffeta, on the corsage of which were floral motifs in pastel-tinted sequins. She wore a toning scarf of diaphonous tulle, a tiara of pearls, and a chain of diamonds and jade. Mrs. Coates was in black georgette with silver sequin trimmings.

Also present were: Sir Thomas Wilford (chairman of the council of federated chambers) and Lady Wilford, the latter wearing silver chiffon with rhinestone trimmings; Sir Richard and Lady Linton, the latter in a frock of black and white coin-spotted silk, with long cape to match. Lady Atkey was in midnight blue and gold-brocaded georgette, and Lady Burton in parma violet chiffon. Mrs. Norton Francis (wife of the president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand) was in black lace.