ART GALLERY TEA

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

ART GALLERY TEA

Victoria League’s Guests

There was not a vacant table in the congenially bright tea-room at the National Art Gallery yesterday, when the Wellington Victoria League were morning tea hostesses for the ladies accompanying the delegates to the Empire Chambers of Commerce Congress. The guests were received in the lobby by Lady Buckleton, president, and Mrs. J. A. Doctor, vice-president, and other members of the committee escorted them on a brief tour of the galleries on their way to the tea-room. With the president and vice-president at the oflicial table were Viscountess Elibank and Lady Atkey. Lady Buckleton, who voiced the pleasure felt by all the members of the Victoria League at having this opportunity of entertaining the visitors, said that 'for many years past the league had bc6ii odd of the social links of the Empire, and the Wellington branch were particularly happy in welcoming representatives of the Home league, which was such a wonderful friend to all its'overseas members who went to England. She hoped that the visitors were enjoying their stay in Wellington as much as would Wellington members if they were their guests overseas. _ Speaking of the special matters of interest that we had to show the visitors, Lady Buckleton said she hoped they would have an opportunity of see-

Evening Dress News.— Some of the newest evening dresses have their skirts cut up to the knee at the front and the space filled in with gathered net or tulle. It would be easy to QU in any of the slit skirts worn last season with tulle in this manner. An ice-blue dress of this description is shown here with a belt of copperbeech leaves. The lower edges of the

ing some of the great butter factories, and mentioned that our ships were being laden with exports of butter, cheese and meat for the Homeland. She also remarked upon the entertainment New Zealand bad to oiler in many branches of sport, especially fishing. A suggestion that the guests should visit the Maori house during the morning was made by Lady Buckleton, for there they would find some of the finest examples of the native art. She also told them that an invitation to see over the carillon tower was extended to them, and that some special tunes would be played on the bells in their honour.

Lady Elibank spoke a few words of appreciation of the beauty of the gallery, and she was followed By Lady Atkey, who remarked that they had been much touched by the very kindly welcome that had been given them wherever they had been in New Zealand. It had been such, an experience, she said, to come thousands of miles and find that “we are at home with our own people.” She paid an appreciable tribute to the good English spoken in New Zealand, which Lady Atkey said, had struck her more than anything else. In every class of the community, she added, one heard a purity of accent which was not so apparent in the Homeland, people sometimes being careless in their speech. “You have taught us a lesson,” she said.

Another thing that struck Lady Atkey in New Zealand was that one found beautiful war memorials all over the country. The Art Gallery itself was one of the most beautiful of all, and one which the soldiers might feel was a fitting tribute of gratitude for their service to their country.

She concluded by thanking all present, and said that they would treasure the memory of the kindness that had been bestowed on them in New Zealand.

Some of the members of the committee of the Victoria League who were present were: Mesdames Corrigan, James Mackenzie, Gray Hassell, A. Warburton, L. O. H. Tripp, Cramond, Hanna, J. Pow, R. E. Robertson, Corliss, C. F. Watson, Larnaeh, Charlesworth, Misses A. Kane, Agnes MacLean and Thompson. Members present Included: Mrs. and Miss Holland. Lady Carncross and Miss Sybil Carncross, Mesdames Rankine Brown, Longmore, G. Lyon, T. E. Corkill, Nicholls, Kelsey, Graham Robertson, R. W. Kane, Wylie, Vickerman, E. P* Norman, Barnard, Elsby, Goldsmith, Wright, Gear, W. Ward, Miss Thompson (lion, secretary), Miss Buckleton, Miss Batham, Lady Gray, Miss Kettle, Mrs. McLaren (Greymouth), Mrs. Fee (Auckland), Mrs. Ross (Auckland), Mrs. Lunn (Auckland ) n Miss Goldsmith, Madame Merlin,