GOVERNMENT HOUSE "AT HOME."

Evening Post, Volume 27, Issue 77, 27 September 1907, Page 2

GOVERNMENT HOUSE "AT HOME."

A LARGE GATHERING. No less than two thousand five hundred invitations were sent out by His Excellency tho • Governor and Lady Plunket for the "4t Home " yesterday. Fortunately, the weather was perfect, bright' sunshine and a cool breeze forming an ideal combination for the first Dominion Day. Consequently, the charming grounds of Government House could be utilised by the guests, who formed most effective groups of delicats and vivid colours against the background .of foliage and flowers. Overhead the flags tossed their manycoloured folds, a band played gay music, and there was a charmingly irresponsible feeling of hbliday in the very air. Insidp the house, the arrangements were ( so excellent that every guest could — an' it choose her or him — have afternoon tea in. comfort. Refreshments were set out in the dining-room, which the afternoon . sunshine, *on red walls, silver plate, and many flowers, made a very brilliant scene. Tables were also set in the, further ball-room, and the conservatory- was transformed into an artistic tea-room, roofed with creepers, and decorated with foliage plants and flowers. , Everywhere flowers were to be seen. One mantelpiece was banked with daffodils . and -a delicate white blossom like may. Another was set out with handsome pieces of silver-plate, flanked by tall slpnder pajms. Vivid red rhododendron's were mainly used in the drawing-room, "and in the corridors , stands of foliage plants and tall palms formed a charming decoration. Their Excellencies received inside the door of the drawing-room, shaking hands with each guest. ■ So numerous i were those who attended that the cards handed to , the . footman s outside the door soon grew into quite a large heap at his feet. Lady Plunket wore the daintiest of- frocks, over whose tint — neither heliotrope nor grey,, but the faintest sliade of violet there was much 'discussion, of course feminine. It was made slightly Empire, and trimmed with exquisite lace caught on the bodice with diamond ornaments. Her, youngest son, a httlo buy in white duck, stood beside his mother part of the time, and the baby, tho Hon. Ettiha- Victoria Malime, was brought in 'later, ,and held quite a little court of -her o\v,n, ,The Hon. Kathleen Plunket's "gownjpf, palest pink cloth was made with a vandyked upper skirt that fell over no^ flounces. Mrs. Waterfield wore laiprettyV white embroidered silk, and a Dolly Varden hat of pink velvet, tied*' 'with 'Pompadour ' ribbon. There were Some beautiful frocks worn by the guests, but . for once the mere man— as with the' male lower animals — carried 00 tho palm" for gorgeous apparel. No womafi.was quite so brilliant as the officers, gleaming, ,}ike the Assyrian, cohorts m-thß-fictfco}" poem, "in purple and gold)" -.blue and gold, scar- ! let and gold. '.Uniforms ,were übiquitous, and 'generally i in juxtaposition to one, two, or oven' 'three smart frocks. Artistically,, , , ,fflHttfl," „a£art from any other rJ^aiip^d^gtre, fhe soldier ,'ancl sailor men were a most -agreeable feature of the afternoon.