A WARSHIP RECEPTION

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 102, 1 May 1924, Page 9

A WARSHIP RECEPTION

AT HOME ON H.M.S. HOOD,

After threatening all sorts of violence yesterday, the weather cleared up about midday and enabled the guests invited to the reception on board H.M.S. Hood to have the wished-for opportunity of seeing the great ship, without having recourse to coats, umbrellas, and goloshes. As a precautionary measure arrangements were made to hold tho refreshment part of the entertainment in I a large Harbour Board shed, close to the [.vessel, this being gaily decorated with [ flags, and there was a band which discoursed very good music, its programme including-: "Folies-Bergere" (march), | "Tancredi" (overture), "Les Contes D'[Hoffmann" (selection), "Bal Masque" (intermezzo), "Merchant of Venice" I (suite), "Les Cloches de St. Malo" (entr'acte), "Decameron Nights" (selection), ''King Cotton" (march). Tea with tlie usual accompaniments -was I served, also fruit salad, claret cup, etc., and some of the many guests stayed some time in the shed, where sofas and chairs, with decorations of ' pot plants and flow.ers, gave a reception-like air to an unaccustomed place. ' Most of the officers were present. His Excellency, Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Field, received the guests at the entrance to the shed, but owing to the change of plans quite a number went direct to the ship, and missed his pleasant greeting. It is quite an adventure to explore such an immense .ship, a.l H.M.S. Hood, and when entering there seems to be a vast vista of corridors, I while the ladders and steps are legion. However, most of the guests were undaunted, and "upclomb" from one height to the other, a great reward being the beautiful view of the Hutt Valley and mountains, and.away to Muritai, the soft colour" in the late afternoon being very charming. The big guns and other objects' of .interest .wero ..'.'shrouded . in mystery,"-and. those present contented themselves with looking at some models of big ships, and with glimpses of very comfortable-looking cabins. Cheary hospitality was offered in the officers', mess room, whero cigarettes and accompaniments . were being much appreciated after the adventurous explorations about the ship. Among the many guests were Sir Heaton and Lady Rhodes, Sir Frederick and L».dy Chapman, Sir John and Lady Findlay, Sir Joseph and Lady i "Ward, Mrs. B. B. Wood, Sir Maui Pomare, Sir John Salmond, Mrs. C. J. Parr, Miss Downie Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. Salmon, General and Mrs. Melvill, . Commander A. Beal and Mrs. Beal, Comi mander the Hon.' Guy Stopford and Mrs. Stopford, the Hon. G. J. Anderson and Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. J. G. j Coates,. Mrs. D. H. Guthrie, Mrs. Butcher, Sirs. Cockrem, Lieut.-Colonel and Mrs. Murray Gardner, Colonel and Mrs. Beere, Lieut.-Colonel Smythe, the Bishop of Wellington and Mrs. Sprott, Mr. and I Mrs. J. Hislop, Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Gray, Mrs. F. Dyer and Miss Dyer, Mrs. and Miss Shirtcliffe and Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. H. D. Crawford, Miss Fraser, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Blundell, Dr. and Mrs. J. Elliot, Mr. and Mrs. Alex. Gray, Colonel Mitchell, Mrs. J. Henderson, Dr. and Mrs. Herbert, Dr. and Mrs. Har'd-wicke-Smith, tho Eton. Dr. Collins, Colonel and Mrs. Falla, Colonel Campbell, Mrs. Tringham, Mrs. Hacon, Miss M. Coleridge, Miss Maitland, Misses Shepherd, Mr. and Mrs. C. Wheeler, Mrs. Arthur Young, Mrs. W. Flanagan, Mrs. Pow, Mrs. Rawson. Captain and Mrs. Hale-Monro, Mrs.- W. Luke, Dr. and Mrs. C. .P. Knight, Miss BabeiyMr. and Mrs. F. Hodson, Dr., Mrs., and the Misses Morice, Mrs. Creagh O'Connor, Mrs. Phillips-Turner, Colonel and Mrs. Chesney, Mrs.. Holden, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Blundeli, Mr. and Mrs. Bothamley, Captain and Miss Edwin, Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Bates, Miss Bates, Mrs! and Miss Darling, Mrs. and Miss Meadowcroft, Mrs. S. Hamerton, Mr. and Mrs. E. AY. Kane. Miss Q. Clarke-Johnson, Mrs. Mitford, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Tripe, Mrs. W.^D. Stewart, and Miss Stewart, tho Mayor of Wellington, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., Mr. Trezise, Mr. and Mrs. Coleridge, Miss Morton, MLns Brien, Miss E. Hutton, Hon. Mr. Sta9> ham, Mrs. Tweed, Mrs. aud Miss Van Stavercn, Mn and. Airs. F. E. Ward, Mrs. Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. V. Jtiddiford, Mr. and Mrs. J. Myers, Mr. and Mrs. L. Tripp, Mr. and Mrs. B. Brown, Mrs.W. IL Rose, Dr. aud Mrs. Hay, Mrs. Knox Gilmer, Mrs. Joseph, Mr. aud Mrs. G. Nathan, Mrs. J. Bruges, Miss Corrigan, Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Balcombe Brown, Mrs. Charles Wilson, Mrs. M'Villy, Mr, and Mrs. Harper, Mr. and Mrs. Hollis, Mrs. M. Caselberg, Mr. and Mrs. Brandon, Mrs. W. Barton, Mr. and Mrs. Mawley, Miss D. Isaacs, Professor and Mrs. Sommerville, Professor and Mrs. Adamson, Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., and Mrs. Fraser, Mr. and Mrs. D.Bauchop, Miss Raphael, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Reid, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. M. Luekie, Mrs. Ronald' Lyon, Mr. and Mrs. Leckie, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Firth, Miss Marmont, Mr. and Mrs. Grant, Mr. Harcourt, Captain and Mrs. Gage Williams, Miss V. M'Clure, Mrs. Rankine Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Salek, Mr. and Mrs. Perry, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Palmer, Mr. and Mrs. Newton, Mr. and Mrs. Amos, Mr. and Mrs. Keesing, and many others. I