VICE-REGAL VISITOR

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 22, 26 July 1927, Page 13

VICE-REGAL VISITOR

WELLINGTON" LYCEUiI CLUB

The large clubroom at the Lyceum Club was crowded with members yesterday atternoon when Her Excellency Lady Alice J-'crgusson t>aid a visit to the club, and every meanj was taken to do honour to the occasion, and show Her Excellency a coraial welcome. The room was artistically decorated, beautiful spring flowers being treely used, and also large bowis of autumn foliage, intermingled with diied grasses and ferns, the effect being excelJent. A charming posy was provided for Her Excellency and a bouquet of spring bulbs for airs. Coates. Mrs. J. J. Clarke and other committee members arranged the room charmingly, and a delicious atternoon tea was served from the club kitchen. Mrs. J. C. Andersen and the committee received Her Excellency downt J rs ' J\ nd escorted her to the clubrooms. .Lady Alice was wearing a black ensemble and fur-trimmed coat, and a black hat witii a scarlet crown, and with a feather mount; Mrs. Coates was in pale bois de rose embroidered crepe de chine, and a hat to match, with a cluster of roses low down at one side; Mrs. Andersen was in .black, with a silk coat, trimmed with fur, and a small black hat and posy o£ pale blue flowers. Occasion was taken to jr.ako ■ a presentation to Her Excellency for Mrs. Haviland and her little daughter, tailing the iorm of an artistic pewter card box, with a suede covered bridge scorer, initialled in colours, and some tiny dainty little dolls, dressed in wool, the work of Mrs. Hiekson (senior), the box being the <york of Mrs. M'Gregor. Some of the beautiful work of the art and craft circle was on view, and was much admired. There was a brief, but very good programme, Bongs being given by Miss Audrey Bevin and Miss Geere-Watson, and Miss Clodngh Russell recited charmingly. A quaint little playette, "Acid Drops," by Gertrude Jennings, was read by Misses Aiiern, O'Donoghue, Beals, Old, Lindeg.ud, and l('agan, and Mesdames Lyon and M'Laren, members of the dramatic circle. Mrs. Andersen welcomed Her Excellency very cordially to the club, and recalled the fact that the last time she visited it she was accompanied by her daughter. Mrs. Andersen mentioned the gratifying growth of the circles, which included music, drama, gardening, arts and crafts, and a "penwomen's corner," and others, each doing good work. Most of the members gave assistance to social service, and a great many were busy women with families, and used the club as a place of recreation and rest.

Her Excellency, in replying to the welcome, said that she well remembered her la6t pleasant visit to the club, and that her daughter had accompanied her. She was glad to hear of all the good work done, and was specially interested in the penwomen's circle, for she had taken an interest in writing always, and only that morning had had sent to her from England an early effort of her own, a poem, written when she was fourteen, descriptive of the beauties of New Zealand, and she had tried to illustrate it, and she felt that it shewed that even at that early age she had appreciated the beauties of the country. Afternoon tea was then served, and later a number of the members were presented to Her Excellency, and a very pleasant time spent in conversation. Among those present were: Sir James and Miss Allen, and the club members included: Mesdames W. Hiekson and J. J. Clarke, (vice-presidents), K. Evans, M.A., W. E. Smythe (hon. treasurer), G. Lyon (lion, secretary), Graham, Wylie, Gill, Goodwin, Campbell, M'Gowan, Kenton, Philpot-Crowther, C. E. Carter, Wliiteford, Russell, Ahem," Beals, Crawford, Fairbairn, Hargreavcs, Kearney, Hay.kins Leslie M'Gregor, C. J. B. Norwood, Watts, Talbot, Geere-Watson, G. T. Watt, Oakley, Misses Fancourt, Tingey, A. Ahem Black, Clark, Old, Palmer, M.A., and many others.