JAPANESE ENTERTAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 130, 3 June 1932, Page 13

JAPANESE ENTERTAIN

A DELIGHTFUL AFTERNOON

'ASAMA1' EN FETE

Japanese courtesy and efficiency were both well exemplified at the "At Home" given, oil •'board--the flagship Asama by Vice-AdnliraL Imamura and' the offl--cers of the Japanese training sqii'adron: yesterday afternoon. Prom the time guegts' arrived at the gangway till thoy were courteously escorted off it again they were>thoroughly well entertained.l On arrival a young 'officer pinned on to the coat or frock of each guest a dainty' little folded flag, and . another handed; each, a card photo-of the ship, witha paper on which were the answers *to; all stereotyped questions usually asked of naval officers, such as details of thesize of the ship, the numbers ■of officers and ratings, size of armaments and a historiette of the ship; The Great War service of the ship included the capture of a German Island in the Pacific,, and part of the searching for the enemy squadron along the coast of North, Central, and South America. Once on board there were,a.number of introductions to high . officials and then a tour. of the ship. There it -was found that many charming preparations had been made. A presentation of a Japanese garden, with a picture border of pink cherry, held a coy figure of a Japanese girl who sheltered under a bright umbrella. There was a replica of an interesting shrine, one which borders on the sea shore, and is placed just to allow a gentle wetting of the ledges by the waves 'of the sea. The sacred mountain, Fuji-yama, was well represented, specially in a winter scene, with snow and ice, which would not bo expected in a so-nearly tropical land as Japan. Then there was another gardon, with a charming Japanese home, with rock gardeus, tiny lakes, and flowers, all beautifully executed. Down below, tho hpmo lifo of the ship was going on, with preparations of good Aew Zealand vegetables for the dinner, I and a long row of rather aiinoyod-look-mg birds, some of tho Australians in a distinctly warlike mood. • Tho Admiral's quarters, besides being eminently comfortable, are tastefully arranged, and at the end, in a place of honour, arc veiled portraits of tho Emporor and Empress of Japan. Admiral Togo and other well-known people wore in in evidence without the veilings, and a wall cabinet had a pathetic interest as it was made from the mast of a ship that had been sunk at sea. Dinner was being set before the guests left, and tho tables were adorned, not with flowers, as in Western ships, but with little model gardens, one showing Fuji in the centre. The cabins mostly have a rather Spartan amount of comfort, but exhibit taste in decoration, and photographs of families and friends were everywhere, showing that they were not forgotten in the changeful life of the ship's company. The itinerary shows that they will all return to Jokosuka' on. the 14th - July of this year. Other entertainment consisted

[of fencing and wrestling, both of which had a large group of interested onlookers further down the wharf, as well as a crowd of guests, and then came excellent refreshments, set in various parts of the ship, tho long tables being under a crimson and white striped awning on the upper deck, round being brightly coloured lantern and well- j made artificial flowers, cherry blossom,., irises, etc., the effect being very charm-1 ing. As well as delicious tea, there was Japanese wine and beer, these being declared excellent. An original way 6f arranging flowers was shown on the main table, where jonquils and other flowers were laid ou the cloth in a symmetrical sort of trellis work, This was quite effective. There were many cheerful friendly groups, showing that the officers of the squadron had made a number of personal friends during their visit, and that their cheerful, friendly courtesy had been appreciated by Western people who do not always cither show or receive the same. The band music was an appreciated feature, and made a tuneful accompaniment to the- voices and laughter of this most Cheerful party. Regretful farewells were made, as the squadron leaves for Suva to-day, the officers having many good things to say about Wellington and and its climate, for it has shown a "model face" considering that the time of yoar is well-advanced winter. Among the five or six hundred guests were the following:—Mrs. G. W. Forbes, Mrs. J. G. Coates, Colonel N. Falla (Japanese Consul) and Mrs. Falla, Mr., Mrs. and Misses Ardell, MajorGeneral W. L. .&.. Sinclair-Burgess, Sir Charles and Miss" Sta^ham, Captain C. Sinclair-Thomson, K.N., Hon. Dr. Collins, Lady Bell, Mr. and: Mrs. T. C. A. Hislop, Squadron-Leader and Mrs. G. L. Stedman, Mrs. Bernard Wood, Lieu-tenant-Commander W. H. Bremner, R.N., and Mrs. Bremner, Mr. and Mrs. W. Penseler, Paymaster-Commander K. F. Durman, K.N., and Mrs. Durn};th, Signer and Signpra G. 'Forniiehella, Major T. .Wilk'es, Major and Mrs. Weir, Mr. Justice and Mrs. Ostler, Misses Ostler, ; Mrs. Harold Johnston, Mrs. :Macarthy Reid, M. Nihotte, Mr. ancl: iMrs. C. Turrell, Mr. and Mrs. B. Gotli?b,- Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Bhvndell, 'Mr. and Mrs. G. Craig, Mr. and Mrs. :V. Ward, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffreys, Mr. and Mrs. C. Clarry, Hon. C. E. and Mrs. Macmillan, Mr. "and Mrs. Ernest Blundell and Miss Blundell, Professor ;and Mrs. Cornish, Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Paish, Mr. W. G. .Wohlmann, Mr. and Mrs. A.- D. Park, Mr., Mrs., and Miss Dyer, Dr...and Mrs. WV Young, Mr. O. Bendall,, Mr. and Mrs. D.,A. Ewen, ;Mr. and Mrs.-E. Eiddiford, Mr.' and Mrs. H. H.; Sterling, Mr. -and' Mrs.' F. Petrc, Mrs. C.W. Tririghain, Mrs. G, Reid, Mr. and Mrs. L. Moore, Sir Alexander and Lady Roberts, Mr. and Mis; C. V. Birch, Mr. and Mrs. L. O. H. Tripp, Mr. C. M. Malfroy, Major and^ Mrs. Lewis, Dr. and Mrs. Morice, Mr.; and Mrs. S. G. Nathan, Miss J. Nathan^ Mrs. J. Gatnble, Mrs. Waters, Mrs. and; Miss Brodie, Mrs. arid Miss Salmond," Mrs. H. and Miss Nathan, M^ss Henry,' Mrs. L. -Gilmour, Mr.,. Mrs.^ and Miss Leckie, Mr. and Mrs. Jw D. O'Shea,, Mi-, and Mrs. J. B. Foster, Mrs. Pow,Mr. and; Mrs. W. H. Price, Mrs. aiid Miss. Marshall, Mr., Mrs., and Itjiss Olphert, Miss M. Butter, Mr. and itrs;. D. Bauchop, Mrs. C. G. and Miss White. Dr. and Mrs. J. S. Elliott, Dr. arid Mrs. Alister Young, Miss H. Staveley, Dr. L. D. Cohen, Mr. G. Muntz, Dr. R. Penseler', Mrs. and Miss Beading, Mr. and Miss Miles, Misses MaeGregor,; Mr. A. P. Harper, Mrs. H. X O'Leary, Mr., Mrs., and Miss Coleridge, Mrs. and Miss Robison, Mrs. and Miss Beriniej Mr. andiMrs. E. ,P. -yaldwyn, Mr-T.-Y,1 AnsonV Mr. and Mrs. J.^i ■YaTdwytfJ-^Tf'." M£~J7 ■DenniStcm7? vStr; and Mrs. W. H. Johnson, Miss Grose, Dr. and Mrs. Steele, Dr. and Mrs. Kemp, Mrs. and Miss A. Kirkcaldie, Mrs. Creagh O'Connor, Miss B. McParland, Mr. and- Mrs.-A.- fe: Martman, Mrs. F. Meadoweroft, Madame Merlin, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. B. Norwood, Miss A. Perry, Miss V. Richardson, Mr. S. Sawell, Miss Nicholls; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Eraser, Mr. A. Gray, Mr. and Mrs. J. Darling, Mr. R. A. Wright, Miss Macmillan, Mr. Justice and Mrs. : Eeed, Mr. and: Mrs. E. W. Kane, Colonel and Mrs. Symori, Mrs. Grafton Bothamley, Mr. and Mrs. S. Myers, Mrs. A. Young, Dr. avid Mrs. F. Bowerbank, Mr. and Mrs. 'Malcolm Ffaser, Mrs. and Miss Trimnell, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Salmon, Mrs. Cameron,Owen, Mrs. B.- E. Murphy, Mf. and' Mrs. Eugene West, Dr., Mrs., and Miss' Norman-Jones, Mr. and Mrs. W. Perry, Mr. and Mrs, Armour, Misses. Waters, Dr. and Mrs. Anson, Mr. R. Darroch, Mrs. W. Waddel, Mrs. E. M. Luke, Mr. and Mrs. S. Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. Ivanl/evy, Mr. and Mrs. Furkert, Mrs. J. B. MacEwan, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Nash (Palmerston North), Mrs. Garcia Webster, Mr. and.Mrs. R. Herron, Dr. and Mrs. Murdo Macßae, Mrs. and Misses Martin, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. MeGrath, Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Hart, Mrs. aiid Miss Norrie, Mr., Mrs., and Miss Tait,' Miss Troup, Miss Cramer, Mrs. H. Geddis and Miss Geddis, Mr. and Mrs. Nimmo, Mrs. H. F. Norman, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Mulligan, Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Hislop, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Young, Mrs.. John Fraser, and Mrs. F. E. Brown (Tinui).