POPULAR GUEST

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 149, 21 December 1936, Page 18

POPULAR GUEST

VICTORIA LEAGUE PARTIES

The Victoria League of Wellington, in common with the other branches of the league in New Zealand, has had great pleasure in entertaining the .popular London secretary of the league, Miss G. Drayton, C.B.E.

Since her return from the south on Saturday, a number of entertainments Viave been held for Miss Drayton, beginning with a morning tea, given by Mrs: F. W. Dawson, president of the Wellington Women's Club. On the same day a very pleasant luncheon party ( was given at Heretaunga by Mrs. W. Young.

A delightfully informal party was given on Saturday afternoon by Mrs. Eric Luke at her seaside residence, Lowry Bay. Miss Drayton was accompanied by her hostess, Mrs. J. A. Doctor (president of the Wellington branch), and a.number of executive members were also present. Afternoon tea was served in the lounge, which was charmingly decorated with large bowls of mixed flowers, also many beautiful roses. Among those present were Lady McGaviu, Mesdames Robertson, Graham Robertson, D. Whyte, P. D. Cameron, Warburton, Meadows, Pow, M. Anderson, Oampbell, Lyon, Pollock, W. J. Hutchison, Bakewell, Bruce Rennie, Thompson, Ilott, N. Gibbons, Greenland, Saunders, C. E. Carter, Chesnay, N. Stone, Cramond, C. Corrigan, and Misses T. Meadows, D. Carter, and Cannon. DELIGHTFUL EVENING. A particularly delightful evening party was given by Miss Mary Butler at her flat on Wellington Terrace, when Miss Drayton was again the guest of honour. The play, "Heaven on Earth" (by Philip Johnson), was the central •

event of the programme, and the stage was charmingly arranged in the large hall, with a simulated garden in the porch. The play, which is extremely modern, was capitally acted by Miss Butler, Miss Marguerite Thomson, Miss K. Haire, Mr. Singleton Smith, and Mr. L. J. Maule. Miss Haire also gave a clever-Eastern dance, appropriately costumed, Miss Butler some charming recitations, and Captain Hale-Monro told amusingly something about his recent travels overseas. There was a large gathering present of Victoria League members, and all were delightfully, entertained at supper in Miss Margaret Butler's studio after the entertainment, when many had the opportunity of a little conversation with Miss Drayton. A GARDEN PARTY. Opportunity was given to Miss Draj'ton- yesterday afternoon to see Mrs. Knox Gihner's lovely garden at Upper Hutt. About fourteen car-loads of guests accepted the kind invitation given to join in this pleasure, and an hour was spent in inspecting the grounds. The roses, irises, and delphiniums were in great profusion, and were much admired, as also was the fine collection of rock plants. The scene was a very charming one, as the weather was perfect, and pretty summer costumes were the order of the day. Tea was served on the verandah and in the large lounge by the Misses J. and M. Knox Gilmer, who made capital assistants to their mother, who was in demand in all directions making explanations about the many interesting things she has in her garden. It was felt by all present that it was wonderful to see what could be done within five years in the Way of producing something quite unique in the way of a-garden. A-•matter of special interest was in seeing how the native I. treasures, on the property at the beginning had been left exactly as they were in the original bush. The landscape gardening in the way of picturesque little bridges over the stream, where the water-lilies bloomed in tiny ponds, also the "crazy pavements," which turned out to be of New Zealand greenstone, and other points of beauty, were very interesting to the overseas visitor, who expressed her enjoyment at all she saw.