GAIETY IN AUCKLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 18, 22 January 1937, Page 14

GAIETY IN AUCKLAND

MAYOR'S GARDEN PARTY

Set in a beautiful frame of sun* dappled lawns, shady trees, 4 and gardens brilliant with flowers, frocks of every hue passed in a leisurely parade at Government House on Tuesday, when the Mayor and Mayoress of Auckland (Mr. and Mrs: Ernest Davis) held a garden party in honour of the delegates visiting the congress of the Australian and New Zealand Associa« tion for the Advancement of Science and the congress of the Royal. Australasian College of Surgeons (state» the "New Zealand Herald").' '

Lovely hydrangeas, phlox, carnations, and masses of other , summer flowers made a charming show for the visitors, and the colour scheme of the borders of tawny-gold and scarlet cannas on each side of the entrance and below the verandahs was much, admired. Tea was served on the verandahs, which were screened, from, the sun by canvas awnings with loops of red, white, and blue. Tubbed groups of palms and bamboo added further shade and coolness. The wide staircase within the house was banked with greenery starred with golden lilies. Palms, shrubs, and ferns' were also used in decorating the lounges.

Pale gold lights, each finding it« twin in the broad mirrors on the walls, hanging baskets and festoons of maidenhair fern, and deep baskets of blue lobelia, decorated the" ballroom, where the afternoon tea tables were bright with pink and' red carnations. The raised dais at the end of the ballroom was transformed into a solid bank of greenery with bamboo, palms, native shrubs, and small ribbon ferns, through which tiger lilies,: hydrangeas, pink and mauve lilies, and> clusters of deep blue lobelia showed brightly. Refreshments were also served int two large marquees erected at the far end of the grounds, where chairs and occasional tables were placed in the shade of the trees.

A brilliant splash of scarlet against the surrounding green was provided by the raised dais carpeted in scarlet and placed under a spreading plane tree beside the drive, where the guests were received by the Mayor and Mrs. Davis. Mrs. Davis wore a gown of coffee shaded angelskin lace with long scarf ends trimmed with brown squirrel fur, and a brown straw pictur* hat.