HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 92, 20 April 1939, Page 19

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

AUTUMN FLOWER SHOW

OPENED BY LADY WILFORD

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

Yesterday the first welcome rain came to delight the hearts of gardenlovers, but unfortunately coincided with the Hutt Valley Horticultural Society's autumn flower show and slightly affected the attendance. The show was opened by Lady Wilford, who was received by Mr. J. S. Barton, president of the society, and Mrs. Barton, and presented with a beautiful bouquet of pastel-tinted flowers by Mrs. Ralph Barton. Lady Wilford was wearing a smart tailleur of black wool boucle. With it she wore a matching cravat patterned in silver coin spots and a small upturned hat of black felt finished with flat lacquered flowers in black and silver. Mrs. Barton's storm-blue tailored suit was of .fine English tweed, and, the cluster of anemones she wore pinned to her revers toned with her hat of crushed persimmon velours. Also on the platform were the Mayor of Lower Hutt, Mr. J. W. Andrews, and Mrs. Andrews (chrysanthemum red frock and seven-eighth's coat with teal blue hat and accessories), the Rev. J. Thompson Macky and Mrs. Macky (navy blue suit and matching Breton hat), the Rev. J. Lopdell and' Mrs. Lopdell (black ensemble, with skunk furs and black hat), Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and Mr. H. Poole.

In, conveying Lady Bat'terbee's regrets at her absence through indisposition, Mr. Barton said that if anything could offset the disappointment of the society in not having the opportunity of meeting a new friend in Lady Batterbee, it was in welcoming back Lady Wilford, a very old friend to the Hutt Valley. The society was particularly grateful to her for coming on such short notice.

Lady Wilford said that although she had always remembered the flowers of the Hutt Valley in its early days, it seemed to her that the display before her was now even more beautiful. She had been struck with one exhibit in particular—the children's stand which she said was most artistic and much of it as good in arrangement as the work of professional florists.

Lady Wilford mentioned that just prior to leaving London, she had seen a marvellous display of Russell lupins; which had formed an entire section

of the Royal Horticultural Show. She had sent seeds of these lupins to be raised in the Hutt Valley and was looking forward to making, her entry as a gardener and exhibitor with the blooms at a forthcoming show. The official party entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Barton at tea also included the Rev. H. E. K. Fry and Mrs. Fry, Mrs. Harry Mitchell, Mrs. H. D. Bennett, Miss C. Fraser, Miss Beagley. Mrs. Knox Gilmer also attended later in the afternoon.