LONDON RECEPTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 29, 3 August 1939, Page 19

LONDON RECEPTION

DUCHESS OF KENT CHIEF

GUEST

(By Air Mail from "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, July 13. The reception arranged in honour' of the Duchess of Aeut by the New Zealand Women's Association proved j to be a very happy party. The guest j of the afternoon, upon whom The Lady Herbert was in attendance, immediately fitted well into her environment and a number of New Zealanders were privileged to be presented to her Royal Highness and to remain in conversation for quite a while. The Duchess manifestly was much interested to meet not only the New Zealanders who reside here, but some whom she will most likely meet again j on her visit to the Dominion. On her arrival at the Rembrandt Hotel, South Kensington', where the reception took place, the Duchess was: received by Mrs. W. J. Jordan (pre-1 sident of the association), Miss V. I Russell (chairman) and Mrs. E. S. Harston (hon. secretary). Awaiting her in a private room were the other members of the committee of the association, as well as Lady Augusta Inskip, Ladj Bledisloe, Lady Jellicoe, Lady Liverpool, Lady Hewart, Mrs.. R. Kennedy, Mrs. Bean, Mrs. W. R. Wilson, and Miss Maddiver. The Duchess was presented by Mrs. Jordan with a sheaf of delphiniums, pink carnations, lilies of the valley, and orchid, tied with blue and silver-shot ribbon. She then shook hands with everyone present, and was conducted into the main room where more than two hundred members of the association and their friends were assembled, having taken theii places at small tables. The floral decorations of the hotel were very choice and effective, consisting chiefly of hydrangeas in deep pink and blue, and of pale pink gladioli. A string orchestra played sof; music ill the afternoon. The high table was arranged as three sides of a square. The Duchess of Kent sat with Miss Russell on her right and Mrs. Jordan on her left. TH/i KIWI Directly in front of them, in the space between the table wings, on a small pedestal, stood a kiwi, made in glazed sugar by the head patissier, M. Sietz, of the Rembrandt, who, with the manager, had been more than once to the Natural History Museum to study i a kiwi exhibit, and so to ensure perfection in this sugar replica. It was a splendid reproduction, with egg and

small flax bushes to complete the stand, which was tied with ribbon in i New Zealand colours. This bird has since gone to BelI grave Square as a present for Prince Edward and Princess Alexandra. Their mother could scarcely credit the fact that the model was in sugar and that the children could pluck its "feathers" ( and eat it all. j PRESENTATIONS. At the conclusion of afternoon tea, daintily served, and accompanied by strawberries and ices, as many New Zealanders were brought singly to hen bßoyal Highness as time would permit, j for the Duchess had expressed a desire to be home by 5.30 p.m., at which hour she likes always to be with her children. Her Royal Highness asked to have the opportunity of an individual chat with as many as possible. As each one was brought up for an informal talk, the Duchess was told something in advance, and this made conversation very easy. With Mrs. Bean (Christchurch), the Duchess had quite a long chat. As a writer, two of whose books had some time ago been accepted by the Duchess of Kent, Miss Rosemary Rees was warmly welcomed, for the Duchess said she had read "My New Zealand Holiday" with great interest and that she would enjoy it even more after having met the- author. The other book which she accepted was "Sing a Song of Sydney." Miss Eileen Driscoll, as a singer from New Zealand, had the thrill of | being presented and of having a talk ' about music and painting. The Duchess ; was greatly interested to. know that 1 Miss Driscoll sang . a great deal in Maori, and she asked v.-hat the language was like. Miss Driscoll referred to its soft ana musical qualities and told the Duchess that the Maori people would be sure to sing for her when she is visiting Rotorua. Among others who were successively presented were Mrs. R. S. Forsyth, Mrs. A. J. Harrop (Wife of the Agent in England for the University of New t Zv-aland), Mrs. Low (mother of David Low, the well-known cartoonist), Dr. Riddell, Miss Gwen Knight (artist), and Mrs. Lysnar. SOME OF THE DRESSES. The Duchess of Kent wore a pretty two-piece of printed duck-egg crepe de chine, and a small hat with swathing of chiffon of the same delicate tint. The Lady Herbert was in printed beige and brown crepe de chine and large brown hat. Mrs. Jordan was in a dress of light saxe blue, with becoming upturned hat to match. Lady Bledisloe was in the lime green with small felt hat to tone that undoubtedly well becomes her. Lady Jellicoe was in olack, with a posy of coloured flowers on a hat of black straw. Lady Liverpool wore a twopiece of cherry and white small-check silk, and a wide-brimmed hat of cherry coloured fancy straw. Lady Augusta Inskip wore navy blue, and Lady Hewart was in blue of a deep indigo tone. Mrs. xiarston vvas complimented by everyone on the successful way in which she carried thi-ough the recommendations that had been made in committee.

,It is all very well to treat chapped hands with chemists' preparations, but it is better to keep a pair of old gloves handy, especially in the laundry* and use them whenever possible. When hanging out clothes they are a blessing.