A DAY "OUT OF THE BOX"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 16, 19 January 1940, Page 11

A DAY "OUT OF THE BOX"

RACEGOERS FLOCK TO TRENTHAM

When yesterday dawned so fair the success of the first day of the Wellington Racing Club's Centennial Meeting at Trentham was assured, but no one, least of all the club officials, expected quite such an enormous attendance. Before the second race there was not a race book to be had* the stands and lawns were literally packed with people, and when the time came for the running of the Wellington Centennial Cup the club officials decided to open the members' stand to the public in order to make it possible for everyone to see the race, It was certainly a day "out of the box" from every .point of view.

The sun streamed down all day out of a cloudless sky and if it had not been for a light, balmy breeze the heat would have been oppressive. People crowded beneath the trees on the lawns near the totalisators, and women with parasols were'the envy of those who had not shown the same forethought when preparing for; the day's outing. Dark glasses provided many with a certain amount of protection from the glare, and also, in some cases, with an effective disguise.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about the meeting was the way in which the club and its staff coped with the huge crowd. There was never at any stage' any confusion and the service everywhere was excellent. The traffic officers were/ wonderfully patient and efficient. It was slow going both to and from the course, but there were few hold-ups, the continuous stream of cars which stretched the length of the Valley being kept moving all the time. The course has never presented a gayer spectacle. The lawns were vivid green and the flower beds a blaze of colour. Few of even the keenest racing enthusiasts were able to pass such beauty by without pausing for a, moment to admire Nature's handiwork and express a word of praise for the skill of the racecourse gardeners. Another thing which added to the pleasure of the meeting was the music played by the Port Nicholson Silver Band, under the leadership of Conductor J. J. Drew, and an innovation which was received with applause was the singing through a microphone by a trio from the band of popular numbers.

It was difficult to realise that the country is at war and., that overseas death and destruction hold sway. There were quite a few soldiers enjoying the day's racing, but it was noticeable that there were fewer present than at the November Meeting. However, large crowds pf khaki-clad men lined the rail on the far side of the course for the running of the Wei* lington Cup, disappearing again almost before the winners' numbers had been posted on the machine. EVENT OF THE DAY. The event pf the day was the presentation of Mr. H, Hi Green's gold cup to Mr. M. Greenwood, who accepted it on behalf of the owner of Old Bill, Mr." H. H. Pharazyn. Mrs. Green made the presentation and the wife of the president, Mrs. Eric Riddiford, presented the miniatures. Mrs. Riddiford was wearing a georgette , ensemble patterned in a small amethyst and chartreuse design. Her small boater hat of chartreuse straw was trimmed with brown velvet ribbon. Mrs. Green, was dressed in a tan and white silk ensemble with which she wore a smart tan straw hat, SMART VISITORS. The frocking was probably the smartest seen at Trentham in years, It was noticeable that some, of the most outstanding ensembles were worn by visitors from other centres although the chic of Wellingtonians was gen-, eral. Racegoers ran the gamut of fashion anci appeared in anything from garden party frocks (there were two) to lightweight summer tweeds; but the styles worn by pakeha women were easily outrivalled by those of the Maoris, whose picturesque appearance, enhanced by the varied styles they favoured, made them most conspicuous in the masses of humanity on the course. It was left to several men to lead a I fashion revival in the return to tussore silk, and it was noticeable that while masculine comments were at first rather ironic, as the day progressed and the heat increased, male recognition of such breaks from convention became tinged with a grudging admiration. - A HOT FAVOURITE. The increasing popularity of grey for all occasions was never more in evidence than yesterday, and white, as a cool accessory, was equally predominant. Blue in all its pastel shades was a hot favourite, with cyclamen a close second, and these two colours were often incorporated in feminine etceteras with startlingly smart effect. One young girl smarted an enormous Dick Whittington handbag composed of wide strips of felt in both colours to match her tailored frock and its accessories, and another wore a cornflower ensemble which featured two flowing bands of cyclamen georgette trailing from neck to hemline. Blue allied to black proved a specially smart combination, as was evidenced by one fair racegoer whose model frock comprised a -deep blue flared and panelled front and a back of black, her hat of blue felt featuring a curtain-snood of deep blue velvet. A large square black bag and deep blue "blinker" sun-glasses completed her ensemble. The sunglass vogue was extremely popular and rims were selected with great care in order that colours' would not clash with preconceived j schemes.

The stewards' luncheon room, which was absolutely crowded for the official luncheon,looked even gayer than usual with so many pretty summer frocks and hats rivalling the bright colours of the gladioli, sweet peas, and gypsophila with which all the tables were beautifully decorated.

It was difficult to .find a seat in the i refreshment bar in the members' stand even when races were actually in progress. The comfortable chairs and the attractive surroundings made it a place in which people, once havirg found seats, were inclined to linger, much to the chagrin of those awaiting their turn. Here also there were flowers to delight, the eye, the big deep window-boxes being filled with, masses of lovely blooms. THE OFFICIAL LUNCHEON. Those invited to lunch at-, trie president's table for the official luncheon were the Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Myers, Mr. and Mrs. T. C. A. Hislop, Mr. A. S. Elworthy (Canterbury), Mr. D. W. J.. Gould (Christchurch), Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Greenwood (Amberley), Mr. -G. H. Grigg (Hororata), Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Lowry (Hawke's Bay), Mr. arid Mrs. Thos. A. Duncan (Hunterville), Mr. and Mrs. J. Bull and Miss Scott (Hunterville), Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Currie(Wanganui), Mr. F. O; Hamilton (Nelson), Mrs, H. E. Horan and Miss Horan, Mr. G. H; Meadmore, Mr. i Tv, ~jvey,< Miss Loughnan (Christchurch), Mr. and Mrs. E, B, Moore (Nelson), Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Gaisf ord (Dannevirke), and Mi', and Mrs, E. M. Wanklyn (Christchurch). Others who received invitations ■to the official luncheon were Mr, A. T. Donnelly (Christchurch;), Mi\G; Fulton (Rangiora), Dr. and Mrs. M. G. Louisson (Christchurgh), Mr. and Mrs. G. R. Macdonald, Mr. H. A. Rhind (Lyttelton), Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Westenra (Canterbury), Mr. W: A. White (Christchurch), Mrs. Bruce Douglas and Mr. Bruce Douglas, jun. (Canterbury), "Mr. and Mrs. G. D. Beatson (Hawke's Bay), .Mr. and Mrs. J. M, James (Featherston), Mrs. D. Kelly (Pahiatua), Mr. J. W. Card and. Miss Card : (Featherston), Mr: and Mrs. W. S. Glenn, Mr. Chalmers (Wanganui), and Mr. and Mrs, R. T. Reid (Auckland). Seats were reserved at the Minis* terial table for the Hon, ■D, G. Sullivan and Mrs. Sullivan, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason and Mrs. Mason, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong and Mrs.-, Armstrong, the Hon. R. Semple and Mrs. Semple, the Hon. W. E. Parry and Mrs. Parry, the Hon, P. C Webb, the Hon, E. Jgnes and Mrs. Jones, the Hon. W. Lee Mar-* tin and Mrs. Lee Martin, the Hon. F. Langstone and Mrs.' Langstbhe, and the Hon. Mark Fagan. . RACING ENTHUSIASTS. The many hundreds of other wellknown people who attended the meeting included Mrs. G. Tringham, Lady Roberts, Mrs. H. R. Chalmers, Mrs, Vivian Rhind, Mrs. Howard Booth and Miss Noel Booth (Carterton), Mr. Russell and Miss Ngaire Russell (Wanganui), Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Moss, Mrs. Vivian Riddifbrd, Mrs. . Peter Savage (Auckland), Mr. and Mrs: Walter Blu.nde.ll, Mrs. Charles Turrell, Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Nathan, Mrs., Owen Johnston (Christchurch), Mrs, Dan Riddiford (Featherston), Mrs. T, R. Lawson, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Blundell, Lady Thomas Hunter, Mrs. Creek, Mr. Walter Reid, Mrs. Murray Benjamin (Auckland), Mr. George Nathan, Mr. and Mrs. Lowell C. Pinkerton, Mrs. M. H, Chatfield, Mrs, Harry Atkinson. Mr, and Mrs, Percy Blundell, Miss Penelope Blundell, Mr. Warwick Blundell, Mr. and Mrs. J&mes Crawford. Mr. and Mrs. John Duncan, Mrs, H, H, Green. Mrs, Stanley Riddler, Mr, Justice Blair, Mrs. E. P. Norman, Mrs. Guy Johnston. Mr. and Mrs, Nathan (Masterton), Mrs. Ralph Lqwry (Taihape), Mrs. Charles MacDermott, Mrs. Keith Stewart, Mr. and Mrs, Clive Brown, Mrs, Hughes Steele, Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, Miss Doris Bray, Miss Lorna Bray, Mrs. Jim Vogel, Mr, and Mrs, G. F, Hardy (Hastings), Mr, and Mrs, A. Robson (Poukawa), Mrs. Lesley Wood, Mrs. Graqe Gillon, Lady Shirtcliffe, Miss Betty Petre,.Mrs, Louis Levy, Mrs, Colin Clayton, Mrs. .Malcolm Reid, Mrs. J, MacParlandr Miss Marjorie Curlett (Hastings), Mrs, Hillis Symes, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Grigg (Canterbury), Miss Ruth Wheeler, Miss MolJie Brown, Mrs- B- L. Hammond, Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Leicester, Mr, and Mrs. Andrew Todd, Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Rutherford and Miss Cushla Rutherford ■ (Canterbury), Mrs. R. E, Tripe, Mrs. Lan Reid, Mrs. Neilsen, Miss Moira Robertson, ■ Mrs. J. Mowbray Tripp (Geraldine, South Canterbury), Mrs. Bryan Todd, Mrs. R. A. Whyte, Mrs; Sydney Sawell, Mrs. H. Hardcastle, Miss Valeric Robertson (Te Horo), Mr. Bathe Brandon, MrTerence McGrath (Waikanae), Mrs. Gordon MacGregor, Miss Joan Maudsley, Mr, E. Page, Mr. and Mrs. H. L, Herd, Miss Eila Chapman, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Hempton, Miss Moya Hempton, Captain E. Grave Morris, Mr. and Mrs. C, A, Jeffries, Mrs, J. W, G, Brodie, Mrs. D. Peacock, Mrs. Brian Usshei> Alcock (Auckland), Mrs. W. Thurgpod, Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Rennie, Dr. and Mrs. M. Kronfeld, Mr. and Mrs. G. Thorne George, Mrs. J. Saunders, Mrs. B. Grummit, Mrs. W. S. Wauchop, Miss" Kirkley, Mr. and Mrs. C. Haldane (Hastings), Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Spmmerville, Mrs. Dunbar, Mr. and Mrs. Chris. Parker (Hastings), Mrs. Jack Halligan, Miss June Halligan, Mi§3 Alison Blundell, Mrs, H. E. Troutbeck (Hastings), Mr. and Mrs. Harry Dal ton (Manaia, Taranaki), Mrs. W. Blaxall, Mrs. G. Blaxall (Christchurch), Mrs, Graham Robinson, Mrs. J. Bower Black, Mrs, Bwyef (Hastings);, Miss

(Hastings), Miss J, . Huchen, Mrs. Harold Pearce, Mrs. Parata Olsen, Miss Viola Kettle, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Stead (Wanganui), Miss Marjorie Saunders, Miss Maureen Bourke, Mrs. David Peacock, Dr. and Signora B. d'Acunzo, Mrs. C. E. Critchley, Mr. and Mrs. Angus Hisldp (Hastings), Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Menzjes, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Spears and Miss Shirley Spears, Mrs. Percy Tilson (Greytown), Mrs. Hector Smith and Miss Smith (Napier), Mrs. C. Nathan, Mrs. J. Phillips, Mrs. G. D. Greenwood (Christchurch), Dr. and Mrs. Martin Tweed, Mrs. A. B. Sievwright, Mrs. Douglas Lane (Hastings), Dr. and Mrs. John Plimmer, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Kember, Mrs. Herbert Kirkcaldie, Mrs. Jack Kirkcaldie, Mrs. Eric Williams (Napier), Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Thaddens McCarthy, Mrs. E. R. Whyte (Hastings), Mrs. Hutton Peacock (Waipukurau), Mrs. V. G. Webb, Mrs. A. B. Mclntosh, Mrs. Alec Toogood, Mrs.. Harnett, Mrs. Teddy Reed (New Plymouth), Mrs. White (Waipukurau), Mrs. Somers and Miss Somers CAuck^land), Mrs. lorns and Miss Ibrns (Martinborough), Mrs. Dawson, Mrs. Jim Lowry (Hastings), Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Heenan, Mrs. E. Puttick, Miss Bunny and Miss Peter; Bunny, Mrs. J. Shelly, Mrs. Siggle-Coe, Mrs. Ritchie (Dunedin), Mr. Trevor Hinkley, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Airey, Mrs. T. Coltman and Miss Biddy Coltman, Mrs. Raymond Davies, Mr. and Mrs. E. I>. Barnes (Palmerston North), Miss Molly Malorie (Stratford), Mrs. H. Jowett, Mrs. F. Bolt, Mrs. A. J. Curtis, Miss May Murray (Palmerston North), Mrs, James Pow, Mrs. M. J. Forde and Miss Forde, Mr. and Mrs. R. Meadows, Miss Tiora Meadows, Mr. and Mrs. J. W» Hussey and Miss Nada Hussey (Wanganui) f Mr. H. Stringer, Mrs. W. E. A. Gill, Mr. and Mrs. Robson (Hastings), Mr. W. G. Reid, Mrs. Ellis McGregor (Edinburgh), Mrs. Claude Tucker, Mrs. W. Wardell, Mr. and Mrs. Hartland (Christchurch), Mrs. F. Male, Mrs. C. B. Trimmell and Miss Nancy Trimmell, Mrs. Percy Thomson and. Miss .Rita Thomson, Mrs. Bates (Wanganui), Mr. and Mrs. Bradley (Feilding), Mr. Daugal Sutherland (Featherston), Mr. and Mrs. F. Kettlewell and Miss Lily Kettlewell, Mrs. E. Findlay-Smith, Mrs. C. W. Mack, Mrs. W. Murphy and Miss Denzie Murphy, Miss Ida Martin, Miss Kathleen Holdsworth, Mrs. Godfrey (Christchurch), Miss . Inger McLennan, Mr. H. Hume (Pirinoa), Miss Valeric Hickie, Mrs. Mortimer O'Sullivan (Manakau), Miss Audrey Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. H. F. O'Leary, Mrs. W. Perry, Mrs. Hay ward (Hunterville), Mr. and Mrs. George Harrison,' Mr. Oswald Handley (Wanganui), Mrs. R. W. McVilly, Group Captain and Mrs. T. M. Wilkes, Miss Diana Brodie, Mrs. J. W. Anderson and Miss Joan Anderson, Mrs. D. Douglas (Hastings), Mr. 'Guy Cummins, Mrs. E. A. Li'ttls and • Miss Jan Little, Mjss Dorothy Buck, Mrs. Cox (Hawera), Mr. and Mrs. J. Howitt, Mrs. W. Glenn (Wanganui), Mrs. J. Coyle, Miss Carol Coyle, Miss Dawn Bowsfield (Waipukurau), Mr. N. G. Allen, Mrs, R. Orton (Wanganui), Miss Mardie Adams, Miss Kathleen Haire (New Plymouth), Mrs, Trower (Napier), Miss Lorna Baxter, Mr. and Mrs. P. O'Neill (Wanganui), Mr. and Mrs. W. Richmond (Hastings), Mr. and Mrs. Arkwright (Marton), Mrs, Hardy and Miss Hardy (Hasting/0, and Mrs. S. Barton (Wanganui),