ANZAC WAR FUND

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 111, 6 November 1941, Page 7

ANZAC WAR FUND

U.S.A. GARDEN PARTY

SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION

In the beautiful grounds of the hottie of Warren.William, well-known movie star, in the Valley of Encino,- a number of New , Zealanders and Australians gathered for a garden party to raise funds for the Anzac forces abroad.

'The Anzac War Relicf1 Fund Conimittee had been hard at work for some weeks collecting goods for. the various stalls, raffles, and prizes, generously given by tradespeople and private citizens. "The grounds were. gaily decorated with the flags of America and the various British Dominions. .Before 3 o'clock, a good crowd had-gathered and the show started in real earnest,

The beer parlour, held in; the coclctail bar'of the swimming >pool-T-Ameri-can fashion—was... a'; great attraction despite the cool weather.. .The bartender, dressed in the good old London Cockney style, with white apron, tiowler hat, check vest, and Old Bill moustache, did a roaring trade, for before 5 o'clock he had run out of stock, all of which had been donated by the breweries of Los Angeles. The Country Stall, where everything could be bought from a box of matches to a bag of flour, and the White Elephant Stall, loaded with vanity cases. Curios from Australia and New Zealand, and a collection ,of gifts from the homes and stores of Los Angeles, were set up under the widespreading trees- at the "garden. In the:adjoining teni^s court-Major Harris,-of Australia, was energetically running a race game, which attracted many clients. As a keen rival,. Mr. Clement May, formerly of Wellington, was. inducing the crowd,1 to take; a pot ? shot at Hitler for ten cents.' >

When; evening came the '|grounds were illuminated with floodlights and coloured bulbs, and supper was served al fresco oh the patio. ;. Among the many hundreds who attended were noted movie stars,.prominent among whom were Basil Rath* bone, Anna May Wong, Gary Grant, and Herbert Marshall. .

Fun reached its Height at 9 o'clock when the auction mart began, and the articles left over i from the sale fell to the' highest bidders. ' "

1 This effort brptiglit; in about £300. This with other funds will go to t th» Anzac War Relief Fund.

Photographs of early Wellington and of sketches made in-the early days are at'present being displayed; in- the lobby of the Central Library. They make an interesting pictorial history of the growth, of the capital city,. _