OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21118, 27 February 1932, Page 18

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

CEREMONIAL FUNCTION. The hot, dull weather on Wednesday somewhat detracted from the brilliance which usually attends the opening of Parliament, but in spite of the mugginess all the galleries were filled, states the Dominion. The heat at one stage of the proceedings was so intense that one visitor fainted, and had to be carried out, and attended by a professional nurse, who happened to be present. The gay uniforms and the scarlet velvet of the chairs in the Legislative Council made a colourful background for the black and white of the full evening dress worn by the members of the Council. The Lady Bledisloe, who was accompanied by Mr. Cecil Day, official secretary to His Excellency, and Mr. E. W. Kane, clerk of Parliament, entered the chamber leaning on a. stick and limping slightly after her recent accident. She was greeted by warm sympathy from everybody present. Her Excellency is suffering from a sprained tendon of the leg. which she received while playing tennis last week.

Her Excellency woro a frock of palest rose-pink chiffon, patterned with sprays of larkspur-blue. The frock was made with three waterfall tiers on the skirt, and a short, straight little coat. Her swathed turban of Peau d'Ange ribbon, in the same shade, was finished with a diamond qlasp and she also wore ropes of deep beige pearls. She was presented by Sir Walter Carncross, Speaker of the Legislative Council, with an exquisite, bouquet, in shades of pink, of hothouse carnations, pansies, roses and divinia. Mrs. G. W. Forbes, wife of the Prime Minister, was wearing .1 black georgette ensemble,> worked in a large gold design, and a black hat. She received a bouquet from Sir Walter Carncross, which was of golden-coloured roses, pansies, red berries and freesias. His Excellency the Governor-General entered wearing the uniform of a Privy Councillor. He was accompanied by Sir John Hanham. Bt., Lieutenant Elworthy, R.N., A.D.C., Lieutenant J. W. Tweedie, A.D.C.. and the following members of the military and naval staffs:—Colonel F. Symon, A.D.C. to the King: Colonel W. H. Cunningham, Lieutenant-Colonel I. T. Standish, Paymaster-Commander J. T. V. Webster, Lieutenant-Colonel J. L. Saunders, Squadron-Leader T. M. Wilkes.

On the floor of {he Chamber were:— Mrs. J. G. Coates, wearing a brown suit with mustarrl-yellow collar and cuffs and small brown pancake hat; Lady Carncross, navy blue frock and Eugenie felt hat in the same shade, with a* feather mount; Ladv Parr, a black frock touched with Lido-blue and black glengarry hat; Lady Statham, floral ninon in tones of bronze and mauve, with a large black hat; Lady Myers, in beige lace with a beige hat; Miss Downie Stewart, blue floral ninon and a black hat; Mrs. Young, a blue floral crepe de chine ensemble and blue hat.; Mrs. Ransom, black satin frock and coat with white fur and black hat; Mrs. Hamilton, a deep blue frock and hat to tone; Mrs. Macmillan, pale coffee georgette ensemble and fawn felt tricorn hat with feather mount.

In the gallery were the daughters of five former Prime. Ministers. They were Mrs. Salmon (nee Isobel Massev), Mrs. B. B. Wood (Eileen Ward). Miss HnllJones, Miss Enid Bell and Mrs. F. Dyer (Miss Seddon).