AFTERNOON RECEPTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22026, 5 February 1935, Page 3

AFTERNOON RECEPTION

MISS SHEILA MacDONALD In honour of their guest, Miss Sheila Mac Donald, daughter of the British Prime Minister, who is concluding a tour of New Zealand, strains of old Scottish airs greeted her on her arrival at an afternoon party given yesterday by the St. Andrew's Ladies' Auxiliary. Milne and Choyce's Reception Hall, in which the function was held, was filled by a large gathering of members and friends of the society—about 200 —and all combined in offering Miss Mac Donald a warm and truly Scottish welcome. A touch of rich autumn colouring was given to the stage and alcoves in the room by large howls of tango and rust-coloured zinnias, and these also were arranged in pale green and amber crystal vases on the tables. At the special table reserved for the guest of honour and officers of the society were arranged tho palest blue and mauve delphiniums in tall amber vases. Upon her arrival in the hall Miss Mac Donald was presented by the president of the Ladies' Auxiliary, Mrs. J. S. Black, with a bouquet of mauve and cream statis arranged in the form of a St. Andrew's Cross, and Dr. Gladys Montgomery, vice-president, presented Mrs. Scott Wilson, who accompanied Miss Mac Donald, with a bouquet of sweet peas and maidenhair fern. In addition to the pipe nn'sic played by Miss Nancy Gray, songs were sung by Mrs. Rattray, her accompaniments being played by Miss Lilian Braithwaite. A warm welcome was extended to the guest of honour by the president, who made reference to the fact that Miss Mac Donald was now a member of their society, and in confirmation of her statement the badge of the society was pinned upon Miss Mac Donald by Mrs. W. H. Tongue. Dr. Gladys Montgomery also welcomed Miss Mac Donald and spoke of the memorial she had seen in Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, which had been erected and dedicated to her mother. Margaret Ethel Mac Donald. In replying, Miss Mac Donald said how delighted she had been to become a member of the society. In her tour of New Zealand .all kinds of things had reminded her of Scotland. When she had visited the sounds in the South she had thought the mountains very like those she was familiar with in Scotland, although on a vaster scale. Miss Mac Donald said she had been greatly impressed when going into the bush in New Zealand with the scarcity of bird life. At Home birds were everywhere. She had been told that this was due to the ravages of deer which had been brought from Scotland on tho native plant life, with its resultant effect, upon bird life. She hoped that everything would be done that was possible to restore and protect the bird life of New Zealand. Miss Mac Donald said she had been . very interested in seeing the way in which a new country such as this was developing and seeing how it was grappling with the difficulties which nature presented. The work of the pioneers she thought was magnificent.

Speeches were also made by Mrs. McLaren, Mrs. John Barr and Mrs. Hugh Kasper. Seated at tho official table with Miss Mac Donald were Mrs. J. S. Black, president, Dr. Gladys Montgomery. Mrs. W. H. Tongue, Mrs. D. McLaren. Mrs. J. W. Bissett and Mrs. Scott Wilson. Members of the committee present included Mrs. J. Barber, Mrs. P. G. Wright, Miss G.' Cameron, Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. Q. Spicer, Mrs. D. MoCrone, Mrs. McKain, Mrs. Traill.