COMMERCE CONGRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22539, 2 October 1936, Page 3

COMMERCE CONGRESS

EMPIRE VISITORS

AFTERNOON RECEPTION A PROFUSION OF FLOWERS [I!Y TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON, Thursday Nearly 800 guests were present at the Hotel St. George at the afternoon reception given by the president,' councillors and members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to welcome the visiting Km pi re Chambers of Commerce congress delegate* and their wives. Seldom, if ever before, has the hotel been so beautifully decorated. There were (lowers everywhere, from the entrance foyer to the farthest corner of the main lounge. Both the palm and the upstairs lounges were used as well as the spacious dining room, and in each was an array of flowers In tho entrance foyer were shrubs, tubs of cyclamen and cinerarias with a light touch of West Australian everlastings. The main foyer was decorated with bon is of tulips, narcissi and shrubs with here and there a profusion of cinerarias. Tho palm, lounge, always a sight to behold, was a bower of beauty as was its entrance foyer, in which were masses of the most exotic blooms, tall, vivid cinerarias and a species of gladioli. On the walls were hanging baskets of delieato hydrangeas and New Zealand clematis. Within tho loungo where the little tables were set with savouries were yet more flowers which contrasted pleasingly with the tall, dark green palms. Hero again were baskets of hydrangeas, clematis, magnolias and greenery, while on each table stood a green witch bowl of tulips.

Beautiful art vases of cherry and apple blossom made still life studies that showed up the more vivid colouring of the exotic decorations. In the upstairs lounge, the scheme of decoration was much thf same excepting that more clematis was used and a bright note was struck by vases of red and white amaryllis lilies. Here, too, the tables were set with savouries and other dishes. The dining room looked very gay with its tall palms and baskets of rhododendrons in shades of red and pink. Throughout the reception a large staff of trimly-uniformed waiters and waitresses handed round tea and cocktails of all kinds with savouries that were the perfect complement. The guests, who included all the visiting delegates and members of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce, were received in the foyer of the palm lounge by Mr. C. J. B. Norwood, president of the Wellington Chamber, and Mrs. Norwood, with whom stood Viscount Elibank, president of the Federation of Associated Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire. Mrs. Norwood was wearing a long frock of deep Burgundy marocaiu and lace, a large black hat and silver fox furs. Viscountess Elibank wore a frock of bottle green marocain with buttons down the front and a tie scarf of pillar box red cire satin. Her tiny hat matched her frock. She also wore large globular ear-rings of pillar box red and a necklace of tho same shade.

Also present were Sir Thomas Wilford, chairman of the Council of the Federated Chambers, and Lady Wilford, who was in a black ensemble with black and white striped trimmings and a black hat, Mr. Hedley Miller (secretary), and Mrs. Miller, Mr. Norton Francis (president of the Associated Cham bet's of Commerce of New Zealand), and Mrs. Francis, the presidents of the various chambers and their wires, members of the visiting air delegation, the Hon. Tugi, Prince Consort of Tonga, the various Consuls and Consular agents in Wellington, and trade commissioners.