EMPIRE BALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23070, 22 June 1938, Page 6

EMPIRE BALL

VICTORIA LEAGUE WELLINGTON FUNOTION • COLOURFUL DECORATIONS [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Attended by Their Excellencies tho Governor-General, Viscount Galway, and Viscountess Galway, tho Victoria League's Empire Ball, held last night at tho St. Francis Hall, Wellington, was ono of the most successful social gatherings of this season. The patriotic touch was appropriately predominant ill all tho decorations. Tho entrance to the hall was carpeted in red, as were also the stairway and the upstairs foyer. On ono landing was a miniature garden of green palms, maidenhair fern, and other greenery, and tall pot palms lined tho sides of the stairway. The scene within the hall was exceptionally colourful, many-lined .lights strung from a central chandelier to tho four corners of the room adding to the festive air. Around the walls were artistically arranged' clusters of lycopodiuin which.was also entwined in the rod, white and blue drapings that encircled two largo mirror windows. Flags and Fern Tho front of tho gallery was hung with patriotic colours, the central position being occupied by a Union Jack and a New Zealand flag draped on either side of a largo bejewelled crown. An old English manor 1 house with trees in the vicinity formed tho backcloth. On tho stage red,' white .and blue decorations were again given much prominence. Banks of palms, maidenhair fern and other greenery showed up pleasingly in the light cast by tho coloured globes outlining the proscenium. At ono end of tho hall, partitioned off by rose-coloured screens, was the official logo where the Vice-Regal party was seated. Vice-Regal Party Their Excellencies, who were accompanied by Major and Mrs. It. G. Byron and their aides-de-camp, Captain It. Stuart French and Lieutenant S. It. 1b H. Lombard-Hobson, were mot on their arrival by Dr. J. A. Doctor and Mrs. Doctor, the latter being the president of the league. They entered tho ballroom with Sir Michael and Lady Myers, Mr. and Mrs. T. C. A. Hislop, Lady Buckleton, who is tho league's patroness, Lady Pomare, and Mrs. Hampton Brown and Mrs. C. Corrigan, secretary and treasurer respectively of tho league. Supper was served in tho downstairs room, where tho official table was beautifully decorated with masses of pink, red and white camellias and greenery. Also in tho official party for supper were: —Miss Amy Kane. Mrs. M. K. Chatfield, Mr. and Mrs. L. 0. H. Tripp, Mrs. James Pow, Mrs. D. Ilodio and Mrs. Larnach. Two outstanding features of tho ball were the minuet and the gavotto sets, in which the dancers were dressed in period frocks. The minuet was danced by 48 young women and men, and the gavotte by 16 of the .Victoria League girls.