VICTORIA LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20006, 25 January 1927, Page 11

VICTORIA LEAGUE.

THE ANNUAL BALL. A FINANCIAL SUCCESS. (Fhom Oca Own Cobbesponpknt.) LONDON, December 15. . It was naturally a great disappointment to everyone that the Duke and Duchess of York were, after all, unavoidably prevented from attending the annual ball of the Victoria League. They had expected to be „ble t be present. However, through unforeseen circumstances arising they had, with very much regret, to cancel this arrangement, notification of the cancellation being circulated by the Victoria League the day previous. Lady Patricia Ramsay was present instead. Other "last moment” changes concerned the hostess for the evening. This was & role which was- to have been filled by Mary Lady Minto, but she is now in waiting on the Queen. Her place was to have been taken by the Duchess of Devonshire, but, being confined to bed by a cold, she could not be present. The Countess of Clarendon and Lady Beatrice Ormsby-Gorc accordingly acted as joint hostesses. For some years past the ball has taken place at some private residence which has been lent for the purpose, but this year the Ritz Hotel was the place selected. There was a brilliant company, numbering about 600, and the financial result is very gratifying. As is known, the league looks largely to this annual function to provide the means for the entertainment of visitors from overseas during the following season. Many New Zealanders every summer appreciate greatly the hospitality extended to them at the London headquarters, not housed at South Kensington. There were beautiful dresses, and delightful music was provided by the DebroySomers Band. Among the hostesses and their parties WGfG t The Countess of Clarendon (chairman of the Ball Committee): Lady Rosemary 4gar. .uady Joan Villiers, the Hon. Cvnthia Guest, Mr Simon Baring, Mr George Hendrie, a- d Mr Barclay Villiers. Viscountess Chelmsford: The Hon. Andrew Thesiger, Major and the Hon. Mrs Sheepshanks, Mr and the Hon. Mrs O’Brien, Miss Lubbock, Mr Hankey, and Mr Mitchell-Cotts. Lady Dynevor: Lady Pansy Pakenham, the Hon. Imogen Rhys, Miss Daphne Price, Mr Rover Heskcth, Mr R. Samuelson, and Mr R. Sowerby. _ , Lady Stanley of Alderley: Lady Mary Thynne, Miss Josepha Hughes-Smith, Miss Diana Furse, Miss Kitty Henley, Mr J. Ellison-Macartney, Mr A. Lyons, and Mr Anthony Weldon. . Lady Violet Astor: The Prime Minister of Australia and Mrs Bruce. Ladv de Bunsen: Sir Maurice de Bunsen Miss Cicely de Bunsen, Miss Rosalind de Bunsen, Baroness Schroeder, Miss M. Schroeder, Mr H. Schroeder, Mr and Mrs Paul Bridaeman, and Mr Arbutlmott. Lady Culme-Seymour; Lady Anne Egerton the Hon. Nina Grenfell Miss CulmeSeymour, Lieutenant-commander Henry Hamilton, Mr Thomas Dundas, and Mr R. Farquhar. „ , _. The Hon. Mrs Philip Henderson: The Hon. Ivy Somerset, Mr and Lady Cynthia Slessor, Sir Harry Mainwaring, Captain Fane, Miss Tyrrell, and Mr William Carnegie: Mr and Mrs G. P. Slade, Miss Vaughan Morgan, Miss Rachel Carnegie, Miss Jocosa Carnegie, Mr Roger North, and Mr Ferguson Fortescue-Bnck-da Mrs Geoffrey Dawson and Miss Hay: The Hon. Ursula Lawley, Mr Geoffrey Dawson,' Miss H. L. Hay, Miss Dora stanhope, Captain Codnngton, Mr Archibald Skinner, Mr C. Burleson and Mr Milbank. The High Commissioner for New Zealand and Lady Parr were among the first lift of patrons, but, owing to Lady Parrs illness in Paris, it was not possible for either to be present. UNFOUNDED RUMOURS. The absence M the Duke and Duchess of York apparently cave the impression in some quarters that differences had arisen with the league. On the authority of Mr P. K. Hodgson, private secretary to his Royal Highness the Duke of York, it is possible to dispel this mistaken notion. “The reason the Duke and Duchess did not go to the ball,” said Mr Hodgson, “was a most important private engagement which suddenly arose, the circumstances of which made it imperative for them to be elsewhere on Tuesday evenin'*.” There is no foundation for the rumours about the health of the Duchess, or for the reports in certain papers that the Duchess had, on medical advice, given up all evening engagements until she leaves for Australia and New Zealand. As a matter of fact, she has no further evening engagements.