VICE-REGAL RECEPTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 132, 7 June 1932, Page 2

VICE-REGAL RECEPTION

To celebrate the birthday of His Majesty the King, their Excellencies, the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and the Lady Bledisloe gave a recep tion. on. Friday evening at Government House, Auckland. An investiture in which great inter est was taken, was also held. The ceremony took place in the ballroom, which had. been attractively arranged for the occasion with masses of green ery and flowers. Hanging baskets of fern were suspended across the large room, and their beauty was enhanced by the white of the gleaming walls and the crimson carpet. Large clumps of flax and bamboo were on the dais, and pots of flowering plants and greenery transformed tho stand where the musicians were seated into an attractive bower.

The scene presented was a most brilliant one, the beautiful colouring of the frocks and the uniforms worn by the military and naval guests who were present adding to the effect. After the ceremony the guests collected in the drawing rooms and lounges, where a wealth of beautiful autumn flowers made the air fragrant. Large bowls of chrysanthemums in tones of golden and bronze were placed here and there, and the cosiness was added to by fires which burned merrily in the grates. On the tables in the dining room, where a buffet supper was later served, were vases of salvia, which added further to tho brightness of the scene. Their Excellencies entered the ballroom at half-past eight and took their places upon the dais where the ceremony of investiture took place. His Excellency wore the dress of the Privy Council, with the mantle of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. The Lady Bledisloe wore a handsome frock of ivory chiffon velvet and tulle. The corsage of velvet was tight-fitting, and from a low waistline the Tull skirt of tulle billowed out in foamy masses. Where the corsage joined the skirt embossed chenillo mad a pattern. Her Excellency wore a circlet of diamonds, and among her jewels were a rope of pearls. She carried a fan of white ostrich feathers. Lady Day was in a frock of cherry-coloured lace, with scarf of tulle in the same shade; and Mrs. G. Veal wore a frock of gold lame and lace, with close-fitting corsage and full skirt.