A Foreign Office Reception.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 1, 5 July 1911, Page 61

A Foreign Office Reception.

♦TO MEET IMPERIAL CONFERENCE GUESTS, “A GOODLIE COMPANIE.” (From Our Ladv Correspondent.) LONDON, May 20. [A reception at the Foreign Office plways presents a brilliant spectacle., and is a function that few invited guests purposely miss,. and on Monday of this week, when between two and three thousand guests assembled to meet the Overseas Prime Ministers and Imperial Conference guests, the resources of the foreign Office reception rooms were taxed to the utmost.

Lines of police, who strictly scrutinised the carriage passes supplied, guarded the historic Downing-street and the main door through which the quadrangle is entered. Here, under large awnings, temporary cloak rooms, peopled by many maids and men, had been erected.

Through a passage-way of plants and flowers, and past busts and statues of great statesmen who have passed away, the guests filed to the foot of a broad marble stairway carpeted in red baize, and lavishly decorated with delicate Toses, carnations, geraniums, hydrangeas, stocks, azaleas, and great palms and ferns.

At the fork of the staircase which branches to right and left, and standing an front of a remarkable wall of flowers, Mrs. Lewis Harcourt, wife of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, received the guests, Mrs. Asquith, having recently sustained a bereavement in the death of her sister (Lady Ribbesdale), being being unable to be present. (By Mrs. Harcourt stood Mr Asquith, shaking hands with everyone—no light task to get through smilingly, though both did their part with much grace and kindly welcome. The scene from the gallery above the staircase was like a brilliant stage play, so superbly was it all “mounted.” Two huge electroliers, with clusters of lamps, hung from a richly gilt and painted ceiling, and shone on a dense moving mass of beautifully-gowned women asliimmer with diamonds, and men sporting decorations and orders many and Various, on people young and old, dignified and excited; on colonial bishops, easily recognised in their picturesque purple evening dress; Indian rajahs ablaze with jewels, and clad in rich brocade, their dusky ladies in delicate-tint-ed Eastern fisheries; Japanese ladies with masses of silky black hair and beautiful gowns; noted politicians, admirals, soldiers, bishops and archbishops, governors, Prime ministers, agentsgeneral, high commissioners, the heads of Government departments, Crown agents, judges, members of the Privy Council, the Lord Mayor and sheriffs of London, and hundreds of others whose name is legion. “It was a goodlie companie.”

It was immensely interesting to watch the progress of the various well-known guests through the rooms. Mr. Winston Churchill, despite his bald top and long curly hair, gave one the impression of a rather naughtv bov out for an evening’s fun, as he grabbed his friends by the coat sleeve, and told them stories that caused a good many guffaws among the men, and amused smiles among the women. Mr. Andrew Fisher, the Australian Prime Minister, looked shy and pleased at the heartiness of the welcome given him on his entrance. The Bishop of London, with his ascetic face and charming smile; Dr. Lang, the Archbishop of York, a stern faced interesting-looking man with bonny grey hair; the Bishop of Pretoria, a monster figure in purple with admirable calves, clothed in black silk; the Duchess of Devonshire, Queen Marv’s Mistress of the Robes, a slight, dark, and in no wav patrician—-looking patrician, though with a sweet smile, the Dukp of Devonshire, a jolly farmerlike man. made an interesting group as they stood talking together, with Mr. “Lulu” Harcourt, a •long, thin, edition of bis father, Mr. Louis Botha, a fine-looking swarthv individual, and Lord Aberdeen, the Viceroy of Ireland, a little man a-vlitter with orders among them, and Sir Henrv Dal glel, one of the Radical rebels, and a well-Icn-own and influential newspaper proprietor. a great handsome Scotch giant with n Wayk moustache, standing, near by, ■urrnnnded by friends.

New Zealanders Present. Bishop Nevill, the Primate of New Zealand, clad in purple, looked a stately figure as, with his young wife in cream satin beside him, he made his way through the crush. He is a marvellous person, apparently not an hour older then when the writer saw him last in Dunedin years ago. A large band was stationed just below the staircase where the presentations were made, and another in the Long Gallery which was converted into m supper room where delectable dainties, many and various, •were to be had, and champagnes and hocks fit for the gods, if those individuals cared for aught but nectar. Mrs. Harcourt was in a wonderful gown of pale pink chiffon, with an overdress of coral and opalescent beads. Round her neck sparkled diamonds in many strings, and with one chain of diamonds hanging to her waist, and a fine diamond tiara surmounting her dark hair. Lady Denman (wife of the now Gov-ernor-General of Australia), who is very fall and slight with beautiful soft golden hair, was in bla-ek and gold with a beautiful coronet and many diamonds. Sir Joseph and Lady Ward were among the honoured guests, and with them thev had Miss Ward and Dr. and Mrs. Findlay, the Attorney-General and his wife. Miss Hall Tones was there looking very pretty in royal blue ninon, Miss Hattie Hall-Jones in heavily embroidered cream silk net, and Miss Fanny Hall Jones in pale blue chiffon. Mias M. Seddon was in black and velvet with pearls, Mrs. Wray PaJliser in a beautiful gown of black and gold over blue, Miss Palliser in can de nil with an overdress of white chiffon spotted with black; her sister in apricot; Lady Russell in black laee trimmed with white Honiton lace.