WHEN SPOOKS WALKED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 43, 30 October 1946, Page 5

WHEN SPOOKS WALKED

HALLO^J^JMiJLiIiIFiCATION SCOTTISH^

CELEBRATION

The Caledonian Hall was the scene of fun and jollification over the weekend when the local Scots once again held their annual celebration of All Hallowes Eve, the night when the spooks and ghosties of auld Scotia walk abroad (allegedly at any rate) and invade the abodes of mortals. Friday evening, rich in make-believe was devoted to the school children, three hundred of whom turned up to go ghost-baiting, whilst on Saturday evening the first Hallo'een dance to be held in the town saw a muster of two hundred and fifty masked revellers who made the most of a very novel evening and who sent the spooks about their business promptly at midnight.

The hall which had been specially decorated and illuminated for the event, presented a' line of black witches riding broom-sticks, cats, bats and owls running in continuous .ireize around the top dado, while the entrance was screened by a tun- . nel of greenery through which' the unsuspecting 'guests' were thrust, there to be tormented by half ' a dozen witches and bogles before they gained the sanctuary of the • dimly lit interior. . Greenery all around the walls and .staging completed the' picture.. The .sooth-saying . Master Ghosts took up their stands at the eastern entrance where they greeted young .and old with hollow groans and .graveyard laughter. The whole getup was exceptionally good and once -again the Society is to be congratulated.

The children's night, will long be ,<■ remembered. From the moment the .young folk met Mephistopheles at the hall entrance to the final singing of Auld Lang Syne, the whole .programme went with a swing. The Chief (Mr D. Anderson) was piped .in by two spook pipers. He greeted the packed assembly and warned ;them that anything might happen.

The programme was in the hands of Mr W. G. Hurst, who made an excellent.M.C. Dances were indulged in by the primers and the standards, to. music by gramophone and jpiano (Mrs Fowell) and all was going as merrily as a wedding bell, until the hall was darkened and the Hallo'een talk was given with suitable emphasis on the supernatural. Interludes were likewise shown on the stage, in which the ghosts of King David of Scotland, and Flora MacDonald made their appearance and addressed the gathering. The concluded with "the sudden appearance of the Witch of Kincaid, who by virtue of magical passes conjured up a 'rooster', a 'hen', a 'bear' and finally a real live 'bunny' and a 'cat'. She was given warm applause as she too finally disappeared on her broomstick. .

No Hallo'een ni'cht would be complete without the 'treacle bun' 'dookin' for apples and the 'champit tatties.' All these items were included with signal success until all the young guests had had a turn., Supper was in the/hands of the Young Caledonians, who made a very good job considering the proportions that the 'inner man' can assume in • the average school child. ; More dancing and lollie scrambles terminated a very happy night. On the occasion of the dance, the Society had as guests many , members of the newly-formed sister Society in Qpotiki. The same procedure was carried out except for the fact that the dancing filled the normal programme, and that there were prizes given for the best spooks, witches, hard-up dresses, and Hallo'een couples. : - ■ The whole evening can be described as a remarkable success, which those present will remember for its happy spirit, fun and general ■enjoyment.