Distinguished Guests At Marching Ball

Chronicle (Levin), 11 October 1948, Page 4

Distinguished Guests At Marching Ball

The Horowhenua Marching Association's plain an-d fancy dress ball was held in the Regent Hall on Friday evening, wtien there was an excellertt representation of residents and visitors. The hall was beautifully de.corated with flags and greenery. During t'he evening three marching teams*, Caledonian and Shamrock (Levin) and Bandoliers (Otaki) were presented to four of the guests, Lieut.-Colonel G. P. O'Leary, O.B.E u the wife of the chairman of the nationai executive, Mrs. G. ' lAustad, and the Under-Secretary ' for Internal Affairs, Mr. A. G. Harper, and Mrs. Harper. Ot'her - guests were 'the Mayor and Mayoress of Levin, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Burdekin, and Miss M. Burdekin, ;the Mayor and Mayoress of Shannon, Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Fitzgerald, the secretary of the Levin Military Band, Mr. J. B. Collett, and iMrs. Collett, Mrs. N. M. Thomson and the pipemajor of the Horowhenua Scottish Society's Pipe Band, Mr. A. Yorston.

- The presi'dent of the association, Mr. W. R. Jack, in welcoming those present, said that it was a pleasure and a privilege to have at the ball such distinguished guests. He congratulated Mr. Harper on his recent appointment to the office of Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs and. said that Mr. and Mrs. Harper were both enthuSiastic supporters of marching. To Colonel O'Leary, who 'held t'he unique position of both president Qf the New Zealand Marching Association and president of, the Wellington Centre, he also extended his congratulations. Mr J ack also took _the opportunity of congratulating Mr. Burdekin on his electioh to t'he vice-presidency of the New Zealand R.S.A. In conclusion, he extended his heartiest thanks to all who had helped with the arrangements for the function. The manager of the Boys' Training Centre, Mr. E, J.' Stanley, and some of the boys in his charge were responsible for the decorations, he said. He would like to particularly thank the ladies' committee for the wonderfjul job it had done ever since the association was formed. Mr. Jack t'hen called on Mr. Burdekin to welcome the visitors.

On behalf of the residents of Levin, he would like to join with Mr. Jack in. extending the heartiest of welcomes to the visitors and all present, said Mr. Burdekin. He paid a tribute to Mr. Harper, who, he said, belonged to- the department most closely concerned wit'h local bodies. On the occasion of their first appearance at a semi-civic function in Levin, he extended a particularly warm welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald, the Mayor and Mayoress of Shannon. Other speakers' were Mr. Harper and Colonel O'Leary, who both thanked the committee for the invitation to be present and commented on the 'high standard of marching in the Horowhenua. • Unfortunately, there was only a small number of fancy costumes in evidence at the ball. The prize for the best fancy dress was won hy Messrs. I. and R. Rankin, who were dressed in the traditional American Negro costume. - The M.C. was Mr. L. Spicer and the supper arrangements were in the hands of Mesdames Sciascia, Jennings, Rose andi Scotsen. The music was supplied ny a professional orchestra.