NATIONAL PARTY BALL

Chronicle (Levin), 25 June 1949, Page 4

NATIONAL PARTY BALL

Over 600 At Season's Most Colourful Function Over 600 were present at the Levin braneh of the New Zealand National Party's annual ba*l las' night, it being arrevent which will long be remembered. The deeorations transformed thg Regent Hall, the blue and silvei colour schemev •* subdued lighting. and rich floral wall deeorations setting off the many beautifu"..frocks wcfrn, making in all a mosf picturesque sight.- ' - The official guests of the; evening were the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, and Mrs. Holland, and the member for Otaki, Mr. J. J. Maher, and Mrs. Maher.. They were received by Mr. R. Den"on, president of the Levin Junior Nat/j(onlal- Party', . hnd1 Miiss Maide Walker. Mr.-Len Allen was M.C. A feature of the evening was the presentation of. 12 debutantes tc Mr. and Mrs. Holland: TastefuL-Decorations. Credit must go to Mrs. S, J. Thompson for the tasteful manner in which the hall was*' decorated Lengths of white and blne gauze were the central theme of the overhead deeorations, these being hu^f from a central hoop. At the end of the - hall and betwieen a divided stage, was hung a large central star with whplte and blue gauze streamers leading from it to a large "Freed'om" sign (the ofiicial emblem' of the National Party) against the wall. » - Around the ' waPs; large silver paper wall vases were afflxed and ir> these were placed 'sprays of handmade" flowers of pink, blue and cyclamen shades. ■ Gaily coloured balloons were hung in bright clusters from the ceiling. A colourful and speetacular feature of the evening was a baPet. the girls participating being trained by Miss Jean Scott. Wearing attractive ballet frocks of ice blue toning, trimmed witr silver stars, the ballet group coni-; prised: Misses Pam Hills, Pam Beu, Alice Robinson, Eunice Hudson Una Prouse, Nancy MitchelJ. pp°.g* Wills, Joan Manson, Marie Walker and Nardine Tevenard. Mr. HoJJand Arrives. Sustained cheering greeW -hc arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Holland, who were met at the door by the official host and hostess for the "wening, Mr. Denton and Miss Marie Walker, the latter' wearing a driking white and/ blue ,blockstrjped taffeta gown. . A'fter belng . welcomed iii a fe**1' well-chosen words by .fdr. Deiiton| Mr. Holland expresged pleasure opJ behalf of his wife and himself ' at being present. This was the first occasion on which he had been able to attend a Levin junior branci ball, although -he had heard frcrr those who had deputised fdr him'iuother years what grand functions they were. He congratulated th" Levin Juniors on another fine effort. .

Mr. J.- J. Maher, M.P. fpr thb . Otaki electorate, also spoke. ex-" pressing pleasure at having.the party's leader in the hall, and fjfgq, oongratuiating the j.uniors. on the' succrss. of sthe'r balLr •/ ' \t The following werle: the frocks worn by the ladies of the official party:— Mesdames S. G. Holland, French moss crepe of patou pink with silver fox fur cape; J. J. Maher, black chiffon and silver lame; H. B. Burdekin, blue crepe draped; W. Day, blue silk off the shoulder; A. Moss, green floral; B. Antcliff, cloque aqua marine; W. Bull, black velvet; J. W. Mexted, black; S. J. Thompson, burgundy velvet; W. H. Walker, blue crepe; C. S. Keedwell, green t'dffeta; F. P Wilson, black georgette and taffeta with old lace; and R. A. Frederikson, cloque cerise.

Many and varied were the frocks worn, -the most up-to-date trends m style and length. being in evidence. Mrs. R. G. Romans added a touch of the Orient with a magnificent kimona. Her frock was of bottle green slipper satin with bustle. Debutantes, Presented. Half past-nine saw the presentation of this year's debutantes, all looking most attractive, as, to the softly played tune of an old-time refrain, they advanced to meet Mr. and Mrs. Holland. Later they were claimed >by their partners for the Debutantes' Waltz. 4 The following are the names of the 12 debutantes presented: Marie Pescini (white nylon with white rucking and pink trimmings), presented by Mrs. M. Pescini (black lace and crepe trimmed with p-nldv Aiicrvn nrvi,^

(white lace top and marquisette skirt over taffeta), presented by Mrs. J. Todd (brown frock); Greta Green (white net period frock), presented by Mrs. G. Wilkinson, (black net with sequined silver); Elsie Matulich (white marquisette with satin off-the-shoulder frill and drape forming bustle), presented by Mrs. F. Chainey (maroon velvet); Betty Young (white net and lace), presentted by Mrs. R. Young (black. marquisette embossed with blue velvet); Carol Williams (silk figured crepe), presented by Mrs. D. Corner (white spotted net) ; Natalie Mudgway (white satin), presented by Mrs. G. Mudgway (blue crepe); Valerie Merediith (la^© georgette over taffeta, Princess Margaret style), presented by M;rs. M. Robinson (blue) ; Margaret Senior (period froek of white silk taffeta), presented by Mrs. Kathleen Black (honeysuckle satin with pearl trim) ; Juliette McMinn (figured organdie with draped shoulders), presented by Mrs. S. McMinn (mulberry silk crepe); Meropa Cribb (white cloque off the shoulder), presented by Mrs. H. Campbell .(black sequined1 moss crepe); and

Joan Stewart (white lace and ninon), presented by Mrs. J. Whiteman (red velvet). The dance committee compriseu: Misses P. Wills, S. Jackson, P. Hius, J. Manson, J. Woodward, N. levenard, M. Walker, A. Robinson and Prouse and Messrs. R. Denton (president), W. Lemberg, B I. Doyle, A. Abraham, J. Rankin, J. Old and A. [Walker.