THIRTY DEBUTANTES AT DANCE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 187, 4 May 1940, Page 6

THIRTY DEBUTANTES AT DANCE

Marsden School Former Pupils Presented To Bishop Holland

Light shone with a welcoming brilliance from many windows of Marsden School last night, when the annual debutates’ dance given by the Parents’ Association, took place. The assembly hall, entrance lobby, stairways and a

number of classrooms were transformed for the occasion and some time before the dance was due to begin many parties of guests had arrived and established themselves in readiness to see the presentation of debutantes which followed the first dance. Presentations were made to the Bishop of Wellington, the Rt. Rev. 11. St. Barbe Holland.

Inside the main doors massed greenery was arranged at the foot of the stairs and orange bushes, hung with golden yellow fruit gave a tropical air, which was echoed in tile decorative theme of the ballroom. Flax fronds were arranged on the stair balustrades and a massed arrangement of orange shaded hydrangeas and greenery was on the landing. In one corner of the entrance hall, lounges, chairs and shaded lights made a cosy sitting-out corner and from the other side of the stairs a refreshment buffet was set up, where willing helpers dispensed fruit cup. The vaulted assembly hall w-as charmingly decorated. The stage represented an orange grove, with a round yellow sun shining from a deep blue sky. Metallic sunflowers and giant blue daises were banked in one corner against a large gold tinsel fan. Orange trees, clumps of tall flax and massed yellow- and red leaves added an effective splash of colour. The lights were shaded in orange flower petals and under the -balcony, hydrangeas were banked in an orange window-box. Wicker chairs with gold cushions were placed before the stage for the official party. Bowls of chrysanthemums, hydrangeas, berries and autumn leaves made a pleasant sitting-out room of the library, this being used by the debutantes as their cloak room before their presentation. Afterward it w-as popular with dancers as a cool retreat from their excursions on the dance floor. Beautiful flower arrangements made the supper-rooms most attractive. In shades of pink, cyclamen, ruby red and mauve, carnations, gladioli, asters, dahlias and antirrhinums with touches of blue were placed in flower “pools” on the white-covered tables, and were edged with trails of maidenhair and asparagus fern, which joined, with trails of greenery, smaller posies of flowers on the outer edges of the tables. In the official supper-room the same lovely motifs were displayed, and a sunburst of orange and yellow flowers and leaves and trails of flowers decorated the ledges.

Debutantes Presented.

At 9.15 -the dancers formed a lane on either side of a length of red carpet down which the debutantes and their mothers were to walk. A fanfare from the orchestra announced that the ceremony was to begin, and it was witnessed by several hundreds in the hall and on the balcony.

The girls were presented to Bishop Holland and Mrs. Holland, with whom in the official party were Miss Mayhew, principal of Marsden. School, Miss Baber, the former principal, . Mr. V. L. Palmer, president of the Marsden Parents’ Association, and Mrs. Palmer, and Miss Constance Morice, president of the old girls’ association. Each girl, accompanied by her sponsor, walked down tile length of the hall to the official group, where the debutante curtsied. They were announced as each group advanced 'down the ballroom.

Mrs. Holland wore a slightly trained gown of lavender faille with dropped sleeves, which were caught in a tiny blind above the elbow. She carried a posy -to tone with her frock. Miss Mayhew was in black frilled net over black taffeta, with a pastel brocaded jacket, and carried a bouquet. Miss Baber wore a black velvet frock with deep red flowers at the, V neckline. Miss Morice was wearing a frock of ming blue brocade bn a silver grey background, with touches of pink at the shoulder line.

Mrs. Palmer's frock of cyclamen taffeta had a v-neckline, tight waist and full skirt.

The Dance Parties.

Mirny cocktail and sherry parties preceded the dance, and a number of dinner parties were given for the debutantes. Among those who entertained were: Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. I. Jennings and Mr. and Mrs. Colin Clayton, who gave a buffet dinner for Miss Diana Jennings and Miss Judith Moore, and the previous evening they gave a 5 o’clock party for the two debu-

tantes. Mrs. T. P. Fotheringham had a dinner party at the Hotel Waterloo for .Miss Pamela Marrall, a debutante. .Miss Edith Ewart and .Mrs. C. W. Taylor gave a dinner party at Miss Ewart's hohie for two debutantes, the Misses Until Nelligati and Judith Gillingham. Mrs. Ricket gave a buffet dinner for her debutante daughter, Miss Joyce Ricket. Everything possible was done to ensure tiie comfort and enjoyment of guests. The parking of numerous motorcars proceeded without a hitch, thanks to ready assistance given by a group of helpers and simplified by the parking pistil which had been conveniently printed on each ticket. The Debutantes. The debutantes were: — Miss Dale Akers, who wore cream net and lace with a very full net skirt and insets of lace. Pale pink, blue and cream flowers in her posy matched the trail of small rosebuds and forget-me-nots which outlined the top of the bodice. She was presented by Mrs. K. C. Akers, who wore black velvet, with a white lace fichu over the shoulders. Miss Gloria Amos wore a frock of white silk chiffon, appliqued with water lilies on the skirt and bodice over a foundation of white taffeta. It was cut on princess lines, caught at the waist with a sash of the same taffeta. Mrs. G. S. Amos, who presented her, wore a gown of black Sil'k uncrushable velvet, with a coatee of silver sequins. Miss Mollie Arnold’s frock was of white stiffened satin with tight-fitting bodice and billowing tulle skirt. She carried an informal posy of rosebuds and cyclamen. She was presented by Mrs. AV. E. Arnold, who wore sapphire blue embossed velvet with a pink corsage and spray. Miss Kathleen Batchelor wore a frock of white embossed stiffened chiffon over white taffeta, qnt on fitting lines. The skirt was very full with a bustle bow at the back. Mrs. Batchelor’s frock was of black sheer, patterned with white flowers and she wore a russinn squirrel cape. Miss Vera Boyd was in ait old world frock of silver embossed marquisette, with close-fitting bodice and very full skirt. Her posy'was of roses and delphiniums. She was presented by Mrs. J. J. Boyd, wearing a fuchsia-coloured french gown with ruched bodice embroidered with gold sequins. , Miss Betty Brown wore a full-skirted frock of ivory bouffant satin with the bodice cut on classic lines. She carried a posy of cre.am roses and pale pink carnations, and wore matching flowers in her hair. Mrs. G. K. Brown’s frock was of fine, black lace in bustle effect over black taffeta banded' with colours at the hem and a spray of matching flowers on the shoulder of the corsage. Miss Beryl Harley-Brown wore a frock of flesh-pink broderie anglais and fullflared skirt, with the peplum outlined with pleated frillings. _ Mrs, HarleyBrown was in a classic gown of black ninon.

Miss Marian Burdekin wore ivory embossed cloque cut on princess lines, with a bustle effect and slight train. Her posy was of rose and mauve cyclamens. Mrs. Burdekin’s frock was of black figured satin, with ruched bodice and fitting skirt. Miss Jocelyn Cook’s old world gown of ivory taffeta was made with nil overskirt of stiffened net, having a multi-coloured appliqued bodice finished' with a matching flower at the neck-line,. She was presented by Mrs. Cook, wearing a black lace gown. Miss Suzanne Edwards wore a white taffeta gown cut on very sipiple lines with a full skirt and bustle at the back. She was presented by Mrs. Edwards, in black floral taffeta. Miss Helen Gibson’s ivory slipper-satin frock over pale pink taffeta had a skirt featuring the new bustle effect. Her posy was of deep red roses. Mrs. AV. H. Gibson wore tinsel-striped black taffeta with a bright shouldpr spray. Miss Judith Gillingham’s Victorian frock was of powder blue lace with a pale pink sash. The bodice and puffed sleeves were caught with pale pink rosebuds. and her bouquet was of carnations and forget-me-nots. Miss Ewart wore a model gown of figured georgette with an emerald green sash. Miss Sheila Green wore a frock ot cream embossed bouffant rococo taffeta designed on old English lines with a large bustle bow at the back. Mrs. Green, who presented her, wore fl. sowu of rembrandt oil-painted” taffeta. Miss Sylvia Hart wore a rich ivory satin frock with closely-fitted Imdice and waist, and very full gored skirt. She carried 'a posy of cream flowers. Mrs.

G. A. Hart wore •black remain with

slight bustle effect forming a small train. Miss Betty Hill'ts tine white net frock had a skirt made as a three-tiered crinoline banded in silVtir lace and worn over a heavy while talfetia-backed satin. Mrs, W. E. Hill wore periwinkle blue silk chiffon with fitted bodice and a wide, circular skirt. .Miss Diana Jeitnings was m pearl satin, with straps at the shoulders andta wide band at the waist encrusted with small pearls - ami crystal beads. .Mrs. Ivan Jennings wore uight-bluii chiffon. .Miss Glare Kissel wore white stiffened net frilled from the waist, and with a. fichu effect neckline.' The tiny flowers' on the drees matched the pink aitd blue, flowers of the posy. -Mrs. I'aul, who pre-j. seated her, wore at turquoise frock of | watered taffeta euu oh princess lines} with sequined shoulder straps. Miss Colinette L<W wore stiffened net--with a vandiyked (waist o-f luce audt motifs of the same luce over a full flared; skirt. Mrs. Low wore a gown of cycln-j men ninon. ; Miss Pamela Manrall s honey beige, tulle bouffaitt froekf was worn with aA simple wreath of field!flowers, buttercups/ daisies', cornflowers, and corn roundthe head, and a posy s of the same flowers/ She wits presented by* Mrs. T. I’. l'otner-4 ingham, wearing a Grecian gown oW molten gold lame with black accessories.-, Miss Barbara McGowan wore a frock of white satin-finished embossed taffeta,with a full flaring skirt. Her bouquetwas of pastel coloured flowers tied witi'S* silver ribbons. Mrsl Philip McGowan' 7 wore a black taffeta and n-et frock finished with a large peart clip at the neckline.

Aliss Phyllis Mules wore a gown of white chiffon, with a ruched bodice and, very full skirt, im4.ii matching shortsleeved bolero. She {was presented byf Mrs. John Redmond,, in multi-coloured black cheek taffeta with a full stiffened skirt in pannier effeeft. Miss Ruth Nelligan wore off-white;, tulle lace over slipper satin. The bodice had a bertha itrimmed with tiny,,' ■pink velvet flowers, ' The pleated skirL 'formed a peak at thie waist line. Mrs,'Charles Taylor wore black ring velvet! with cream 1-aee on title corsage. ! Miss Diana Newnlutm wore a simply-.: cut frock of heavy coriled silk moire with ‘pointed bodice and wide flared skirt. Mrs., ■Newnliam’g frock was of silk of golden' ‘paisley design on alternate peacock-blue and black panels. Aliss Pamela Piltenson wore an old'world frock of ivory with .bodice and full skirt, finished with a niching in 'the same material. She carried a Victorian posy in pastel shades. Mrs. D. R. 'Paterson wore a midiii-glut-blue gown of heavy silk crepe witin diagonal stripes of silver, and corsage* spray was of red Poses. Miss Joyce Rickettevore a french frock of white and silver iwtallique silk wjthj tight-fitting bodice iuml very full skirt.* Airs. Rickette wore a--princess frock ofs black slipper satin. Misses Jepnette and-- Margaret Ritchie wore identical victoriaii frocks of ivory moire taffeta, the boufljant skirts gathered just below a very slim waistline, tire corsage being sleeveless and forming a V-neck. Mrs. J. A. D? Ritchie was in a taffeta frock with a floral design in hydrangea and cyclamen shades. Miss Marie Stellin wire a picture frock of blush pink stiffened* needle-run lace, with full skirt overslipf on net and crepe to tone, and gathered iicsiu over the shoulders. Mrs. J. Stellin iwas in a classic gown of aqua blue witlU draping from the shoulders at. back and) forming a long girdle down centre frofnt of maple red. Miss Pamela AViltosi wore a picture' frock of white mbire ffaconne over blush pink, caught up at the|hi»m with pink and silver flowers, and carried a Victorian posy. Mrs. Norman .AViiton’s frock of cornflower blue floral tsatin- was made with a bustle at the basqk. Miss Pauline Young'wore white chiffon over petal pink taffeta, with a very full skirt. Tjght-fitting. off-shoulder bodice had touches of ribbon. She was presented by Mrs. J|. G. Young, wearing pearl grey silk chiffon over grey taffeta, appliqued with tyjeranium motifs edged with crystal beada. Those responsible forithe arrangements in connexion with the ball were Mrs. Eric Luke, convener; Airs. AA 7 . E. Leicester, secretary; and the following committee: Mesdames Scotj, Cramond, Tennent, AVebster, Dykes. Harley Brown, AVinton-Brown, Buriabd, Caselberg, Castle, Childs, Cloustqn,' Crimp, Eggers, Fleming, Francis. Fraser, Gibson. Hanna, Ikin, Jensen, Macinoruan, Miles, Newnham, Park, Pope. Rutticfr. Robinson. Rowland, Shore Taylor, ? Turner, Wilton, Young.

A most attracti'qe Grandmother Clock (a grandmotbea- clock, in case vou don’t know, is a grandfather clock in a small size but still) large enough to stand on the floor) at) Robin and Co., 17 Grey Street, has t?n old oak case with a small spiral column each side of the face which lias alfbrass dial with heavily embossed corners. It has a reliable English movement and a sweet chime.—Advt.