INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1937, Page 16

INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Pigeons, parrakeets, .tuis, love-birds, robins, wrens, and hundreds of others, cleverly made and looking most realistic against a backcloth of a charming old manor house and garden, were perched in the trees on either side and suspended in flight on the stage in St. Francis Hall when the Internal Affairs Department held their annual ball last'night.

The decorations were the most original, colourful, and effective that have been seen in Wellington for a' long time, and they were all -made by Mr. E. Gilmour, Mayor of New Plymouth, and carried out under his personal supervision. Along the front of the stage were four kiwis, representing the birds coming under the protection of the Internal Affairs Department, whilst on the roof of the "manor house" sat a-row of wise-looking old owls. In addition to this attractive stage scene the hall itself was profusely decorated. The entire ceiling was effaced with a streamered canopy of red, white, and blue, from which hung myriads of silver tinsel stars and brilliantly-colour-ed butterflies. Shields, edged with tinsel, many of them - bearing the initials I.A. in silver, decked the walls, and the whole effect was harmoniously festive.

A sit-down supper was served in the supper-room, which was . equally gay with masses of Iceland poppies arranged in green baskets. ' There was a very large attendance at the dance, the proceeds from which will go to the King George V Memorial Fund, An excellent orchestra helped considerably towards the outstanding success of the occasion. Mr. C. A. Furlong was the M.C. A demonstration of modern ballroom dancing was given by Mr. Gouthern Colledge and partner, and Miss Phyllis Olliver performed a Spanish dance in costume. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon: W. Parry, was unable to be present, being absent from Wellington. Mrs. J..W. Heenan, wife of the Undersecretary, and Mrs. J. Bennett, were hostesses. Mrs. Heenan was wearing k black coin-spotted moire taffeta frock and Mrs. Bennett Was in black georgette. The dance committee included Mrs. Angus ("who wore brown floral chiffon), Miss Dowland (primrose taffeta,'. Miss L. Stewart (green cloque), and Messrs. C. A. Furlong, Gellatly, R. Kean, and L. H. Sinclair. Others present were Mr. J. W. Heenan, Paymaster-Commander and Mrs E. L. Tottenham, Paymaster-Lieu-tenant and Mrs. H. R. Sleeman, Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Sleeman, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Young, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Wise, Mr and Mrs. Burch, Mr. and Mrs. W. A Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. C. Bell, Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Harper, Mr. E. Gilmour (Mayor of New Plymouth), Mr. and Mrs. J. Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. F. T. Thornton, Dr. and Mrs. D. N. Isaacs. Mr. and Mrs. M. Mather, Mr. and Mrs. N. P. |Haughton, Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Bolt, Mr. and Mrs. R. Bender, Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Stephens, Mr. and

Mrs. G. Berry, Mr. and Mrs. Christie, Mr and Mrs. H. I. Forde, Mr. and Mrs. J A. Gasson, Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Fen- j ton, Mr. and Mrs. B. Wingfield, Mr. and Mrs. F. England; Misses I. O'Donnell, T Austin, Fraser, M. Newport, M. Seward, H. Seward, E. Valentine, M. Beck, Healy, D. Anderson, M. Griffin, R Rees. Burns, Will (2), M. Turner, R Anderson, Ruth Watson, Jean Duncan, Lucy Roberts, Marjorie Lewis, Mary Lewis, Millier, L. Roberts, Posseniskie, Burns, Sapwell, Bobbie Kean, Toulson, G. Holmes, Roper; and Messrs. R. G. Mintoft, H. Crombie, B. Austin, N. Lambert, P. Buddie, R. Seward, W. G. Warren, J. Donoghue, J. Bennett, A. W. Quirke, W. E. Davidson, F. Newcombe, R. Mcßae, H. Ramsden, E. Armstrong, J. Meech, J. W. Mawson, W Barrett, Jacobson, J. Smith, G. Sanson, E. and M. Turner, T. Taylor, G. Farmer, H. Kennard, Allan Morrisoni S. Jamieson, Benjamin, M. Gumiey, F. Rooke, I. Darroch, J. Casey, and Jacobson.