HELENSVILLE A. & P. BALL.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 2 September 1920, Page 3

HELENSVILLE A. & P. BALL.

BRILLIANT FUNCTION

The Agricultural Hall was en • fete on Thursday evening last, when the second ball promoted by the A. and P. Association was held within its walls. The weather, although not on its best behaviour, was certainly an improvement, on the wild night experienced on the occasion of last year's ball. The usually bare appearance of the hall had been entirely lost by profuse decorations of nikau fronds, flags, curtains, etc., arranged in such an- ' artistic manner as to draw forth many expressions of admiration .from those who assembled. AdBditional electric lighting had also ■t&f^n provided, and the whole was brilliantly lit. The stage was comfortably furnished for non-dancers. At 8.30 the grand march revealed the large gathering, as almost 100 couples participated in this preliminary ceremony, and another fifty or so spectators looked on at the animated scene. Although the ball was termed a plain and fancy dress one, only about half a dozen ladies (and no gentlemen at all) came in fancy dress. To digress a while : In future, we think the promoters would be advised to leave the fancy dress alone. The experiment of a truly fancy dress ball might be all right, but from a purely financial point of view, the Association at least will be more successful by keeping entirely on the orthodox lines. It is a misnomer, however, to call any a "plain" one, and we are sure the lovely dresses worn by the big majority of the ladies present on Thursday night were

the reverse to being plain, and

would do credit to any assembly. ___ The dance music, provided by Messrs Sapsfords' orchestra of four instruments (piano, violin, cornet and trombone) was simply gorgeous, and we are certain everyone in the, hall bad some complimentary remark for these accomplished musicians. The well-arranged programme of 24 dances went through without a hitch, and the M.'sC. —Messrs H. Bradly, F. W. Strange, W. Curtis and 3. Constable —were on the job all of the time, seeing that no wall-flowers were left to languish. The floor, too, was in tip-top order, and altogether the dancers had very little to complain of.

At midnight the attraction of the evening—suppei —was partaken of in the commodious supper rooms below the hall. A first glance at the tables revealed the artistic manner in which the tables had been decorated, and the abundance of good things spread out thereon —jellies, trifles, salads, sandwiches, etc., and when each and all had done full justice to these, opportunity was taken of realising the time and trouble spent in decorating the tables so nicely, and preparing all the good things provided.

So much for the pleasure part of the ball. We can only add that when the last dance came at 3 a.m. there were many who wished that a couple hours more might be spent in such a pleasant atmosphere,

The work of preparing for such a function as that above recorded is enormous. • When the Association met to consider the preliminary details, they very unwisely appointed the executive, general and ladies 1 committees as a ball committee —about 75 people. These committees are necessary to run the annual show successfully, where such a lot of varied details need attention, but to appoint the whole lot holus bolus to run a ball, where the work is centred, is very unwise. Not that every member of the committees came along and did his or her ahare. Had this been the case, no fault could be found. But the job was left to about a dozen or fifteen, who did every-

>^iing, willingly and extremely Great credit is due these iFreally hard workers, and they have the satisfaction of knowing their efforts were crowned with success. But apart from that tnese workers have a legitimate grievance, and that is that all who were on -the committees were duty bound to come along and help, but failed to do so. True, n>ost Qf them contributed to'the supper and funds, but this was also the case with the workers. In future, we think the committee should consist of about twelve persons —six ladies and six gentlemen —who will do everything as regards running the ball, and who will be exempt from contributing in any other manner. By this method, they wotvt be dependant on the odd sixty or so who don't care to work- The floor*, for instance, wouldn't be left to one man to do, as was the case on Thursday

afternoon, when six were appointed ! We have refrained from mentioning any names in this report. Some did work out of all proportion to their fair share, and others did nothing. But its all over now. The ball was a splendid success —socially and financially, and that's the chief thing that matters. Nuff sed. /: