WOODVILLE & DISTRICT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 130, 2 May 1940, Page 10

WOODVILLE & DISTRICT

SCHOOL BALL. Keenly anticipated by both children and adults lor some weeks past, T the annual fancy dress ball of the Woodville District High School held in the Drill Hall, on Tuesday, proved most successful. The attendance was exceptionally largo and the school funds will benefit to a considerable extent as a result. Tlie ballroom, with its attractive decorations of red, white and blue streamers alternating with festoons of coloured electric lights, made a colourful setting for the varied array of fancy costumes worn by the children. In the early part of the evening the floor was reserved for the children. The programme commenced with a grand inarch by the infants and another by the senior pupils. The precision with which these were carried out showed that practices held prior to the function had been to good purpose. The programme of dances which followed was a revelation in organisation and a tribute to the children and the control exercised l>v the teachers over their scholars, the system of allotting various sections of the sohool to each item making for the smooth conduct of the function. Here again evidence was seen of careful training, the children dancing such numbers as the polka, Christchurch Bells, Brighton Camp, Sir Roger de Coverley, Sellingers Round, Captain Jinks, and among the bettor-known dances military two-step, Valeta, Boomps-a-Daisy, Maxina, Lambeth Walk and Gay Gordons. A gymnastic display by the senior boys provided a popular interlude. The masters of ceremonies for the children’s dance were, Messrs J. S. Mcßean. R'. D. Irwin, and G. Gordon, music being supplied by Messrs H. Brooker and K. Hicks and Miss D. Patterson. The chairman of the School Committee (Mr R. R. Johnston) thanked the parents and the public for attending in such large numbers. Thanks were also extended to all who contributed in any way to the success ol the function, especially the teachers, who organised and trained the children and tlie ladies responsible for the supper arrangements. There was a splendid showing of costumes, he said, which' were a credit to the children and their parents. A large crowd took the floor for the adult dance which followed. The duties of M.C. were carried out by Mr T. Smith.