DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 200, 15 August 1916, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS

MERCER. FANCY DRESS BALL. A BRILLIANI SUCCESS. .. Never befora in the history of itercur has a function evinced ao hijistf enthusiasm and interest, as the Adult and Juvenile Plain, Fancy Dress and Ma?qu?r»de Ball, held in the Town Hull oo Friday evening list, under the auspicts of the local School Committee, which consists of Messrs Bilderbeck, chairman, K. Carter, secretary, Barron, Hallett and Crowburst.

Fortunately the evening wan beautifully line, a«1 between 301) and 400 people turned out for the occasion, thus taxing the sccomrnoda'ion of the hall to its utmost capacity. The takings amounted to £27 6s, and after accounts are settled a substantial sum will remain to augment the funds in hand from the previous fancy dress ball for the purpose of securing an Honour's Board ai a permanent memento to the soldiers who have enlisted from Mercer to do honour to their King and Country. It may be mentioned that from the Mercer district upwards of one hundred men have given their services and joined the ranks, which undoubtedly constitutes a record for any placs of its size in the Dominion.

The ball was a pronounced tuccess from every point of view, ard the parents spent no end of pains and expense in decking tbeir children to take part in the tunctiof, which was th; first occasion or a fancv dress call in Mercer in which the school children played a corspicious part. Thanks are due to Mesdamea Valentin* and Bush, Mr ('. T Edwards, headmaster, ar.d Missfs Cardno, Hogwood and Leathern, assistant teachers, for their untiring energies in training the pupils of the school, and also to the members ot the School Committee for their valuable assistance.

The gaudy costumes, the impersonation ot various characters, tancy, comic and original, and the ■plendid decorations ot the hall lent an enchantment to the whole scene which will remain a lasting impression to the minds of all who were present. The floor was in perfect condition, while the music supplied by the Misses Beresford and Mrs Bush was excellent.

The proceedings opened with the singing of the iNational Anthem. The Gracd March wa3 performed by over one hundred school children, dressed in various costumes, for which they received prolonged applause. The pupils also carried out a Military Two-step and the Hesitation Wsliz, which were greatly admired. The adults went through a varied programme cf dances, Messrs Bilderbeck, Crowhurst and Watt's making efficient M.C'c Crowds attended from the outside districts.

Valuable prizes were donated by Messrs Valentine, Stnbbs, Gimblett, S. Carter, Clifford, Hallett, Keith, Tribe and Rippou, Mrs Watts and Miss Harmon for competition in the various classes for tancy dresses, comic and most original costumes. The judge of the children's costumes was Mr Heron, of Auckland, assisted by the Misses Berestord, while for the adults a committee consisting of the Rev. L. Foulkes, Tuakau, Messrs Heron, Auckland, Claridge, Tuakau, Stubba Msnfcatangi, Misses Foulkes and Bell, Tuakau, and Misses Beresford, Auckland, was appointed. In every instance the decision ot the judges met with the hearty approval of all present and judging by the reception that each winner got it proved conclusively that their selection was rightly placed. In several instances the judges had a task in their decision owing to the competitions being so closely contested and the costumes so elegant, and in two instances with the adults there were ties for first place. The little girls under the age of eight years were very closely allied to each other, all being so beautifully attired. During the evening Mr Biderbeck presented the prizes and in congratulating the winner?, thanked the donors of the presents, all those who bad assisted to add to the success of the evening, the judges for carrying out their duties so faithfully, and the parents for the keen interest and trouble they had taken with their children. Good attendance certificates were presented to the following pupils of the school, viz. :-Rita Ragg. Mary Richards, ' Eric Ridgley, Daphne Bilderbeck, George Bush, Annie Barron, George Learning, Leonard Muki, Ronald Walsh, May Barron, Rena Dwen, Ksy Ridgley, Louis Dwen. Maggie Pugb, Bessie Rippon. Hazel Bush, Elliott Bush and Alan Selwond.

During the evening Daphne Bilderbeck, one of the pupils of the school, dreised as "Starving Belgium," sold numerous buttonholes, crumb-cards and Belgian Family Post Cards, the proceeds tJ go to the fund for relieving the starvation among the Belgian children. Dancing was kept up till the early hours of the morning, when the singing of Auld Lang Syne brought to a close a most enjoyable evening.

The following were the prize winners:—

Gent's best farcy dress—Mr U. Tribe, "Chinese Mandarin." Gent's best comic —Mr George Hamerton, "branny." Gent's most onginal--tie between Mr V. Selwood, " Advertisements," and Mr Claude Bilderbeck, "Roll of Bacon." Ladies' best fancy—lie between Mies Cardno, "Egyptian," and Mrs Kippon, "Tipperary Girl." Ladies' best comic—Miss Ethel Elliott, "Granny Chamberlain." Ladies' most original—Miss Winnie Selwood, "Lost Luggage." Boy's best fancy—First prize, Master James Drabble, "Admiral Drake"; second nrize, Master Jack Watts, "Louis V." Boy's best comic, 11 years and above—Master Tom GiMibrand, "A Tramp."

Boy's best comic, under 11 jears—Master Tom Collins, "Sandwich M9P." Bjy's most original— Master

George Laming, "Mail Bag." Girl's best fancy, 8 years and above- First prize, Puni Foutapu, "Maori Maid"; second, Vivian Vinson, "Sunllower." Girls' uuiter 8 som- -Kila Hurler, "A Bride." liirla' beat comic-First prize^

Ethel Bates, "Washerwoman"; aeeond, Bessie Kippon, "Granny Chamberlain." Girls' most original—Olga Kippor, "Letter Box." Appended are the names of others who appeared in fancy # costume, viz.:—Muses Hogwood, Desdemuna; Gallery, Night; B. Wright, Celia; Vazey, Red Cross Nurse; Valentine, Ophelia; Wright, Gipsy; Morgon, French Artist; Malonty, Fishwife; Kelly,- Raatime; Hamerton, Safety Matches; Koose, Peace; Leathern, Gipsy; Vazey, Japanese; Morgon and Walsh. Twins; Lythall, Anzac; Hags, England; Lee, Ragtime, Mesdames Valentine, Powder and Patches; Bill, Peace; Blanche, Gnl. Messrs Fnedl'ir.tier, Young Lady; Roose, Pierrot; Wattß, toreador; HiggWM, Cowboy; Rippnn, Comediao; Sturm, Australian; Butler, Good Night; Carter, Mephutophelss; Elwards, Good Night. CHILDREN'S COSTUMES.

Misi Kuth Selwood, Mairrud Belgian Child; Eva Uoran, Butterfly; Myrtle Dwell, Japanese; Kena Dwen, StarligW; Eua Butler, Au Irish Washerwoman; Annie Barron, Topsy; Marjoriu Stewait, New Zealand Army Nurse; Winnie Carter, Poppy; Ruth Puah, Japanese; Hazel Bush, Cupid; Maggie Pugb, Japanese: Inez Hill, Flower Girl; Ruth Bush, Early Victomn Lady; Violet Dix, Spring: Napbelia Higgins, Tonsy; Elma Hamarton, Liberty; Kuie Rippon, Peace; Eileen Higginp, Mother Goose; Emily Elliott, Fairy; Hazsl Carter, Ea'ly Victorian Lady; May Barron, Butterfly, Winnie Poutapu, Gipsy; Tilly Crowhurst, Superstition; Sophia Elmore, Japanese; Jessie Watts, What to Send the Soldiers; Daphne Bilderbeck, Starving Belgium. Masters Alan Selwood, Kaffir Boy: Harry Dix,, Plum Pudding; Eric Uoran, Teddy Bear; Tom Boran, Little Lord Fauntleroy; Louis Dwen, Prince Pimpernell; Tom Butlsr, A Page; Ronnie Walsh, Sailor; Elliott Bush, Little Boy Blue; Walter Laming, Baker; Charlie Dix, Wedding Cake; Jim Hill, Robin HoorJ; Noel McDell, Yellow Kibbun; George Bush, Will o' the W:su; Kay Ridgley, Soldier; Leonard v Motu. Cowboy; Harry Elmore, Corks; Kenneth Barron, Golly Woe.