TUAKAU RETURNED SOLDIERS' BALL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 479, 7 November 1919, Page 2

TUAKAU RETURNED SOLDIERS' BALL

A Brilliant Success Guy Fawkes night of 1919 will remain fresh in the memories of Tuakau residents and others, who availed themselves of the opportunity of attending the Ball, held under the auspices of the Tuakau branch of the Lower Waikato Returned Soldiers' Association, and which took place in the Tuakau Hall on Wednesday night. Despite the threatening weather, a large crowed braved the elements, and the Ball, from all viewpoints was a brilliact success. The function was tendered as a tribute to the women of the district who worked so nobly, and gave so generously, to provide comforts for the lads who were fighting in far off lands to uphold the traditions of the British Empire, and to crush militarism, which threatened to dominate the world. The soldiers were prepared to make sacrifices when they took up arms to maintain justice, right and liberty, and the women folk wero imbued likewise. No one knows, except the members of the fair sex, the terrible and trying time the ladies had in waiting for the news that their sons, husbands or sweethearts, were still in the land of the living. Many a heart was grieved, but external signs of this, were not disclosed. The soldiers realising this, upon their return and upon their settlement to their prewar state, expressed in a very tangible manner their appreciation for all the goodness of the fair sex fraternity, by their brilliant effort on Wednesday night. Visitors >vere present from all parts of the district, a large number hailing from Pukekohe. The hall was gay with bunting, and decorations of greenery, while the word " Welcome " emblazoned on several streamers which hung from the rafters of the structure. Every entrant could not help but admire the {magnificent decorations. For this a word of praise is due to the R.S.A. committee (under Mr C. Ryder secretary), who worked assiduously. A large marquee, erected on Mr W. Deeble's lawn, by the latter's kind permission, was used as a supper tent, and a glimpse into the tent showed that it held no empty words. Two large tables, decorated with flowers and flags, carried their load of toothsome delicacies, and never once flinched at the sight of their heavy burden. The women's branch of the Tuakau Patriotic League, lent an assisting hand, in providing the supper, and needless to say the supper was the best that anyone could wish to have presented". Trifles, salads, jellies and other delicacies galore, were very appetising, and were done full justice to by the general public The supper was a credit to any function of such a nature, and the ladies deserve no end of praise, for the success achieved. The returned mea waited on the tables and adder further laurels to the glorious name they won on the battlefield. They disclosed that as "waitresses," they were past masters, and no one could teach them much, in this line of domestic work. The floor was in good order and was fully occupied by about 100 couples The Grand March presented a very pleasing spectacle, the dresses being beautiful. The ehaperones were: Mesdames Hunter, Fulton aud Lewis, and these ladies attended to the requirements of the fair sex.

The dance music was supplied by an orchestra of three instruments, Messrs T. Buruund (piano), J. liindman cornet) and J. McKay wiido cx.rus rtoro contributed by Misses M Geraghty, and 13 Lewis and Mr Burnand. The duties of M's.C. were affluently discharged by Messrs J Nicholson, A. Boylo, and 11. Liurnrce.

THE DKESsKS Some of the dresses were: Mesdames Leaman, grey silk; W. Taylor, cream siik and georgette; Osborne, white silk with navy blue ninon overdress; Sumner, cream siik; \V Pirret, white silk; Rapson, black and white silk; Strahan, cream net over biuo satin; F. Woolley, crepe de chine; D. Fulton, vienx rose net; Lewis, black silk trimmed with silk fringe; L. B. Tapper, violet satin, cerise net, with black osprey in hair; Tregurtha, black silk trimmed with jet; Prescott, black and white striped silk; Oonelly, cream silk and georgette; Ryder, black silk; Graham, floral ninon; Hunter, black silk, W. Barnaby, cream net; S. Conelly, navy blue silk, trimmed with cerise. Misses Leaman, pink crepe de chine; Laurence (Whangarata), black spangled net over gold; Deeble, cream silk; M. Geraghty, blue floral voile; V. Geraghty, white voile; E. Dromgool, black velvet withrofe bud trimmings; O. Smeed. white silk; Smeed white net over silk; Wicken, white voile; Clarke, pale pink silk; Mungall, cream silk; B. Lee, embroidered voile trimmed with satin; Ravenhill, cream silk, with net overdress; Luns, white net over white siik; Ewing, white georgette; M. Strahan, white voile; Tregurtha. cream silk, net overdress; L. O'Connoi, pink crepe de chine; Gunter, wdiite crepe de chine; Brady, I) Irving, white silk; B. Geraghty, silk pinafore dress, net blouse; A. O'Connor, vieux rose georgette, relieved with gold tissue; L. McGatian, black velvet pinafore dress and vieux rose crepe de chine blouse; Budge, cream net and georgette; Cahill, pale blue crepe de chine; Bray, floral ninon; Clark, cream net with beaded trimming; Revell frosted voile : McGahan, pink crepe de chine : F. Lewis, cream net over crepe do chine ; Pirret, cream srepe de chine with embroidered georgette overdress ; Prescott, cream voile ; Gillespie, champagne crepe do chine : Mathons, lemon crepe de chine ; Kennedy white silk.

Quite a number were seated on the stage among them were : Mesdames Harrison, P. Rowe, Smeed snr, Lee, Revell, B. Geraghty, and Misses McGahan. We were unable to obtain the description of dresses worn by these ladies. Several other names were also unprocurable.