CARNIVAL SCENE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 109, 30 December 1931, Page 5

CARNIVAL SCENE

VARIETY AND fcqlour RECORD CROWD ATTENDS - FANCY DRESS BALL EXCELLENT ARRANGEMENTS The brightest spot, so far, in a bright carnival, was the monster plain and fancy dress hall held last evening in the Sylvana ballroom opposite the motor-camp. The open air sett-' ing of the cabaret lent itself admirably to the purposes of the evening and ifc-was evident from the first wail of the -saxophone that , the record crowd which -»assembled' intended to make it a carnival night. The ball-room had been strikingly decorated with masses of coloured streamers, halloons, gaily strung flags and greenery, yhile the judicious arrangement of the lighting system threw the gay and animated scene on the dancing floor into bold relief. There were costumes of every imaginable variety and deseription. Sheiks of Araby two-stepped with lady members of the Ku Klux Klan, pierrots, Red Shadows, harlequins, pirates, cowboys and even convicts thronged the floor with dancing girls, harem ladies, Russian dancers, and innumerahle other fanciful disguises. Even Santa Claus took the floor to nrove that there was life in the old dog even after a strenuous Christmas, while such foreign characters as Mephistopheles and the Queen of the May made holiday together. A great number of the costumes showed distinct originality, but all were colourful and gay, and together under the "anopy of streamers, balloons. and ma'le a kalaedoscope of colour im-estrained. The committee in charge of arrangements fully aporeciafed the assistar.ee which carnival novelties could lend to the scene ard srread streamers, confetti and balloons in abuudance. Prpper arrangements, particularly diffi"ult ih view of the record crowd, worked excellently and not a single jarriug aote was allowed to interfere with the success of the evening. The music was well chosen and of the true carnival character; an over sufficiency of ericores was not permit""ed and efficient organisation never allowed matters to lag for a moment. Approximately 1000 people were oresent, and the grand parade of carnival costumes shortly after 11 p.m. was a really striking spectacle of var:ety and colour. The prizes for the best and most or original fancy dresses were won as follows: Best in character (the Farmvard) Messrs P. Lynds, R. Morgan, P. Hodge and D. Carnaehan, of Ro- ( Johnny Walker), Mr. W. Witt, Wellington; best single character, lady, (Britannia) Miss A. Woolliams, Rotorua.