FISH AND FANTASY WHERE MERMAIDS SWIM

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 172, 11 October 1927, Page 4

FISH AND FANTASY WHERE MERMAIDS SWIM

AUCKLAND’S “TREASURE HUNT”

In and out between the pools of painted water that shone like any sea, slithering here and there between the rocks and seaweed, coquetting with Davy Jones or his skeleton as it sat in a brown study at the bottom of the sea, went the blithesome mermaids round the wonderfully transformed Regent ballroom last evening. When one entered the place one was not certain whether it was just a very bad nightmare that one was having ... or was it . . . now how many drinks did one have after dinner? No! No possible number could have been enough to make one set; such monsters of the deep . . here a ferocious sea lion.. . there the most wiggly serpent of the cross between a boa constrictor and a vacuum cleaner hose kind. After one had become accustomed to the rather startling scene, the decorations became more kind to the eyes ... in fact they grew on one to such an extent that long before the night was out a number of the “Bright Young People” were to be observed looking for pretty shells and counting each mermaid’s scales. The work of redecoration was entirely done by the Elam School of Art under the direction of Mr. Fisher, and in its emphatically original way it reflects much fishy credit upon that enterprising school. The ballroom was packed last evening with a crowd who danced and played around hilariously till twelve o’clock came, and they left in their cars for the treasure hunt that took them scurrying and hurrying all over town. Even in such strange spots as the bottom of the Parnell Baths were they to be seen searching for the next clue that might lead them a step nearer to the treasure. Before 1.30 the cars arrived back at the Regent with the last clue ... a rather amusing one to watch. Whoever invented the clues finished up by asking a small problem in arithmetic. ... If a brick weighs 21b. and half its own weight, what is the weight of a brick? The first person back to the Regent after visiting all the spots around the way, who supplied the correct answer was to be the winner. Back they came, tumbling and hurrying and speeding . . . and almost unanimously announcing the answer as 31b. The prize went to Miss Jackson. After the treasure hunt was over “breakfast” —bacon and eggs and coffee—was served, and the orchestra continued to play delightful music as long as the B.Y.P. cared to dance. Among the very many present were: Mrs. Alva Bartley, pailette bordered frock of wisteria georgette. Mrs. B. Baxter, frock of peach tinted georgette!. Miss Mabel Jackson, crystal beaded frock of geranium red georgette. Miss Val Jackson, frock of larkspur blue georgette. Miss Jean Macindoe, silver tissue frock banded with vari-coloured velvet. Miss Joy Bartley, mignonette green georgette frock with appliqued trail of nasturtium flowers. Miss Betty Wilson, frock of black panne velvet with banding of eharmeuse. Miss Biddy Pliilcox, bolero frock of rose patterned taffeta with petailed hem. Miss Shrewsbury, rose pink geoigette frock with overskirt of meshed pearl beading. , . Miss D. Vaile. frock of cameo pink georgette with latticed hem of iris mauve banding. Miss Vaile, palest orchid mauve georgette frock with crystal and diamante ba M?ss S H. Montague, frock of geranium pink georgette. , , . . . Mrs. Beaumont Smith, black frock of georgette, and gold and black shawl. Mrs. Shepherd, black satin carreau frock and black wrap. .. , Mrs Fisher, frock of silver tissue and lace with rows of tiny pink rosebuds. Miss Bathie Stuart, bouffant frock of frilled black tulle with long uneven hem. Miss Molly Horton, frock of black lace and georgette. , . Miss Margery Simpson, white frock of deeply fringed satin. Miss H. Graham, frock of gold embossed tissue. Miss W. Morrison, georgette and lace frock of ombre blue tones.