RETURNED SOLDIERS’ BALL.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 17 August 1917, Page 4

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ BALL.

' A GREAT success. If must be a matter for much gratification to the returned soldiers and their civilian friends to sec such a large and representative attendance at their first Returned Soldiers’ Ball heß| in the Town last night, people coming from aßßarts of the, district to show their apjßSiation of the services of the men who have fought for the Empire. W e say "first”, ball advisledly, as it is to be hoped it will be but the forerunner of many such functions! There were a goodly number of returned men present, invitiations having been extended to all 'those whose, addresses were known. The body of the hall was crowded with dancers, rather too many, perhaps, for comfort, but nevertheless one and all seemed bent on enjoying themselves to the full. From the very beginning the right note wag struck, and maintained till the end. The gallery was also crowded with interested The hall was tastefully decorated with green foliage and flags, forming a pleasing background to the variegated costumes of the dancers. Though intended to be a plain and fancy dress bgll, not many of the dancers appeared in fancy costumes, but the few who did the bright spots of colour necessary"to relieve the more sombre tones of the men in khaki and others who appeared in evening dress. Viewed from the gallery the spectacle was a yery prettyone. The stage was arranged as a drawing room, from which vantage point the more staid spectators viewed the dancing below in the front of the stage was the now historic word "Anzac” in large illumined letters. What memories this word calls up of the heroic but hopeless task of the Anzacs on Gallipoli. At the back of the stage was a large New Zealand flag—of which more anon. Punctually at 8.30 Bugler Martin sounded the “Fail-in,”’ the signal for the opening of the ball r which was initiated by , the uspal grand march, breaking off into a waltz. Corporal W. Nicholls, Private COlsen, and Mr. Dunbar, assisted by several other gentlemen, officiated as M’s.C. and to their strenuous endeavours no small part of the evening’s, enjoyment was due. With such a number of dancers their task was no sinicurc. During the evening Miss K. Blomfield, of Auckland, gave an exhibition of fancy dancing entitled "Miss Tommy Atkins.” . \During the progress of Miss Bloomfield’s item the flag at the back of the stage was taken down, and carried round the room, for contributions to the Returned diers’ Fund. This was the signal for a shower of coins from all pails of the hall, the sound of th e coins as they fell on the floor resembling a hail storm. The collection resulted in th e handsome addition of £7 8s (id.

At 10.30 Mr. Arthur James, addressed those present, saying he appeared for Mr. Arrowsmith, the Mayor of Taihape, who was absent in Wellington, on patriotic business. He extended a hearty welcome to the men who had fought for the Empire’s cause. Whenever and wherever we meet the boys, he said, it must be “hats off” to them —they richly deserved it. Speaking as an official of the Taihape. and District Patriotic Society, he wanted to make it clear that the funds of the society were for the benefit of the men from this district, and not for the Dominion; he wanted to put any doubt on that point out of their minds. Every ease brought before the Society would be gone, into, and decided on its merits. There was nothing in the nature of charity in any grant they might make. He congratulated the returned soldiers on the success in their first ball —he considered it the most successful ball held here. In case there was any misconception in the minds of his he wanted to make it quite clear that the attitude of the Patriotic Society towards the object of the returned soldiers was one of warm sympathy. Officially h e could assure them that whatever they could do to assist them would bo done. It would readily be understood that it was the duty of the Patriotic Society to conserve their funds for the relief of the returned men and the dependants of those who unfortunately did not return. As soon, as the movement for a Returned Soldiers ’ Club had taken a definite shape and an executive formed, if they came to the Patriotic Society they would help them. He could assure them of that officially. (Applause.),. He was glad to say, and was proud of the fact, that the ball that night may well be claimed to be a great success. He invited all those present to stand, and sing the National Anthem, which was done with an earnestness -of feeling that lifted the performance quite abpve the sterotyped rendering of . “dlod Save the King. ’ ’ He called for three cheers for “Our Returned Soldiers, ,r which was given with *h gusto that fairly made the walls of the Town Hall reverberate.

Sergeant-Major de Loree, itt a few simple words thanked those present vfor their attendance, There was one tl»jhg, however, which he wanted, to put right, and that was the idea some people had got into their i #ads that the re* tunned soldiers wanted a large shop

or buildhfg 7 "f of itheir club. 'lt was noting of the sort. What they wanted •was a fair sized meeting room in charge of a returned man. No one understood returned, men better than the returned men themselves. He outlined the functions of the proposed club, such, as information as land sales, emSfcfaent, and keeping in touch, with as they came back from the said the Tailiape Patriotic Sociew had done their very best for returned soldiers, and was always prepared to help every deserving Case.' He spoke feelingly of the good offices rendered to' soldiers by the Bed Cross Society, the Taihape Women’s Working Club, and the Salvation Army, He also spoke of the good work rendered to the troops by Father McMenamin, Father Core, and Majors Grant and Luxford. He paid a tribute to the solicitude for the welfare of the troops exhibited by Brig-adier-General Brown. On behalf of the returned Soldiers, he thanked most heartily the ladies of Taihape (some of them mothers, who had lost sons at the front) for the generous and cheerful assistance they had had given towards making the ball so successful. A splendid and bounteous supper was provided by the ladies, the provision-

ing of,which was done gratuitously. A of special praise must be given the ladies for the beautiful arrangement of the supper-room and tables, The walls well appropriately draped with bunting representing the flags of all of the Allies, festoons of coloured paper, hung in graceful folds from wall to wall, and the tables artistically decorated with beautiful white plum blossoms. The tables were arranged in three rows, and were fairly waded with tasty and appetising food. A singularly appropriate innovation was the introduction of the word “ welcome” intersected by the word “Anzac” worked on top of the wine trifles. Bound the walls on tables were choice pot plants and white plum blossoms, and with ros,e-coloured ,'electric lights the (effect of the whole was charming. The music for the dancing consisted of piano, cornet, violin, and flute, under the conductorship of Mr. Edlin and its excellence contributed to a very great extent to the enjoyment of the evening. Extras were played by several local musicians.

Dancing was kept up till an early • hour in the morning and the ball was unanimously considered to be one of the best, and certainly the most enjoyable one held in Taihape. The following are the names of the returned soldiers who were present: — Capt. A. J. Webber (10) 2nd W. 1.8. 6th Reinforcements Lieut, S. Carter 11/381), W.M.R., 4ths. Sergt-Major de Loree (15/34) D.H. Q. Main Body Sergt J. Tester (3/309), N.Z.M.C. Main Bbdy Sapper J. T. Bradley (1/956), D.Sig, Main Body Pte A. Tester (6/3181), C. 1.8., 7ths Pte W- P. Casey (8/1949), 0.1.8.,5th Pte C D Sawyer 221/2277)1 ALB. llths Pte A. H. Matthews (13/781) A. 1.8. M.G., 14ths (Twd brothers killed in action) Pte E. C. Sweeney (10/296)", W. I. 8., Main Body Gunner J Doreen (2/865), S.Bat) 2nds Pte T. Campbell (6/1254) C. 1.8., 2nds Pt e G. C. B'remner (10/1750) W. 1.8., 4ths L-Corpl G. O. Dunn (23/863), N.Z. R. Bths Tpr P. Thurston (11/832), W.M.R., Main Body Pte S. |M. Alderson (10/2035) W.I. J*-, B„ sths Pte E O. Olsen (10/441) W. 1.8., Main Body Pte F. Liddicoat, W. 1.8., sths Pte R. H Riley (22/860), 0.1.8'., 13ths Pte Quinn, Military Medal Pte W. Wiliams, 0.1.8., 4ths Pte A. L Brown (10/1759), WI.B. 4ths Pte J. Persson (10/565) W. 1.8., 4ths Corpl W. Nicholls, N.Z.E., Main Body Pte P. J. Hanron (7/1802), C.M.R., Bths Pte J. Stitt, W. 1.8., 9ths Tpr R. B Swinburne (15/576) A.M. R., Main Body ‘About eight others left before their names were taken.