FIRE BRIGADE BALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 235, 10 November 1909, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADE BALL.

A brilliant weene, and a glad one, 1 greeted the onlookers at the fire brigade's annual plajp and fancy dress ball for juveniles, held in the Theatre Royal last night. It was the youngsters' "night out" and they revelled in i>. . Prettily-dressed, light-footed and merry, the big boys ana girls and the tinytoddlers crowded the floor the whole evening, all taking the business most ■ seriously, and causing almost continuous laughter thereby. The fancy costumes were more numerous than usual, and included a greater display of originality. The interior of the building was gay with flags. Space forbids giving a detailed list of the dresses, or dilating as lengthily as one could on such a successful function. Suffice it to say that Mrs. E. 11. Smith and her helpers have every reason to be proud of the grand finale of their weeks of solid toil. The children had been taught by the Misses Bedford, B. Clarke, and Kirkby, and Mr. N. Day. Music for the ball was supplied l>y Mrs. A. George, Misses R. Knott, jiiss B. Clarke, and Miss Kirkby. whilst the away of guides for the little dancers was legion, including Mr. Superintendent Bellri?*■'»■ f- E. Clarke decorated the tables very prettily in the brigade's colors. ' The ladies' committee was as follows:—Mesdames E. M. Smith (president), <l. Tiscii, F. C. Bellringer, R. Jury, Back, I'. E. Clarke, Day, W. Sadler, J. Clarke, A. Coleman, Moon, Hardwick, and Simmons, Misses Bedford, Kirkby. Clarke, Collis, Xicholls, and M. Humphries. The supper was, as usual, bountiful it*'t:! ••oo:l, the response by the public being bigger than ever. Prizes for costumes were awarded as follows by the judges, Mesdames C. E. .Baker, J. Averv. and E. Whittle:—Miss Mona Lea hi ml ("Shavings") and Master Turner ("Woods' Peppermint Cure") for the jrost original fancy dresses: Miss Violet l)onghtv ("Fairy Queen") and Master Leslie Day CTiicle Sam") for the best fancy costumes. A special prize was awarded to liitle Mi-s Ivy Doughty for h"r capital roister nwtnme representing "Standard Teas." Mention must be made of the "five-men team" of juvenile firemen, replete with reel, etc.; and a team of Maori liovs, Itotli of whom gave displays. The adults' ball which followed was a crowded affair. The floor was crowded, tin' stage and circle crowded. It was well that the supper was provided on liberal lines, for the adult appetite proved to be as abnormal as that of some of the juveniles. But a highly polished floor and the capital music of Mrs. George's orchestra made up for these diseomfor s. and the whole affair passed off well. Mr. E. Humphries and Firemen Sadler Hid Courtney were M.C.'x.