FIRE BRIGADE BALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 158, 13 October 1910, Page 4

FIRE BRIGADE BALL.

Crowded does not half describe thecondition of the Theatre Royal during; the progress of the Fire Brigade bait last night. The stage and dress circlewere crammed, and the floor from opening to closing presented an animatedscene. The feature of the evening, of course, and the feature of the year for' that matter, was the children's danceThe adults' performance is only a secondary consideration. The Theatre held* hundreds of happy little children, dancing and frolicking about, some with thb music, some ignoring it, but all enjoying themselves up to the hilt. It wasa pretty sight, and the ladies' committee and the parents deserve every congratulation for the manner in which) the little ones were "turned out." Thedancing itself showed that great painshad been taken in their tuition by thevoluntary instructors, Mrs. George and' Misses Clarke, Raima and Bedford played for the juveniles. The judges— Mesdames Home, IT. F. Russell audi' Glasgow—had an unenviable task in selecting the best costumes from so many which had been so carefully planned and executed. Their awards, as announced by Superintendent Bellringer int the absence of the Mayor through indisposition, were as follows: Girls: original costume, Miss Florrie Lealand"Wedding Cake," a three-decker; girls r best fancy costume, Miss Baba Angus.. "Dutch Girl"; two special prizes given by the judges and a gentleman in theaudience, Miss Honoria Moon, "Teddy Bear"; special by the ladies' committee,:. Miss Ivy Doughty, "Butterfly Fairy"; Mr. Hayden's special for best fancy costume, under 10 years of age, Miss McGill, '"Fire." Boys: Originality, Master Clarence O'Brien, "Dick Arnst," in hisoutrigger; fancy, Master Jack Clarke,. "Lord Nelson"; special prize by Mrs. Home to the "Doctor," Master Eric Kendall; Mr. Hayden's special, Master Teddy Lambert, "Policeman"; ladies'" committee's special, Master Drinkwater, "Crossing Sweeper." The Theatre interior, it was generally agreed, was never prettier, and the thanks of the Brigade are tendered to Mr. Brooks, who planned the decorations and carried out his scheme with the help of some of the firemen. The ladies' committee was as follows: Mesdames Dockrill (president), G. Tiscli, F. C. Bellringer, E. M. Smith, F. E. Clarke, Coleman,. Hardwicke, R. Jury, W. J. White, Back, J. Clarke, S. Smith, Sullivan, H. H. Ford, W. Sadler, Misses B. Clarke, It. Hanna and Bedford. Mrs. F. E. Clarke and Miss B. Clarke decorated the supp«r tables, and there was no stint of refreshment of all kinds, donated by the citizens. At the adults' ball there was again a large crowd. Firemen W. Way and A. Courtney were tbe M's.C., and Mrs. Woods' orchestra played excellent music. Lastly, but mostly, the success of the function was once more due to Mrs. Dockrill, who worked like a Trojan for months past. No one who knows even a tittle of the work to be done will un'grudging give to Mrs. Dockrill the unstinted praise which is her due.