RETURNED SOLDIERS' BALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1918, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS' BALL.

A BRILLIANT SPECTACLE. :'■>.;. The venture of the returned soldiers:in arranging to hold a plain and fancy: dress and poster ball, which took place at the Coronation Hall last night, was an unqualified success- The somewhat; drab surroundings of the hall itself were completely obliterated by tha decorations of flags and greenery which was carried out by the returned soldiers themselves,; and the place presentcfl a most'attractive appearance. Th 6 scene, when the Grand March took place, was a galaxy of gaiety; and from start to finish the whole jStO? ceedings were carried on without a hitch, and to the satisfaction and enjoyment of everyone. It is estimated that: there were over lido, persons, on the dancing floor, which wns in very good cond?tion, and, with the spectators present;!, the attendance must have reached nearly; 800. Thero were many fancy costumes inevidence, ranging from the ludicrous to the most exquisite crrV.iions, representa.i-. tivo of almost all nationalities. Tnert were Union Jacks and Stars and Stripes;,' Scotch, Irish, and Welsh, Dutch, Japan* ese, Italian, French, and Indian, .negroes and African, as well as innube'lc-s nier*. roti and jockeys. oM-fashioned farmworkers, pack'of card l ;, and newspapers;: ■characters from Elizabethan and Henrv, VIII. periods, New Zealand Natives, anffi novelty costumes, all of which added their quota to the general brilliancy of the gathering.

The supper, which was served in tha annexe to the hall, wri- under the; capable supervision of flic Mayoress "(Mr*. C. TT. Pnrgoss), wilh the members of the Women's Patriotic Committee tft assist f\,i rcom hisff hern'transfurmsit; .Into a bower of hcauf.y under the dirws-i tion of Mossrs C. Sadler and IV lb"imAv. The supper table was most damlil*! spread, the decorations brimr dafi'ofllla :; and freems, with asparagus fern, wlvlch] was executed mveler the direction ;'pf; Mrs Burgess. Tha YOini-r "iad'iM frorrfe t/ia shops and offices rendered i:'o-t oifk cienf service as waitress."-., while Midlines Bonnoch,■Bullot, and *\l'Ker,?.iesiiid.Miss Hughes also rendered most valued assistance. The whole of the supper was a gratuitous contribution. A soft drinks' stall also formed part of the 're-: freshment arrangements, and was man-;" aged by Messrs Oliver and Turnbull. ■, The dancing was carried on under the direction of Messrs J. Cross, W. Way;; A. Courtenay, and R. Bennock. An orchestra ot eight players under the diree-; tion of Mra. George gave the music with: great satisfaction to all.

The judging for the fancy costumes";; 1 was.carried out (by Mesdamoe 'R, Oocky' : i 'W. Oliver, and C. H. Collin?, who had;| no easy task. Their awards were aj : | follow:—Bast, fancy oo3tumc-s, Mr; arifes Mrs- J. Cross (Red Indian and squaw) l ;'"?= ino<tt original, Miss Falwasser (Maori),; 1 ' md Mr, ]?. Doughty (rooster); best pos?: ;i ter. Misfl Blanchard (safety matches)'and Masters Wallace' ' Harris ar4 .Hi. ;::? Capon (Taran&kiHeralds). The wuiners : ;'- : immediately donated their prizes to the- i Soldiers' Club. The results were an* I non-need try Archdeacon Evans, and the priws were presented"-fry the Mayoress. The ball, which is expected to yfeld something like £BO towards' tire" «BjJ> funds, -was organised Trader fh'o-<fir«s(aori of Messrs <J. E. (Barda and W, 'QSfcS (joint secretaries)' antflEL Etog.watt'3t->