PEACE FESTIVITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1919, Page 6

PEACE FESTIVITIES.

CHILDREN'S PLAIN AND FANCY DRESS BALL. On with the dance, lot joy be imconfined." No doubt this expressed the sentiments of the youthful dancers who gathered at the Coronation Hall last night for the initial round of the peace festivities, when the children's plain and fancy dress hall was held. To say the function passed off successfully is the barest possible statement; it was, in fact., an unqualified triumph, and it is to be hoped it is a happy augury for the whole of the celebrations. The hall was tastefully decorated and presented a gay appearance, with a galaxy 01 flags and bunting hung across and around the building, interspersed with the large fronds of stately pungas, the electric lights amongst them producing a very pleasing effect. The scene as the children, with .their wards, gathered in the hall was one of brightness and animation, bred, no doubt, of lively expectancy of a night to be brimful of unalloyed delight. There waa a large attendance of adult and juvenile spectators, it being estimated that the total attendance could no have been less than 1500.

The assembling of ,the children was a study in itself. And what toils: were represented in many and multi-colored costumes can only be conjectured. The dresses appeared in every shape ' and design Imaginable, and chifTons and muslins, crepes, and silks, together with materials of lesser value and harsher texture, mus,t all have been "slaughtered to make a children's holiday." The effect, however, was gorgeous,' and the grand march was probably one of the' most spectacular displays ever seen in New Plymouth.

The ball was set in motion at half l>ast seven, two liitlo tots, representing John Bull and a Herald of Peace, side by side with representations of Britannia and Joan of Arc, led the procession, and for upward of 50 minutes the 2GO children participating carried out a series of evolutions round the hall with an ease and grace that showed with what care and pains they had been prepared for the occasion. They inarched in twos fours, eights, and in single file. The most pleasing effect was whert the triumphal arch was formed by the Jlrst pair halting and crossing their flags (with which each child had been provided) and as each pair passed under they, in turn halted and crossed their flags and so on until the whole line had formed a Ion" archway, through which those who had commenced the arch then passed, followed by each other pair in order; and so the scheme was worked out to the end The conclusion of the grand march was the signal for a round of generous applause. *

• ® ane ' n £ thereafter became general, and the children enjoyed themselves to the full. During the evening some fancy dances were given, Miss Anderson a little girl from Invercargill, giving a very pret.ty butterfly dance, and Miss Tin Macrae giving a Highland Fling. Both were enthusiastically encored. The judging of the costumes took place about the middle of the evening, and waß carried out by Mrs. Claude Weston, Messrs A. M. Bradbury, and R. Macrae who had a difficult task to distinguish winners amongst the many competitors whose costumes merited consideration. They succeeded, however, in allocating their awards, and in all cases the selections of winners met wi,th popular approval. The prizes were presented by the Mayor and Mayoress. The committee responsible for the carrying out of the function consisted of Messrs A. Roberts, R. Bennoch, W. Hardgreaves, and W. Jenkins, the supper ■arrangements being carried out by an energetic committee of ladies under the direction of. Mrs. Williams, and all have every reason to be well satisfied with their efforts, and they deserve the best .thanks of the community for the manner in which the function was planned and carried through. t Til 0 s * or ' as '- flight were Messrs J. W. Hayden, R. J. Deare, W. H. Precce, r"■ Hardgreaves, A. Courtenay, and W iJenkins. The music was supplied by Mrs. George's orchestra. The cash taken at the door amounted to over £7O. Following is the prize list:-" PRIZE LIST. Best peace costume (girls).—3 to 8 years: "Star of Peace," Gwen Thomson 1, who also received a special prize given by Mr. J. W. Hayden for the best costume irrespective of age; "A Herald," Stella Walsh 2; 8 to 1C years: Ivy Doughty 1, Marie Trueman 2. Best national and Allied costume.pirls: "Belgium," Cybil Courtenay 1, ''Britannia," Miss Jenkin 2, special Gladys Lindrum. A special prize was also given to "John Bull," Kora Tozer. Boys: "America," Joe Gray 1, "Scotland," Courtenay 2, special donated by Mrs. C. Weston, "Belgium," A. Howle.tt. Most original costume.—Girls: "Joan of Are," Miss Bennock 1, "Cabbage," Doris Thomson 2, "Ace of Clubs," Hazel George 3. Specials (given by Mrs. Weston): "Sunflower, Mary Hoskin, "Plunket Nurse," Winnie Gaton, and "Maori," i|ary Hlrrison. Boys: "Tommy Atkins,";— Parker 1, "New Zealand," Colin Smith 2. Best poster costume.—Girls: "Reckitt's Blue," Gladys Hardgreaves 1, "Taranaki Herald," Muriel Courtenay .2. Special, "Afternoon Tea, Kawaj-oa Park," Doris CdStd; Boys: "Amber Tips Tea," Keith Roberts. Best comic costume.—Boys:' "Sundowner," li. Bennoch 1, "Golliwog," Williams 2. • Special prizes for peace costumes were; alsb awarded, to Phyllis Harvey and N. Baker. Other novelty costumes were: awarded prizes as follows: "Bell Tea," Doris Cliff; "Fairy Wonder Soap," Jean Cliff; "Black and White," Allan Woodham; and "Indians," Edna Bullot arid Lucy McKenzie. Those taking part in to-night's ball are asked to take with them a card bearing their names and the designation of their costumes, and had same to one of the officials. FANCT DRESSES. Elsie Lynch: France. Kora To2er: John Bull. Doug. McKean: Punch. L Audrey Eberlet: Benjamin, Town Ctlet. Alice Betl: Irish Coleen. Laurence Brlggs: Pierrot, i Donald Lobb: Golliwog. Victoria Harker: Gretchen. Lucy McKenzie: Indian Squaw. Raurna List: Quakeress. Crude Way: Spanish Dancer. Florence Worn: Scotch Lassie. Gwyiieth Shirley Thomson: Peace Fairy, " Estella Walsh: The Herald of Peace. , Mavis Collins: Japanese, ' ! Mabel Crozier: Aviator. i Theljia Land: Peace. ' Bremla Perlca: Angel of Peao( Jessie Collins: The Allies. Laurie Bennoch: Sundowner. Marion Bennoch: Joan Arc. , Myra. Trueman: Angel of Peace. , Fred Trueman: Poster. TarnniiU JterglA 1 f lean Bennoch: Peace. - •' — . Laura Collins: Belgium. a Sita'Trueman: '

Esma Goldsmith: Nurse. Betty Clark: Surah Gump, Royce Ward: Scarecrow. Cecil Pellew: Middy. Vulda Melndoe : Japanese, Inn Caittell: Sailor. Dor's Russell: Italy. Frederick Julian: Black and Whltr Sybil Courtney: Belgian. Muriel Courtney: Poster, Herald. Hay .Jury: Jockey. Gladya Haines: Franco. Ruby Stroud: Continuance. Zeta Stroud: Three Castles Cigarettes, Myrtle Stroud: Dutch Girl. Era Stroud: Tattered Belgian. Florence Hogg: Peace With Honoy, Wilfred Groombi'ldyo: Napoleon. Eona Smith: Food Control. Colin Williams: Golliwog. Rene Warburton: Angel of Peace, Doris Thomson: Cabbage. Beryl Lobb: Gipsy. Fay Wright: Soldier. Harold Wyatt: Taranaki Farmers' Weekly. WlUie Courtney: Highlander. Dorothy Hall: Folly. Dorothy Abbott: Butterfly.! Audrey Brockenshire: Red Crosfe Nurs«v Eunice Brockenshire: Peace. Cecil Bremmhl: Kaffir Boy. Vera Milligan: Weldon's Crochet, Edna Bullot: Indian Squaw. Marjorlo Boon: Belgium. Betty George: Chrysanthemum. Eileen Land: Charge of .the Light Brigade. L. J. Capon: Newspaper Boy. Mildred Rangor: Fortune Teller. Frances Walters: The Flags of The Allies. Doris Coad: Kawaroa Park. Ina Lawrence: French Dress. Ray Lawrence: Belgian Boy. Ruby Bremmhl: Fancy Dress, Ruby Aitken: Ballet Girt ' Jean Collins: Daisy. Winifred Gayton: Plunket Nurs§ Ella M. Way: American Colors. Marjory Cliff: Vivandiere. Doris Cliff: Poster, Bell Tea. Jean Cliff: Poster, Fairy Wonder Dry Soad Mary Garcia: Peter Pan. J. Berridge: Twilight Fairy. Delma Lye: Moonstruck. Avis Woodham: Folly. Trevor Hoskin: John Bull. Aileen Hoskin: Stars and Stripes. Gladys Hardgrave: Reckltt's Bag Bluet Beryl Tayior: Mother Goose. Pauline Julian: Red Cross Nurse. Vina Pellew: Folly, Red Costume. Betty Haggar: Fairy. Gwea Leudrum: Union Jack. Gladys Lendriun: Peace. Ray Lendrum: Chinaman. Madeline Hogue: Weldon's Fashions. Maisie Anderson: Italy. Bertie Jenkins: Pierrot. Hazel George: Ace of Clubs. Jean Smith: Rose. Percy McMahon: Pyjama Boy} Eric Noddor: Clown. Andrew Bcnnoch: Clown. Nellie Baker: Lost Luggage. Nora Hall: Bfllle Buttons. Dulcie Eva: Powder Puff. Marradean Moon: Stars and Stripes.