W.F.C.A. BALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 July 1939, Page 8

W.F.C.A. BALL

BRILLIANT SCENE LAST NIGHT ARTISTIC DECORATIONS. I PRESENTATION OF DEBUTANTES. Huge glowing lamp shades of alternate red and lemon will) a prolusion of trailing lycopodium and roses, and wall panels'representing a Romeo and Juliei background carried out in orange with royal blue curtains formed an extremely" beautiful setting for the most sue ccssful Ball yet held by the Wairarapa Farmers’ Co-operative Association Ltd'' The capacity of the Municipal Hall last night was fully taxed when the five hundred guests present, from all parts of the North Island were on the floor. Tiie stage was decorated in a lounge effect, with the letters "W.F.C.A.’ occupying a prominent position. A huge Romeo and Juliet balcony in the same colours as the wall panels, and masses of bamboo banked around the- walls ami stage completed the scene. The stairwav to the lounge was covered with green raffia, giving a lawn effect, and there was a beautiful gate grating and lattice adorned with roses at the top of the stairway. At the foot were two pedestals, one gold and the other blue. A fanfare at 9 o’clock heralded the arrival of the debutantes, preceded by a miniature Romeo and Juliet (Barry and Althea Dallas) who took their place on the pedestals. As the couples gracefully came down the hall to the stairway the gate at the top swung slowly open to admit the first debutante. Presenting a charming scene the nine beautifully gowned young ladies took their curtsey before Mrs V. E. Donald (wife of the chairman of directors of the firm), who was gracefully attired in black tinselled sheer. The following made their debut into society: Miss P. Cretney, white net over satin with mauve contrast, escorted by Mr E. Wingate; Miss J. Palmer, white georgette trimmed with pink and green velvet flowers, escorted by Mr D. McWhinnie; Miss Fay Younquest. white lace over net., escorted by Mr W. H. Carle; Miss D. Brown, while net with frilled rosettes and touches of silver, escorted by Mr P. Chadwick; Miss M. Trass, white taffeta and organdie, escorted by Mr I. McFarlane; Miss D. Matthews, poney skin taffeta with red contrast, escorted by Mr G. Blatch ■ ford; Miss M. McGillivray, white georgette with rainbow sash, escorted by Mr P. McGillivray; Miss M. Walker, French ninon sheer, escorted by Mr R. Riley; and Miss O. Wellington, white slipper satin, escorted by Mr D. Wellington. The official party in the lounge were Mrs V. E. Donald, Mrs T. Jordan (Mayoress), gowned in black, Mrs J. H. Cunningham (wife of the general manager), Burgundy velvet trimmed with gold lame lattice; Mrs F. E. Wells, Lido lace and magenta shoulder spray, and Mrs G. Daubney (stencilled black taffeta).

The supper arrangements were in the hands of a capable ladies’ committee, the members of which were Mesdames Aickman, Daubney, Dixon, Hogg, Fly, Miller, Nicol, Phillips, Tweddell, Wearne. The decorations were carried out in a lattice window effect, in blue and lemon grating. Spot-light dances and streamers further added to the gaiety of the evening, while Messrs M. Nicol and D. Hogg, who acted as M.’sC., kept proceedings swinging. Mr D. Costello. in charge of the refreshments, rendered sterling service. The decorations, which occasioned considerable comment, were‘an artistic triumph for Messrs Rex Riley, Aubrey Wainscot and assistants.

The happy crowd danced to excellent music, on a good floor, by the Blue River Dance Band and Jack Barnes’s Rhythm Boys until the small hours of this morning, when the singing of the National Anthem brought to a close one of the happiest and brightest gatherings of Masterton’s social life. Largely responsible for the brilliant success were the secretaries, Miss J. McMaster (primrose French net) and Mr J. Wickens, and the general committee consisting of Misses L. Wells, J. McKenzie, C. Wright, Mrs I. Wilkinson and Messrs D. Hogg (chairman), I. Tweddell, R. Riley and A. Barnes. A dress list appears on the Women’s Page.