RAILWAY BALL.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 281, 11 July 1908, Page 5

RAILWAY BALL.

A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING The Waipukurau railway staff held their annual ball last night in the Town Hall, and the night being fine, there was the largest attendance ever seen at a function of the kind here. Great credit is due to the railway staff for the manner in which the affair was conducted, and for the tasteful decoration of the hall, as a vast amount of labour must have been expended by them to gain the pleasing appearance it'had. Evergreens, flags, streamers and railway lamps, in judicious combination, gave the hall an appearance not often seen, and one and . all were unanimous in declaring that they had never been in a better decorated dance-room. Green and red coloured lights and flags, the signalling colours of the railway, were interspersed all round the walls, and the stage was fitted up as a miniature rail-way-yard, with semaphores at each side. A semaphore was used to announce the dances by the hanging of a printed board under the signalling arm. Flags of every nation and of every colour were festooned across the ceiling and round the walls, and on one side in illuminated letters was the Maori legend “ Haere Mai E Te Manuhiri Tuarangi ” (Welcome to all visitrrs). Taken altogether, the effect was most beautiful, and the railway staff thoroughly deserve the success they had, in holding the best affair of its kind ever seen in Waipukurau. Not the least important part was the catering. The supper was a splendid one, and in the supper room was again evident the painstaking care with which everything was carried out. This was in the very capable hand of the ladies’ committee, comprising Mesdames Lindsay, Hartley. Young, Johnson and Stewart, and a more heavily loaded and tastefully decorated table no one could wish to sit down to. Down the centre of the table were two long bands of red and green silk, on which was seen to advantage the great profusion of seasonable flowers in vases, as well as the more important factor of a supper, the eatables. These were of the best, and consisted of every delicacy imaginable, and were provided by Mr Shaw. There was seating accommodation for forty, and the ladies in attendance worked like Trojans. No hitch of any sort occurred and in a very short space of time the whole of the company had had their wants supplied. Great quantities of lime-juice and ginger beer were also provided, these being under the charge of Mr Fraser. Punctually at 8.30 sharp, the Grand March started, led by Mr and Mrs Lindsay, over a hundred couples taking part, and the number was largely augmented by later arrivals. The floor was in first class order, and Mr Johnson, secretary, and the committee deserve great praise for the way it had been got up. The music was all that could be wished, and was supplied by Miss Moroney (Waipawa), piano, and Mr Tankard (Napier), cornet, while during supper the music for

the extras was supplied by Messrs J. Bailey, R. R. Arthur, J. Richsrdson, and J. O’Reilly, whose o.'fm-.ts were heartily applauded by the lancers. r l ie success of the evening de- }• >-i led largely on the efforts of t..n two M.C.’s, Messrs Cain and G< ?svenor, to whom too much p’ .Ise cannot be given for the € i .cient way they got the dances o and ensured a pleasant time for everybody. The committee had also provided. for the non-dancers by having six card tables on the. stage and a great many availed themselves of the pleasure, when tired of dancing, of a quiet game of cards. At intervals during the evening songs by Messrs Cain (“ Queen of the Earth ”), and Brophy (“Island of Dreams ”), were very capably rendered and were much appreciated, the accompanists being Mr Bailey and Miss Moroney. Mr Carroll also obliged by the recitation, “ Lasca,” which was very capably rendered. Towards the close of the ball, Mr Bogle (stationmaster), in a neat little speech, thanked the company for their attendance, and announced that a juvenile dance would be held to-night, to which all children are invited and a charge of one shilling made for adults. At about 3 a.m. the last dance was called, after which everyone departed for home, all having enjoyed themselves to the uttermost, the only regret being' that the Railway Ball, so long looked forward to, was now a thing of the past.