PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 162, 14 August 1914, Page 4

PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION.

FOURTH ANNUAL DANCE. Truly, there is something very fascinating about dancing. It is a pastime, the popularity of which has never been for a moment in doubt for many generations, and the love of it is as keen to-day as ever it was. This was proved beyond the shadow of a question at the Public Service Association ball which was held in the Alexandra Hall last night. Waltzes and lancers, one steps, and tangos, followed one another in rapid order, and were danced with every expression of enjoyment by the two hundred and sixty odd Civil Servants and their friends, to the enchanting strains of Wells's Orchestra. Mr George Eussell deserves special commendation for the thoughtfulness and consideration he displayed in his duties as Master of Ceremonies, and the efforts he made to ensure a good time for

everyonei It must be admitted by all who attended that his efforts in this way were thoroughly successful. Mr T. L. Seator, the honorary secretary, must have also worked to good purpose in making the arrangements for such a

successful function, as well as the remaining members of the committee — Misses Goudie, McMillan, Moon (2), Ray, Messrs Russell, Webb, and Schwartz.

The decorations were very picturesque and pretty, the three drawingrooms being embellished with flowering pot plants and ferns, and beautifully furnished. The lounge, which was a favourite sitting-out place, was also furnished with taste, and here again flowering plants gaA-e a breath of spring. The ball-room had festoons of scarlet silk across the room, and hanging baskets of ferns depending from the ceiling, the doorways and. stage being simply bowered in foliage. Supper, for which Miss Mildred Trent catei*ed, was served in the concert room upstairs, which also bore evidence of the decorators' art.

During the evening Mr Moon (Tourist Department) briefly addressed the gathering, expressing in happy terms the debt under which the Public Service Association were to Mr G. Russell (Land Valuation Office) for the splen*did way in which he had worked for the success of the ball. Mr Russell, he stated, was leaving on the morrow to go into camp, and would be shortly going with the Expeditionary Forces to answer Britain's call for soldiers in the battle she was,at present fighting. He suggested that they should accord Mr Russell a hearty A-ote of thanks, and wish him bon voyage. Mr Russell, in response to cries of '' Speech! Speech!'' mounted the platform and made a brief acknowledgment. He said that those present should not forget that Mr Seator, who had acted as honorary secretary, Avas entitled to a good share of praise for the success of the ball, and he paid a high tribute to the ladies who had, lie sai<f; really made the Association. All he (Mr Russell) asked in the shape of reward was to see everyone having a good time. Referring to the war, he said that he was glad to be able to go, —as a man had said to 'him, "it was just as well to stop a bullet as to be knocked down by a tram car." He did not know if he.would come back, —that Avas a matter which lay on the knees of the gods. He Avas glad, however, to have been present at the fourth annual dance in connection with the Public Service Association before leaving Christehurch for far fields.. Enthusiastic applause and cheers followed Mr Russell's remarks.

Amongst the dresses noticed on the occasion were the following: —Mrs Millward, apricot charmeuse, corsage showing small panels embroidered in silver and veiled in black lace, skirt draped with black lace; Mrs Sutcliffe, pale pink satin veiled in pink and black printed ninou; Miss Sutcliffe looked very dainty and sweet in a gown of

white lace mounted on a silk slip, the

skirt made with three flounces, bodice draped and finished with soft satin sash; Mrs Arnold Ryland, white charmeuse with corsage of silk laee, belt of cherrycoloured silk; Miss Paton, white lace with touches of tangerine satin on corsage; Miss Ethel Paton was also in white lace; Miss Frankish, emeraldgreen satin, draped with net embroidered in silver; Miss Priest, new brtie satin with Eastern sash of pale pink, circlet of pearls in hair; Miss McNeely, green and heliotrope shot silk, draped with black ninon, touches of silver on corsage; Miss McMillan, white charmeuse draped with apricot ninon; Miss Goudie, white satin, with clusters of tiny roses on skirt and bodice; Miss Carpenter, pretty pale-pink supple satin frock, with a gathered tunic of floral chiffon; Miss Moon, pink brocade, draped in-pannier effect around the hips; Miss R. Moon wore an artistic gown of electric blue satin veiled in green and blue shot ninon, the three flounces comprising the skirt being touched effectively with silver, large red rose at waist; Miss Hutchins, black velvet, with sash of emerald green satin; Miss E. Prince, saxe blue satin, top ornamented with jetted lace; Mrs W. Thomson, yellow satin, partially veiled in gold-embroider-ed net; Miss Beaumont, grey sjitin and silver; Miss Lillian Beaumont, white silk edged with white swansdown; Miss Jack, becoming confection of light green ninon, tunic edged with brown fur and worn over a drape of ecru lace, bodice mounted on a lace slip and finished with pale pink rose at waist; Miss Eggleston, ivory-tinted chiffon voile, trimmed with lace and pearl ornaments; her sister, Miss B. Eggleston, wore a similar frocs; Mrs Mansfield, white satin draped with shadow lace; Miss Saunders, mauve satin; Miss Ford, pale blue mousseline de soie, draped with pale pink and blue floral ninon; Miss Bridge, striking gown of tango satin, made with short pleated basque over a tunic of black ninon; Miss Williams, white charmeuse and silver; Miss Sweeney, white satin, veiled in black net embroidered in sold, Eastern belt of copper satin; Miss Fletcher, pale pink charmeuse, with folded belt of scarlet silk; Miss Falla, apricot crepe de chine Avith lace top; Miss Rae, very pale apricot ninon over a slip of the same shade; Miss C. Moon, pink pailette veiled in powder-blue ninon; Miss Reeves, blue satin; Miss Gibbons, white satin draped with shaded lace and worn with emerald green sash; Miss Otley, creme charmeuse; Miss Metz, pale pink charmeuse, with sash of peacock blue satin; Mrs Woods, white satin; Miss Daisy Crook, white radium de soie, top veiled in pink

Ninon; Miss Jamieson, vieux rose snpple satin; Miss Nind, white mousseline de soie, with belt of dead rose glace; Miss Buckhurst, dull blue satin draped with embossed lace; Miss Myra Buckhurst, sage-green silk; Miss Hartwell, eau de nil pailette, tunic of lace with pattern embroidered in silver sequins, and edged with white fur, corsage bouquet of violets, scarf arrangement of pale violet ninon; Mrs Jordan, black satin veiled in black embossed net; Miss Maynard, blue satin ornamented with silver and edged with swansdown; Miss Newman, shell pink silk; Miss Maud Newman, lemon-coloured satin edged with brown fur. Gentlemen present included:—Messrs Moon, Russell, Seator, Webb, Schwartz,-Lockwood, King, Millward, Sutcliffe, Cooksley, Allender, Annand, Harding, Jordan, Hurley, Beaumont, Owen, W.' Williams, Lionel Mansell, Couchman, and very many others.