SCHOOL CHILDREN IN FANCY DRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 151, 29 June 1939, Page 16

SCHOOL CHILDREN IN FANCY DRESS.

| ' T Attractive Costumes v Seen In Town Hall. The babble of young voices and the merry ring of laughter filled the Town Hal] last night, when nearly 900 children attended a plain and fancy dress ball. The function was organised by the combined primary schools' committee (Balmoral, Good Shepherd, Mount Eden and Maungawliau schools), and the proceeds are to be handed to the Mount Eden district centennial fund for a children's playground and the erection of a l'lunkct room. "With such a large number of children, the of controlling them and running the function smoothly was no easy one, and groat credit must be given the committee, which comprised the teachers of the \ariotis schools, for their efficient organisation. There was not a single hitch and the many spectators, including parents of the children and exscholars who were seated in the galleries. were most impressed with the gay scene presented. The costumes were most original and showed that a great deal of thought had been put into them. Particularly attractive were those worn bv the tiny tots, whose appearance in the grand parade brought forth rounds of applause. The children

j from ea#i* school were grouped in the I four corners of the hall, over which | was placed the shield of the particular j school. I On the stajre were the official party, which included the Mayor and Mayoress (of Mount Eden, Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Mills, father von Rotter, the chairmen of the four school committees, Mr. L. E. Falkner (Mount Eden), Mr. John Russell (Balmoral), Mr. F. S. Ashley (Maungawliau) and Mr. Canning (Convent of the tiood Shepherd); the headmaster and headmistress of each school, and the committee members and their wives. In extending a welcome to the children, Mr. Mills said that as the function had necessitated rather a late hour for sonic of the younger children, the school committee had decided that the following day would be a holiday. Mr. Mills expressed his thanks to all those who had worked so hard for the success of the function, including the various committees and members of the City Council. The playground and Pliinket room for which the funds were being raised would serve not only the Mount Eden district but also surrounding districts. Last year, he added, 9000 women and children'visited the Plunket room in Dominion Road, and a new and larger room was urgently needed. After the prand march, music for which was played by Miss M. Walls, a programme of dances and games was presented by the children, who were divided into three grades. Each grade I wore badges for identification, the colours being blue for the infants, red for the intermediates and yellow for the seniors. As each group finished its performance, they went into the supper room, where supper was served at lonjr tables decorated with streamers and bowls of flowers. At the conclusion of the children's part of the programme dancing was enioved by the adults. The main committee comprised Mr F. S. Ashley (chairman). Miss E. Thompson, Mr. -T. W. Stead (honorarv secretary). Mr. D. Millar. Mr. H. T. Robinson. Mr. A. W. Heath (headmaster of Mount Eden School). Mr. C. Wilson (headmaster of Maungawliau School) Mr. P. Burton (headmaster of Balmoral School). Miss Dorothy Wood (organiser for the Mount Eden Boroujrh Centennial Fund), Miss M. H. Tuthill, Miss E. Murphy. Miss M. Walls, Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Canning. Sub-committees for the supper were also appointed, with, three conveners from each school, comprising Convent of the Good Shepherd. Mrs. H. McDonnell. Mrs. P. Main and Miss F. Rauch; Balmoral. Mrs. W. J. Hicks, Mrs. H. -Tones. Mrs. J. Robinson: Mount Eden, Mrs. Moslem, Mrs. T. Hastings, Mrs. Arnold; Maungawliau. Mrs. G. Kcwish, Mrs. M. Evitt and Mrs. McQueen. The floor marshals were Mr. A. M. Matheson and Mr. T. G. O'Neill.