RANDOLPH BALL

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26266, 10 November 1950, Page 6

RANDOLPH BALL

PUBLIC INTEREST IN EVENT HUGE CROWDS FILL BARRACKS No social evept in Christchurch has aroused the enthusiasm shown for the early colonists’ ball held last evening in the King Edward Barracks. More than 3000 persons attended; but thousands who could not, have displayed remarkable interest in the last few days. , The official opening was timed for 8.30 p.m., but the’ doors had to be opened soon after 6 o'clock, so pressing were the early comers intent on securing good seats for the pageantry. By 8 p.m. all the huge tiers of seats extending from the floor to near the roof were filled and additional rows were placed on the dance floor. Crowds continued to pour in, so that by the time the official party arrived people were sitting in the aisles, and hundreds of young men and women were squatting on the floor almost to the foot of the dais and the front of the Randolph stage. Outside the footpaths had been lined for hours with people anxious to see distinguished visitors arrive and admire the women’s gowns. Streets many blocks from the scene were lined with parked cars. As others dropped their passengers below the red and white entrance awnings they were rapidly waved on to make way for succeeding vehicles. Inside the ballroom a relatively small proportion could dance at one time; but the others were content to watch. Even this gave an imperfect appreciation of the many lovely gowns, period and modern, worn by the women. Rather than an occasion for individual admiration, it was one of brilliant mass spectacle. As a centennial celebration the programme was deftly devised to cover a century. The breakfast on the Randolph went back to the departure of the colonists, giving a vivid glimpse of their aspirations »and way of life. The quadrille linked the past with the present. As the dancers moved into the first waltz the occasion became the b<jll of 1950. The pageantry lasted till 10 p.m, and from then dancing went on for two hours after midnight.