ANNIVERSARY DAY BALL

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28155, 19 December 1956, Page 2

ANNIVERSARY DAY BALL

FOUR DEBUTANTES PRESENTED

Anniversary Day Ball, always regarded as a highlight of the year’s social calendar in the early days ox Canterbury, was revived by the Canterbury Pilgrims’ and Early Settiers Association, last evening. The great success of the ball should encourage the association to make it an annual event.

The Prime Minister (Mr Holland), who is a member of the association, and Mrs Holland, attended the ball. Four debutantes, wearing lovely bouffant ball gowns and carrying white bouquets tied with pastel ribbons, were presented to Mr and Mrs Holland by Mrs J. L. Hewland, wife of the president of the association. As each girl made her curtsy to Mr and Mrs Holland, the name of the ship in which her forbears arrived at Lyttelton was announced.

The debutantes were Miss Nanette Taylor, daughter of Mr and Mrs E. M. Taylor, a descendant of arrivals in the Brothers Pride (1863); Miss Adrien Fitch, daughter of Mr and Mrs Lewis Fitch, Minerva (1853); Miss Jan Falck, daughter of Mr and Mrs G. S. Falck, Isobella Hercus (1851); Miss Robyn Hewland, daughter of Mr and Mrs J. L. Hewland, Sir George Seymour (1850). Miss Taylor’s frock was of a pale cameo pink shade, and the other three girls wore white. All were trained by Miss E. Cornyns Thomas for their curtsies and for the Queen Elizabeth Waltz, which they danced with their fathers on a cleared floor.

Official guests were Mr and Mrs Holland, who were accompanied bv Mr Holland’s private secretary, Mr R. B. Taylor; the Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt. Rev. A. K. Warren) and Mrs Warren; the Dean of Christchurch (the Very Rev. Martin Sullivan) and Mrs Sullivan; and Miss E. Cornyns Thomas.

As the guests arrived they were received by Mr J. L. Hewland, president of the association, and Mrs Hewland, Mr John Deans, patron of the association, and Mrs Deans. About 300 guests attended, including several elderly members of the association who watched the presentation of the debutantes.

Mrs Holland wore a fitting gown of silver, brocade shot with pale bh e and a pale blue tulle stole: Mrs Hewland's full-skirted frock of sapphire frosted gravine was made with a deep swathe across the back, caught up by a spray of deep pink roses, a black lace gown finished with diamond clasps at the neckline, was worn by Mrs Deans. Members of the organising committee included Mesdafnes J. H. Deans and H. Hall; Misses Phyllis Boyle, Rose Reynolds and B. Webb; Messrs A. Barker, J. Bradley. C. R. Straubel, E. R. Smith, J. G. Scott, and H. Hall (secretary). The official alcove was draped with festoons of white daisies and ferns, a popular form of decoration in the 1850’s. A large replica of the association’s badge surrounded by the name of the organisation was hung in the vestibule. Besides the replica stood a huge bowl of blue and green hydrangeas. delphiniums and red hot pokers. Similar bowls were prominently placed in the lounge and the ballroom. Troughs of pastel-shaded poppies, roses and foxgloves decorated the supper tables. ,