NAUTICAL BALL

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 141, 11 March 1938, Page 4

NAUTICAL BALL

Harbour Lights Guild's Successful Effort Staged as a finale to “Nautical Week,’ the "Nautical Ball,” held last night at St. Francis Hall, wtfs an undoubted success and reflected great credit on the work of the organisers—-that very active body, the Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild, who do so much good work on behalf of the Missions to Seamen. The hall was very brightly decorated for the occasion, the entrance foyer and the stairway being draped with Union Jacks and other bright flags, further colour being added by masses of bright green foliage and bamboo palms. Within the hall the note was even gayer, for, strung from corner to corner of the room and around the walls and along the front of the gallery, were dozens of naval code flags that had been lent by H.MfS. Leander. Those in the centre of the hall were all red and white. At the back of the stage, which housed a particularly good orchestra, were hung the New Zealand Ensign and the White Ensign. The decorations were put up by three signalmen from H.M.S. Leander, who were kept very busy during the day. The floral decorations were the work of Miss Valerie Graham Robertson and Miss Freddie Whatley, who also spent much time at the hall before the dance. Cool drinks were served in a beflagged room at one side of the stage —a popular rendezvous between dances. In the supper-room, where savoury and other dishes were served, were long, white-clothed tables decorated with vases of asters in all colours, and at one corner was a bower of fern.

The hostess for the evening was the president, Mrs. G. P. H. Davidson, who was wearing a slightly-trained frock of black crepe de chine with corsage spray of varl-eoloured field flowers. The committee members, who had worked very hard to ensure the success of the ball, were: Mesdames Graham Robertson, D. A., Aiken, J. E. AshleyJones, H. J. Harley Brown, V. R. Gurin, A. L. Hansel], A. J. Mack, H. P. Hopkins, A. J. Curtis, W. H. Price, A. Allen,: R. D. Oliver, G.> Barltrop, C. T. Cox, D. A. Ewen, D. G. Williams, Miss Pharazyn, Miss Hansell, Miss Lucas. Several dinner, and cocktail parties were held before the ball, those who entertained including Captain and Mrs. R. D. Oliver, Mr. and Mrs. G. P. H. Davidson, Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Bradshaw, Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Ewen, Mr. and; Mrs. D. G. Williams, Miss Barbara Rassett, Miss Barbara Standish.

The many dancers present included ■representatives of thh Navy Office, offliCers from the warships in port at’present, and a large number of members of the younger set, most of whom came on from parties. x Some lovely frocks were noticed during the dances, many of the new season’s, materials being used with great effect. A ■ striking frock was one of powder-blue sunray-pleated chiffon with which was worn a silver belt arid a silver flower in the hair. Another ■that ■ attracted -much attention was ,a Victorian frock of white ninon, the very wide’skirt havirig two bands of ’.clel-blhe satin, jvhich matched a single blue blossom placed directly above the forehead. An exotic touch was evident in.; a fitting frock of floral silk linen patterned with yellow, orange, and blue, with orange cape effect at the shoulders jand ..an orange sash. Another silk linen frock was in pastel shades, the plaited shoulder straps thatching the colours in the material. Very striking was.a red satin redingote worn over black satin. On the wearer/s head were red flowers beneath an enveloping shoulder veil of black net spotted with gold. In direct contrast to this was a demure frock of champagne nihon with very full skirt and a little peter pan collar,- three matching flowers being worn at the neck. A Grecian dress of white ripple georgette 'with, a very wide skirt had a broad band of sky-blue round the hem and shoulder straps of matching plaited satin. There were several frocks of sunray-pleated chiffon and ninon, one of them being in tones of flamingo shading to palest beige. Yet another was of mauve, worn with a spray of parma violet flowers. Florals were also very popular. One dress that was unusually attractive was of dove-grey 'and mauve shot moire.

Dancing continued until a late hour, a number arriving # after the theatre.