THE NAVY ENTERTAINS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 85, 4 January 1940, Page 4

THE NAVY ENTERTAINS

Men Of H.M.S. Ramillies Give Dance At Exhibition When the Navy “comes to town” it certainly brings an air of romance and adventure and adds something of cosmopolitan gaiety to the usual busy, preoccupied crowds that throng the streets. The arrival of H.M. battleship Ramillies brought all this, and coming at a holiday season and the start of the Centennial celebrations, her officers and men have created unusual interest, and have found much to interest them for the duration of their visit to Wellington. Hospitality has been extended on all sides, and last night the ship’s company, with the permission of Captain H. T. Baillie-Grohman, sought to repay this with a carnival dance at the Centennial Exhibition, when they were “at home” to the people of 'Wellington. News of the dance spread quickly, and no apprehension as to a shortage of partners for the men need have been felt. Other naval men, and members of the air force and special military forces were guests, as well as numerous civilians who were present by invitation.

Commander IV. R. C. Leggatt and a number of officers attended the dance, also directors of the Exhibition and their wives, and a number of Exhibition officials. The officers were entertained by the directors of the Exhibition in the reception-rooms. Long before the dance started, hundreds of visitors to the Exhibition crowded the vicinity of the festival hall, where the dance was held, to catch a glimpse of the gay scene. The warship’s company arrived in full force, and before 9 p.m. there were more than 1000 dancers on the floor.