NAVAL GUESTS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 86, 5 January 1940, Page 4

NAVAL GUESTS

Patriotic Committee Gives Dance At Exhibition

The friendly gesture of the Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Committee in arranging a dance at the Centennial Exhibition 'Cabaret last night for the officers and men of H.M. battleship Ramillies was greatly appreciated by the city’s naval guests, who. spent a most enjoyable night of dancing. Because of the unexpected arrival of HALS. Canberra, the invitation was extended to include her officers and men, who helped to swell the ranks of the guests.

Captain H. T. Baillie-Grohman, of the Ramillies, attended, with a number of senior’ officers, and senior officers of the Canberra.

Other special guests were the consul for France, Mr. A. Bouquet, and Mrs. Pouquet, the mayor and mayoress of Wellington, Mr. and Mrs. T. C. A. Hislop, Captain Lord Dormer, A.D.C. to the Governor-General, and the wives of the executive of the patriotic committee.

Well-known girl members of the A.N.A. Social Club, official camp entertainers, the Navy League, Red Cross Society, Victoria League, Mission for Seamen and the English Speaking Union acted as partners for the occasion.

■ The executive of the Patriotic Committee, comprising the mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop and Messrs. J. W. Andrews, E. W. Wise, S. Blackley, W. H. Price, H. D. Morgan, E. Palliser, F. W. Furkett, F. Jones, A. Urquhart, and Captain S. Holm were responsible' for the arrangements, which were carried out by the entertainment committee, Messrs. G. London, S. Blackley, F. Windley, J. Blewman, the Hon. Vincent Wad, Messrs. H. W. Short, fc. P. Norman, A. McNaughton, and the following ladies’ committee, the members of which also acted as hostesses :—Mrs. Dennistoun, Wood, Mrs. F. F. Martin, Mrs. A. McNaughton, Mrs. F. Whatley, Mrs. T. M. Wilkes. Mrs. E. Puttick, Mrs. R. B. Gibbons and Mrs. A. B. Smith. The cabaret makes a splendid setting for a dance of this nature, and the bright hall was enhanced by the symbolic draping of the Union Jack and the New Zealand flag on either side of the orchestral shell. Raymond’s orchestra provided excellent music for dancing, and the programme wars interspersed with some exhibition dances and variety turns. Splendid work on the door was undertaken by Flying Officer John Gamble, Captain T. M. Wilkes, Captain Finlayson, Mr. E. Palliser, and Aircraftsman Hewitt.

The dance went with a great swing as the evening advanced, and at 11 p.m. when Playland closed, many more men came to the cabaret to complete their night’s fun, and swelled the gathering to more than 1500. When the night was finally brought to a conclusion, special trams transported all the guests back to the city.