EIGHT DEBUTANTES

Dominion, Volume 39, Issue 28, 27 October 1945, Page 10

EIGHT DEBUTANTES

Their Excellencies At Plunket Ball

Equally as spectacular as in pre-war times, the decorations at last night’s Plunket Ball in the Wellington Town Hall, were a triumph of artistic planning. Dancers found themselves in the centre of a colourful Dutch village scene that drew admiring comments all the evening, and which indicated that a great deal patient work had been put into its execution

The ball was held in the presence of their Excellencies, the Governor-General and Lady Newall, who came on to it from the Academy of Fine Arts’ annual exhibition, which his Excellency opened. Their Excellencies were received by Mr. H. R. H. Chalmers, chairman of the ball committee, and Mrs. Chalmers and Mrs. Hugh Vickeruian, a vice-president. With members of the Government House party, their Excellencies viewed proceedings from an alcove.

Just after the ball opened and before their Excellencies arrived, a presentation of eight debutantes took place. They were to have made a joint curtsy, it having been arranged that the president of the Wellington Plunket Society, Mrs. IV. Bullock, also receive them, but owing to illness Mrs. B'ullock was unable to attend. Standing with Mrs. Appleton during the ceremony were members of the executive, Mesdames Chalmers, R. Mathews, H. Vickerman, E. D. Good, F. C. Burgess and M. E. Chesterman. Mr. Appleton also attended the ball.

The debutantes, who were all Wellington girls, were announced by 'Mr. Chalmers. They were : Miss Evelyn Allan, Hataitai, frock of white organdie, with a pin-tucked bodice and full skirt. She was presented by Mrs. W. Meachem. ■ Miss Thelma Allan, her sister, frock of pebble-grained white cloque. Mrs. J. W. Allan, her mother, presented her. Miss Ngaire Burke, Khandallah, fullskirted frock of off-white satin. Her mother, Mrs. G. H. Burke, presented her. Miss Paula McArtney, Seatoun, white cloque frock with full, circular skirt. Mrs. M. J. McArtney presented her daughter. Miss Lorna Mackay, Lyall Bay, white net bodice and full lace-skirted frock, with a velvet sash. Presented by her mother, Mrs. B. Mackay. Miss Genie Shand, Durham Crescent, an early Victorian frock of white cloque, with off-shoulder neckline. Mrs. Allan Shand presented her daughter. . Miss Elaine Tynan, Todman Street, frock of stiffened white taffeta and net, featuring I‘oulet work. Presented by her mother, Mrs. O. H. Tynan. Miss Margaret Ward, Island Bay. white corduroy velvet bodice with a full ninon skirt. Mrs. F. W. Ward presented her daughter. Following the ceremony, the girls and their partners led off tbe debutantes’ waltz, music for which was supplied by the Police Highland Pipe Bond. There was also an orchestra to play for dancing. Tulips, Blossom and Geese. Life-sized figures of men and girls in colourful Dutch national costume dominated the scene in the hall. They stood before low brick-like walls, that were topped with troughs of dozens of artificial tulips, hand-made in every conceivable shade. Branches, laden with artificial pink and white blossom leaned over the walls, and before the stage flocks of painted geese were marching below a flower-topped wall. Slender blossoming trees and tall windmills flanked the stage. Coloured lights, a green-garlanded balcony front, and tubs of greenery completed the scene. Guests entered the foyer through a cottage front, with more Dutch figures, blossom and geese to give atmosphere to the scene.

Lovely flower arrangements were a feature in the supper rooms. * Where their Excellencies were entertained, Jow troughs and posy bowls and a circular centrepiece were carried out in apricot and yellow azaleas, poppies and polyanthus. These colours were used in the floral scheme in the main supper room. A special table was arranged for the debutantes and their partners, where cyclamen, pink and blue blooms were combined in the posy 'bowls, the centre arrangement being in apricot and cream. All the floral decorations were the work of Mrs. A. J. Logie. From a fern-decked stall, escorts were able, as they entered the ballroom, to buy flowers for their partners to wear. Conveners of the various ball committees were: Supper, Mrs. R. Mathews, helped by the central and suburban committee: flower stall. Mrs. E. C. Sare: eool drinks, Mesdames Chalmers and Vickerman : furnishings for alcoves. Mrs. C. Holden; decorations. Mrs. Gilbert King and members of the Karorl Plunket women's committee: honorary ball secretary, Mrs. Chesterman: assistant secretary. Miss S. Moriarty: men’s committee, Messrs. Chalmers (chairman), E. Reeves. H. Vickerman. iN. Dunning. E. L. Benseman, J. Annand-Smlth, G. D. Virtue. Crawford Scott (Karitane Products). E. C. Sare, E. Snelling. L. M. Cachemaille.