SOLDIERS' BALL

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 3262, 12 October 1928, Page 6

SOLDIERS' BALL

DUNSANDEL FESTIVITY,

MEMORIES OF SERVICE DAYS,

The most successful dance held in Dunsandel for many years took place in the Town Hall on Friday night, when the returned soldiers of Dunsandel and district held their annual ball. For weeks the committee had been at work making all necessary arrangements in order that this function should be what it really was, the ball

of tho year. The ballroom was tastefully and appropriately decorated with ferns and flags, and arranged around the walls were crossed bayonets and rifles, some of which dated back to the days of the Maori wars. On ono end of the hall hung a sergeant's tunic decorated with medals won in action, also a diggers' hat and gasmask, the whole being crowned with crossed rifles.

The lengthy programme of dances was commenced well up to time, and from the start everything went off with a swing, the music of Wells's orchestra from Chrlstcnurch adding greatly towards the success of the evening. A feature of the dance programme was that each dance was named after one of the battlefields or hospitals. This innovation was very much appreciated by the ex-diggers, and the announcement of the "Suez Lancers" or the "Lone Line Fox Trot" was greeted with approval by those whose misfortune it was to have been connected with these places when on service. During an interval in the dancing, Mr Bates supplied a novelty item on a musical saw.

By no means the least successful j item was the sit-down supper. For some time the ladies' committee had been scheming as to what form the supper should take, and, judging by the enthusiasm and the healthy appetites displayed, the result left nothing to be desired. The supper was served on long tables in a huge marquee adjoining the hall. The marquee was tastefully decorated with flags and bunting, and on the tables, placed at intervals among the tempting dishes, stood huge bowls of beautiful flowers. Visitors were present from all parts of the district, some coming from as far afield as Christehurch, Ashburton, Eakaia, Leeston and Coalgate. Many thanks are due to tiie ladies' committee —Mesdames Hatchard, McGrath, Breach, Claydon, Kapley and Cameron, and the secretary, Mr J. McGrath. The music for the extra dances was played by Mesdames McGrath and Clarke. Messrs Breach and Claydon were M.C"s. Among those present were: Mesdames Happer, black velvet; Clarke (Rakaia), lemon crepe de chine; L, Smith, black velvet relieved with rod; C. M. Sheat, cream bi'oche satin; Macaulay, black georgette; Forster, embroidered wine satin; Bryant (Christehurch), green taffeta; It. Dawson, black crepe de chine.; A. Dick, black silk; J. H. Skinner, black velvet; Hatchard, black georgette and lace; J. McGrath, gold tinsel marocain, bouffant skirt; C. S, Chatterton, almond green georgette; C. McKegney (Rakaia), petunia shot taffeta; W. J. Wraight, pink taffeta and gold lace; Brown, black crepe de chine; Breach, pastel embroidered flame crejpe de chine; Wright, Wraight, Maepherson, E. A. Washbourne, Staplcton, A. Hickin, J. Ncwlove, McCreanor and Ronald Bute. Misses McGill, gold silk and lace; Muriel Brown, pink taffeta; Iris South (Rakaia), black georgette with silver; A. Maepherson, flame crepe de chine; M. Maepherson, mauve beaded georgette; May Riches, rose pink crepe do chine; M. Smith (Waipara), black taffeta and lace; J. Johnston, blue crepe de chine; Irene Cameron, peacock blue satin), D. Manson, sunrise satin; Millie Kerr (Christchurch), cyclamen crepe de chine; E. P. Neave (Christehurch), green taffeta; Mabel Gudsell, red georgette; Olive Stevens, flame silk; M. J. Stevens, shell pink crepe de chine; H. Cruse, pale green crepe de chine; P. Dick, pale green crepe de chine; A. Dick, blue silk; Mabel Stainger, powder blue marocain; Rene Stainger, flame crepe de chine; Eileen Cruse, peacock blue crepe de chine; Monica Hatchard, powder blue georgette with frilled skirt; Phyllis Eichesj pale blue crepe de chine; Estelle Manson, blush pink crepe de chine; Myrtle Wraight, L. Bilbrough, T. Anderson (Templeton), Mary Bilbrough, Connie Bamford, Ruth Cornwell and Amelia Walker.