THE NAVY WAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 123, 26 May 1945, Page 12

THE NAVY WAY

H.M.N.Z.S. COOK CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY A ball in honour of the first anniversary of the commissioning of H.M.N.Z.S. Cook was held at the Town Hall last night by the commanding officer, officers, and ship's company, and such splendid preparations had been made in the matter of decoration that the illusion of actually being aboard ship was inescapable. This was intensified, too, by the fact that the ball was attended by a great number of men and women in naval uniform, the function being exclusively for them and their friends. There were nearly 800 -guests, and among those in the official party were Commodore Sir Atwell Lake (Chief of the Naval Staff), Captain Mark Taylor (second naval member), Commodore F. E. Taylor, R.N.Z.N.V.R. (commander of H.M.N.Z.S. Cook), Sir Harry Batterbee (High Commissioner for the United Kingdom), Mr. Jones (Minister of Defence), Mr. W. Appleton (Mayor of Wellington), and Miss Ruth Herrick (superintendent of Women's Royal N.Z. Naval Services). The ball was entered by means of a gangplank through the side of a "vessel" moored in the vestibule. The ballroom itself was almost completely disguised with bunting, lifebelts, other nautical equipment, and large replicas of naval insignia, and the whole scene was dominated by a huge backdrop depicting a cruiser cutting through a boisterous sea and the letters YE in golden Roman capitals. In addition, the hall was festooned with coloured lights. At supper time ■ a birthday cake, beautifully iced and weighing 701b, was cut with a sword by Mrs. Taylor, wife of the commanding officer. All the arrangements and all the decorations were the work of the social and dance committee of H.M. N.Z.S. Cook, which includes Petty Officer O. C. Prouse (organiser and M.C.), Wrens B. Ross and B. Gardiner, Lieut. Dendle (president), Chief Petty Officer .J. Dobbyn, Petty Officer M/M. W, Hill, Leading Seaman A. Horsfall, Stoker Betty, Officer J. Fuller, and Stoker Hart.