NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY IN CHRISTCHURCH

Evening Star, Issue 20996, 9 January 1932, Page 20

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY IN CHRISTCHURCH

[By an Ex-Dunedinite.] Having already sent an account of Christmas Day in the Cathedral City, 1 thought I should follow this up by giving you a small description of a New Year’s Eve dinner and dance held at the same private hotel. Friends and self again partook of dinner there, and the decorations and festivities were equal to if not better than those on Christmas Day. All guests and visitors were requested to don fancy costumes and assemble in the lounge at 10 p.m. lor the grand march and lor costumes to be judged. While the revellers were putting on their war paint and glad lags we strolled around the streets and square and heard weird musio from weird instruments, singing, goodnatured banter, and cheery greetings, hut altogether a very quiet, orderly crowd. Returning to the hotel at 10 p.m. we were met at the entrance to the lounge by a most imposing King Charles 11,, with long curls, ruffles, etc. —our worthy host in costume —and we wore extended a most hearty welcome. About thirty couples took part in the fancy dress parade,_ and a very pretty and pleasing sight it proved—a Chinese emperor and empress, apaches, shepherdesses, pyjama girls, balloon girls, tennis players, sheiks, Mexicans, Indian princes, courtiers, jockeys, and dandies of the French Court, etc. [ was pleased to see Dunedin well to the front. Mr George Abercrombie took first prize for gentlemen, representing “ A Lady of the Period.” He wore a white wig, black panniered dress which stood out like thick glace silk, but was really made of paper, a white lace cap fissue, and mittens, and he looked and acted the part to life. Mr and Mrs E. Rowe (Dunedin) got most original prize as ‘‘Maggie Takes Father Out.” They had weird and wonderful masks on, sat on a sofa, and were just like stuffed figures, and were so weird that they caused much laughter. Dunedin was again to the front, as a Dunedin man judged, and carried out his duties well, this being Mr Bingham. Visitors from the south were Mr and Mrs Bingham, Messrs Bingham (4), Mr and Mrs F. Mayne, Mr and Mrs George Abercrombie, Miss Rose Neil, Mr and Mrs E. Rowe, Mrs A. H. Oswm, and Misses Hoff and Brown. Our party left at 11 p.m. for the midnight matinee at the Regent, which proved a very jolly affair. Toward 2 a.m. we wended our way through the square, making _ homewards. A few noises and bagpipes were heard in the distance, some whistling and squeakers, and greetings exchanged, but no disturbances or unseemly behaviour. Hence passed 1931 and the new year ushered in, and methinks one and all voiced the wish that 1932 will bring greater prosperity to our dominion and the world in general and happier conditions for all.