FESTIVE DISASTER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 209, 17 August 1933, Page 6

FESTIVE DISASTER

LOSS OF .... DEPRESSION CAY NICHT AT HASTINGS ASSEMBLY HALL. SHIPWRECK BALL A HUGE SUCCESS. (By “Stella.”) So aaccessiu] a ml amusing was tin. Shipwreck Ball at the hasting* Assembly Hall last evening that it will form a topic ot discus.-.on lor some time. Maybe the onlookers saw most of the game, for to sec usually senate individuals take the ehanco to express then their frivolous instincts brought forth laughter at the entry of each new arrival. The ball bad been organised in a really masterly way by Mrs W. G. Stead with a helptul committee, and the result was a unique function. The stairway had been decorated with masses of rope hawsers and ships’ machinery, such as a huge propeller and windlass. In the hall, the gallery represented a ship with huge funnels in red and black, real air vents standing up effectively, and on tho Captain’s bridge was a ship's compass, bell, and wheel. Round the hall were white paper seagulls in flight and pictures of tish, with crossed oars and lifebuoys and posters such as: ••Don't take in coo much ballast; keep your plimsoll line exposed” ; ‘‘Fishing allowed only when compliments paid (Captain s orders”; “Women the lifeboats.” Bunches of real seaweed added to the marine effect. PBOSPERin ISLAND. Tho stage was greatly admired, having been converted into an island. "Prosperity Isle,” by Mrs W. G. Stead and her son Master Sydney Stead, and others. Tall cabbage trees, the trunks standing up realistically, were at either side, and a cleverly contrived hut was of woven bamboo with a glowing fire inside (illumined by electricity) with (falling nets hanging about to dry. A signal for passing ships was a white shirt on an up-ended car, and some washing hung drying on a little rofie line. Over a fire hung a billy. The * whole scheme was remarkably well ■ urned out. At the side was the "wreck” of the ship “Depression” run OU to rocks all made and designed very cleverly, the ship looking very real. In front of the stage Was a ship's skylight, and nearby was a rocket gun fiom which i aim'occasional shattering ■oises—made by sotting off fireworks inside the muzzle. SUPPER DECORATIONS. The sujsper-room was in another novel scene, and over the door hung tbo notice: “Ships’ biscuits and rum ration at 9.30 p.m.” Each long table had been converted into a ship by draping to the floor with sides of white, on which were drawn pestholes; also by pointing the ends as tho ship’s bows. Each table-ship had a name; H.M.S. Maddison was in red and blue colouring with tall funnels and wireless masts and scarlet fish; H.M.S. Stead had the funnels and streamers m bright yellow and blue; H.M.S. Rainbow was in green and blue with atreamers, funnels, and green fish, and H.M.S. Committee was in scarlet and yellow. There were crayon pictures of crabs, fish and so on and signs such as “Beer overboard; crew to the rescue.' The following committee carried out the intricate nautical details to obtain the correct sea atmosphere: Mesdames Maddison. Stead, Rainbow, Wedd, Averill, Tripe; Misses, Symes, Coleman, Beeves, Rochfort, Rainbow, C, Bell; Messrs Averill, Wedd, Rainbow, Armstrong, Tripe. Much gratitude was expressed for the loan of "properties” from Richardson's, Napier, and others. The supper tables were done by Misses Rochfort, Symes, Reeves and Coleman. High School boys excellently waited on the dancers at supper. Miss Niblock, who worked very hard, was bon. secretary. The savoury—very nice—supper was supplied by Mrs Johnson, of the Selphast. Les. Henry’s hand quite excelled themselves in playing popular airs and looked very piratical with black eyes, jerseys, red neckerchiefs and sailors’ hats.' SINKING THE “DEPRESSION.” At 8.30 pm- Mr G. A. Maddison as “Skipper” opened the ball. The ship’s bell clanged. Miss Mary Rainbow stood at the wheel and the ship started. Instructions were given by the skipper to his mate —Captain White-Parsons and others, but the ship Depression was ill-fated, and as the skipper himself said (much to everyone's amusement): “Lor’ blimey, Bill, you’ve wrecked the bloomin’ ship.” The ship sank with a bang, and distress rockets resounded —startling those near considerably. Shipwreck garb was chiefly worn, some obviously being caught in very sketchy attire as the ship sank. Mrs W. G. Stead was in blue, as a stewardess, with white cap and apron: Mrs Maddison, cream yachting costume; Mrs Raiubow, ereani serge yachting suit; Mrs Wedd; blue frock and white apron, as Bed Cross nurse; Mrs Averill, a pirate, with shorts, top-boots, mid skull and cross-bones on her wide black hat; Mrs Tripe, stewardess; Mrs Melville Bell, stewardess; Miss Symes, middy suit of white with “gob’ hat and sailor collar; Miss Reeves, white long trousers and pretty juniper with scarlet and deep pale blue bands; Miss Coleman, black middy blouse and long white pyjama trousers inset with black; Miss Rochfort, blue satin middy blouse, long white duck trousers; Miss M Rainbow, blue satin and white nautical suit; Miss Cecily Bell, pretty blue and white middy blouse, long white trousers and white cap. Mr S. Averill was in naval uniform, also Mr Rainbow and Mr 1 rifle. Mr Wedd was a sketchy-looking pirate, and Mr Armstrong, who had obviously dressed hurriedly (and caused much mirth), was in pyjama trousers, a naval eoat, and white straw hat, with a red walrus moustache. AMONGST THE DANCERS. Others noticed amongst the ven metier looking crowd were Mr mi l Mis Maxwell, ns a cook, and pink . lad stewardess; Mr and Mrs H. Davies, the former with a red wig as a steward m white, and the latter in white as a stewardess; Mr and Mrs J. Ewart, the former a pirate and the latter in a jumper ensemble; Mr and Mrs Maitland, the latter in a kimono, the former in tennis flannels; Mr and Mrs Lindsay Gordon,

both in night attire—Mr Gordon in dressing-gown over striped pyjamas, Mrs Gordon in pink silken pyjama ensemble; Mrs Armstrong was in a flame satin dress; Mr and Mrs F. Donnelly, the latter in white as as a stewardess; Mr V.’. R. Stead and his brother Sydney in flannels; Miss White-Parsons, pretty white satin evening frock; Miss Monaghan. naval uniform; Miss Stead, a tweed skirt and juniper; Miss Ballantyne, amber georgette evening dress; Miss Rees. Hawaiian; Miss Minehan, dressing gown, pyjamas and woollen jumper; Miss Reader, men’s pyjamas j and dressing gown and a ukclele; Miss ! F. Aitken, as an old lady in a white I calico very plain nightie, pink wool .-haul an<i bed socks; Miss M. King, j men’s pyjamas, silk top-hat and dressiag gown; Miss M. Tucker, lifebelt, cap, dressing gown, and toy dog with a lifebelt on: Miss J. Woodbury, set of pink “I’etone’’ men's underwear, with shaving strop and lathered face, and a suitcase bursting with odds and ends of attire; Miss J. Boyd, lifebelt, long pantaloons, and a bundle of rescued treasures; Miss Whisker, men’s pyjamas, wool socks and a dressing gown; Miss 11. Tucker, white flannels and a naval hat; Miss Euid Cotterill, blue undies and odd pink and blue shoes and a fox fur. Miss A. Wilder, blue floral crepe frock frock with white organdie apron; Miss J. Ormond, dainty crepe printed frock with white collar, cuffs and apron; Miss Nancy Crompton-Smith blue voile short frock’ small straw hat with flowers; Miss J. Crompton, blue organdie frock and a naval eoat and cap; Miss Miller, pretty blue lace evening dress; Miss C. Al'lom, rose and blue floral frock: Miss N. Van Asch, powder blue georgette; Miss Hook, black and rose kimiuo ensemble; Miss Bamforth, green chintz beach pyjamas; Miss P. Pimley, white tennis dress; Miss Alice Rvaii,’ white old-fashioned nightdress, with curled papers and much rescued jewellery; Miss Olliver, black lac,e dress; Mrs F. Fryer, black lace dress; Miss 11. Niblock, white sailor’s suit and cap; Mis Zoe Fryer, blouse put on crookedly over a lifebelt and black skirt; Mrs Torr, yellow and brown floral frock; Mrs Adam Bell, dark green floral georgette; Miss M. Bell, primrose tennis frock; Mrs A. Symes, violet lace gown; Mrs H. Brathwaite, senr., black lace gown; Miss Jean Tucker, chintz pyjamas with middy top and mob cap; Miss Mary Palmer, blue evening frock; Miss Pat Palmer, primrose vcllow dance dress; Mr Syd. Chaplin, pith helmet, wide beach pyjamas and scarf belt; Mr B. Rainbow, blue singlet and tennis flannels; Mr D. Neilson. an A.B. in blue trousers and jersey, and wearing a red beard; Mr and Mrs Gray, the latter in fine black lace; Mrs Pufflett, black lace; Mr and Mrs G. Rochfort, the latter in black panne velvet; Mrs H. Coleman, black panne velvet and sealskin jacket; Mrs Brathwaite, red and black floral georgette; Mrs H. de Denne, black lace and georgette with fine killings; Mr and Mrs Lovell-Smith, the latter in black lace ami scarlet; Mrs Fendall, black lace. EXHIBITION DANCE. During the evening Miss Fay Hall, a pupil of Miss Jean Ballantyne, gave an excellent exhibition dance, dressed in sailor costume with kilted skirt, her item, the sailor’s hornpipe, being applauded heartily. A TREASURED RELIC. Captain White-Parsons, together with Mr A. A- Sinclair, of Messrs Richardson and Co., and Mr Barry, of Barry Bros., most generously and readily came to the assistance of the ball committee, and to them is due in a very large measure indeed the great success of the evening. Without their help the committee would not have been able to carry out its decorative scheme, and Captain White-Parsons added to his other kindnesses by lending the committee a flag which his ship, H.M.S. Cornwall, flew at the Battle of the Falkland Islands. It is, of course, a much-treasured relic, and was displayed together with the International Code signal, lent by the captain: “We need help.” The call of the signal was not in vain, for the funds of the Mayor’s Central Relief Committee, in aid of which the ball was held, will benefit to a very considerable extent.