FUN AT WAITAKARURU

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4311, 31 July 1950, Page 3

FUN AT WAITAKARURU

MOCK COURT & HARD UP BALL

MONEY FOR WAR MEMORIAL

The latest effort on behalf of the Waitakaruru war memorial fund took the form of a mock court, followed by a hard up masquerade ball at Waitakaruru on the evening of July 20 last. The function, which was sponsored by the combined football and hockey clubs, was a brilliant success and must have lifted the sports queen, Miss Marie Coxhead, quite a step further with her funds. She was dressed, in keeping with her ragged subjects', in a dilapidated ancient silk gown and a very tattered crown, and, all over the hall were to be seen hanging petticoats, laddered stockings and men whose trousers were in the last stages of disrepair. Emblems of every branch of sport decorated the walls and the stage had been arranged to represent a police court, the witness box having originally served as a child’s play pen. Mr Laurie Hill, wearing a large grey wig, made an imposing judge and Mr Robert Paton acted as clerk of court, with Mr Bert O’Neill as the uniformed policeman and the football club members all wearing their club costumes kept the bobby very busy calling them to order. Over 40 offenders were called to answer for heinous offences against law and order, After the'court closed the ball was opened with music' provided by the Valley Serenaders from Pokeno. Many and varied were the tattered and ancient garments of the dancers, specially noticed amongst them being a costume worn by Mrs C. Ashford. It consisted of a brown polo necked jersey embroidered in multi-coloured wool with the Christian names of all the members of the carnival committees slacks zipped on the hip with three bill-file clips and finished at the bottom with six tulle frills, whilst a .patch on the seat bore the brand “Champion.” Mr . Doug Parser was on the floor as “Sylvia Starch,” attired in a long white shirt which contrasted strikingly with the blackest of legs and face. Mr and Mrs Bill Hegh were also outstanding as Dave afrd Mabel of Snake Gulley. Altogether it was an evening of spontaneous fun which will be long remembered by those .present.