IN THE BALLROOM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18410, 17 May 1920, Page 7

IN THE BALLROOM.

CHEERED BY SERVICE MEN.

* A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW.”-

The second citizens’ bail held in the King Edward Barracks on Saturday evening was really a soldiers’ and sailors’ festival. Rather than disappoint the very large number of exservice men who had relied on seeing him at .this gathering, the Prince informed the authorities that he would attend, provided the function were given a title that would allow it to be included on the official programme. The end amply justified tho means. Before the evening was over the brilliant ballroom had witnessed a scon* remarkable for its unparalleled enthusiasm. When the doors opened at seven o’clock long queues of people were stretched out on each side of the main entrance in Oashel Street. By eight o’clock fully one thousand couples were on the floor, and on the chairs round tho sides and under the balcony eight or nine hundred spectators watched the ever-changing picture. 'Under the cream and gold of the softly-illuminated decorations, soldiers in khaki, ex-soldiers in mufti, sailors in navy blue, girls in pink and girls jn white and girls in heliotrope or blue, or green, whirled round in a maze that just allowed sufficient dancing room for the waltz, the one-step or the jazz.

CHEERS FOR THE PRINCE. Following a preliminary warning by Dr Thacker, the Prince arrived at twenty-five minutes past nine, accompanied by Sir Lionel Halsey, Lord Claude Hamilton, Captain Taylor of the Renown, Colonel Grigg and other members of his staff. The dancers came to a sudden halt in the middle of n waltz, and, turning towards the eastern end of the ballroom, gave three sharp decisive cheers in. quick succession as the top-coated figure of his Royal Highness waß seen, to pass along the screened balcony into the special suite of rooms near the landing. A breathless lull of two minutes and the Prince appeared in evening dress with the insignia of the Order of the Garter gleaming against the black of hi© coat. Ho _ descended the heavily carpeted stairway to the accompaniment of ringing cheers, and was then met by the Mayor end Mrs Thacker and presented to the president of the Christchurch' branch of the Lady Liverpool Fund committee (Mrs H. Holland) and the chairman of the Canterbury Patriotic Society (Mr H. Holland). The orchestra struck up the opening bars of the National Anthem, and Immediately the big crowd joined in the singing of a verse of “ God Cave tho King.” A MAORI WELCOME. The dancers formed a lane to allow the Prince to pass down the ballroom to the canopied Royal box at tho 'western end. The Royal party advanced slowly, and before them a party of Maori girls, carrying garlands of bright flowers, retreated singing a song of welcome in th© Native tongue. Tho chorus was: —

E Pari Ra Nga tai ki t© aka E Hotu ru, Kotaku Aropa, Aue Heria Ra Ko taku Arolia B t© noi E. H© Ngakau Kino Hei! The -words were sometimes chanted in a slow solemn fashion that seemed to command strict silence. The spell was broken when the Maori girls finished their song and broke into the well-known war-cry that begins with a threatening stamp and tho words “Ka mate, Ka mate.” Soldiers joined in and when the Prince reached the dais lie was smilinsr broadly. He shook hands with Chjeftainess Maata Hutana, of Itapaki. and with Giieftainess Mairehe Tainui, of Port Levy, and thanked 'them for their song. AN IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLEMembers of the Entertainment Committee of the Returned Soldiers’ Association and members of the Lady Liverpool Fund executive were introduced to the Prince, while the orchestra atruok up tlie air of “ It’s a Long May to Tioperary.” The presentation ©ver, the Royal party returned through the dancers to the eastern end. Here the Prince shook hands with over one hundred relatives of soldiers who had died on active service. They filed past him in a silence that was doubly impressive, white-haired women in black, old men, young girl widows and small orphans. At a quarter to ten the Prince and Admiral Halsey shook hands with the ■Mayor and walked back up the stairwav. Upon reaching the. top his Royal Highness turned round and said to tho crowd below: —

“ Good night ladies and gentlemen. Slha.nk yon very much for your kindness thU evening.”

The*tcrmination of this little speech of thanks was the signal for a renewed outburst of cheering, interrupted for a minute or two by the singing of “ For 'He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” and carried on again with the soldiers in tire lead until the rafters rang. Tho Mayor gave an order —‘‘The Prince would hike to see you dancing now before ho woes. Get a dance going quick and lively” the orchestra, began to play a waltz, and for five minutes the Heir to the Throne leaned over the balcony smiling to tho girls and the delighted soldiers and sailors. After complimenting the secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ Association (Mr V. G. Leadley) «n the part played by the association in Frfday’s review and describing the parade of ex-soldiers as the largest he had seen in New Zealand', the Prince put on his hat and coat and paved Wfote walking outside to hi? m .