HOKOWHITU SCHOOL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 191, 15 July 1941, Page 2

HOKOWHITU SCHOOL

FANCY DRESS BALL. Tlio Empire Hall was transformed into a scene of unusual gaiety last evening when the Hokowhitu School

fancy dress ball was held. It was evident that a good deal of time had been spent on the selection and making of the costumes, and the.v were a distinct credit to all concerned. The children Rave every indication of having been well trained, and their orderly bearing and conduct during the dances must have been a source of gratification to the teachers.

Mr T. J. Linohan (headmaster) and Miss E. Gills (infant mistress) were mainly responsible for the conduct of the dances and were congratulated on the success of their efforts. A committee had the management of the dance well in band, and every child was given supper. The members of the committee were Messrs H. W. Cox (chairman), G. Melville, 11. Ayson, W. J. Uickard, L. Itobertson, A. Green, R. Ilodrcn, If. Lock and P. Crowther (secretary). Ladies' Committee: Mesdames Cox, Crowther, Ayson, Melville, Green, L. Davis, I. liloomfield and G. V. Nielsen.

The programme opened with the grand march to music by a professional orchestra. About 140 children took part and. led by Joan Sunborn and Colin Aitken, the march was excellently carried out, some intricate movements being executed without the least hitch. The children were generously applauded by the large crowd of onlookers who thoroughly enjoyed the spectaclo of fairies, gipsies, sailors, ■Russians, and so on changing places in bewildering fashion. The children were then lined up in front of the stage for the official opening. Mr Cox, prior to introducing the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford). who was accompanied by Mrs Mansford, thanked the headmaster and his staff for the work they had done to make the ball a success, also the parents who, as usual, had made generous donations, and the ladies' committee, without whose help the ball could not have been held. Owing to the opening of the Intermediate School, the number of children at flic Hokowhitu School was not as great as in former years, hut this would not militate against the success of the ball. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J. Hodgens, M.P.. and \V. G. Black. Mr Mansford thanked Mr Cox and his committee for their continued courtesy to Mrs Mansford and himself. On seeing so many children, he said his thoughts, and the thoughts of others present, were influenced by what was taking place on the other side of the world, and the sight of the children would make everyone keener for victory. "We also know." ho continued. | "that we will have in face a new world | when the war was over—more particu- . larly the children, who are the torch-' bearers of civilisation. We have been too prone in the past to think of selfinterest in a selfish way and will have to look at matters now from a dif-j fcrent point of view. History has a nasty habit of repeating itself, and if wo cannot solve the problem of the future some other nation will. The school-teachers would play their part, I but unfortunately they only have the childreu for a few hours a day; par-! cuts will have to play their part. The j question of self-interest must be always uppermost in our minds." Mr Mansford concluded by congratulating the committee on the success of its efforts, and hoped all would have an enjoyable evening. The children; gave three cheers for tho Mayor and j Mayoress, and Joan Sundborn handed, the Mayoress a beautiful bouquet. | The usual dances appropriate to such!' a gathering were given by the chili, dren.

A dance for the adults was held following the children's ball, Mr A. Gordon being M.O. At nine o'clock a halt was called while the two minutes' silence for national prayer was observed.