Air Force Ball Draws Record Crowd

Northern Advocate, 13 August 1942, Page 5

Air Force Ball Draws Record Crowd

With ever 1000 people on the floor the Whangarei Town Hall presented a memorable sight last night, on the occasion ol the Air Force ball. Designed to raise funds for Patriotic Week the .ball was an outstanding success, with one of the biggest crowds of the year. Tribute must be paid to the splendid organisation, the work of Mr L. Cooke. The ball was sponsored by Mesdames Conyers-Brown and L. Cooke.

Members of the armed forces comprised the greater part of the male element present, and uniforms of the Army, Navy and Air Force abounded. To the splendid music of the 12-piece dance band of the R.N.Z.A.F., hundreds of couples swung around the well-decorated hall. Between numbers the crowd covered most ol: die floor, but all co-operated splendidly in keening back while dancing was in progress. The scene was one of gaiety, the like of which has been rarely seen in Whangarei. Brightly-coloured evening frocks made the scene a pretty one.

Despite really bad weather, half-an-hour before starting the hail was well-filled. Whangarei had looked forward to the event for some time and nothing deterred dancers on the night. Spectators filled the balcony. Nine sittings of supper were needed to enter for the crowd, and the final sitting took place after midnight. Officials Present Noticeable among those presen were a number of high officials of the air force, as well as the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. W. Jones). Lieut.-Colonel H. P. Conyers-Brown was a popular M.C. and during the evening made an appeal for recruits for women’s war services. Later Mr. W. Jones also spoke on behalf of tiie patriotic committee, thanking the public for their unparalleled attendance. Flying-Officer Davy, on behalf of the R.N.Z.A.F. band, thanked the oublic lor the hospitality shown it by Whangarei. It had thoroughly enjoyed its stay in Whangarei, in spite of inclement weather, which had hindered activities considerably, he said. Patriotic funds are expected to benefit by more than £IOO.

Wilhelmina.—Queen Wilhelmina has ar rived in Ottawa. Her Majesty greetd the Governor-General (the Earl of Ath lone) and the Prime Minister (Mi Mackenzie King).