MEMORABLE BALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21561, 4 August 1933, Page 3

MEMORABLE BALL

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS COLOUR AND PAGEANTRY GREAT TOWN HALL SPECTACLE

With such & name—ths Ar&bf&n Nights Ball—it was impossible that the most outstanding event of Prosperity Week could bo anything but a memorablo success. . All the glamour of the East, its richness of colouring, its splendour, its pageantry and romance, were conjured up by the name and in the 'sotting which the Town Hall provided lor the ball last evening somewhat of that multi-coloured web of magic and beauty was caught and made tangible. In the murals which screened the walls of the hall glimpses of the East Bagdad, Cairo, Damascus, Samarkand and other names that figured in the Thousand and One Nights) in its most characteristic features, were given and added atmosphere to the setting. Desert scenes, with caravans traversing their sandy wastes, arched gateways opening on to winding narrow streets flanked by wind9wless, mysterious houses, distant views of Bagdad, showing its mosques and minarets embowered in palms, scenes from the Ebony Horse, Sinbad the Sailor, the Fisherman and the Genii, and other tales from the Arabian Nights, added interest and colour to the background. Overhead was suspended from, the gallery a frieze of green, patterned with richly-coloured fruits and deep ambercoloured lights, suggesting the heat of a tropical night. Most outstanding of all, however, was the palace of Shahrvar erected upon the stage, with deep arched doorways, high domes and pillars, and overhead a sky of deepest bluOj flecked with stars. Green-swathed pillars around the hall toned in admirably with the general colour, scheme. As a setting to the ball nothing could have been better and the richness of colouring, the wonderful variety of fancy dresses by so many of the dancers and the lighting, all combined to make a scene of Oriental pageantry that has seldom been excelled. In keeping with the decorations of the hall, in which the deepest tones of orange and green had predominated, i were thoso in the two supper rooms. In the downstairs room hanging baskets I of fern, groups of bamboo and flax made a charming background for the deep tangerine poppies with which the tables were arranged, arid golden-col-oured lights overhead added still further brightness to the scheme. Upstairs the concert chamber had been turned into another supper room and here the decorations were beautiful. Huge brass bowls and of arum lilies, with their trumpets painted deep red, clusters of crimson; Ardesia japonica and sprays of gum foliage, with the berries also painted red, made strikingly handsome and original table decorations. A huge basket tilted at the right angle on the table at the top of the room, filled with fruit, added a gorgeous note of colour, and against it was the background of the stage, massed with poinsettias, foliage and wattle. A very large committee had been in charge of the arrangements of these two rooms and the result of their labours was a wonderful supper. those who were present were the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, and Mrs. Hutchison, who wore a frock ot sapphire blue corded velvet; Lady Sin-clair-Lockhart, in black Chantilly lace over pale pink; Mrs. Burges Watson and Mrs. David Nathan (chairmen of committees), Arabian Nights in black and silver; Mrs. Hugh Mac Donald, black satin with white relief; Mrs. H. H. Partridge, water-lily green ring velvet and sequin embroideries; Mrs. Watson Airey, black georgette with embroidered shawl; Mrs. J. Frater, blue angelskin lace; Mrs. Napier, black georgette embroidered in silver; T -W. Leys, black georgette -with velvet coat; Mrs. W. H. Somers sapphire blue chenille georgette;- Mrs. L .31. Hare, black satin frock ' with black sequin cape; Mrs. H. A. Steadman, cream angelskin lace; Mrs. T. Derrick, Roval blue satin; Mrs. Kenneth Gordon, gold fisehe net over primrose satin; Mrs. Wicksteed, .black velvet with sequinned corsage; Mrs. 31. lolhurst, navy blue lace; Mrs. J. 1. *• Mitchell, deep blue velvet; Mrs. John Ewen, blue lace; Mrs. A. W. A. Perkins, black velvet; Mrs* R. Watson, black satin; Mrs.-Noel Adams, angelskin lace; Mrs. G. Dixon, black satin touched with white; Mrs. S. A. Stride, petunia and silver lace, Mrs. Claude Heather, midnight blue georgette; Mrs. E. Hay, peach satm; Mrs. H S. Gulliver, black ring velvet; Mrs. N G. Matthew, shrimp pink lace; # Mrs. J. Wilson, red georgette; Mrs. dove grev satin; Mrs. A. Bullock, black ring velvet; Mrs. Bertram Dawson, cigar brown lace; Mrs. J. M. ktei son, black lace; Mrs. C.• A t green georgette; Mrs. Whitley, black i lace; Mrs. Lambert, midnight bljie lace; Mrs. H. Mowbray, daffodil chenille velvet; Mrs. Frank Seccombe, blue flat crepe; Mrs. E. R. Boucher, sunset velvet; Mrs. S. Andrews, daffodil lace; Mrs. Crawford Young, 'ciel blue lace; Mrs. R. Truscott, shot rose and silver taffeta; Mrs.' Sydney George, autumn floral georgette; Mrs..Sellar, pink floral taffeta; Mrs. H. Tiarks, black georgette; Mrs. Nuthall, blue and gold floral lame; Mrs. Hugh Kirkef, ivory angelskin lace; Mrs. David Smith, black georgette; Mrs. Fred Wilson, prune lace; Mrs. Harold Bull, black georgette; Mrs. Kenneth Mackenzie, black flat crepe; Mrs. J. H. Buckland, salmon pink embroidered georgette; Mrs. J. Helmbrecht, lemon crepe fleuri; Mrs. H. Horrocks, pink angelskin; Mrs. Frank Mackv, shell pink satin; Mrs. C. Herman, eau de nil angelskin lace; Mrs. Trevor Brett, pale green satin; Miss J. A. Mowbray, black lace over white georgette; Miss M. Lovell, cardinal red georgette; Miss D. Johnson, flame crepe; Miss J. H. Aitken, oyster satin; Miss G. H. Metcalfe, blue lace and georgette; Miss P. Dix, black lace; Miss Betty Sharinan, black and white floral georgette; Miss Joan Ewen, shell pink Chantilly lace; Miss Marie Colson, Air Force blue georgette; Miss Winsome Airey, brown panne velvet; Miss Theo Hal pin, powder blue faille; Miss Betty Endean, black georgette; Miss Margaret Wilson* floral taffeta; Miss Edna Craig, flowered faille; Miss Janet Wallace, Royal blue satin; Miss Ruby Coleman, black velvet; Miss M. Trafford, duck egg green crinkled crepe; Miss Marjory Ryan, cherry satin; Miss Thair (Hastings), black velvet. Early in the evening an episode from the Caliph of Bagdad was stagod by Madame Edith Baird. Taking the part of the caliph was Mr. Norman Kerr, who was attended by a bodyguard of bronzed stalwarts. In light relief was the group of harem ladies, who danced a sinuous Oriental measure. They comprised.—Miss Betty Young, Miss Ailsa Steven, Miss Marion McDonald, Miss Nora O'Halloran, Miss Betty Crain, Miss Irene Eyres, Miss Margaret Copsey, Miss Barbara Steven and Miss Molly Woollcott. In regard to the §ets it was surprising that more had not been taken from the Arabian Nights, but those which were presented were excellently carried out and added immensely to the Oriental character of the ball. Such stories as Aladdin and the Forty Thieves were irresistible, and in the Aladdin Panto Troupe, planned by Mr. David Nathan, a very,spectacular and

humorous effect had been achieved. In this set were the following:—Miss Cherry Anderson, who took the part of the Princess; Miss Allison Bell, that of Aladdin; Miss Audrey Hutchinson and Miss Ruth* Asher, harem ladies; Miss Lesley Waller, a Chinese fan boy; Mr. David Nathan, the Widow Twankey; Mr. Pat Elliot, of the Ring; Mr. Lawrence Nathan, Slave of the Lamp; Mr. Graham Brown-Douglas, Caliph*of Bagdad; Mr. Peter Nathan, the wicked uncle; Norma Mortimer and Jeanne Williamson, two black slaves. Four coolies carried the princess on a palanquin. The Spanish set, organised by Lady Leys, comprised:—Mrs. F. Burges Watson, Mrs. W. L. Jackson. Mrs. William Powlett, Mrs. Valentine, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Carpenter, Mr. and Mrs. Brian Hewitt, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Benjamin, Mr. and Mrs. Alan Donald, Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Louisson, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Wilson, Dr. and Mrs. W. A. Faircjough, Dr. A. Kirker and Mr. C. Nathan.

White dresses, inlet with red and blue panels, comprised the patriotic colours of the frocks worn by those in the United Services set, organised by the United Services Queen, Miss Elizabeth Burges Watson. Bed, white and blue hats were also worn. In the set were:—Commander and Mrs. E. Lyon Berthon, Mrs. T. C. B. Winch, _ Miss E. Burges Watson, Miss M. Tiarks, Miss M. Suter, Misses Alison and Barbara George, .Miss M. Gifford, Miss Lorna Reyburn. Miss Joan Caughey, Miss Marjorie Mappin, Miss Barbara 'Pierce and Messrs. Pat Caughey, Roy Merrett, Lieutenant Backhouse, Murray Lewis and C. Parker. The Oriental sot, organised by Mrs. Alan Dignan, comprised: —Miss Betty Goldie, Miss Irene Isaacs, Miss Mary Milsom,..Miss Estelle Nevill, Miss Josephino Tolhurst, Miss Jean Wilson, and Messrs. Denis Abbott, Mervyn Carrick, Russell Giesen, Garth Griffiths, Henry Lee. Another set for which Mrs. Dignan was responsible was the picturesque Breton May-day set, in which the following took part:—The May Queen, Miss Fiona Mackenzie (the" Professions' queen candidate), Miss Babette Buddie, Miss Kathleen Coldicutt, Miss Nancy Rogerson, Miss Patricia Stanton, Miss Glyth Tovey, and Messrs. Noel Baskett, Morton Brown, Ernest Chamberlain, Hector Goodfellow, William Patterson and Sydney Sheath.

A particularly interesting set was that representing sport from the earliest ages down to the present, arranged by Mrs. Wills McLaughlin. The Sports queen candidate, Miss Shirley Watkins, represented the goddess Diana, and heading her retinue were Mr. C. Selby and Mr. P. Smith, exhuntsman and present huntsman of the Pakuranga Hunt Club respectively. Other representations were those of cricket, Rugby football, bowling, tennis, golf, badminton, athletics v croquet, shooting, skating, fishing, polo and swimming, in which the following took part: —Miss Margaret Turner, Mr. N. Hocken, Mr. Galbraith, Miss de Renzy, Mr. Priestly, Mr. P. Harrison, Miss Shirley Frater, Mr. M. Miller, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Gill, Miss Edwards. Mr. Maxwell, Miss Zoe Pabst, Mr. S. Price,

Miss Craig, Mr. Mr. B. ! Myers, Mrs. A.. Quartley, Mr. Alec Walker, Miss Robertson, Mr. Farrell. In the queen candidate's personal group were: Miss Adeline Walker, Mrs. Gordon Rutherford, Miss K. Brookes Drury, Miss J. Brighton. Mr. Athol Carter (charioteer), Mr. Mervyn Walker and Mr. Mullins. Red checked print frocks and sun bonnets, country smocks and straw hats, were worn by the ''Country Set," organised by Mrs. McMillan Bull. Baskets of produce and farm implements were carried. In the sot were: Mr. and Mrs. McMillan Bull, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Caldwell, Mr. and Mrs. Trevor Bloomficld, Lieutenant-Commander and Mrs. 11. Airey, Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Ludbrook, Miss Laura Mappin and Mr. Neil Lonisson. The "Live Art Society Set," who danced a charming poetic lilt, wap arranged by Madame Edith Baird, and comprised the following:—Miss Cecilia Park, Miss Betty Young, Miss Francis Gibson, Barbara Steven, Miss Nora O'Halloran, Miss Betty Grain, Miss -Marion McDonald, Miss Alsia Steven, Miss, Irene Eyres, Miss Margaret Copsey and Miss Phyllis Park. A particularly original set, "The Balloon Seller," was organised by Mrs. Hugh Fenton. Dressed as a quaint old lady in black, and carrying huge clusters of balloons, Mrs. Fenton led the setf', followed by 11 couples who held gaily-coloured ribbons attached to their leader. Tho set comprised: —Mrs. Fenton, Miss Bunty Johnston, Miss.Hona Johnston, Miss Helen Somerville, Miss Sheila Guinbleton, Miss Dorothy Dawson, Miss Pat Dawson, Miss Constance Burdett, Miss Merle Vaile, 'Miss Marie Conlan, Miss Jean Carnegie Brown, Miss Frances Egerton, and Messrs. P. Griffiths, D. Milligan, R. Jeffreys, M. Hiinter, H. Dawson, B. Dawson, P. Horrocks, C Simpson, A. Harper, H. Brown, T. Agmen-Smith. The Edwardians set arranged by Mrs. Mervyn Reed comprised:—Mr. and Mrs. Mervvn Reed, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Mill, find Mr. and Mrs. W. McKail Geddes. ... Tho appearance of those in Miss Stratton's "Gay Nineties" set riding into the hall on penny-farthing bicycles and dressed in tho voluminous frocks of the period caused much amusement. Tho set comprised:—Misses Edna and Natalie Stratton, Miss Bradstreet, Miss Monty Syron, Misses Phyllis and Hilary Biss, Mrs. A. E. 'Moore, Miss Jean Ormiston, and Messrs. Matthew Strat-

ton, Eric Brown, Grey, Jack j McCoy, Noel Gardiner, Noel Dickson, j Samson, and Arthur Lloyd. A sot organised by Mrs. E. B. Gunson represented tlie early Greek period and was dressed accordingly, laking part in it' word: —Mrs. Gunson, Miss Dolly Vaile, Miss Audrey Walton, Miss Thomson, Miss Bay Miller, Sir James Parr, Dr. E. B. Gunson, Mr. Laird Thomson, Mr. 11. Tolo and Mr. Jack Gillespie. Mrs. Alexander Follick was the organiser of a comedy set, entitled "Alice Barber and Her Thieves." Mrs. Follick herself represented the Queen of Sheba and those taking part were dressed as thieves and gangsters or Bagdad. They comprised:—Mrs. M. Mitchell, Mrs. Neill Edgar, Miss Ailsa Craio', Miss Gwen Allan, Miss Esther Lurv, Mr. John Foote, Mr. Allen Beart, | Mr. Mack Lees, Mc, Simeon Mitchell and Mr. A. Gollinger. The graceful and dainty I 'owner and Patch" set, organised by Miss Mary Cruickshank, comprised:—Miss Mary Cruickshank, Miss Mavis Wallace, Miss Joan Charlton. Miss Mavis McCulloch, Miss Bee Downing, Miss M. Rendell and Messrs. Owen Ingnun, Cyril Shepperd, Frank Sherwood, Cuns Hansen and M. Podevin. Another, most effective set was that in which Miss Adele Hogan, the Transport Queen candidate figured. Carried in a sedan chair by transport officers, she made a most effective figure with blue-coloured lights playing upon her. Miss Cecil Hall was responsible for a very picturesque Eastern set in which a large number' took part dressed in the costumes of their respective countries. .

In the mannequin parade, of which the organiser was Mrs. Alan Donald, attractive frocks for evening, afternoonand lounge wear in all the latest modes and materials were shown, also a bridal frock of ice-blue and silver shot lamo. Two attendant bridesmaids were in Nile green taffeta frocks. Taking part in the parade were:—Mrs. Geoffrey Marler, Miss Joan Caughley, Miss Audrey Hutchinson, Miss Dolly Vaile, Miss Jean Carnegie, Mrs. Scott Wilson, Mrs. Murdock Smith, Mrs. William-Powlett, Miss Carnegie-Brown, Mrs. Ratheby Wilson, Mrs. Phillip Clatworthy. Miss Cherry Anderson, Miss Sheila Gumbleton. Miss Marjorie Tiarks, Miss Lesley Waller, Miss Joan Ewen, Miss Mary Milsom, Miss Molly Gifford, Miss Winsome Airey, Miss Bunty Johnston, Miss Barbara Pierce, Miss Thurl Donald, Miss Merle Vaile, Miss Elizabeth Burges Watson (wearing the bridal dress) and Misses Barbara and Allison Georgem (in bridesmaids' frocks). Mrs. J. C. Allen (secretary of the ball committee) represented an Eastern lady; Mrs. J. Robertson, Powder and Patches; Mrs. J. W. S. McArthur, French carnival girl; Mrs. E. M. Cash, black hen; Mrs. Peter Dawson, Madame Pompadour; Mrs. W. B. Colbeck, Victorian lady; Mrs. W. Johnston, Indian princess, in silver sarj; Mr. and Mrs. Cerutty, Indian rajah and ranee; Dr. Gladys Rowley, Manila lady; Mrs. Basil Buddie, Victorian lady, in daffodil satin; Mrs. E. H. B. Milsom, Mary, Queen of Scots; Miss M. Gulliver, early Victorian lady.