A PICTURESQUE PAGEANT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22053, 8 September 1933, Page 11

A PICTURESQUE PAGEANT

THE COMBINED SERVICES BALL By Phillida. The interior of the Town Hall presented a marked change from its usual sombre appearance last evening on the occasion of the combined Services Ball, held under the auspices of the Services. Queen, Mrs Norah Koss. The elaborate decorations had for their theme the " wooden soldier" of nursery days; in fact the whole setting effected the appearance of a martial page from a book of nursery rhymes. The centre of the stage, which was occupied by the Regimental Band, in their picturesque scarlet uniforms, represented a courtyard of some mediaeval castle, flanked on both sides by large, turreted towers and encircled by realistic battlements. The effect of toyland was further heightened by gigantic top cannon, sentry boxes, and real, live " wooden soldiers." This novel and interesting theme was carried to all parts of the hall, including a special large dais to carry the combined Scofields and Ambassadors' Dance Bands, being supplemented by beautiful and tasteful use of foliage. Completing the " toy" effect a number of model aeroplanes hung from the ceiling, and "wooden" soldiers occupied all vantage points. Centred before the organ hung a large shield emblazoned with the armorial bearings of the Services Queen, a broad red on white stripe, diagonally argent a field of royal blue and a crowned monogram, this shield supporting lances bearing flags and emblems of local units. The decorations were erected under the direction of Lieutenant A. B. Gladwin. ( _ The music, supplied by over 00 musicians, included both modern and old-time dances. When the guests were assembled, a fanfare of trumpets by the Bugle and Trumpet Band of the Ist Battalion, the Otago Regiment, thrilled through the hall, growing in depth of volume until the very walls seemed to shake. When it seemed that no more could be borne, the Regimental Band took up the theme and resolved it into a waltz. The batl had begun. There was a wooden-soldier dance by a child pupil of Miss Lily Stevens during the evening, and later a poster parade •—two old-world ladies representing Arthur Barnett's and three modern children representing Woolworth's —and a tableau showing stages of military uniform from the original Dunedin City Guards to the present day. The rest of the evening was devoted to dancing. Mrs Norah Ross wore her nurse's military dress uniform, with miniature decorations— grey, with military braid, red cape, and white cap—and stood out with distinction as the Services Queen. Two of her friendly rivals were also present —Mrs R. S. Black, " Cinema " Queen, in n dress of gold angel skin, with a sash of brown velvet, and Mrs Richard Hudson, Sports Queen, in black elephant crepe, with an interesting relief in diamante. Others present were the Mayor and Mayoress (the Rev. E. T. and Mrs Cox), Colonel M'Ara, Colonel and Mrs Falconer, Colonel Holland, Colonel and Mrs Scoular, Commander Watson, Major and Mrs Mead, Major Smith, Major and Mrs Rhodes, Major Samson, Lieutenantcommander and Mrs Welsh. Captain and Mrs Satterthwaite, Captain and Mrs Johnstone, Captain Kernohan, Captain Cleland, Captain and Mrs Cowie. Captain Stark, Lieutenant and Mrs Harvey, Lieutenant and Mrs Napier, Lieutenant and Mrs Roberts: Mesdames Ingham Milnes, black crinkly crepe; W. Patrick, cherry lace and georgette; Maider, pink ring velvet, with black insets; Gallacher, black, with black fur; E. T. M'Connell, black silk velvet; D. Burns, brown, with brown fur; Byrd, red satin; W. Hastie, violet silk velvet; Clinch, black fur; R. S. Webb, eggshell blue satin beaute; W. A. M'Lean, cream velvet; D. Wright, wine georgette and lace; W. T. Beveridge, flame silk velvet; R. Johnstone, black georgette and lace; H. M'Lean, black satin; Leon Goldsmid, white georgette; L. Lord, apricot satin; Jackson, French georgette; and Jack Sheddan, pink floral crepe de chine; Misses Clarice Mason, orange crepe de chine; Ada Steel, buttercup satin; Rhoda Shaw green crinkly satin; Hazel Munn, black' and green voile; Emily Maynard. white satin; B. L. Asher. powder blue taffeta; M. Welnoski, black crepe satin; Doreen Asher. midnight blue georgette; Valerie Brooker, powder blue satin: Beryl Broderick. white satin and frilled net: Thelma Rix, white elephant cloth; Elsie Porteoua, apricot velvet; Thelma Blov, black and white crinkly crepe; Olive M'Master, salmon organdie; Maiona Juriss, gold georgette and organdie: Linda Henry, green crepe satin; Merle M'Kague, black satin; Mary Seelye, grey crinkly crepe; Florence Dickson, red satin; Margaret Hossack, flame velvet; Edna Hossack, white georgette and lace; A. Pullan, black crinklv crepe; Kathleen M Vicker, black and white satin; Monica .trances, blue floral satin; Nan Kass. lavender and lemon organdie; M. MacPherson. black crepe satin and net; Barbara Sinclair, blue organdie: Rene Rande, pink craquelle crepe; K. Collins, white with red velvet; Eileen Maynard, flame satin; Jessie Shaw, salmon pink satin; G. Vidal, wine-coloured crushed velvet; Una Inylor, apple green frilled georgette; W Cox, blue satin; P. Rowton. crushed velvet: S. Dyer, pink checked crepe- T. Bremner, red velvet; S. Baird, rose pink silk crepe marocam;. Edith M. Crigliton, pink crepe satin; i±. Pike, red lace and georgette; Ina Laurenson, powder blue lace; Isabel Barron, black lace; L. Dyer, green satin; J. Cardno, ivory satin; Barbara Sinclair, green frilled organdie; K. M'Cluskey, orange satin; Helen Borrie, blue, angel skm lace and georgette; Betty Drake, dark green ring velvet; Mama Service, silver grey crinkly crepe; Joyce Ogilvie, primrose yellow organdie; J. MacPherson, black velvet with pink satin; Priscilla Duerden, powder blue organdie: M. Ball, pink georgette; P. Duffy, blue crepe; May Nicholson, saxe blue crepe de chine; Verona Boss, blue net; Alice Shepperd, green satin; and B. Lawson. red silk "with blue coatee; Lieutenants M'Crae. Gladwin. Walden, Munro, Thompson, Wilson, Lindsay, Green, and Brunton; Sub-lieu-tenants Seelve, Bell, and Grey, Secondlieutenants Moodie, Macrae, Frame, and Ibbetsou, and Staff-sergeant-major lutzgerald.