NOVEL DRESSES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26748, 17 April 1948, Page 8

NOVEL DRESSES

ATTRACTIVE GROUPS AT MASKED BALL EXTENSIVE VARIETY Hundreds of streamers from the ceiling to the gallery, futuristic murals by Mr Peter Mclntyre, and greenery at intervals around the hall formed attractive decorations for the masked ball organised by the medical students of Otago, which was held last evening in the Town Hall. Almost every imaginable type of fancy dress must have been represented on the dance floor, and it was evident that the majority of the guests had given a great deal of thought and preparation to their costumes. One party chose classical garb, and although the influence of Greeks, Romans and Egyptians was apparent, they made an attractive group. The University Students’ executive, who insisted they were a “ hermapropede,” a sort of centipede, entered the hall in crocodile formation, shrouded almost to their feet. Each “ unit ” wore a lurid painting depicting a portion of the anatomy of tHs str*'""'* : ' A witch, complete with broom and life-sized black ing with a “pukha sahib,” an early Victorian with a haiioquin Chinese with a Spanish senorita were some of the strange combinations seen on the dance floor, while the M.C. in a white night shirt and scarlet night cap, a member of the Klu Klux Klan, and a pair of skeletons were somewhat startling. “ Charley's Aunt,” a cushion and large-sized children were among some of the more amusing costumes chosen. The Burns Highland Pipe Band piped in the official party, the Hunt Club party, the centipede and other groups. Those in the official party were the Mayor Mr Cameron, and Mrs Cameron, Lord Beveridge, Sir Charles Hercus and Lady Hercus. Sir Bernard Dawson and Lady Dawson, Lady Sidey, Mr Gordon Bell and Mrs Bell, Mr and Mrs H. Chapman, Dr Gerald Fitzgerald and Mrs Fitzgerald, Mr and Mrs Ira Fraser, Mr and Mrs Maurice Myers, Mrs Middleton, Mr and' Mrs Mark Connelly, Miss Pamela Sinclair and Mrs D. B. Brown, In the course of the evening a snowball dance, in which thousands of “snowballs” dropped on the dancers, provided a novel touch, while later on balloons floated down from the ceiling The Grand March was the main feature of the evening, and as the guests marched around the hall the prizewinners were chosen. The awards were:—Most original couple, “2066 and All That” (Mr Ritchie Gilmour and Miss Shona Hogan). Best couple, "Saladin and Fatima” (Mr and Mrs P. A. Smithells), 1; “Witch and Cat ” (Mr Aubrey McNeill and Miss P. Wilson), 2. Most original woman’s costume, “Carmen Miranda,” Miss N, Osborne. Best man’s costume, “ Spanish” (Mr Hugh Speight). Consolation prizes were awarded to “Anthony and Cleopatra ” (Mrs N. Neilson and Mr Glynn Clear) and “Wolf” (Mr Gene Loughran). The judges were Miss Kathleen Falconer and Mr Walter Russell-Wood, and the prizes were presented by Lady Hercus. Dick Colvin’s band provided the music.