MERRYMAKERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3763, 27 April 1926, Page 25

MERRYMAKERS.

BRITISH COMMISSIONER ENTERTAINS. Several remarkably micceasful balls and other functions hare been held in the Festival Hall at the Exhibition during the past five months, but it is questionable if there has been anything to snrpaas the sumptuous “At Home* that was given by the British Commission and Mrs George Roberts on Friday night There were over 400 guests present, and large though the Festival Hall is, it seemed hardly big enough for the oeeaaiom. But it was not the same Festival Hail. It had been transformed into a wonderfully lit, gorgeously decorated ballroom, redolent of old Kogiand. with the flags at tho United Kingdom draped round the baleouy and

festooned with the green of Nature. For it was St. George’s Day—the day that, belongs to England, the day that commemorates the finest and most glorious of British traditions, and, peculiarly enough, the day on which an heroic British coup was accomplished—namely, the blocking of the Zeebrugge Canal. And at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, where the Imperial Government is so strongly represented, it is natural and proper that the day should be celebrated in one of the time-honoured ways. St. George’s Day comes round once a year, but an Exhibition only once in a generation. Therein lies another very good reason for making the occasion an unusually lavish one. With the Festival Hall it is a case of “eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow we die." It seemed last night that the guests realised this, and were determined from the outset to see that the evening did not drag. And their efforts (if indeed any efforts were required) were rewarded with singular success. St. George’s Day, 1926, will be remembered by many.

No time, trouble, or expense had been spared to make the event the outstajfi-* ing one that it was. Mr F. J. Lough, the chief electrician, had made special lighting arrangements, so that at times the floodlights would stream along the floor, leaving the rest of the hall in darkness, while the proscenium lights would throw the flags and other decorations into relief.

Gordon's dance band bad been engaged to supply the music, and occupied a prominent position ih the centre of tiie hall. Credit is due to Mr W. G. Reid, of the Botanic Gardeus staff, for the floral decorations, which were artistically and beautifully arranged. Df the guests present the majority were those who had been directly or indirectly connected with the Exhibition, ’there were the directors, the overseas and New Zealand Commissioners, the management, and a host .of friends—Dunedin citizens and visitors. The was fully in keeping with the occasion, and the fairyland that was the Festival Hall, while throughout the long evening hundreds celebrated England’s day under the brilliaol flood of carefully arranged coloured lights. The guestfe commenced to arrive at 6.30 and were received by Mrs George Roberts. By 9 o'clock dancing was in full swing ami the gliding couples moving across the polished floor .circled the arched uias m the centre where the dance orchestra played. A feature of the evening was the presence of the band of the Argyll and. Sutherland Highlanders that appeared later in the evening after the usual Exhibition concert. When the famous military musicians have occasionally departed from their mo-e classical programmes. visitors have had the opportunity of hearing their clever interpretation of the latest popular dance numbers. The combination is a most versatile one. and all present in the Festival Hall quickly learned that no dance orchestra could surpass the 93rd Highlanders Band, when it was so in. dined. Conductor and men entered fully into the spirit of the occasion and new inspiration was given to tne gliding feet of the dancers. A delicious buffet supper/was served .n the hall throughout and light refreshments were enjoyed in the Dome rooms, overlooking the splendour of the Grand Court. Dancing continued until 1.30 a.m., when the happy guests* prepared to .depart. It was a really excellent celebration of St Georere’s Day. a fitting culmination to the reign of the Commission in the British Court, and n tvnical examole of the hospitality that has been extended by its members nn tnunv and varied occasions since the Exhibition opened.