FIRE BRIGADE BALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 14, 4 June 1914, Page 4

FIRE BRIGADE BALL.

THE CHILDREN'S FUNCTION. That hackneyed phrase, "The event of the .season," is too old and feeble to crawl out of decrepitude in description of the Fire Brigade ball last night, which certainly merits a more virile designation. In many respocts, however, the hoary-headed designation which has dorm duty on theatre jioardings for generations is really the phrase most befitting the Fire ilrigaxle ball, for it needed merely the most casual glance round the Theatre lloyal last night to see that here is the place in which the good folk of New Plymouth, their wives and sisters, sweethearts and tiny dots congregate for their annual merry-making 1 —a merry-making which for twenty-one years has come round as infallibly as Cliristma3 and the monthly bills, and lias just as invariably been enjoyed to Hie full. , AMONGST THE CHILDREN.

Last night was pre-eminently a night for the little ones, except in the matter of weather. By seven o'clock the floor was crowded with beaming little tots, shepherded by proud parents and marshalled by busy members of the conu. mittee, The dress circle waß crammed with spectators, and the scene below was well worth seeing. The hall was well lighted with gaily decorated electric bulbs, flags and banners festooned each pillar and lightened the dreary wall space. Aloft hung an immense umbrella, gay in red, white, and blue, and luminous with electric bulbs. Then the event of the children's evening drew near, the moment for which almost all the little boys and girl* in New Plymouth have been waiting for weeks. Little tots of all ages and sizes hurried to form up in the procession which busy ladies were marshalling. The little folk, stepping gaily to march music, trotted up the hall, each one the cynosure of some proud eye. And what a motley crew of little nierry-makcra were there! All colors, all ages, all iizes, i and mostly lack of size. Kate Green- 1 away trotted staidly with a Quaker girl. April showers showered her summer sprinkles alongside puss-in-boots. A most novel but entirely charming little person as Queen of the Harem made her way behind a prosaic portrayal of Dimock's bacon, strutting in sober worth behind an Early Victorian girlie, whose crinolined finery made a brave show. A little blue-clad maiden as Bedtime trotted in dainty pyjamas and blue slippers in company* with a Ginger Beer Bottle of some .pretensions, and a little Goddess of Wine kept company with a merry little baker, an attractive walking illustration of Omar KhayaA's immortal couplet. Many more,of the little gaily-clad merrymakers marched with an air of quaint self-importance, and the whole divided and swung apart, circled the room, and threaded their way in the figures which the music ;x----prcssed. CROWN I \<T HE' QUEEN.

The grand march wes preceded this year by a coronation ceremony, the greatest hit of the evening, Up the body of the hall came an imposing coronial coach, drawn by two inimitable white horses,' which bore a striking rest mblance to nature. A dainty little maiden, Phyllis Ward, stepped from the coach and mounted the stage, followed by ohic little white-clad maids of honor, whose diminutive legs could hardly mount the steps. Behind them came the noble array of outriders and small "beef-eaters." Under a canopy of gold and silver, the little maid was crowned "Queen of the Tribe called Firefighters," by the Deputy-Mayor (Mr. W. A. Collis). The maids of honor were Joyce Waters, Mavis Pascoe, Jean Smith, Ivy Doughty, Hazel Ford and Ivy Lammerton.

After the crowning, the little Queen ascended to her carriage, amid ringing cheers and strains of tlie national anthem. Her royal conch then headed | the procession, which presently brOKe into dancing. The little folks made good use of their time, and the little girls danced with demure coquetry with such small boys as were not too shy to •u-cept their advances. At u.30 tlie children's happy evening terminated in supper, which was heartily enjoyed by all the small dancers. THE ADULTS' BALL.

The adults' ball then 'began, and the floor was soon filled to overflowing with dancers, and dazzling with the dresses of the fair sex. Many spectators found it well worth while to occupy the dress circle seats. THE COMMITTEE.

Just how much work is involved in the running of such a function »a the Fire Brigade bull is hardly to be realised by anyone who has not been a member of the ladies' committee, or indeed of the Brigade, for the firemen all worked hard. The whole evening went without a hitch, and much credit is due to the ladies' eoniinittee, who were as follows:—Mesdautes Dockrill (president), 11. Okey, F. C. Bellringer, A. Boon, (!. W. Browne, E. M. Smith, Sykes, H. H. Ford, 11. Inch. 11. Jury, W. Prior, Henricks, Back, Revel], Sullivan, J. Richards, Doughty, W. Sadler, Lambert, H. Moon, F. Richards, A. Kivell, P. Bellringer, ,T. Clarke, Ilardwick and F. E. Clarke, Misses Bedford, Bellringer, Kirkhy and Browne.

The decoration of the supper tables was in the hands of Mrs. F. E. Clarke, and to say that it did her credit is but faint praise indeed.

THE FAXCY DRESSES. The following is a list of the children's fancy dresses: Kathleen Ilealy, Kate Grcenaway, Ethel Smith, Quakeress. Patricia Milne, April Showers. Jean Bullot, Pierrette. Myrtle Jury, Pierrette. Jim Smith, French Pierrot. Honoria Moon, Puss in Boots Eileen Browne, Queen of the Harem. Winifred Fullman, Dimock's Bacon. Kathleen Webber, Queen of the Stars. Leslie Martin, Country Girl. Emmie Martin, Welsh Girl. Grace Clark, Early Victoria*. 'Myrn Johnson, Rosalind. Evelyn Martin, Quakeress. Owen. Bullot, Ballet Girl. Maud Smith, Shepherdess. Hex Browne, Bubbles. Maridean Moon, Dresden Pianf Co. Eileen Lambert, Sunflower. K. Lambert, Poppies. Kathleen Donoliue, Cherry Ripe. Madge Noddcr, Cupid. Xom Hall, Billic Buttons. Gwennie. Vinson. Fairy. Bob Vinson. Pot Scrub.

Eona Smith, Japanese Lady. Betty Hawkins, Folly, Xora Mnlier, Carmen. Vaney I bill, Winter. Maida V\ ard, Evening Dress. Edith' Lynch, Red Rose. Jean Seabrigbl;, Cow Girl. Irene Stewart. Basket of Roses. Elbie Staples, Boil-time. Grace Staples, Goddess of Wine. Keith N'oddcr, Spanish Gypsy.

Winnie Foreman, Side of Brtcon. Ruby Sole, Scotch Girl. 'j Iris Smith, Pierrett(j. " - Thelnm Collinson, Ballet Dancer. Beryl Lobb, Goblin. Cyril Hayden, Highlander. Belle Ford, Nathan's Coffee. Mary Kurta, Spanish Dancer. Delma Lye, Ballet girl. lona Cornwall, Irish Dancing Girl ' Annie Ray, Ragtime, * ■Mona Danks, Yacht Shamrock. Clarice Moverlcy, Little Boy Bine Olive Harvey, Queen of the Harem. Jim Boswcll, Sailor Boy. Alma Braund, Mephistopheles. Kathleen Donohue, Cherry Ripe. Ruth Moody, Folly. Gwcn. Waters, Suffragette. Winnio Olscn, Pike and Waters. Madge Olson, Bed, White an- Blue. Kathleen Cummins, The Garden of Zealand. Mona Thompson, Summer. Ronald Crichton, Hallcnstein Bros. Phyllis Bennett, Music. Loris Bennett, a Fairy Heralding Spring. Herbert Billing, Baker. Maureen Bennett, Washerwoman. Jack Bennett, Negro, Mabel Parker, U.S.A. Ailecn Hoskin, Taranaki Herald. Phyllis Harvey, Patches. Nancy Moon, Quaker Girl. Emmcline Parker, Ii Jam. Gwcn Vincent, Fairy. Myra Johnson, Rosalind. Molly Heard, Poppy. Maude Smith, Shepherdess. PRIZE-WINNERS.

At the close of the children's part of the evening, the prizes for fancy dresses were awarded. Following ig * list of the prize-winners:— GIRLS.

Best fancy dress, Ragtime. Best poster, Coffee, Belle Ford. Most original dress, Puss in Boot*, Ifono'ria Moon.

Quaintest costume (Mrs. J. a WB- - prize)— Early Victorian, OncA •' Clark.

Mrs. Meston's special—Music, Phyllis Bennett; and Baby Fairv, Loris Bennett. " e Dr. Wade's special—Goddess of Jjß, Grace Staples. ' Special prizes were also awarded to the Queen (Phyllis Ford), the maids of honor (.Toyee Waters, Mavis Pascoe, Jean Smith, Hazel Ford, Ivy Doughty and Ivy Lammerton), Fairy (Gwen Vinson); Colleen, lona Cornwall; Kate Greenaway, Kathleen Healy; and Goblin Beryl Lobb.

BOYS. Best fancy dress—Mepliistopholei, 0. Braund. Best poster-r-Vinsen and Brooks, H. Vinsen. Most original costume—Baker. Herbert Billing. 1 Mrs. Crooke's special of 10s wag divided among the four postilions, T. Lambert, N. Smith, C. Smith pnd V. Smith. Mr. Ridgley's special of £1 Is was divided among the "beef-eaters," B. Winter, S. Ward and L. Smith. Special prizes were also awarded to Hie Queen's Guard (V. 1 Doughty); Clown, ■Tim Smith; and Ginger Beer, Fred. Steffanson. Best deportment—H.B. Poster, Ronald Cnchton.