CITIZENS’ BALL

Taranaki Daily News, 29 October 1921, Page 6

CITIZENS’ BALL

A BRILLIANT FUNCTION. A LARGE GATHERING. The Governor-General and Lady Jellicoe were last night the guests at a Citizens’ Ball, which had been arranged in their honor by the Victoria League, assisted by the Returned Soldiers’ Association and the Savage Club. The function, which was hold in the Coronation Hall, proved a most successful and brilliant one. There wfts a very large gathering, some 200 couples dancing, and the scene was a very gay and animated one. The hall had been beautifully decorated by members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, grerfiery, flags and varied colored electric lights and Chinese lanterns having been skilfully ansl artistically used, completely transforming the hall, whilst the effect was added to by a star and white lights above the dias, and a crown in varied colored lights by the balcony. At intervals along the hall were placards bearing names associated with Lord Jellicoe’,* career, such as “The Iron Duke,” and the various engagements in which he had participated, viz., “Jutland,” “Zeebrugge,” “Dogger Bank,” “Scapa Flow.” etc. The decorations made a pretty setting for the many beautiful dresses worn by the ladies, which, mingled with the sombre hues of the men’s evening dress, formed a pretty kaliedoscopie picture during the dances. The floor was in perfect order, a tribute to the work of the Savage Club. The vice-regal party arrived early. Lord Jellicoe, accompanied by the Mayor, and Lady Jellicoe, with Mrs. C. H. Burgess, 0.8. E. (president of the Victoria League), and followed by the aides-de-camp, proceeded up the hall between two lines of dancers to the dias,

while the band played the National Anthem. The dias had been prettily decorated in keeping with the rest of the bail, and had been fitted as a drawingroom. Lady Jellicoe was presented with a handsome bouquet by Mrs. C. H. Burgess. Dancing was then commenced, Mr. E. L. Humphries making an efficient M.C.. to the strains of splendid music by the 4th Battalion Band, under Conductor Lowe, during the early part tof the evening, and later by Mrs. George’s orchestra. of twelve instrumentalists. There was no official set, x but during tfie first part of the programme Lady Jellicoe had several dances, whilst Lord Jellicoe Informally chatted with various people around the hall. For the viceregal party supper had been set in o room at the back of the dias, where the table had been beautifully decorated by Mrs. Blackley, whilst the silver and glass ware had been provided by members of the committee. The vice-regal party at supper numbered fifteen. Immediately after supper Their Excellencies left the hall. The general supper was Set out in one of the main annexes, which presented a very pretty sight, the tables having been beautifully decorated by members of the ladies’ committee of the Victoria League. After supper dancing was resumed and kept up till the early hours.

The success of the gathering is an undoubted tribute to the excellent organisation of the Victoria League, of which Mrs. Burgess is president, and the Returned Soldiers’ Association and Savage Club, each doing its allotted part in such a manner as to make the function an outstanding success.