OAONUI MILITARY BALL

Taranaki Daily News, 6 June 1930, Page 9

OAONUI MILITARY BALL

AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS. / With its myriad of multi-coloured electric lights twinkling beneath the gaily-coloured streamers that festooned from the ceiling, and with the walls draped with bunting, relieved by many mirrors, the Rahotu hall last night provided an appropriate setting for the gay throng that assembled there on the occasion -of the annual ball held under, the of - the Okato troop of Queen Alexandra’s Mounted- Rifles. The high standard set' by previous military balls at Oaonui had so popularised them that it was realised that they had outgrown the limits of the Oaonui hall, and accordingly it was decided to change the venue to the much more commodious Rahotu hall. The wisdom of this was apparent last night, for so large was the attendance, representative of the whole district from New Plymouth to Eltham, that the accommodation of tiiat hall was. fully taxed. All came anticipating a joyous time and their anticipations were realised to the full. - ' ,

Special attention had been • given to the floor, and its glassy surface reflected the many beautiful dresses of the ladies and their more sombrely-clad partners, relieved in this instance by the military note of khaki. An additional military touch was given by the presence of crossed rifles surmounted on tho New Zealand flag prominently displayed on the stage. Among those present were Major Conway, M.C., officer commanding the district, Lieutenant J. Rutherford, Lieutenant W. J. Wright, of the Legion of Frontiersmen, and SergeantMajor Bell. The excellent music dispensed by Coburn’s Big Six made th® task of the masters of ceremonies, Corporal Rae and Trooper G. Butler, an easy one. Supper extras were played by Misses L. Gilhooly, A. Duggan and Mr. Watt.

The supper room presented a picture with the ceiling festooned and the walls draped with greenery, relieved with mirrors, whilst the tables were decorated with autninn foliage and berries and were laden also with tempting delicacies. Though there"' were numerous sittings, so complete were the arrangements that there was the minimum of delay. Indeed, the supper more than r maintained the very high standard set by the troop, and the ladies’ committee, comprising Mesdames -J. Young, V. S. Tyrell, H. Pennington, G. Seeker, W. JButler, J. A. Colmer, J. Williamson, R. D. Dawson, C. W. Field and C. Pen-' warden (tho last-named being responsible for the artistic decorations), are deserving of commendation. All the members of -the troop worked hard to ensure tho success they SO richly deserved, perhaps none more so than Lieutenant Rutherford, chairman of the committee, and Corporal Rae and Trooper K. S. Tyrell, the joint secretaries.