THE CITIZENS’ BALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18578, 28 September 1928, Page 14

THE CITIZENS’ BALL.

SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION. The citizens’ ball held last night in honour of Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and his companions in the Caledonian Hall will not soon be forgotten. Everything that could be done to ensure a successful function had been well and efficiently carried out by a committee consisting of his Worship the Mayor and the Mayoress, Captain and Mrs J. L. Findlay, Dr and Mrs W. H. Simpson, Mr and Mrs A. L. Macfarlane, Mr and Mrs D. C. Crozier, Mr and Mrs G. H. Holford and Mr and Mrs P. R. Climie. In compliment to the intrepid airmen, the decorations had been carried out in the colours of the Royal Air Force, and most strikingly effective and original they were. Streamers of royal blue, red and sky blue, from the centre of the roof, were drawn together into clusters at intervals on the side walls, where they fell forming long tassels. Festoons of the three colours were arranged below, supplemented by gilthandled baskets, also of blue and red, filled with New Zealand greenery. Graceful foliaged .plants were placed round the hall, and the front of the stage was a mass of cinerarias, begonias and primulas. The lights were shaded with red and blue streamers, and red tapering candles with red shades were used on the supper tables. The flowers, supplied by the curator of the Botanical Gardens, Mr J. Young, were beautifully arranged by Mrs A. S. Macfarlane, who is to be congratulated on the novelty of her colour scheme. Choice hothouse flowers, primulas, dwarf rhododendrons, magnolias and azaleas of vivid hue, and maidenhair fern filled glass bowls on the official table, and smaller vases with the same bright flowers, and the pink blossoms of peaches and almonds, made gay lines on the long tables. Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith escorted Lady Wigram and FlightLieutenant Ulm took in the Mayoress. There was no formality, only a charming social gathering. Everybody was presented upon arrival with helmets and goggles, and overhead was suspended a replica of the Southern Cross, correct in every detail. A picturesque and novel “stunt” took place at about 10 p.m., when a representation of the famous Tasman flight was enacted. Up in the gallery was a map of Australia, the outline lit up by electric light. Down on the stage was a map of New Zealand, similarly lit up. From Sydney to Christchurch flew a tiny Southern Cross. The hall was darkened, only the lights of the aeroplane and the outlines of the two countries showed. The weather conditions of the flight were reproduced, while thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and ever and anon was heard the roaring of the engine and the propellers as the tiny craft flew across to Christchurch.

The music was supplied by Margaret Middleton’s orchestra. The ladies present included:—The Mayoress (Mrs J. K. Archer), Lady Wigram, Mrs J. S. Neville, Mesdames W. H. Simpson, J. L. Osier, R. W. Britton, W. Linton, Norman Duncan, J. B. Neale, R. Batstone, H. Wright, Carney. D. Gunn. H. H. Clifford, Phipps-Black, B. B. Wood, E. C. Cordner, M. C. Keane, H. Livingstone, C. F. Flattery, J. W’atson, H. Anderson, S. Andrews, F\- S. Barrett, T. Taylor, J. R. Cuntngham, G. IT. Holford, C. E. Gwatkin, L. Cookson, L. Bierman, R. Rundle, G. V. Birch, H. C. Mansfield, G. Lawn, C. Rinstone, Fraser Thompson, W. A. Smith, J. Coe, S. G. Lewis, Harold Barker, Alec M’lntosb, A. M’Donald, J. E. Newton, G. Freeman, W. R. Bennett, R. Wilson, R. Sierakowski, J. C. Newton, T. S. Wright, A. Cox, L. D. Richards, A. J. Benzie, R. H. Hargreaves, H. Robinson, D. M’Rae, Vesey Hamilton, M. W. Baker, P. R. Climie, H. C. Hurst, A. G. Large, P. Wilkes, A. Forbes, H. Daniil, W. R. Knowles, P. C. Crooke, W. Thomson. R. L. Hicks, W. Matson, A. E. Willyams, A. R. Mercer, R. Daniel, L. Smart, F. A Twyford, Edmunds, Horsfall, A. E. Keys, Noel Vale, E. Poison, E. C. Httie, A. F. Wright, Arthur Rose, H. J. Armstrong, Andrew Burns. A. L. Macfarlane, Cecil Bonnington, T. Kennedy, M. Earl, A. Barrett, W. Pole, A. C. Fuller, W. Tracy, F. llulston, W. Broadway, Maurice Toomer, H. Banfield, P. Kelleway, George Baxter. Gerald Morrison, S. C. Novell .1. Smith, S. G. Green, J. L. Findlay,’ T. Aspell, H. C. Watson, W. Williamson, W. A. Stead, W. P. Glue, R. H. Smith, J. Hegan, E. J. Edwards, J. L. White, L. W. Austin, R. Brown, S. J. Vivian, H. F. Barley, P. llarle, A. Stacey, G. L. Bull, A. Bidgood, T. Wendleborn, J. L. Withey, H. T. Oates, E. C. Hull, H. J. Barlow, J. R. Jamieson, Walter Watson, Douglas Henderson, R. Maddams, J. Chaffey, K. G. Dunn, Norman Barber, G. L. Donaldson, J. M. Epps. A. Sinclair, J. F Mason, Misses Phyllis Francis, G. and W. Black, Merle Sowden. Marjorie Melbourne, Margaret Dykes, Jean Christie, Vera Bell. Daisy Perkins, Ferguson, Eleanor Parkerson, D. Wright, Mabel Bell. A. Gardiner, Nancy Marrish, Mavis Murray, Freda Cooper. Jessie Rosewarne, Madge Simpson, Russel, Enid Jakin, Philippa Hamilton, Connie Thornton, Ruby M’Clelland, Molly Stringer, Valmie Colombus, Elfrida Morland, Gladys Cross, Phyllis Barton, Edith Thornton, Iris Loader, V. Kennedy. K. Foley, Muriel Brown, Henrietta Leckie, Mollie Ledey, Betty White, Hilda Nichols, M. Guthrie, Mary White, J. Eagleton, Evelyn Wise, Joyce Bum, Kathleen Talbot, Daphne Brass, Joyce Blunden, A. Nicoll, Isobel Deveraux, Myrtle Watson, T. Simpson, Gertrude HlUsden, Janet Stony. Josephine Kingston, Thelma Rowe, M. Broad, Lilian Shaw, Nora Friedlander, Kathleen Penny! Eileen Ilunnibell, Pat Smidt, Nanette Minoguc, Flo Temple, Marjorie Proctor. Valerie Barrow, D. Brocklehurst, Tudy Brown, Helen Leithead, Gladys Giles, Helen Grimmer, M. Moon, Joan Dean, Florrie Nelson, Jean Lee, Sylvia Button, P. Edwards. Dorothy’ Judd, Ethel Thomas, Cynthia Wood, f! Mturns, D. Eecles, Elizabeth Golding, Iris Piper. P. Dawson, S. Watkin*. Patty Limey, Monica Kelly, Edna Lyttle, Blossom Strachan, Nancy Hamilton, Fay Baltin, G. Taylor. Marion Woolley. C. Clucas, E. E. Clucas] A. Jones, A. Bolam, Mabel Curwen! Violet Kay, G. Digb}*\ Valmie Ander! son, Mollie Clarke, Clara Napper and Myrtle Tisch.