THE CONVENT BALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18344, 2 June 1931, Page 5

THE CONVENT BALL.

CHILDREN IN FANCY COSTUME. A SPECTACULAR FUNCTION. Once again the annual fancy dress ball for the children of St. Joseph’s Convent, held at the Town Hall on Saturday evening, • proved decidedly successful in every respect. There was a large attendance of patrons, the children were beautifully and quaintly attired, they danced gracefully, and the music was splendid. Soon after 7.30 p.m. the doors from the ante-room were opened and in trooped a procession of 'scores of children, led by two little maids in plerrette costume, Misses Dorrie O’Connor and Mamie Chillingsworth. The Grand March was then carried through under the direction of Mr Cyril Linehan, who made a very efficient M.C. throughout the evening, and incidentally came in for well-merited applause when the promoters were being congratulated by the Mayor. The music for the children’s dances and the march was provided by Miss P. North (piano), and Mr R. H. Annibal (violn), while for the adults later in the evening Patterson's Syneopators were on duty, with extras contributed by Messrs N. Winch and J. Papesch (a duet), and Mr A. Morris. After the Grand March, in all its ramifications, had been executed in splendid style, parties of the scholars took part in several special dances. Eight double sets of seniors danced the lancers, two score or more presented a very pretty and graceful folk dance, the juniors displayed the result of their training in an Irish reel, and then followed a valeta dance gracefully done. Another folk dance, with “ Gathering Peascods ’’ as the theme, was next presented by 40 children in attractive style. A heel-and-toe polka, by 23 couples, and a schottische by 12 couples, were next carried out in good style, and the series of specialities dosed with a quaintly graceful hesitation waltz. Much interest war, shown In the present! tion of prizes, it being realised by all present that the Judges must have had a big task in making their decisions, so many and beautiful were the costumes; but when the awards were' made they. met with very warm approval. His Worship the Mayor, In making the announcements, took the opportunity to congratulate the Sisters of the Convent and all who had worked so hard and patiently to present such a happy entertainment. Each year the Convent ball seems better than its predecessor. He had been especially pleased with the grace and deportment of the dancers, and he complimented the Sisters upon featuring those accomplishments among the children. The old-time dances had been much enjoyed by the onlookers and the way the juveniles performed was distinctly creditable, alike to themselves and to their mentors. He concluded by voicing the congratulations of the 'spectators to the Convent Sisters, Miss North, Mr and Mrs O'Brien, and then announced the prize-winners as under: Most novel costume, Maurice Pryor, Maori Wahine; prettiest dresses, Marjorie, Sunrise, and Crelna McGovern, Spanish Lady; best dressed boy, Tony Bevln, Rajah, and John Sizemore, Wooden Soldier; special prize, Ernie Prince, Rajah; most original, Walter Ryan, Spanish Pirate, and Marie Fama, Costermonger; beat couples, Muriellc Hawkins and Joan McGovern, Shamrocks, and Ray Pryor and Annie Fitzcll, Darby and Joan; also Martin Ryan | and Mary McVcrry, Red Indians. | Special prizes were awarded to the j' following: Best dancer, Creina McGovern, Spanish Lady; Margaret Prince, Early Victorian; AVallace Campbell, Yeilowbird Tobacco; Baby Horan, Bedtime; Marie O'Brien, 80-peep;'Doreen Bishop, Balloon Pierrette; Henry Gold'lnch, Hector Gray, N.Z. Champion Jockey; William McGovern, Supremacy; George Crotty, Nigger; Patty Gee, One "Live Ghost. I When the presentation of prizes had 1 been completed the children vociferously cheered the Sisters of the Convent, the musicians, the judges (Mesdames C. G. Downes, C. F. Storey and G. S. Clarke), the M.C., and the Mayor. At about 9.40 the children were en-. tertained to supper and the adults: were given charge of the floor, and j dancing continued until about 1 a.in. ■ The following is an almost complete ! .Ist of the costumes worn:— Girls.—Mary Annibal, Gleaner; Dorrie O’Connor, Black and While Pier- : ret-te; Mamie Chillingworth, Black and White Pierrette; Aureen Annibal, Spanish Dancer; Ruth O'Connor, Orien-: tal Dancer; Zeta Spiers, Fairy Sun-, shine; Marjorit Paseoe, The Sun; Margaret Turney, wisteria; Mary McVerry, .ndian Squaw; Kathleen Prince, Wisteria; Carmen Garside, Chinese Lady; Creina McGovern, Spanish Lady; Pat.ic Kerr, Early Victorian; Martha Smith, Spring; Annie Fitzell, Joan;! Elsie l-liliard, Gipsy Maid; Helen Cor-’ den, Queen of Hearth; Betty O’Connor,! Pierrette; Kathleen Ryan, Folly; Marie j Fama, Costermonger; Mary Campbell, j Turkish Lady; Imelda McGovern, Pier- j relte; Mary Cortty, Dutch Girl; Josc-i phine Fitzgerald, Spanish Girl; Beryl I Gee, Indian Ink; Margaret Prince, Early I Victorian; Amy Quinn, Ballet. Dancer;! toy Devin, Irish Colleen; Jean Cor- j den, Daffodil; Patricia Gee, One Live. Ghost; Marie O’Brien, 80-peep; June Sizemore, White Slar; Kitty Quinn, I Pierrette; Hilda Goldfinch, Parcel Post;! Joyce Campbell, Gipsy; Margaret Kerr,Good Night; Rosaicen O’Brien, Fairy Queen; Eva Riddell, Snow; Baby Horan, j Bedtime; Norma Armitagc, Pink Rose;! iannel Annibal, Fluffy Ruffles; Yolande I Pryor, Columbine; Lois Gregory, Pier-i relte; Joan McGovern and Muriclle ! Hawkins, Shamrocks; Doreen Bishop, 1 Balloon Pierrette; Mary Ballantyne,! Black and White PicrretLe; Erin MeCrory, Princess of the Harem; Jessie Shaw, Harem Lady; Marie Hawkins, Wisteria; Mollle McCrory, Summer; Crsula McCrory, Tip-toe Dancer. Boys.—Martin Ryan, Red Indian: Dick McGovern, Cowboy; Walter Ryan, Spanish Pirate; Roger Tootill, Sir Roger de Covorlv; Raymond Pryor. Darby; Pat Quinlan. Pierrot; Desmond McGovern, Burglar; Eerie Sklcnars, Peter Pan; Cedric Sklcnars, Whip; Fred Turney, Nigger; Desmond Craig. Oriental; Ernie Prince, Arabian Nights; Allan Quinn, Jockey; Julian Bakaral, Snow Man; Pat O’Brien, Bed Indian; Jim Tootill, Bed Indian; Tony Bevln, Rajah; Leo Turney, Folly; Bob Craig, Rajah; Joe Fitzell, Sailor Boy; Henry Goldfinch, Jockey; Bob O’Brien. Pierrot; Maurice Pryor, Maori Wahine; Wilfred Richards, Indian; Peter Bevln, Imp of Mischief; Leonard Crotty, Indian; Francis Horan, Soout; Tom Too-j till, Turkish Delight; Francis O'Connor, r hinese Man; Gene Bakarat, New Zea-j;

land Herald; Wallace Craig, Tennis Player; Tom Fitzell, Man in the Moon; John Fitzgerald, Pierrot; Maurice O’Connor, Chinese Man; James Pryor, French Cook; Trevot Hilliard, Indian; Peter Pryor, Golliwog; John Tootill, Jester; George Crotly, Cowboy; William Fitzgerald, Drummer Boy; Wallace Campbell, Yellow Bird Tobacco; John Sizemore, Wooden Soldier; Bill McGovern, Jockey.