THE RACE CLUB BALL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 875, 22 July 1910, Page 3

THE RACE CLUB BALL.

Most -brilliant- and beautiful was the iball given at the Town Hall last night by, tv? Wellington- Kacing Club, with its lavish decorations which _ formed a fitting setting for . the beautiful frocks worn by the guests. The entrance hall and staircase were embowered with palms and ferns and foliage. Over each stairway was an, arch cf foliage set with crimson camellias and a-hododendrons, and ' hung with. .blue, and white lights, and oil- either side of . .the staircase were palms, bamboo, and tall tree ferns, while the .landing and th.-e hall above were perfect ■ bowers of. fcliage,' all with delicious woody fragrance. The hail itself was decorated with ■ the racing colours, pale blue and white. From .the electrolier right at the very 'top of the building hung alternate bauds of pale blue . and white muslin, spreading out into a tent-shape and caught/ at the edge of the gallery, while-from tlie electrolier to each i corner of the gallery hung a rope of pink and white, camellias with their green leaves showing most effectively against the delicateJy-tinted background. The, front of the ga.Uery was draped with white, against which hung festoons of pale blue and ropas of the rose-coloured. ■ and white," camellias, and every pillar was wreathed with blue, and white.

; The alcoves weiV carpeted, furnished, and decorated ' with palms and mirrors, while between, each hung curtains of blue and white, and in front lace curtains were looped back against the blue and white pillars. last year the end of the hall was trellised ■ off. and furnished- for. sittingout, but. this year, every inch of space was utilised for dancing, and the sittingout. accommodation was moved right back to the entrance ; doors. Right across the -front of the stage was . placed a large mirror, draped with blue and white, and framed with foliage, while at each end ran, a trellis twined with lycopodium and pink and white, camellias. All. round the hall from the gallery hung baskets filled with flowers'and ferns, arranged in the prettiest lightest way,' and breaking tho fine above each alcove.;

The whole effect of the decorations was most graceful and charming. . The bluewas jnst the pale shade that looks best by electric light; it harmonised with the tone-, of blue in .the..decoration..of ..the gallery that one never notices dm ordinary occasions, and it made a charming setting for frocks of every shade.' ■ The floral • decoration was the work of Miss -Poole, while the D.I.C. was responsible for the draping and furnishing. 'Pive thousand camellias were used for the ropes, every one of them wired to mako them quite secure. The decoration of the Concert' Chamber, where supper was: set, was quite as .beautiful, and very 'uncommon. Here yellow' was the prevailing colojir, and the air was fragrant with the perfume of the yellow wattle. The stage'was a perfect forest of wattle, great . branches of the feathery green reaching almost to the ceiling, and forming .a -thick background against which, were set large copper, bowls, filled with the golden bloom. .The.-front of the stage . was- covered with white, over which- gold draperies were hung, and at every window hung cream-coloured curtains. -, .

What to do. with th-e bare white walls ■is a difficult- question that was very' satisfactorily, answered.'. A rope of lycopodium was carried as a frieze round the room, and from it descended lines of green, forming panels which were hung with large, wreaths .and horseshoes ' of foliage and wattle.. Each light springing, out from the walls was hung with a yellow shade, and on a level with them all round the .room hung little baskets filled with wattle and maple leaves. From the gallery, hung, larger baskets of flowers, and all along the ledge were- palms, set at intervals. The supper . tables were most beautifully decorated. On the buffet was a very tall yellow-shaded lamp, from which ran yellow ribbons, caught at each corner to great nougat-baskets with high handles decorated with roses of almqnd-paiste. : The viands on this table were decorated with horseshoes, jockeycaps, and various sporting devices. These were all mado in the factory of Mr. J. Godber, who supplied the supper. The largest device. was a horse, and jockey riding over a ham, and others had horses or-horses' heads of largo size. The central table was very artistically decorated with wattle and violets, and on all the others were quantities of spring flowers; one. table bearing also the huge silver Jubilee Cup, adorned" with wattle. Music was supplied by two string bands, one of which played in the hall while the other played in the supperroom.

Many beautiful frocks were worn, and there was a noticeable liking, for cerise, several striking frocks in this shade being seen. Metallic embroidery was less worn than one would have expected, . and there were fewer sequined robes than last year saw, though many frocks were to been seen with crystal trimming. The following danced in the official set:—Lady Beatrice Clark, with the Mayor, Mr. Wilford; Lady Ward with Mr. J. B. Harcourt; Mrs. Wilford with Captain Maitland; Miss Harcourt with . Captain Blunt; Mrs. Vavasour (Blenheim) with Mr. J. W. Abbott; Mrs. Walter Johnson with Captain Shannon; Mrs. •W. Turubull with Mr. Vavasour; and Mrs. J; W. Abbott with Mr. Kerr Clark. Lady Beatrice Clark wore a frock of ayster white satin, with black ninon overdress, the bodice draped with white tulle, . and sho woro diamond ornaments j Lady Ward's frock was of white satin, the overdress of tulle, embroidered with crystal; Miss Harcourt, pale green satin, the bodice trimmed with silver and gold embroidery;, Mrs. Wilford, emerald green . satin draped with embroidered tulle, the short -sleeves of metallic net; Mrs. Waller Johnston, black velvet, with stole heavily worked with very handsome cmt jet; Mrs. Abbott, white satin frock ( with bolero of crystal nel; Mrs. W. Turnbutl black frock with overdress covered with jet sequins; Mrs. Vavasour, cream and gold brocade. Others present were Mrs. Neil M'liCan, who wore a frock of cream lace over primrose satin; Mrs. 11. Johnston, pink satin with bolero of metallic net; Mrs. S. Harcourt, pale pink satin with lace flounce draped with chiffon; Mrs. Tweed, rose satin witli touches of' black lace worked with gold; Mrs. H. Pharazyn . (Hastings), mauve tulle worked with ; crystal over pale blue satin; Mrs. Fit-. , cliett, robe Qf white tucked Brussels net 1 and lace with touches of emerald green ! velvet; Mrs. Lan Duncan, very beautiful > frock of cinnamon crepe de chine, the ! bodice and long scarf euds covered with metallic net embroidered in dull shades; i Airs. Erie Johnston, white satin with nno large pink rose; Mrs. Dymoclc, whito ! ; ,brocade draped with lace';'-Mrs. Algar : Williams, cream satin with tunic of Paris 'net embroidered; Miss Duncan, pink embroidered tulle over satin; Mrs..-A.

Young, white satin; Miss Bell, pale pink ehitt'on over satin;' Airs. Goring Johnston, satin frock oi palest mauve with over<lress of white chiit'oii worked with long lines of silver, finished with motifs ami silver fringe; Mrs. Newbiggen (Hastings), old gold satin draped with net.finished with gold fringe; Miss Nuwbiggen, pnlo pink satin draped with Brussels net' and jewelled lace finished with wreaths ot tiny pink roses; Miss .Marchant, nowereu chiffon with bands of blue silk; Mr&. David Nathan, black jotted tu lo with Jbi fringe; Miss it. Nathan, white satin; Mrs. T; Youug, pale blue striped 11111011; Miss Johnston, white satin worked with embroidery of pale blue and silver; Mrs. K, W. Holmes, black unt over white; Miss Holmes, pale pink, with overdress of ilowercd chilTon; Mrs. C. Crawford, frock of paon blue satin, with trimming of aluminium net embroidered with silk j Miss Anson,.white satin; Mrs. (Di\) Martin, .pule blue charnieuse; Mrs. Deviue, black silk with touches of pale blue; Miss Devine. (debutante), white satin draped with Limerick Ince; Miss Tolhurst, now* ered silk; Mis; IL Miles, geranium pink sfttin, draped with chitron, the bodice trimmed with metallic embroidery. Mrs. Geo. Dennistoun (Peel Forest) wore black satin iTith diamond ornaments; Miss Bauchop, pink embroidered clnffon over pink silk, with draped skirt, caught back l by baud of pink silk; Miss Head, 17 hi to satin with silver sequined trimming. Miss Greenfield, -palo blue silk; Mrs. W. Nathan, niole-coloured chiffon mid embroidery; Mrs. Herbert, pale pink chiffon over pink silk; Mrs. Miles, black lace over white; Miss Elgar, white satin with tulle overdress workedwith crystal; Miss Collins,: ceriso satin; Miss booth (Nelson), blue, charnieuse, .trimmed/with blue chine 'ribbon; I\liss B. Fitzgerald, black l'rock; Miss Simpson, pale heliotrope charnieuse, with underskirt of cream lac-e; Miss Kennedy, white satin veiled with dewdrop net; Mrs. C. Freeth, white satin; Mrs. Tripe, black and 'jet; Miss Beatrice Day, cream brocade with lace flounce, and panels of jewelled net; Mrs. M. Myers,.pink ninon with silver trimming; Miss Kathbone (debutante), white satin; Mrs. Palmer, white net over satin with gold bolero; Miss Bristow, heliotrope chiffon over pale blue; Miss Scully, white satin with silver sequined overdress; Mrs. A. Abbott, whito satin with tunic.worked with crystal beads; .ilrs. Morton, blue satin; Mrs. Corrigan, pale mauve with trimming, of silver embroidery; Miss Chilman, palo yellow. Mrs. Vivian R-iddiford wore'a frock of row satin draped with rose ninon edged with silver fringe; Mrs. Jacob Joseph, Rrey satin, with overdress of black lace; Miss Joseph, peacock blue , satin, with over-dress of Brussels net over silver tissue edged with a deep flounce of Honiton lace, the bodice draped with Honiton lace and finished with Oriental embroidery; Miss-Miller, white satin and silver; Miss Kathbone, blue satin, fringed with gold; Miss'Laing-Meason, dress of heliotrope satin opening over lace underskirt; Miss Sinclair, white satin; Mrs. Larnach,. chine silk ; Mrs. Braithwaite,'white satin; Mrs. Rolloston, black satin with guimpe of white tulle, the short sleeves of silver net; Mrs. Bristow, blue .crepe de chine with jet trimming.; Miss W. Miles, amber satin; Miss E. iVatson, white satin with green sequined trimming; Miss Grey amber chiffon, over 'heliotrope satin; Miss Bell, pale pink chiffon over satin; Miss Q. Nathan, cerise satin with lace overdress; Miss Z. Nathan, emerald green satin; Mrs. Chas. Izard, cream satin; Mrs. Wallace,. rose pink chiffon taffeta with silver sequins; Miss Russell (Palmerston North), pale blue frock; Miss J. Heid, white satin; Miss Norah OsborneGibbes (debutante), white satin charnieuse, with pearl embroidery and cluster of silver leaves in her hair. Mrs. Kerr-Hislop wore black velvet; Miss Putnam, silver sequined robe over emerald green; Miss Barbara Putnam, pink chiffon taffetas draped with mnlteso lace; Mrs. TVhyte, blue satin with overdross of_ black,lace,.,";orked iivith M browii and. .pink; Mrs; . Herdman, white satin; Miss Edith Scott (debutante;, white satin and pearls; Mrs. I. Hose, copper-brown satin; Mrs. Moss, 1 black lace - over white satin; Mrs. Kobison, white chiffon over satin, with touches of pink; Miss Bulkley (debutante), white satin, with overdress worked with pearls; Miss Nixon (debutante), iwhite satin; Miss Adele Marks, tangerine satin; Mrs. S. Wheeler, white satin, covered with crystal not; Mrs. W. Bluudell, white satin; Mrs. D. Jackson, sky blue charnieusc. Miss Rubi Seddon wore the frock in which she was presented. It was of white tulle, worked with crystal, the tunic very handsomely embroidered with silver, and finished with silver fringe; Miss Vavasour, white chiffon, with pale pink overdress; Mrs. Young, blue - crepe de chine, with silver embroidery; Miss D. Webb, heliotrope chiffon over white; Mrs. Prendergast Knight, white satin; Mrs. Tewsley, chine silk, draped with chiffon.