GARRISON OFFICERS' BALL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1168, 1 July 1911, Page 17

GARRISON OFFICERS' BALL.

BRILLIANT, AND SUCCESSFUL,

It so often happens in Wellington that several interesting events follow each other in quick succession, leaving a lengthy interval of uneventful calm .'.to follow, and no doubt, after two or three moro days have passed, tho customary condition of affairs-will again come-to pass. Prominent among tho doings of the week was the Wellington Garrison Officers' ball, which occurred in tho Garrison Hall last evening.- It has always been an event looked lorward to with a great amount of pleasurable anticipation, a.ud probably there was even greater interest attached to it on this occasion than has been'the caso for.some years. • Its reputation for brilliant decorative effect, general arrangements and enjoyment was . fully maintained, tho greatest trouble, energy, and consideration having been spent over them. Tho hall, on ordinary occasions anything hut gay-looking, 'was entirely transformed, the rafters being hidden from sight by a tent-like canopy of red, blue, and white streamers, carried to the walls and fastened just beneath the gallery, from which glimpses of the dancers and of the animated scene below were obtainable.'- ■■ Ropes of • lycopodium alternated with- the streamers, softening tho colours, and: adding a lighter effect to tho arrangement. - Quantities of flags, lycopodium, and devices, formed..by lances crested with red,-blue', and l whito pennants screened'the walls, the diagrams for target-shooting (guns and men' on horseback, as well as battleships) making an effective and interesting background, particularly the camp effect,-,of lighted teats against green hills. . ': . . ' At tho further end-of the room a special space had been prepared for the viceregal party, carpeted .awl- comfortably furnished with [vouches, while at the back, against the wall,' a dark-red curtain had been hung, bearing the Royal Arms. Ail round the room were Tanged couches, clusters of palais, and';comfortable" chairs, while at the rear end of the hall, occupying a conspicuous space on the wall, vras the Union Jack,' sitrrounded by nearly every other Hag in the workl. In tho oontre of the floor a square- space had been erected for the musicians, draped with red, white, and blue, while all round was a palisade of lances', flying the red, white, and blue pennants. Several or-derlies'-rooms upstairs had.been placed at ■ the disposal of those disposed for sitting out, so there was no crowding anywhere. Supper was served in the artillery room, the tables, both large and small, ''tjping arranged with red, blue, and, white'rib-, •'bon, carried across the comers, pr else running lengthwise down their*.' Silver candelabra, pot plants," '.wreathed with red and white narcissi -16 ' silver vafes, gave a very effe'etivo appearance to the, tables. Both decorations anil supper were the work of J. Godber and Son, and were worthy of all praise. Close upon half?past tefn their Excellencies, Lord and Lady Islington,, accompanied by Mrs. Fcrgusson, Miss Staple-'i-V"!*--i Cotton, and Captain M'Dongall, A.D.C., arrived, and were received by Major-Gcneral Godley, the president of the Garrison Officers' Club, and several of the' officers. Shortly afterwards tho official set of lancers was formed, and was taken part in; by Lord Islington and Mrs. Godley, Lady Islington and ;' MajorGeneral Godley, Lady Norah Noel, and Colonel Heard, Miss Stapletoh Cotton'and Major nume, Mrs. i'ergusson and Colonel Chaytor, Mrs. Humo and Colonel Campbell,' Miss Robin and Lieutenant-Colonel Dufhie, Mrs. Chaytor and Colonel Robin. Lady Islington was wearing a dress of white satin, the, skirt sheathed with crystal embroideries and fringe, .while tho bodice Was also .covered with silver and crystal bending :ahd long' fringe, a large shaded pink rose:,be'ihg'fastened in tho ceincture, A diamond and 'emerald tiara was 'worn with' .this.; toilette. Mrs. Godley was'in a''-'princess dress of black velvet, tho square neck being relieved with gold lace. Lady Norah Noel;' a di'csS.'-tjf : :';black-"-aiid : ssitv'rr. fisher -'HodJJS'f.bctout-r.forme'd'- -bfnilver tissue; . .Mtss-.t SlaplotanfeiOnitofc white satin with a tunic of whito chiffon.; Mrs. I'ergusson," delicato . manvji' satin, trimmed with chiffon;' Mrs. Chaytor, pale blue brocade ..with panels of. crystal embroidery and exquisite lace on the corsage; Miss Robin,'-pais green satin.' with a sequinod overdress of'net;'Mrs. Hume, white satin viiled with lace and touches of pink;.

Among others present were Mrs. Seafcon, wearing black Satin trimmed wilb jet; Mrs: Bridge, black silk dress veiled with net; Mrs: Sullivan, a black dress,- with gold trimming'; Mrs. Hughes, black satin with an embroidered silver scarf; Mrs. Rose, emerald grwn • cbaimeuse with an overdress of shaded -'brown ninon "trimmed with embroideries;. Mrs. Marcus-Wright, geranium' charmeuse, with- an overdress of black i'silk -filet' net- and ■ jot trimming;-' Miss Wright ' (de-' butante), whito Venetian do' soie, with tunic vand draped bodice of jewelled chiffon; Mrs .Shirtcliffe. black satin, relieved with whito;,Miss Shirtcliffe, white satin with tunio dress of ninon; Miss — Sbirtcliffo (debutante), White Venetian silk, with silver trimming; Mrs. King, black silk with-jet; Miss King (debutante), white Venetian, silk, with'crystal fringe; Miss • Wrtrburtoii (l'almcrston . North), blue satin, with embroidered tunic frock of pink chiffon; .Mrs. White (Hivwke's Bay), palo blue satin; Mrs. M'Loan (Blenheim)/ black silk with*.jet; Mrs. Rathbone, petunia satin, with'an overdress of sequined. ; net; Miss-Rathbonc/ white ' 6atin; Mrs.-• Matthew Holmes, delicate green satin, "with an embroidered. overdress of-green chiffon j-Miss Eawson, palo blue satin; Mrs Ken. Duncan, grey satin with a tunic dress of black ninon, bordered with 'wide gold . ombroidorv and fur Miss Soaton,'whito'satin, with an embroidered tunic' frock of ninon;- Miss K. Kirkcaldie, white satin, with an overdress of pink and white strined crepe do chine; Mrs. l\ M. B. Fisher, white ninon, with handsome lace bodico; Miss Beatrice Day, a frock of' floral chiffon, trimmed with small rosebuds; Mrs. Dymock, white satin, with an overdraw: of pearl embroidered., net; Miss • Ch-unbers. tunic frock of heliotrope riinin; Mrs. Herdmau, white satin, with- tunic frock ■of blue ninon, ectged With handsome embroideries; Mrs. Reading,' white satin, veiled with ninon; Miss Fulton, blue satin; .Mi's Doris Marks, tangerine stoni, veiled with heliotrope niiun; Miss E. Ward, blno satin, with on overdress of heliotrope jewelled ninon: Mi ; s Coleridge, nitl'; • satin, veed with.ninon; Miss I. Coleridge, black seriniiipd net.?ve: s»K«; M''=. Corrigan, heliotrope satin, veiled with ninon - and embroideries; Mrs. Dykfs, black .'•ifin, with overdress of scquined net; Mi.'s E Simpson, white satin, veiled.with rinon; Miss Jones, white .satin; Mrs. .Harty, white satin, with an. embroidered late overdress;. Miss D. Chilman. creim. satin: Miss H. Miles, vieux rose satin, veiled with chiffon: Miss- Dean, cto.v satin, with jewelled ninin overdress; Mi's O.' Smith, white satin, with rrold and blue embroideries, and jewelled panel*; Mrs. Bis*', black satin, with iet embroideries;' Miss Diddams (Grevtownl. . p.i'o nine satin, with silver trimming; Hiss E ""'. emerald green -charmeuse, veiled with ninon; Miss N. We*t, white,satin, with phiffon overdress; Miss Me?k, white satin: Miss D. Meek, white satin, with overdress of ninon: Miss Nathan, white ninon- frock;. Miss Kirkcaldie, vieui ro=o satin, veiled with embroidered ninonMis- Gov,-, white satin, with overdress of black.ninon; Miss Butts, blue satin; Miss Bessie Fitzwrald. white satin, with ninon overdress; Miss Tewslev, tunic frock of manvo ninon, edsod with fringe. In every rcsnect the ball was n comnleto success, greatly due to the work o? tlm joint secretaries. Lieutenant R. W.' Wilkinson and Lieutenant. G. T>. Hamilton Secretaries are sometimes both committee and secretaries