THE RACING CLUB'S BALL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1185, 21 July 1911, Page 9

THE RACING CLUB'S BALL.

A BRILLIANT SUCCESS. Very beautiful indeed looked the Town Hall 'last evening when the Wellington Racing Club held its annual ball. Always a most brilliant affair, it seems as though, each year, it sui passes itself in beauty of decorative effect, and in completeness of arrangements, and it is always a ball that is looked forward to with a great amount of pleasurable anticipation. The colouring effect last evening was particularly brilliant—Scarlet and white being tho.predominant notes, softened by a great amount of light feathery foliage and lycopodiura. The entrance hall was a perfect bower of palms and fern trees, with archways stretching across on either side of tho staircase, birch intermingled with scarlet roses and fairy lights that gleamed like a multitude of jewels among the green. Passing up the ? aircase was almost like walking through ..u avenue of fern trees, palms, and cabbage trees, with all the delicious wuody scent that per fades the bush, while tho crimson carpeting gave i sensij of warmth and comfort. The laming above was ako carpeted and decorated ..-ith the same green foliage. In tho main hall,, streamers of red and i-hi to, alternating with ropes of lycolodium, and red roses, intermingled witn iny. coloured fairy lights, had been car•ied from a large hoop encircling the main ■lectrolier to tho sides of the gallery, lorming the canopy which is now regarded •' ,ta so necessary to the effective decoratiun ;f the huge chamber. Instead of having . .•'osteons ot drapery carried round the out-1 •lido of the gallery, as upon former occasions, long sprays and branches of birch rind scarlet roses trailed along it, the flowers standing out vividly against the palo blue and white background with charming effect. Underneath, on both sides, wore the alcoves, partitioned off from each other by dark red cm tains, and draped in front with lighter ones of cream lace. They were most comfortably furnished, and were like a series of small drawing-rooms. As a rendezvous for dancers who otherwise might not have found their partners till the dance was over, they were simply invaluable. Quite a rustic touch was added by tho addition, at one end, of :: log-honse, which did not fail to find tenants during the evening, Tho stagn was altogether transformed, and, with quantities of fern trees of varying sizes, looking as though it were their native ground,' even daring to rear their --height-against tho organ -pipes,. ...almost hiding them from sight, presented quite a forest scene, if one can imagine a forest scene lit up with numbers of stationary ■jewelled lights; Intermingled with them were graceful slender branches of foliage starred with crimson and the palest blue roses, while at one side shone a young crescent moon. M'Laughlin's orchestra, stationed on the stage, played music that was enough to insplri; the most aged person in the world with a desire to dance. At tho opposite end of the hall a huge mirror, bordered with red and white, reflected the forms of the dancers as they passed by, while behind it were still.moro comfortable alcoves. Messrs. Scoullar and Co. were responsible for the furnishing, and Miss Prebblo carried out the floral I decorations—decorations which wero really j beautiful.

Supper was served in the Concert Chamber, in which tho same floral scheme was observable. Ropes of lycopodium arid scarlet flowers spanned the room from gallery to stage, and scarlet shades, as in the main hall, covered the electric lights. The stage was another forest scene, and the tables were beautifully decorated in shades of colour ranging from pink to cerise. Silver cups—trophies of the club—were to be necn on the principal table, and bronze ornaments, emblematic of racing, were wreathed with lycopodium and scarlet flowers, while horse-shoes were everywhere about. Pink camellias largely decorated the tables, and at each corner of every one were loops of shaded ribbons and lycopodium, crowned by a pink magnolia. The sapper and all, the floral arrangements in connection with it were tho work of Mr. J. Godber, who on such occasions surpasses himself.

Visitors were present from various parts of the Dominion, and many beautiful frocks were worn. The official set was danced by his Excellency Lord Islington and Miss Hareourt. her Excellency Lady Islington and Mr. Hareourt, Mrs. Godley and Sir James Carroll, Lady Clifford and Dr. Collins, Mrs. Guise and Mr. Duncan, Mrs. Burnett-Stuart and Mr. D. J. Nathan, Mrs. Vavasour and Mr. J. "W. Abbott, Miss Millar and Mr. J. Coates.

Lady Islington was wearing a very lovely princess frock of pale pink crepe de chine brocade, the upper part of tho corsago being of chiffon, outlined with diamante embroidery. With this were worn diamond ornaments and a diamond circlet on her head. Mrs. Godley was in white satin, with a ninon overdress bordered with crystal embroidery. A large pink rose gave a delicate touch of colour to her toilette. Miss Hareourt wore- a semi-Empire dress of white satin, the bodice being trimmed with beautiful cream lace, and long ends of the same lace flowing over the dress at the back. Lady Clifford wore black satin with a berthe of handsome cream lace; Mrs. Guise, princess frock of delicate pink satin with a tunic of pink ninon embroidered in gold, both on the corsngo and down the front of the skirt; Mrs. Burnett-Stuart, sapphire blue chiffon velvet gown with lace sleeves of heavilyembossed lace of the same shade; Mrs. Vavasour, pale mauve satin with an overdress of shot mauve ' ninon, tho bodice beine: outlined with silver embroidery; Miss Millar, pink satin with touches of crystal embroidery. Others who were present were Miss Staplcton-Cotton, wearing cream chiffon velvet with wire cross-over bends ot heavily-embossed silver embroidery on the bodice; Mrs. Grace, black silk, with panels of exquisite lace on the skirt, and the same lace finishing the bodice; Mrs. Elgar, champnsne-cdlnnrcd satin, veiled, wtth shot ninon, bordered with wide, jewelled embroidery. Mrs. Cecil Kebbell, grey satin, with an overdress of grey ninon, edged with

crystal fringe; an effect of green, black, and grey ribbon finishing the waist, gave a charming touch of colour to the frock; Miss Boyle (Christchurch), bluo satin, wit.i an overdress of silver embroidered net; Mrs.A'Desn (Hnwke's Bay), white charmeuse, with an overdress of jewelled ■ net; Miss Reynolds (Duncdin), pink charmeuse, with panels of lace embroidered with gold; Mrs. Whyte, blue satin, with an overdress of black embroidered net; Mrs. Lan Duncan, oyster-coloured satin, yelled with grey ni'non, bordered with ■d J° u «ston, amber satin, with an overdress of ninon richly embroidered on skirt and bodice; Mrs. W. Bidwill (Lower Valley), white silk, with side panels of lace, and jewelled net on the bodice; Jirs. H. H. Beetham (Masterton, dark crimson velvet, with panels of mill silver laco on the skirt, and the same laco finishing the bodice; Miss Molineaus, cream satin, veiled with jewelled net; Mrs. Matthew Holmes, pink embroidered frock; Mrs. G. Hume (Lower \ alley), white satin, with an overdress of black spotted net, with jet embroidery; if ,-,'? nme > "'h'te satin, with tunic trock of black sequined net. Mrs. Hartgill, grey satin tunic frock, edged with crystal fringe; Dr. Elizabeth Uunn, yellow satin, veiled with grey mnpn; Mrs. K. Duncan, pale pink embroidered ninon veiling pink satin; Miss Osborne Gibbes, palo blue satin, with tunic frock of blue ninon; Mrs. Gillon, white satin, with an overdress of black ninon; Miss F. Brandon, empire frock of white crepe do chine, veiling white satin, with a scarlet sash; Mrs. A. Abbott, black satin, with jet embroidery; Mrs. P. Reading, grey ninon, veiling grey satin, with silver embroidery on the bodice; Miss Lichfield, white satin, trimmed with silver fisher net; Mrs. Thornton, white satin, with an overdress of black ninon, with a crimson band bordering the skirt; Miss Pcarce, white satin; Mrs. S. Kirkcaldic, black net over white satin, trimmed with jet, a belt of vieux rose gave an effective touch of colour; Miss Brandon, dull blue ninon veiling silk of the same shade; Mrs. S. Hislop, floral chiffon veiling white satin with jewelled trimming;' Mrs. Gilmer, blue satin veiled with ninon; Miss Vavasour, delicate pink embroidered ninon veiling pink satin; Miss S. Plimmer, pink, satin veiled with white marquisette, pearl lace bordering the tunic; Miss Callender, vieux roso salin with net tunic bordered with gold insertion in key pattern; Miss H. Miles, bluo satin veiled with blue ninon; Mrs. Tripp, white satin. Mrs. Fitchctt,' silver tissue veiled with black sequined net; Mrs. Bennett, heliotrope satin veiled with mole-coloured chiffon and trimmed with jewelled insertion; Miss Martclli, tangerine satin with ninon.overdress; Mrs. J. Fuller, yellow satin with jianels of gold floral tissue; Mrs. G. Fulton, cream satin with tunic overdress; Mrs. L. Buller, peach-coloured miroir velvet gown with silver insertion; Airs. C. Tringham. pale pink embroidered frock of gauze veiling satin of the same shade, crystal fringe on bodice and skirt; Mrs. T. Cameron, cream satin frock with i bodice of embroidered silk lace and side | panels of the same embroidery on the skirt; Miss Ross (debutante), white satin with tunic of ninon bordered with gold threaded lace and the same laco on the bodice; Mrs. A. Warburton, white satin trimmed with jewelled embroidery; Miss K. Meredith (Masterton), pink satin with tunic of floral chiffon; Miss D. Wilson, white satin with touches of emerald green; Miss D. Marks, white satin, with jewelled embroidery; Miss Bulkley, white satin, with bands of gold embroidery; Miss Sullivan (debutante), white satin; Mrs. W. Hislop, white satin with tunic edged with fur; Miss Booth (Nelson), .floral chiffon oyer satin; Miss Kembcr, pink ninon veiling salin; Miss Elder, black lace with bands of black velvet over white satin; Miss H. Elder, vieux roso satin; Miss Scott, pale blue frock; Miss Chilnian, cream silk with jewelled embroidery,-" Miss' de' Castro, ...white satin with jewelled insertion. ' Miss E. West, emerald ninon with gold embroidery; Miss .'West, white satin w.ith tunic frock of. Ninon edged with' crystal embroidery; Mrs. Elder, black satin with jot embroidery; "Miss Seed,, pale, blue satin veiled with ninon; Miss J. Seed, pink embroidered frock; Miss Eeid, mauve ~ ninon over vollow satin; Miss E. Simp- : son, blue satin with an overdress of floral . ninon; Miss Geddis, deep bluo ninon'over white satin; Miss Dean, grey satin veiled . .with floral chiffon; Mrs. Goring Johnston, . green satin. with an overdress of .ninon. ■ bordered with gold .. embroidery, the i bodice being also trimmed with it; Mrs. [ Biss, white - satin veiled with black -net. Mrs. Parker, white satin; Mrs. Stringer, black ninon. over pink satin; Mrs. Wil- ■ liams, black satin With an overdress of silver embroidered net; Mrs: West, black . satin with jet embroidery; Mrs. C. Richi ardson, white satin with an overdress of . black and whito lace; Mrs. MacEwan, • black satin with an overdress of.black i jewelled net; Miss Mackellar, bine satin , frock.

A stirring Highland schol'tisclio was played early in the evening by a band of Highland pipers, who stationed themselves at the top of the room, a large number of people ultimately dancing to their music. There is something too infectious in tho music to allow many to remain inactive.