CITIZENS' BALL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 191, 8 May 1920, Page 7

CITIZENS' BALL

A SPECTACLE OF RARE iBEAUTY . BRILLIANT DECORATIVE EFFECTS The Town Hall has been tlio sceno of .niiiny 'nolablc .RatheriiißS. but of nonemole memorable or brilliant than the Rathcring of last night, when, a citizens' ball was Riven in honour of the visit of His Uoyaf Highness tho Priiico, of Wales... Naturally, ' a very great ■ amount of interest has centred around, the. ball, and never ■ before has any evont of a similar nature been eo largely attended in this city. To enter the vestibule of the Hall waste stand amid a little scene typical of' New Zealand. Native trees, shrubs,and flax concealed tho walls from sißht. and standing-out from their inidst were old Maori. carvings, which had been lent; to the committee by the Director-of the Museum. Grim-faced Maori pods tlmt in olden days-had figured in luaii.v. barbaric ••rites 'poked their tongues out defiantly at the ; beautifully dressed, laußhin?-women who passed them'by. curiously glancing at their 'carved feature?. ' To pass throiißh this rosecoloured twilight into the inner vestibule 'to enter a soft golden.blaze of light, heißhtened by the archway of golden bronze chrysanthemums that • spanned' its width. \ New Zealand shrubs again formed, the background, with pillars entirely . covered with lycopodium, while masses' of chrysanthemums arranged mi if 'growing in .a . garden still' further added to the effect of .brightness' - and light. Both sides of the staircases were flanked with New- Zealand shrubs and ferns, and lit with fairy-like lights, while on the first landing were arrange ed more groups of (all growing chrysan-' themuius, banked with feathery nephro'lepsis. Crimson carpets 011 the'staifwa.v 7 and. 011 the floor "of the' vestibules added'warmth'pf colour 'to the general effect. Tlie'utmost had been made":of "o\l sitting-mit' space, the corridor 011 the'first .floor having been throughout, its k-ngth decorated with. archivays of lycopodium, starred with 'dclicately-col-oured artificial flowers. . . ' 1.1 the ballroom itself the scene was beautiful, ;and the effect produced cine of .extreme delicacy and lightness..; Tho general schema . of, colouring Was of inau'-'e and white, tho walls throughout and the front .of the gallery and; stage having been covered with a semi-trans-parent material' of * warm mauve; From, "tlie-centre 'of the ceiling high .up ;«;as : - suspended a circular transparency reprc-. senting tho 'Southern Cross in a sky of, deep blue from'which radiated mauvo' and white' streamers and ropes of lycopodhru carried to the walls, where they were fastened high above , the seats in 1 tho gallery, forming a delicately bright and spacious canppy. Below tho South* era Cross' was hung a large feathery wreath of lycopodium ornamented 1 with tho'rose, the'.thistle, and the shamrock, and .a ten-foot fringe of gilded'leaves, hanging from the wreath adding a most, cluirmin,; decorative effect. . High dra-. peries .. of ' primrose, pale '.pink and', mauvo divided the gallery into boxes,;.' and ,a golden, basket filled with' yellow (lotfers was suspended above each' compartment, -On the outside face of tlie ; 'gallery railings wer<fr large;- medallions • symbolising England and New Zealand. . These ornaments were set in wreaths of gilLd leaves. The medallion 'over the' bay reserved for His Eoynl Highness represented the Prince of Walts's feathers, from which hung a knot of royal blue ribbon. Nor was the city forgotten, for . one of the medallions displayed the,city 'coat of arms. . Festoons of mauve and ropes lof lycopodium, together with' a deep fringe- of gilded leaves, draped tho under side of the gallery. .The stage had been turned into a btish scene with a white trelliswork on the outside, and with an old Maori god keeping a grim watch inside, hard by a large white oval mirror; Special attention had been paid to the lighting of the balk room and the effect was must success-, ful, with not a..vestige of glaro andyet clear 1 ' 1 enough .to show the colours, of .the, many, charming dresses which Were woin. Instead of the electroliers eight separate electric lights had -been areach covered with a large prim- • rose shade' bordered with'a fringe of gilded leaves. With so large' an attendance at the ball; it was impossible to nnangn" for the alcoves • which usually occupy the space underneath the gallery, and instead :were two bays, one of which was set aside for Ilis Royal Highness. ' Jacobean furniture and stands of nikau blossoms were set in the Royal bay.- The second bay was also bar-, moniously carpeted and furnished. - Very ornamental was the lattice work of white wood.that.enclosed the pillars, and the. .numerous' white-framed ' mirrors that were hung against the walls were equal-, iy ornamental'. . « ' ;•• ' The decorations of tho Concert : Chamber, which had been timed into a Clipper room, were in keeping with'those in : ' the main. hall. Native shrubs' and trees;formed a frieza- for the walls,'and, ropes oflycopodium,'-starred with rii;-' : tincial roses -in. pale pink, blue; ■ anil primrose, had been carried from the centre of the crilina 1 to the wal's. 'J.lie stage was banked with fern trees, native' .fjhrybs, -and.'masses of growing chrysan-. ' thenitims.''" Tlie table at which': His Royal Highness sat was typical of New Zealand- with its floral decorations "of rata blossom.and native" ferns and f<-H-----age.. All. the. other tables were arranged with primrose-coloured chrysanthemums. - The landing outside the Concert Chamber and, the corridor , had been carpeted,, .hung.'with flags,' and'most comfortably' furnished with couches avf chairs, At'nine'odock the Prince of Wales; arrived and was welcomed by the Mayor (M;\ J; P. Luke) and'Mrs'.! Luke, together with Mr;, and Mrs. Tan Duncan, repiesenting the'.Citizens':'CouJinittcfe re- ' spciisibi<-for tlie arrangements'" of. the ball. The official set was at once form.ed and;was as follows: His Koyal'Higli- , ness. the Prince of Wales and Mrs. Mas--1 jsejrj,.the Prime Minister (Rt/'Ho'n; W, F,'Massey) anil Lady Ward; Sir"Joseph' Ward, and lady Russell; Sir ' Robert Stout and Lady' Chaytor; ReiU'-Admiral', Sir Lionel Halsey and' Lady Stout; Major-General Sir lidward Chaytor'and Lady Fin'dlay; General Sir Andrew ;Russeil an-1 Miss Enid Bell; Captain Ta'ylOr; ■R.N., and Mrs. Lan . Duneim. The •Mayoress was not well enough to 'tike pa.'t in the set, and the Mayor'accordingly did not participate either.- After tho official set, arrangements were made to allow of. the Prince of Wales slialc-' . ing hands with everyone in the toll; ' Mi's. Mussey wore a frock of black ' charuieuse embroidered with' - black beadx; Lady Ward was in. a gOwn of black chnrmeiise with drajed ' panels of black beaded net and a. miljow pointed train; Lady Stout wore the. softest shade of mauve velvet, with corsage draped with lace; Lady Chaytor' was also in black flharmeuse, draped • with beaded-ninon and corsage of gold tissue veiied. with ninon; Lady. Russell wore black satin, made with draped effects and panelled train; Miss Hnid Bell, ' frock 'of soft green cliarineuse, draped witlrjade green ninon; Mrs. Lan Duncan, black satin with corsage heavily Cmbroid: l ered' with jet beads and panelled skirt ' finished with a pointed train; Mrs.Luke, ■ black' velvet • with gold on the corsage veiled, with ninon; Mrs. H. Nathan, black satin, with overdress of frilled gold 'embroidered net; Mrs. C. Baric, .black channelise embroidered with jet beads and draped with ninon; Mrs. Moorhousc, black satin with jet embroideries; ; Jli's. Darling, grey charmeuse draped ; with ninon of the same shade; Mrs. Dyer, black charmeuse, with jet ■ .'embroideries; Miss Russell, palest 1 pink' brocade; Mrs. Tali 11 Rhodes ■. I.Christcliiirch), black fi'ock with panels •' 'lined with cherry-coloured ehiirineuso; ■ Mr-v'J, Ilitiinail, black and gold frock; ' At'ss Ditnciin, jade green channelise, ; draped-'ivitli'tulle; Miss Ida 'Diincan, sa.\o blue charmeuse with corsage -of cryst.il embroidered net; Mrs. \V., Dal- ; zi'ell (Masterlon), black clmrineuse i draped wilii blue and silver brocade; ■ Mrs. Pree (Masterlon), black satin with 1 black and white corsage; Mrs. L. 0. 11. 1 Tripp, frock of wh te crystal embroidered net; Mrs. Ilandyside, black and • charmeuse; Miss Doughty, frock ' of yri'i'ii sali" lirncaded willi roses.and 1 with sleeves and draped effects of jade I given liinuii; Miss Nolan, black fiopk , willi' swalliid wnislbelt of deep blue , and s'lver brocade; Mrs. Murray Clai'd- - in »i', rose eharnieiise panelled willi crys- ; lal'einhroidei'ies; Miss K. t'liaylor. white ci-ppo d'-' rliine willi waislbell of pslc

blue satin: .Miss Chudley,.palest blue, crew do chine; MiHsAMouyl Karlc, white silk tvitli. frilled .skirt ; and waistbelt of rose pink, sating Miss Sylvia Darling, ;white jiinori sewn witlr pearl?; lira. ■ bill (Masterton), blue and silver frock; Mrs. .T. W.' Buchanan.' . (Masterton), bla"k . chnrmeiise-. , with, corsage heavily embroidered svith _ jet beads relieved with a crimson rose- Miss Kthel Carey (Masterton). blue eharmeuse with embroidered panels and j corsage touched with .gold; Miss Bullock, | blue charflieiise, draped over •white lace; < Mrs.' J/B. MacEwan, black eharmeuse, | : with iet. embroideries; Mrs. heading, blacksatin with silver embroidered tunic; Mrs Vivian Kiddiford, frock of 'cense tiille, with skirt of tiny frills and touches •or gold'-on' the', corsage; Mrs. .Innsham, cream lace with touches of blue and black;. Mrs. Stott, : elcctric,duo oharnieuso with pointed train., and panelled effect at. the sides; MissHarcourt, drawn frock of grey chhrnieuse. trimmed with gold, threaded embroideries, the , corsage shoving a slight toucli-of dark green; Mrs. ifalph Beetliam .(Mastertoii), eniei; aid green and sold; Miss Bmtow. black, with swathed waistbelt of crimson; Mrs. Peter' M'Laren (Masterton), black , satin with iet, embroideries; Mrs \\. Mackenzie-• (Masterton); black eharmeuse, with liinon and bead trimming; Miss.B. Mackenzie, white eharmeuse, witlii overdress of crvstal embroidered nino.-ipr. l'lnttsMills* grey chnrmeiise, heavy silver embroideries; Mrs. D. Bainl (Masterton), black charmeuse'.and ivaistbelt of silver and blue brocade; Miss Lyra iaylor, black eharmeuse.' with jet' embroideries; )r. Patc'rson, black'charmeufe, wi th touches. of white veiled with mnon; Mrs. I'enton YMasterton);ij>lack with touchcs-of blue; ■ Miss Keesinpf. pink brocade; Mrs. \V. Tlalse,-gre\' silk with' georgette/and silver embroideries; Mrs. Mcitli (Wanranm), ffre'v cliaruieusc with. overdress of pale, ninlc; Mrs: Sydney Jackson (Levin),-black crene do chine with tunic of georgette and.' silver; '• * Mrs; Piper; • blue eharmeuse with"pink overdress;:Mrs.rA;-T.-.Whitc-l;iw, apricot satin-•with gold lace; Mrn., T.ong'uet,''vleiix' rose silk with clusters of tiny flowers and embroideries; Miss! Mary .Tones, grey eharmeuse and tulle r ' M■ Bernard iWood,"cream .net with-deep belt of-silver-and pink lire. M.. ■ Myers,"black charmeust with irndescent blue beads; Mrs.'Dvmock, black and silver'net; Mrs. Bhodes. blue- embossed bro- . cade; Mrs. Eiiwdeii Beore,"lavender satin with silver cinbroidories.' Among others present we're: "Mrs.<?A. Toogood; Colonel and"Mrs. Hughes, Surgison-Qeneral; and Mrs M'Gavin, Mrs. and Miss-Corngan, Colonel Sober,ts... .Mr. -and Mre. Irjpe, Mr. . and Mis. W. B'.imdell, Miss. Barwild. Miss H. Miles,' Dr. and Mrs. Webster. Mry. Kendall,. Dr. and Mrs. Bcffgi Miss Dyer, Mi's, and Miss Tully, Mrs. , and 'Miss: Mackersey,'- Mrs. Gray. Miss. Laurenso'n; Mrs. Biiiton; Mips Barron, Miss Harrison, Mrs. Howderiv Miss Moss,. Mrs. J. Br'odie, Miss Kennedy. - 1 Among the debutantes 7,ita Chapmati', Miss'E.wart, Miss.Pluriwer. jiis9 Lorna Bray, 'Miss Moya Kennedy, Miss Jeah Gill, Miss Hazel-; Jeflnes, and two of the wevious evenings danct:, ■Miss Post and Miss Sylvia Darling. ISot the least of the events of the-evening was thi'Hish'land sehottische played by 'the Pipe'-' Band. . Tim bonbons with ■which the tables were decorated prov;ded> great entertainment during simper time, v/Jien':t';wa's'seen i'lnt His' Boy al Highness was adonied with-a fi'illy paper cap frdm one of'the bonbons, and .that the P,rime "Minister wa.S wearing still frilliei- oue, perched on - one :swe of. his [likd'and with the paper l-ibbon passed 'beneath his . cliin. lady Ward; , the Mayoress (Mrs. 'Luke), •-nnd- other' mem■bers of the party w.ero • similarly,bedecked. • • . • 'rV Tho decorations of the Town Hall for-, ■last, night's ball •were designed. by Mrs. J. Hannah. ■ ■■ ■ .. ' Mr. Wnugli (of Wnugli and Son, Lower Hutt) .'esceuted the-floral arrangements; Miss-Waugh 'decorated the supper tables; and '.Scoullai- and • Co. wsre . responsible for the fine-draped cffects and for tho ■I'lirnishing.. : •. .