A DIGGINGS BALL.

Evening Star, Issue 4106, 25 April 1876, Page 4

A DIGGINGS BALL.

A correspondent writing to the ‘Evening Kews’ thus describe a ball on a West Coast diggings. He says -. “About fifty ladies were present, some from AiiAura, Red Jack’s, Arnold, Callaghan's, and Try-Again-Terrace. The * ladies ’ were dressed promiscuously in tweed, linsey-woolsey, and the usual mosquito, curtain. It was a brilliant affair altogether,' The etiquette of thd ball-room was peculiar. Each gentleman was expected to go and buy a drink for his partner after each dance. Old tom and gin were mostly patronised by ladies. There were no programmes. A good many ladies -were-complaining of ‘hate’ and ‘sweat,’ the usual accompaniments of a ballroom, 1 suppose. There was no gentleman’s dressing room, so we all kept our hats on during the festivities. No one was the worse for liquor, and none of the quarrels were settled in the ballroom; they were held over till next morning, by order of the committee, I approve of this : a place for everything, and everything in its proper place. It is esteemed a mark of great respect to a lady to. buy the whole bottle of old tom, and what she cannot drink throw out of the window. The dancing was-kept up with great spirit till the rising sun, with Aurelian splendor, illuminating the east with fitful- glances, warned the ladies that it was time to prepare the matutinal meal to support the fatigues .of the coming day. The fights were held in M'Claughesy’s paddock, under the patronage of the Hatters’ Terrace ladies, Ahanra police, and Government officers,”