THE CITIZENS’ BALL.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 270, 23 April 1875, Page 2

THE CITIZENS’ BALL.

The committee and stewards of the Citizens' Ball deserve the greatest possible credit for the admirable arrangements made by them for the ball in honor of his Excellency. The hall was prettily decorated, and everything was done to make those attending thoroughly enjoy the evening. The Governor, with Lady Normanby, his Honor the Superintendent, and Mrs Rolleston, attended by the A.D.C.s Captains Le Paturel and Phipps, arrived shortly after nine o’clock, the band playing the National Anthem, and dancing was commenced, the first set being composed of his Excellency and Mrs Rolleston, his Honor the Superintendent and the Marchioness of Normanby, his Worship the Mayor and Mrs Packe, Colonel Packe and the Mayoress. The attendance was very large, and all seemed thoroughly to enjoy themselves. The large room in rear of the hall was appropriated as a refreshment room, the supper room being a temporary structure beyond this again, which was nicely decorated with flags, &c. Shortly after midnight an adjournment was made to the supperroom, his Honor the Superintendent occupying the chair, supported on the right by his Excellency the Governor and Mrs Rollesion, the Hon E. Kichardson and Lady Wilson, and on the left by the Marchioness of Normanby and Sir Cracroft Wilson, Colonel Packe and Mrs Richardson. Mr Morton’s providing for the supper was excellent, every delicacy of the season being provided, and the attendance being all that could be desired. His Honor rose and gave her Majesty the Queen, which was drunk with enthusiasm. His Honor —Ladies and gentlemen—l now rise to give you a toast which I feel sure you will drink with enthusiasm, and which will meet with a hearty response from all present this evening. The toast is that of “ The Health of his Excellency the Governor and Lady Normanby.” [Cheers.] We are met here this evening and this ball is given in honor of the first visit of his Excellency and Lady Normanby to this province. As yet we have had small opportunity of becoming acquainted with his Excellency personally, but I think it is cause for congratulation that this colony has at its head a nobleman who has served her Majesty the Queen in various capacities in a manner reflecting credit upon the Sovereign be served with honor to himself. As Governor of other colonies our guest of this evening has succeeded in making to himself a host of friends, and we hope ere Lady Normanby and himself leave us that they will do the same here. [Cheers.] I feel sure that there is but one feeling amongst us, and that is that the-visit to Canterbury of his Excellency and Lady Normanby may be productive of the same friendly relations Which have existed in other colonies over which he has presided. [Loud cheers.] Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the health of his Excellency and Lady Normanby, (Cheers.] ■'/' < <■' / • 1 . ; U> ! - . The toast was drunk enthusiastically. His Excellency, who on rising was loudly cheered, said—¥our Honor, ladies, and gentlemen, I thank you most sincerely for the hearty mannCr? in which you have received the toast which has been so kindly proposed by Mr Rolleston. I can assure you that it has been a great source of regret to me that I have been obliged to delay my visit amongst you for so long. I have heard much of the province of Canterbury, and the city in which we are now; I have read much of it and expected much, but I can assure you I am greatly impressed with what I have seen since I have been amongst you, and the marked evidences of prosperity which, during the little time I have been here have so forcibly been brought under my notice. I have been accustomed in other colonies and the United States to see prosperity and marks of progress, but I can assure you that I was nob prepared for the state of advancement in which I find you. I see on every side works of great magnitude, such as the tunnel, which I believe at the time of its construction was looked upon as a wild and hazardous speculation, but one which would do credit to the old country and which certainly has been the making of this city. [Cheers.] This and other works which I see bear evidence of what has been done in the past, when you were laboring under difficulties which have long since departed, and which, we may safely say, never will return. I think when one looks at the evidences of prosperity and progress which are around us, that no one need fear for the future destiny of the province of Canterbury, and I think I may add of the colony of New Zealand. Providence has indeed been bountiful to you; you possess a climate in which you are neither parched by the burning sun of the tropics nor frozen, as in some parts of her Majesty’s colonies where I have resided* for six months of the year. You have a soil, under ordinary care and attention, in which every thing will flourish, and indeed you have within your borders everything to conduce to what our American cousins call “ go-aheadism.” You have done much under what we now call difficulties, and I look forward to a bright future for your provipce, and can only say that I trust each year will add to your prosperity, arid that New Zealand will long continue to be the brightest jewel in the British Crown. [Cheers.] It will not, of course, be expected of me on this occasion to make a speech. I can only say that I am heartily thankful to you for the cordial manner in which you have received Lady Normanby and myself since our arrival here. [Cheers.] Mr Rolleston has been kind enough to speak of my residence in other colonies where I have had the honor of representing her Majesty. lam proud to say that we have left behind us in those Colonies many sincere friends, whose friendships I can assure you we esteem highly, and I hope that before my term of office has expired that we may be enabled to number airaongst friends such as those, many of those vfbom we now meet for the first time. [Cheers.] ■ Ladies and gentlemen, once more E beg to thank you on the part of Lady tjTormanby and myself for the kindly manner in which we have been received, [Cheers.] ; This concluded the list of toasts, and the company returned to the ball room, i We may say that Mr W. R. Mitchell discharged the duties of M.O. most efficiently, and that the musical portion of the ball, supported by Mr Schwartz’s band, was all that cbuld be desired. Dancing was kept up with unabated vigor until an early hour.