A DIGGINGS BALL ON THE WEST COAST.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 577, 25 April 1876, Page 3

A DIGGINGS BALL ON THE WEST COAST.

(Dunedin Evening News.} A young gentleman engaged in a certain 3 monetary establishment was recently sent to i take charge of an agency up country, and he thus describes his first night’s experience in his new quarters : When I came down the following notice attracted my attention. It was stuck up in the hotel where I was staying : Grand Annual BALL To be holden at the New Government Buildings, On Friday, February 25th, 1876. Admission ss. As this ball is one of our national institutions, I decided to go to it. All my white shirts and things were at the D , but I bought a box of paper collars, washed my face, sewed some buttons on my shirt, borrowed a pair of boots without nails, and started off in my shirt sleeves. Mr G was ticket taker ; he had managed to raise a white shirt, and consequently looked gorgeous. There was accommodation enough for four sets of dancers, a splendid floor, and plenty of ventilation, as the house was only half finished. I got up iu one dance, but could do nothing but laugh at the style of fhe other ladies and'gents. The music was a trombone and fiddle, the latter was splendidly played by a Mr M , a new race contractor. There were two M. O. ’s. There were round and square dances, jigs, and reels, to the number of forty-three. I never saw a madder crowd in all my life. About fifty ladies were present, some from Ahaura, Arnold, Red Jack’s, Callaghan’s, and TtyAgain Terrace. The “ ladies ” were dressed promiscuously in tweed, linsey-woolsey, and the usual mosquito curtain. It was a brilliant affair altogether. The etiquette of the ballroom 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 the ladies. There were no programmes. A good many ladies were complaining of “hate” and “shweat,” the usual accompaniments of a ballroom, I suppose. I only danced once, as I hadn’t enough money to pay for the necessary liquors, but I found splendid amusement in watching the rest. There was no gentleman’s dressing -room, so we all kept our hats on during the festivities. I approve of this plan, as you need not take so much trouble with your hail’, and nobody can steal the bat, as it is often the case in metropolitan assemblies. No one was the worse for liquor, and none of the quarrels were settled iu 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 respect to a lady to buy the whole bottom of old tom, and what she cannot drink throw out of the window. This is not usually the case in' Greyinouth, I believe. The dancing was kept up with great spirit till the rising sun, with Aurelian splendour, 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 lights were held in M ‘Claughesy’s paddock, under the patronage of the Hatter’s terrace ladies, Ahaura police, and Government officers. There was nothing remarkable in the proceedings, except that they occupied four hours. In the evening, the champion Irish piper of the Australian colonies, Johnny Coghlan, arrived. He was placed on a chair on a table, and the room cleared for dancing. I never heard such music in all my life, and the effect produced on his hearers was tremendous.