CITIZENS’ BALL IN HONOR OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR AND THE HON. LADY ROBINSON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5638, 25 April 1879, Page 3

CITIZENS’ BALL IN HONOR OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR AND THE HON. LADY ROBINSON.

The ball which took place at the Imperial Opera House on the evening of April 16th in honor of his Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Lady Kobinson must be pronounced an undoubted, success, and the affair was one in all respects worthy of the honored guests and of the city itself. Eor this highly satisfactory result the Ball Committee must take the credit, because from the outstart they went about their work in a systematic, business-like way, each and every one of them doing their utmost to make the first ball in the colony in honor of the new Governor as thoroughly successful as it was possible to make it. In order that the ball might be quite a representative one, the committee determined on making the prices of admission comparatively moderate, and consequently all classes of the community were fully represented amongst the numerous company which assembled at the Opera House in the evening. Erom an early hour in the morning a large number of men were busily employed in the building in order that the preparations might be carried out to completion before the hour announced for the company to assemble. The catering having been entrusted to Mr. Peter Laing, that gentleman and his assistants devoted their attention to the spacious vestibule in which the supper was to take place ; and when the room was lighted up at night the appearance it presented was particularly sparkling. The determination having been come to that no speeches were to be made, there were no chairs provided. The tables were so arranged that standing accommodation could be afforded to about two hundred guests at a time, the only seats in the ves-. tibule being a couple of couches at the head of the table for the Governor and party. The tables were made to look very gay by a profuse display of flowers, glassware, and silver candelabra, and those who took part in the laying out of the tables showed a great deal of taste and judgment in the matter. In this department, from a cursory glance at it, there appeared to be nothing left undone. The stage was, as on two or three former occasions, converted into a ballroom. The scenery was so arranged at the back and sides that the effect at night was very beautiful. Two additional chandeliers were suspended in front, while the usual supply of gas from above made the space for dancing exceedingly brilliant. A large number of Chinese lanterns were also suspended from above, and these added considerably to the brilliancy of the whole scene. The rooms at the back of the stage were converted into retiring rooms, the one set apart for the Governor’s party being furnished in the most approved style. The stalls were divided from the pit by curtains of dark green plush velvet and rep, with deep fringes of lace at top and bottom. A number of mirrors were hung in front of this curtain, and then there came a staging of pot plants and flowers, with a green underground, which gate an, air of freshness to the display which it would not otherwise have possessed. By taking out some of the pit seats a promenade was secured, so that when tired of dancing the company might promenade right round the stage, and through the body of the house at pleasure. In the space under the dress circle cut off from view by the aforesaid curtain, tea, coffee, ices, and other light refreshments were served during the evening. The principal entrance to the Opera House was decorated with flowers and evergreens, and Chinese Innters were suspended from the ceiling all the way down to the stage door; and the wall at the back of the dress circle was draped with bunting all the way round. In going through the building, and observing the manifold conveniences it presented, there was no doubting the fact that the Ball Committee could not have made a better selection than the Imperial Opera House for a demonstration such as this ; indeed, there is no other place in the city which, for a similar purpose,

presents so many advantages. As on the occasion of the members’ ball last session, and the railway opening ball some months ago, so on this the furnishing and decorations were entrusted to Mr. William Nicholson of the old established furnishing warehousemCuba-street. These were carried out in the most satisfactory manner under the immediate supervision of his manager, Mr. J. L. Kimbell, and of the SubCommittee, consisting of Messrs. Werry, A. T. Maginnity, and Ames. The band was everything that could be desired. We predicted as much when we were informed that its organisation was entrusted to Mr. A. E. King, a gentleman who possesses not only musical attainments of a high order, but whose experience in this particular branch of his profession is of a very extensive kind. The other gentlemen composing the band are also first-class musicians, as their names will show : —First violin, Mr. A. E, King ; second violin, Mr. Isherwood ; piano, Mr. J. H. Parker ; double bass, Mr. E. Gaddy ; first cornet, Mr. Baker ; second cornet, Mr. H. Curry ; clarionet, Mr. Sewell. The following was the programme : Prima Donna ... ... ... Quadrille Brise dea Nuits ... ... ... Waltz Clicquot ... ... ... .. Galop

Trial by Jury ... ... ... Lancers Kincr Kinder ... ... ... Waltz Rose de Mai ... ... ... Polka Brisdesmaids ... ... ... Waltz Fille de Mdme. Angot ... ... Lancers Prestissimo ... ... ... ... Galop Bien Aim4s... ... ... ... Waltz Brifs St. Gervaia Lancers Sweethearts... ... ... ... Waltz Emily ... ... ... ... Polka Manolo ... , ... ... ... Waltz Original Lancers ... ... ... Lancers Star Showers ... ... ... Waltz Fizz Galop

Rentrrfs au Camp ... Polka Loved and Lost ... ... ... Waltz Wein Weil und Gesang ... ... Waltz

Clasping Hands ... ... ... Waltz At twenty minutes past 9 o'clock bis Excellency the Governor and suite arrived at the Imperial Opera House. They were received at the entrance by his Worship the Mayor and the other members of the Ball Committee, and their entrance on the stage was signalised by the band playing a bar of the National Anthem. Dancing was immediately afterwards commenced, the first set being as follows;—His Excellency the Governor and Mrs. Dransfield, his Worship the Mayor and the Hon. Lady Robinson, Captain Maxwell of H.M.S. Emerald and Mrs. St. John, the Hon. Mr. Fisher and Miss Robinson, Captain St. John and Mrs. Fisher, and the Hon. Littleton and Mrs. Levien. There were in all about 250 present. Dancing was maintained with spirit until midnight, when most of the company retired to supper in the vestibule ; but dancing was still kept up, and the ball continued until an early hour of the morning. It was anticipated that there would be about 400 present ; but possibly the inclement weather, which set in most inopportunely, may have had some influence on the attendance.