HOSPITAL BALL,

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1359, 22 September 1883, Page 3

HOSPITAL BALL,

. A short time ago it occurred to a gentleman, who is ever one of the foremost in any * benevolent movement that may be on the tapis, that the Hospital stood in want of funds, and being of a highly practical turn of mind, he quickly devised a plan to meet the difficulty. The result was that about the end of last month Mr Weston spoke to several gentlemen,—congenial spirits with himself in any good cause—and the result of their deliberations were that the announcement went forth that a grand ball, under the patronage of both public bodies and the Volunteers, would be given in aid of that institution, which, above all others, has the strongest claim upon public generosity. A meeting w'as called, committees appointed, and everything put into working order. The Invitation Committee consisted of Messrs Warren, Boylan, and Skeet. The Catering Committee consisted of Messrs Weston, Davis, Warren, Townley, Cress well, Boylan, C. Ward, and Lewis. The Decoration Committee were Messrs Winter, Crawford, and Skeet. The Hall Committee were Messrs Warren and Weston. The following gentlemen were also appointed as a General Committee to further the object by their assistance : —Messrs Warren, Weston, Winter, Davis, Boylan, Skeet, Crawford, Lewis, Townley, A. O’Meara, f Wallace, J. Cooper, Faram, R. J. Cook, and H. E. Kenny. i Mr W. A. O’Meara and E. K. Brown was I appointed joint Treasurers, and Messrs Creswell and McKay Secretaries. The Catering Committee set to work most earnestly, and having secured the indispensable services of several energetic ladies, their labours have met with the most unqualified success, as the following list of donations will show Allanach and Hansen, 2 doz stout; Mrs Andrews, soup; Mrs Austin, goose f Mrs Aislabie, spiced beef; Mrs Brown, chicken pie; Mrs Berry, sponge cakes ; Mrs Brassey, ham; Mrs J. Bourke, blank mange ; Mrs Bailey, goose and 2 fowls ; Mrs C. D. Bennett, 4 tins fruit, tin pruens ; MisS Booth, cakes : Mrs Bousfield, steak pie and three doz jam tarts; Mrs Barnard, 2 lemon sponges ; Mrs Crawfoid, ham ; Mrs Croll, ham (cooked) ; Mrs W. Cooper, 4 [fowl; Central Butchery, corned beef and tongue : Mrs Chambers, 3 cakes, jam rolls and pair fowls; Common Shelton and Co, 6 bottles sherry; Mrs De . Lautour, chicken pie and apple tart; J. and r A. Davis, 21bs tea; Mrs Dickson, 2 bottles port wine ; Mrs Edmonds, ox tongue ; Mrs ( Evans, 4 fowls; Mrs R, Hill Fisher, lemon and orange sponges, patties, and tin of jam ; Mrs Forbes, pair fowls ; Mrs Featon, oranges and apples; Mrs Graham, mince pies and parsley ; Mrs Greenwood, tongue and cake ; Mr. A Graham, half-dozen claret and two bottles brandy; Graham, Pitt and Bennett, box Muscatel les and lollies ; Mrs Hill, leg of pork ; E. P. Joyce, 2 bottles port wine ; Mrs Johnston, 3 turkeys; H. Lewis, box of biscuits ; W. Matthewson, 2 bottles wine ; Miss Morgan, 2 chicken pies ; J. Maynard, joint roast beef; Mrs Matthews, pair fowls and ox tongue; Miss Nesbitt, pie ; Mrs Nolan, 10 jellies; Mrs J. O’Meara, ham; Mrs Pollen, trifle, tipsy cake, cream and mould ; Mrs Porter, ham ; Mrs Knight, ham ; Mis Rees, pig and four fowls ; Mrs Shrimpton, oranges ; Mrs C. Smith, pies and patties ; Mrs Scott, turkey ; Mrs Teat, seed cake, * cheese cake and jam tarts ; Mrs E. K. Brown, ham ; Mrs Skeet, 2 blanc manges and 2 jellies ; Mrs Boylan, roast of beef and cakes ; 1

Mrs E, O’Meara, quarter of lamb, salad and custard ; Mrs Leggatt, 2 tongues, 2 murans and salad ; Mrs J. Sunderlaid, 2 jellies ; Mrs Ward, Jjrifle; Mr Beresford, doz of stout; Mrs J. Berry, fruit pie ami tartlets ; Mrs Reardon, box of eggs ; Mrs W. Stevenson, 2 pair fowls ; Mrs Sunderland, box of eggs, corned beef and 4 turkeys ; Mrs Sheriff, apples; Mrs Tutchen, 2 fowls ; Mrs Walsh, pair turkeys ; Mrs Webb, cake ; Mrs Weston, 2 cakes, 2ox tongues, pair fowls; Mrs Wilson, 2 bottles port wine ; Mrs Shelton, 2 fowls ; McGowan, large cake; Allanach, four jellies. The tables were laid for 74. Should any omission occur in the foregoing list, our readers must hold us blameless, as we have done our best to render it accurate and complete. The great success shown in the catering list is mainly owing to the energy displayed by Mrs Pollen and friends in the town, and Messrs Weston and Davis for the more outlying districts. On Thursday night Messrs Crawford, Weston, Skeet, Pollen, Warren, Boylan, Lewis, Townly, and others, might have been seen busily engaged decorating the hall with flags and evergreens, and the result of their combined skill and taste is that the hall presented a most pleasing appearance. The catering was placed under the able superintendence of Mr James Craig. The orchestral performance was undertaken by Messrs Cox, piccolo ; Faram, cornet ; and Bherriff, pianoforte, who generously proffered their services gratuitously. Mr Townley kindly lent a quantity of furniture which greatly added to the comfort of the ladies and the general appearance of the place. THE BALL. The guests begun to arrive very punctually and before nine o’clock the hall was pretty well filled. The hall presented a most pictueresque appearance which was heightened by the varied and becoming costumes of the ladies. The floor was in splendid condition, and the numerous couples were not slow to avail themselves of the opportunity to enjoy a dance under the most favourable conditions The music, for which of the names gentlemen above menioned was a sufficient guarantee, was entirely without a single fault, and in the catering Mr Craig excelled himself upon this occasion, and he certainly deserves the highest recommendation and credit for the masterly manner in which he performed bis duties. As we go to press we leave the numerous assembly to their enjoyment, feeling confident that the Hospital Ball of 1883 will long be remembered as one of the most brilliant and successful ones of the year. We beg to thank Mr Craig for his kindness in supplying us with all the information in his power, and must say that his kindness in this respect stands out in marked contrast to the reticence displayed by some other gentlemen, who seem to think that everything under their control must needs be carried out in the usual holo and corner style. The present instance is only one of many that are becoming far too frequent.