CANTERBURY.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 14, 2 July 1864, Page 3

CANTERBURY.

The following notice of a masquerade and fancy dress ball at Timaru, is taken from the Timaru Herald, of Ilth June : — "This ball (which we believe was the first of the kind in the Province), was held in the Mechanics' 'lnstitute, Timaru, on Tuesday evening last, and, contrary to general expectation, proved a great success, and reflected great credit on the originators of the affair, which was certainly rather a bold one to attempt ni a town of the size of Timaru. The ball-room was tastefully decorated, and lighted with three large chandeliers expressly obtained for the occasion. The supper was laid in the reading-room adjoining the large hall, and a most plentiful repast it was, but some inconvenience wa3 felt owing to the smallness of the room. No expenses evidently had been spared to give general satisfaction. About eight o'clock the band, attired in Garibaldiau uniform, entered the room, and shortly afterwards the pleasure seekers began to arrive, and by twelve o'clock upwards of 100 people must have been in the room, a great many of wham were in fancy costume — Church and State, army and navy, and almost every country in the woi-ld sent its representative. There were, of course, several officers of both army and navy, some of them very well got up indeed, and it was rather amusing to see a high dignitary of the Church dancing, and evidently very much delighted with an exceedingly pretty flower girl. A gentlemen dressedin the costume of aPerumerchant, preserved his incog, the whole of the evening. The dress and character of the Chinese mandarin, as also of 'Julius Caesar," were both admired and very well maintained ; but the Chinaman's tail was rather sharp, if you came' in too close contact with its possessor. A gentleman and his wife, as a peasant and Normandy maid, excited a good deal of admiration. Shakespeare was also represented by Hamlet being introduced upon the stage' by a rather diminutive looking 'gentleman, and if his father's ghost had appeared he would hardly have been able to have returned to -him his gaze amidst such a motely throng. One gentleman appeared without, a mask, dressed as a Spanish matador, whose get-up -was much admired. A lady dressed in ' the Venetian style acted her • part to perfection, Several ladies in Spanish dresses, a flower girl, and a nun graced the assembly.- : One gentleman in the character of an old London jarvey, would per- ' sist in getting passengers for the Derby, . but we regret to say that he quite forgot his numerous appointments. Some one who fancied the dress of a Maori chieft-ainess was exceedingly amusing, and persisted in making violent love,- in broken Maori, to an exceedingly bashful young gentleman, who had to beat a retreat from the room really frightened lest she should take him by .storm y. Dancing did not cease until nearly seven o'clock in the morning, everything passing off in theplea-: santest manner possible, and aU present, appearing highly satisfied with .the /;evening's : amusement.' We must again say. that greatcreditis due to the promoters of this haXLjJojr having; carried it: oufc'soi weU, in spite of the many obstacles which must necessarily exist in so small a -community to the success of such an;undertaking.":..'i ;■-..:.. U