THE GOVERNOR'S BALL.

Southland Times, Issue 759, 4 December 1867, Page 3

THE GOVERNOR'S BALL.

The Argus of the 28th says : — The reception of the Prince over, the entertainments in his honor were begun last night by the Governor with a ball, and nothing was wanting in the Governor and his guests that could add to its success. The scene of the fete was the new Exhibition- building, which, handsome before, has undergone a surprising transformation, and greatly increased in beauty and convenience. At the northern end stood the canopied dais, on which His Excellency and Lady Manners Sutton stood, with the most illustrious of their guests, to rceive the others. It was not unfit for the Royal presence. Supported by slender twisted pillars was a mass of -filagree work in white 5 and gold, surmounted by the Royal arms, gorgeously emblazoned, and hung 'with crimson, and ceiled with white and blue satin. The walls on each side %ere adorned with warlike trophies, composed of a thousand or so of swords and bayonets disposed in patterns on the walls. Below and on the huge square pillars separating the naive and aisles were large mirrors all along the room, and between were festoons of fragrant green shoots of tea-tree and roses. Huge green plants in pots also served to occupy the vacant spaces and break the monotony of the vista. The painted walls and, roof of blue, but, and etruaean red, n§§d,Ci<i no ftfaMng lift mi wAw&

; "the effulgenee~"of the lustrous -gasC burners would have covered a world of shabbiness. It was not the gas-sunlights only that illuminated the room, but there was a sort of lesser glory of stars. Depending from the ceiling were some hundreds of small ga^-stars, which in the distance twinkled like Catherine wheels, and their scintillations produced an indescribably pretty effect. . Opposite the dais rose the gallery, hung with green wreaths and crimson cloth, and that point commanded the best view of the dazzling scene below. Along the • aisles were also rows of seats, draped in crimson. Dancers are human and have appetites, so our readers must accompany us to the supper-room too. Supper was laid in the old carriage annexe, but few traces were visible of its former use. The passage thither was hung with pink and white, set with rosettes in white metal. Anchors, , shaped with roses, were suspended from I the roof, and the place was lit with gas J stars. In the room beyond were five rows •• of tables, groaning with, good things. The caterer was Mr Miller (late Cockburn) of Collins-street, under fhe superintendence of Mr Bartlett, His Excellency's butler, and things were managed to accom--xnoda-tPi 700 gnftafca_a±_a time. .:.. lhe.mnsic . was provided by Mr Zeplinj whose admirable band comprised 30 performers, and the programme included the Duke of jffidinburgh Galop — a spirited and effective composition by Mr Zeplin himself. The ball began at nine o'clock, by which time the train of carriages reached from Latrobe-street to Collins-street — ; over half-a-mile — a state of things which continued some time. 2800 guests had been invited, 2500 had accepted their invitations, and it was no wonder there was a crush. The Prince, dressed in naval uniform, and wearing the ribbon of the Garter aad other orders, was among the first arrivals, and opened the ball. It was a quadrille, and the first set was thus composed : — His Royal Highness and Miss Manners Sutton, His Excellency and Mra J. G. Francis, General Sir Trevor Chute and Miss Mabel Manners Sutton, Mr Brierly and Mrs Hogg, Lord Newry and Miss Cole, Mr Haig and Mjbs Wilkinson, Mr Torke and Miss Pitt, and Col. Page with a lady whose name we did not ascertain. During the earlier hours, perhaps, the crowding was too great for comfortable dancing, but gradually, as people found their way into the other rooms, the hall and octagon were greatly relieved. This must have been to the high gratification of the ladies, most of whom had adopted the modern fashion of trains — graceful, but so incommodious that, as the small hours advanced, the triumphs of millinery seen in floating masses of gauzy or silken drapery were less and less, while the floor showed frequent signs of wrecked skirts. Such penalties — that is to say, the inconvenience to men, and the destruction to dress — were, however, not too much-to pay for the night's delight. We will not imagine what the dancers thought of their pleasure, but to mere observers the cowp d'ceil alone was a source of vast delight. There was' no common company before them. Almost all that the colony had of worth and station were there to meet the royal visitor — our highest officials, chietest politicians, foremost merchants ; in fact, our ablest and best. There were present nearly every member of the Ministry, many Executive councillors and members of both Houses of Legislature, officers, military and naval and volunteer, a large party from the Galatea, town and country mayors, presidents of shire councils, foreign consuls, and— which is unusual — a few clergymen, the Archdeacon of Castlemaine, the Rev. H. H. P. Handfield, and others. But these are only the outlines of an assemblage which was essentially comprehensive. It was not to be expected that the ladies were undistinguished either. They reached the highest colonial standard in female matters. Their toilettes were of the latest modes, the most exquisite elaboration, the most ravishing colors, and the most frightful expense, and set off by numerous types of that peculiar blooming beauty that is fast becoming essentially Australian. To look from the gallery at the thousands of figures gliding through the dances was a great treat, and one we shall probably never see surpassed in the lifetime of the present generation. Those who met each other in the promenade had only one remark to make, "Did you ever know anything so superb ?" At one o'clock the Prince and Lady Manners Sutton, with the Q-ovomor following, led the way to the supper-room, where it was soon shown how dancing and excitement sharpen the appetite. The first batch of dancers being refreshed, His Excellency proposed a few loyal toasts, viz., the Queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales.* They were reI ceived with trejnendous applause. His Excellency then said, — Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Health of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. (Here the company cheered till the room rang again, the applause subsiding, and swelling again for some moments). In proposing this toast, which at all times and under all circumstances would be received with enthusiasm by you, we have the peculiar advantage, and we have the deep gratification, of having His Royal Highness among us (renewed cheers), and 1 am sure his presence may be regarded by us as a proof of the interest which Her Majesty takes in her subjects in this part of her empire, and as a proof of His Royal Highness's desire to obtain a knowledge of the condition of some of Mb Royal mother's subjects in Australia, as well as a desire to promote their prosperity and union with the mother country. (Enthusiastic and repeated cheers.) I need say no more, unless I take upon myself, as I shall with confidence, to express to His Royal Highness the deep and warm — I can. hardly find words, indeed, to express the gratification we all feel, I call upon you to drink w the Health of Hii R-QyfclEigto! tta £uift9?Mub^rgb,

. and the rest of the Royal ' "Family. 1 : (Cheers.) i The toast having been drunk with more : cheering, The Prince (rising amid great cheer- : ing and waving of handkerchiefs, and , bowing to his Excellency) said, — Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you sincerely, in my own name as well as those of the i other members of the Royal Family, for the manner in which you have received ; this toast. If it is a source of gratification to you that I have paid this visit to Australia, I can only tell you that it has caused me the greatest possible pleasure to have been enabled to make this voyage, and visit this distant portion of Her Majesty's empire. I know from all that I have seen that I need not look far to find the most universal loyalty to Her Majesty's throne and person in every part of these colonies. (Renewed cheering for some moments.) Ladies and J gentlemen, I thank you sincerely for the | kind way in which" you have received | this toast." (Cheers.) • His Royal Highness then left the table with Lady Manners Sutton on his arm. In a few minutes the Duke's own piper was introduced, and a Scotch real was danced, the Prince taking his part. His partner was Mrs Panton. are at their acme. It has been, we may Bay, an occasion unexampled in colonial experience, but the inexorable conditions of a morning newspaper make further account impossible. ... The. recollection of the events of the night will doubtless be the brightest of the kind in many a life, and many more will associate the Prince's visit with ono of the most exciting and delightful balls they ever attended. Splendid as the Exhibition-building has seemed to be on former occasions of a somewhat similar kind, its crowning glory took place last night. So .brilliant an assembly has never been witnessed in the colony; It was more than the mere desire to enjoy a ball — more than the laudable wish to respond to the invitation of the highest personage amongst us, that drew the assemblage together ; and it may safely be said that a more pleasant night was never before spent in Victoria, even at a Governor's .ball.