LADY CLARKE'S BALL.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 297, 8 September 1888, Page 3

LADY CLARKES BALL.

Of fche many exhibition that have delighted fashionable Melbourne Since the opening, I think (arguing as one who attended most of them) that Lady Clarkes ball on Tuesday last was the foremost and best. It took place in the Town Hall, and I don't ~ think •in point of decorations and display-, anything like it has been * seen , before in .Melbourne. The ball-i-oom,' balconies; halls and < corridors were absolutely ..^unrecognisable with- their wealth of artistic . adornment, and the flowers, shrubs,- mirrors, carpets, festoons, and drapery were something to be remembered. I hear the affair cost over a thousand pounds, and 1 can well believe it. 1 entei-ed into conversation with Sir William during the cour-e of the evening, and found him highly chatty and agreeable. The talk turned on the- coalfamine with which Melbourne is threatened, and he of course agreed with me in thinking* it was a deplorable state of affairs that Melbourne should be &o entirely dependent on Newcastle for her coal supply, when Victoria had miles of unprospected coal-bear-ing count! y in Gippsiand. "It re minds me of the story of the captain of a ship,*' said Sir William, " who eignalled. wildly to another vessel, ' We aredyingfrom want of water.' 'Then dip your buckets over the side and get it, you darned foot ?" was the reply. And he did. The ship was in the mouth of the Amazon, with hundreds of fathoms deep of fresh water round her at the time. This is exactly our position with regard to coal." So Sir William.- Whether the story is original or not I do not knoy, but I give it lor what it is worth, coming from so eminent a source. An exhibitor says that the New Zealand Court does not take his fancy either as regards position or attract] venes. It is generally thoughtthat business in Exhibition will not be at its height for at least a couple of months yet. On Saturday fche 18fch the attendance was as follows : — Paid_ admission at Is each, 22,152 ; free admission, £2,259 : total, £24,391 ; aquarium and dome (extra cost), 754; giving a total of £1J92 14s 9d receipts for the day. The visitors on the 19th were to be of higher grade, and is known as half-crown day, that is 2s 6d is chargedon this select day to all who seek admission. . To those who receive a free pass, a card is supplied but the visitor must place Jiia photo at the back to enable the doorkeeper to detect if the holder has traneferrecl ifc to a friend. This is certainly- ingenious enough, and unless your features agree with those in photo on back of card, you are liable to be dictated in a-fraud.