TEMUKA CALEDONIAN SOCIETY

Temuka Leader, Issue 2391, 27 August 1892, Page 2

TEMUKA CALEDONIAN SOCIETY

ANNUAL BALL. The annual ball in connection with the Temuka Caledonian Society took place on Thursday night in the Volunteer Halls, Temuka. The large Drill Shed was utilised as a ball-room, and, beautified as it was by Mr T. Gunnion, was hardly recognisable. The walls were covered with canvas, which effectually altered their appearance, and added to the com- ; fort of those present by excluding draughts, and the bareness of the covering was relieved by tasteful devices of fern' fronds, which were arranged in the shape Prince of Wales' feathers, hearts, crowns, etc. From the roof depended flags of all nations, conspicuous amongst which were the handsome bannera of the society, the national insignia of Scotland, England,,' and Ireland. At the West end of the building was erected a patform for the musicians, and this was decorated with ferns, and in the corners of the. room, were some glorious specimens of the tree fern, obtained by Mr Gunnion from some remote bushes known only to himself. The building was well lighted, and the floor well waxed. Nothing, in fact, was wanting to make the aspect of the room complete, and Mr Gunnion, who by the way was assisted by Mr Newbury, is to bo congratulated upon the effect he producad. The society certainly did wisely in securing his services for decorative purposes. The orderly and other rooms were utilised for retiring and dressing-rooms, and the smaller hall was devoted to the refreshment department, very fitly entrusted to Mr McCaskill, who has on previous occasions catered in a very satisfactory way for the society. The supper-room was also neatly decorated, and throughout the evening, as well as at the customary interval, r-ef:peshments were readily procurable. Given a spacious hall, a good floor, a capital attendance, and the wants of the inner man duly provided for, the only other requirement for an enjoyable dance is good music, and nothing better could be expected than that provided by Mr Oaxthy (v.olin), who was assistiQd by

Meßsrs Colville (viola), and Levens (piano). The music was tasteful, varied, and played in time, and the result was that the dancing was thoroughly enjoyed. The Grand March was advertised to take place at half-past eight, but it was probably nearly nine before a move was made. Then, to the music of the pipes of A McKay, of Laghmohr, the march was started, Mr A. M. Clark, the President, leading a procession of about 100 couples. Unod these colored limelight was thrown, and the effect upon the varied costumes was particularly pleasing. A glance at the circle showed a variety of characters represented. The President appeared in Higluand garb. Near him was another chieftain in the person of "the McLean," of Laghmohr (who, by the way, iu the course of the evening showed how a Highland fling should be danced), and further on came "Bunthorne," with an " Evening Star," " Flora McDonald," " Nancy Lee," " Lady Margaret Macdonald," Navals in plenty, uniforms galore, a sprinkling of "Gentlemen of the Nineteenth Century," Jockeys, Footballers, and so forth, and such a collection of fancy costumes that one requires to have bean present to realise the effect. Some were more striking than others. For instance, two somewhat diminutive individuals appeared as representatives of the bookmaking fraternity, and their costumes, as well as the inimitable manner in which they called the odds, elicited much amusement. Another well-sustained character was that of an Ethiopian, who managed to fill the intervals between the dances with a lot of harmless fun. With so many fair ladies in such varied and choice costumes it is not only invidious, but practicully impossible to say who should take pride of place, and as a matter of fact opinions were much divided. One prominent member of the society (as yet unmarried, whose opinion is believed, at least by himself, to be infallible) has selected some twenty as taking a first position, and he was endeavouring all Friday,as far as our reporter knows, is {still endeavouring to settle their rival claims by means of a lottery carried on with a little leather box, and some cubes of ivory. When he has settled the matter our readers shall know who was the belle, in the meantime the question is reserved. The directors, gaining experience from former years issued to all present tickets, upon which they were invited to mark the characters they represented, and a description of the costume. From these the list which is subjoined is compiled. It is not complete, but should give a fair idea of the dresses, etc. It may be mentioned that the society is indebted to Mr Bullock, the agent of the N.Z.S. Company, for the use of flags, aud the directors also appreciate the attendance of many visitors from a distance. The officials, one and all, worked assiduously to promote the comfort of those present, and the secretary, Mr G. H. Mogridge, was as usual a host in himself: careful in detail, and exercising a general supervision over the whole arrangements. The following is a list of the characters, Miss Klee, evening dre3S ; Miss Campbell, evening dress —cream cachemere, light lace, pink ribbon; Miss Jessie Bisset (Orari), "Fairy Queen"— white dress, yellow sash, sleeves and wings; Miss Gillespie (Timaru), "Red Cross Nurse " ; Miss Mona Bissett, " Oriental Dancer,"—blue skirt, black velvet corslet, fez cap; Miss E. Erwood, " Fair Maid of Perth" ; Miss F. Ellis (Timaru), evening dress —blue delaine, trimed with Surah silk; Miss Ada Erwood, " Folly " —gold cap, red bodice, red and gold and black itert, mm Ms* Mm Bdith Vlark, «iadp of 20th Century"—dead rose liberty silk; Miss Ada Beckmgham (Timaru), " Carmen " —red and black velvet; Miss M. Lyons, "Spanish Donna "—embroidered skirt, black bodice, trimmed with black lace, and red poppies; Miss M. McCullough, " Miss Middy " serge costume, white vest, gold buttons, aud middy cap; Miss Bisset, "Normandy Bride"—white skirt, blue sleeves, Mue cap, and veil; Miss Mary McCaskill, " Christmas " —white dress trimmed with frosted holly ; Miss M. Stevenson /Levels), pal© blue evening dress; Mi-s McAlaster (Pleasant Point), evening dress in black silk; Miss Nelly (Pleasant Point), "Flower Girl"- Mis'* Connie Adams (Pleasant Point)', "ik^Me-Not" ; Mjss Scobie (Pleasant Point,V " Magpie"; Mrs A. Adams (Pleasant Poi;;t),«Silver Wattle ; Miss Nelly Thompson (^unedm)' Jenny Wren "—brown and gold; Miss Stevenson (Levels), evening dress in °ld £ old > Mrs Tombs (Temuka), evening Cob*ume—cream silk, trimmed with golden brV? wn velvet; Miss Eva Cox, "Watteau Costume " ; Miss Maud Cox, " Archery Costume "; Miss Macpherson, " Swiss Peasant " ; Miss Thompson (Orari), " Chrysanthemum " ; Miss E. Ellis (Temuka), "Evening Star"—a very pretty costume of pale blue nun's-veiling, with silver gilt stars and crescent, train and veil; Miss M. Russell, "Boating Costume"—white serge, trimmed with pale blue; Miss Bruce," Bachelor of Arts, Canterbury College"; Mrs Heap, " Yeomanry Cavalry Officer " —scarlet, black and gold; Miss Gaffaney (Temuka), "Italian Countess"; Miss Hay (Epworth), "French Peasant"; Mrs W. Rutherford (Amuri), "Duchesß of Montrose" —grey brocaded satin dress, white and gold embroidered front, Montrose tartan, Watteau bow; Miss Clark (Arowhenua), " Nancy Lee " —blue and white striped skirt, navy-blue jacket, sailor collar and cuffs, white and gold braid, pale-blue tie, and sailor hat; Miss Hay (Kakahu), evening dress; Miss Morrison (Ashburton), evening costume in cream ; Mrs A. M. Clark (Arowhenua), evening dress —black merveilleux; Mrs Henry (Temuka), " Lady Margaret Macdonald " black dress, trimmed with ermine and crown; Miss Chisholm (Timaru), evening dress in black, with tartan sash; Miss Py3, " Spring "—green and white costume; Miss S. Gaffaney, evening dress in cream and white; Miss S. Campbell (Temuka), evening dress, cream and pale green, trimmed with white lace; Miss Watt (Temuka), " Italian Peasant Girl" —blue skirt, red-striped velvet corslet slashed with gold, muslin chemisette, Roman apron; Miss Elsie Bisset (Orari)," Flora Macdonald"—tartan skirt, red jacket, gold braid and buttons, threecornered hat trimmed with ermine ; Miss Orton (Pleasant Point), evening dressblack brocaded skirt, lace body, relieved with scarlet; Mrs Mogridge (Temuka), evening dress of heliotrope muslir. ; Mrs Gaze (Temuka), " Swiss Peasant" ; Mr A. Mackay (Ashburton), Mackenzie Tartan ; Mr W. J. West (Pleasant Point), "K'rectCard"; Mr T. Cowan (Temuka), Naval; Mr R. Lee, Boating Costume; Mr J. M. Naughton, Royal Stuart Tartan; Mr T. Mulhern, « Man-o'war's-Man"; Mr J. Bradley, "First Mate Mercantile Marine " ; Mr A. Bissett, Naval Uniform; Mr R. Mackenzie, Timaru Navals Uniform ; Mr H. Jackson (Pleasant Point), "Melbourne Bookie"; Mr R, Bissett, McDonald Tartan; Mr H. Robson (Pleasant Point), " South Carolina Nigger Summer Dross" ; Mr J. McCaskill, "Seaman" ; Mr F. Denby (Ashburton), Bunthorne (from Patience)—brown velvet small clothes

and tunic, aesthetic wig and ho-id gear (a very neat costume) ; Mr A. W. Gaze, « Yachtsman "—blue jersey, zingari cap; Mr Jas. Findliiy, Junr., Mess Uniform T.R.V.; Mr C. Vomall, Fire Brigade Uniform ; Mr W. Wakefield (P. Point) " Jockey " ; Mr J. Best, (I\ Point), "Banner Allen's

Clerk"; Mr R. McKinley, "Fat from Mullingar "; Mr D. Maclean, (Laghmohr), "Maclean Tartan"; Mr J. Lawson, " Highland Laird " ; Mr A. M. Clark, (the President), Highland Costume Macpherson tartan, plaid, and kilt; Mr J. Henry, " Captain of Fire Brigade " ; Mr W". McCallum. "Spanish Count"; Mr M. Dimond," Temuka Football Club uniform"; Mr W. Cooper, "Undergraduate Canterbury College." A number of those present, both ladies and gentlemen, appeared in ordinary evening dress, and many of these did not furnish their names to the stewards.