SOCIETY

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 86, 6 May 1882, Page 116

SOCIETY

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— The ladies of Cambridge contemplate giving a return ball to the bachelors for the impromptu bread-and-butter " hop " of last week. — A Bachelors' Ball will take place at Helensville on the 26th, and is expected to be a great success. The young men are .devoting all their leisure to practising dancing. — In addition to receiving a certificate of merit for panels, Mr S. R. Kcesing also received a similar mark of recognition for his exhibition of fans at the Choral Hall. — Mr Mercer, son of the late Captain Mercer who was killed at Rangirin, will shortly be united to Miss Clarke, daughter of Mr W. Gr. Clarke, the well-known surveyor. The young couple will reside in Parnell. — A very successful bread-and-butter ball was given by a few of the Hamilton bachelors in the v oluntcer Hall last week. All the local ladies of ton were present, and the gentlemen were of course of the upper element. — There was another pleasant little dance at Mrs Ruck's, Parnell last week. Parnell society was exceedingly well represented and the evening would have been an enjoyable one but for an accident which seems to have turned out rather seriously. It appears Mr Menzies, during the dance, fell and struck his head violently against the floor. He was taken to his room immediately, and, beyond being slightly stunned, he did not seem to be much hurt. However, on medicaLadvice being obtained on the following day, he was .found to have sustained concussion of the brain. Dr Haines is attending the sufferer, who has our best hopes for a speedy recovery. — The Lawn Tennis tournament at Mr J. M. Clarke's "The Towers," Kemuerawas continued on the afternoon of Thursday, the 27th April. The pairs were Mrs Morrin and Mr Grace versus Miss F. Whitaker and Mr Severn, Miss Woolnough and Mr Hanmcr to play the conquerors. The game between the first pairs terminated, after a very even contest, in favor of Miss Whitaker and her partner, who were in turn defeated by Miss Woolnough and Mr Hanmer. The last named are therefore the winners of the tournament, which ended in the " survival of the fittest " the successful players being two of the most able exponents of the game in this province. — The dance held in the Public Hall, Otahuhu, on Thursday, April 27th, was a great success. Messrs Donald played excellent music. Messrs Breen and McCarty acted as M.C.s, to the satisfaction of all. Miss A. Kyle was dressed in cream sateen, with blue and silver jewellery, and was acknowledged to be the belle of the evening ; Miss Dam, black velveteen trimmed with satin j Miss M. Ryan, blue sateen ; Miss Bryan, cream and blue sateen, with silver jewellery, looked very attractive ; Miss Mcßory, black grenadine ; Mrs E. Kelly, carmelite, with flowers; Miss Clark, black merino ; Miss Donaldson, black merino ; Mrs R. Freeman, black silk, with cardinal bows ; Miss Fortzer, cream satin ; Miss Bolton, black merino, with fringe ; Miss Mulgrove, blue silk, with grey trimmings ; Mrs J. Badley, black figured silk j Miss Quinlen, black velveteen ; Miss C. McG-ee, white sateen ; Miss Smith, black lustre, trimmed with silk ; Miss A. Ryan, grey lustre, trimmed with a lighter shade ; Miss Pierce, blue silk, trimmed with black velvet. The dancing was simply superb. — The Ponsony Choral Society, which we bare pleased to learn now numbers 50 performing and , 30 honorary members, gave its first performance on Monday night at the Ponsonby Hall, under the conduetorship of Herr Carl Schmitt, and despite the wet weather was very well attended. Tho opening overture by the band, "La couronne dor," was exceedingly well played ; as indeed may also be said for their rendition of the " Meurtrier de St. Traast." The chorus " May Day" formed a fitting opening for the Choral Society, and was sung with great spirit ; but tho selection from "Athalie" was considered to be their best performance, and justly merited the rounds of applause the performers received. Mrs Upton and Miss Tole gave the solos. The other choruses given were " Hail us, ye free " and "Men of Harlech." Miss Halstead's selection from "Satanella" — "The power of love," with orchestral accompaniment — proved the gem of the evening, and was of course encored. She also sang with. much, taste, with Miss Tole, I " Tel Rammenti." Mrs Campbell sang "Ye happy birds " with good effect, and Mrs Judson gave " The distant shore." Mrs Upton contri- ! buted " Far away," and Mr Edwardes must be ' complimented on his song, "Madoline." As an I encore he substituted " Carissima." The society has a number of good voices, and we hope to hear great things of their doings in the future.