SOCIETY

Observer, Volume 6, Issue 156, 8 September 1883, Page 16

SOCIETY

The ball -which look place at Huntley was a success, considering the unfavourable weather. There " were many visitors from Taupiri and Ngaruawahia. The most noticeable dresses were those worn by Miss Hammond, wine-coloured nun's veiling, fur trimmings ; Miss M. Hammond, navy-blue lustre, trimmed with cream lace ; Miss Harris, black cashmere, velvet trimmings ; Miss Gall, maroon cashmere ; Miss Thompson, black cashmere skirt, satin body. A lady correspondent supplies the followiflg dresses worn at the late concert at Tauranga : — Mrs Crump, brown silk, gold jewellery ; Mrs Simkins, black velvet, cardinal roses ; Mrs Chailes Jordan, black silk, cream bonnet ; Mrs Morris, black silk, gold necklet ; Mrs K. Home, cardinal velvet ; Mrs Cormons, black velvet, Spanish lace ; Mrs Purvis, black silk and satin ; Mrs Carr, grey I silk ; Misses Vercoe, black velvet and cream lace; Miss Louch, grey costume ; Miss Home, peacock- <■ blue cashmere ; Misses Fleetwoods, black velvet costumes ; Misses Mauleys, black cashmere and satin ; Miss Barber, dark green satin ; Miss Mary Sellars, black dress, tartan trimmings ; Miss Ellis, peacock-blue costume. Of the performers, to my taste, Miss Smith and Miss E. Alleby. looked the best, the former being dressed in a pretty costume of fawn cashmere, and the latter in black, silk and white trimmings. A very enjoyable party was given in the Newton Hall last Friday evening by Mr P. Somerville, to celebrate the advent of his 21st birthday. About forty couple were present. Dancing, interspersed with games and songs, etc., kept everyone in good humour. Everyone enjoyed themselves ; and the assembly broke up at 4 o'clock a.m. The following are the dresses worn by a few of the ladies : — Miss Peterson, black velvet skirt, and satin bodice ; Miss Moyles, black cashmere, trimmed with black satin ; Miss Hudson, pink sateen ; Aliss B. Letham, black velvet, and silver ornaments ; Miss Marston, black lustre, trimmed with black satin ; Mrs Clifford, black silk, and gold ornaments; Miss Woods, black cashmere and satin ; Miss Eobens, satin skirt, black bodice ; Miss J. Letham, black velvet ; Miss Maxwell, peacock -green '; Miss Fatheringham looked very nice in mourning. The Wanganni-Alexandra Cavalry's annual ball took place on the 25th August, and was a genuine success, as this popular company's usually are. All the arrangements were perfect, and reflected great credit upon the management committee. The secretary especially (Mr A. E. Lewis) worked with an amount of zeal that seemed indefatigable; but, unfortunately, soon after the opening of the ball, a re-action set in, and lie fell a victim to an epileptic fit, to which he has of lute become subject. It has been customary, at balls of this description, to have the services of one of the two brass bands ; but this time an innovation was introduced in the shape of a string band, which, although the music and time left nought to be desired, could not be said to be an improvement. The opening quadrille was somewhat marred by being danced in the Parisian manner, unknown to the musicians, and, as a consequence, the harmony between band and dancers became occasionally disturbed. The catering could not have been improved upon ; the refreshments were both varied and numerous, and succeeded in outliving all the attacks made upon them. The attendance was very considerable, about 130 couple — rather too large for comfortable dancing, and often occasioning careful and delicate manipulation of partners and space. The Drill-hall, where the gay and happy throng assembled, was a culminating triumph of the decorative art; flags and banners, ferns and foliage, and designs emblematic of war and peace, being distributed with such admirable taste and profusion that singly and combined " they lent enchantment to the view." In such a 'large assemblage, where every grade of society is represented, from "the high-born lady" (if any) to her hired help, the task of choosing the belle is exceedingly difficult. A great majority of the ladies present were dressed with due regard to neatness and effect, white being the most popular colour. The following may be taken as a fair representation :— Miss A. Gordon : Corset of pale pink brocaded silk, skirt of nun's cloth to match, with trimmings of white lace, and silver ornaments. Mrs Marcus : Amber satin bodice, chemisette pattern, edged with black lace, and trimmed with red andjgvhite roses, skirt of black satin slashed with|||||jr. Miss Young : Dress of light blue nun's 01^^ the skirt being covered with squares of brown velvet. Miss Rapley : Dress of white Irish poplin, with large cardinal ribbon bows at back of waist and on right shoulder, hair in pleat, and tied with same. Mrs Foster.Bodice of Cambridge blue satin, with aesthetic sleeves and pale blue lace skirt. Miss Foster : Corset of cardinal satin, with short gathered sleeves, and trimmed with gilt buttons, white muslin skirt with cardinal bars, and necklet of pearls and hand bouquet. Miss Betsy Cameron : Brocaded satin, bodice, old gold, and pale pink silk skirfc. Miss Janie Cameron : Blue sateen dress trimmed with white satin and real lace. Miss Mary Cameron : Dress of black silk, trimmed with blue satin and real lace. Miss Watt : White satin corset, laced, with low body and aesthetic sleeves, white muslin skirt, with white lace trimmings and pearl necklace. Mrs J. Taylor (of Wellington) : Black silk dress, trimmed with white Maltese lace, and belt and necklace of white pearls. Miss Bryce : White satin bodice, square cut front, trimmings of white fur, white muslin dress, with silver leaves, and necklace of silver beads. Mrs Lomax : Lavender and pink silk dress, with ruJUe trimmings of same colours. Miss Jenny if uthan : Pale green sateen corset, skirt of white silk, necklet of large silver plates, and locket attached. Mrs Couchman : Slatecoloured silk dress, with low neck, and trimmed with deep white lace. The new regulation scarlet uniforms oil the two townjjfle coups added considerably to the beauty and effect of the surrounding colours, and formed no mean part of the attractive kaleidoscopic picture; . The programme, which consisted of 26' dances, was gone

through with spirit, and kept the dancers busy till an early hour the next morning.

Our Napier corresjjondent sends the following : — A Fancy Dress Ball, which concludes for this season those pleasant monthly gatherings of the Hawke's Bay elite, known as the Winter Dances, was held in the Theatre Royal, Tennyson-street, Napier, on the 17th August, and was the best of that kind ever held here. The sight was most gorgeous, everything being well represented, from the 15th century down to slavery in the United States and our grandam of the present day. The ! room was well- decorated with flags and ever- J greens. The viands and music were excellent. There was an immense number present, and the dresses were all in capital taste. I shall describe as well as I can a few of the richest costumes worn by the ladies : — Mrs "Wellwood, as Fatima, wore blue and old gold satin, trimmed with old gold lace and ornaments, blue shoes, and the orthodox head-gear e.n suite ; Mrs J. P. Hamlin, as a Lady of the 17th Century, wore a handsome quilted undcr-skirt of blue silk, with over-dress of silk pompadour, and a beautiful fair court wig ; Mrs Blythe, as Medora, wore a very rich dross of blue and white satin, trimmed with wide gold fringe and gold lace, blue satin shoes, and gold anklets ; Miss Bendall, as Preciosilla, wore a pretty short blue silk dress, trimmed at the edge with black velvet and silver stars and moons, black velvet and bodice, white chemisette, large hat lined with blue, and well trimmed with flowers ; Miss Bell, as Alaric, wore black 'velvet, with a little red, and trimmed with gold sequins, etc., ' armlets and bracelets connected by chains made of gold beads, sequins and sjsanglos on her neck, she wore a pretty' sequin chain and other ornaments, and red cap ; Miss White, as Grrace Darling, wore navy-blue and cardinal, carrying a life buoy, oar, and lighted lantern, and on her head the pretty red fishing cap : Miss Minna Chapman, as Marguerite, was well got up in blue and white cashmere, her pretty hair showing to advantage in the Marguerite plaits ; Miss Ling, as Maid of Athens, wore a magnificent dress, the underskirt of scarlet silk, the train over-dress, with its very long hanging sleeves, was of ivory-white clinging cashmere, trimmed with gold lace and gold stars, showing in the front a little scarlet : above the other body, which was topped with large silver beads on her neck and arms, she wore some lovely jewellery, her belt was white silk, with gold flowers painted on it, and fastened low in front with a gold ornament, white boots ; Miss Kelly, as Satanella, wore a rich and handsome costume ; the body of green velvet (rimmed with deep gold lace and gold fringe, the breast being covered with gold stars and crescents ; the long hanging sleeves and upright collar lined with pink satin, spangled and trimmed with gold fringe ; the skirt was short and made of white satin, profusely trimmed with gold fringe, lace, spangles, stars, etc. ; pink stockings, and high green kid boots ; armlets and bracelets connected with chains ; black wig. With regard to general get up. this latter young lady was the most successful, I think ; but, however, it was a xcry close shave between Satanella and the Maid of Athens. As regards disguise, Miss Campbell as Topsy, Mr Arlyon as Uncle Tom, Mr Harrop as a Druid, Mr Bogle as Pirate King, and Mr Blythe as the Knight of Malta, were so thoroughly beyond recognition that they would have non-plussed even a Yankee detective. Mrs Blythe's was decidedly the best dress in the room — a real genuine dress, a dress that has seen a hundred fights, and must have cost some hundreds of pounds. Next came Mr Tanner's, another genuine one, tiiat of an Egyptian Seis. The chief event of the evening was the appearance of Mr Kennedy, as a hurdy-gurdy man ; everyone turned and looked at him with wonder and — no, not admiration, but amazement; and now for the others : — Miss Baynes, Grandmother ; . Miss Beamish, Folly ; Mr J. By, Toreador ; Mrs M.S. Bell, Spanish Lady; Miss A. Bell, Sunflower (not so successful as her sisters) ; Miss Bell, Alaric ; Miss JR. Bell, Daughter of the .Regiment (:i dress that suited her capitally) ; Miss Bendall, Preciosilla ; Mr Bogle, Pirate King ; Mrs Bogle, Harlequinette ; Mr Blythe, Knight of Malta ; Mrs Blythe, Medora ; Miss Braitwaite, Swiss Peasant; Miss A. Braitwaite, Soubrelte; Miss Campbell, Egyptian Girl ; Miss M. Campbell, Cherry Ripe ; Miss A. Campbell, Topsy ; Mr Carlyon, Uncle Tom ; Miss Carlyon, Prussian Peasant ; Mr R. Carter, Turk ; Miss Coulton, Juanita ; Mr Chambers, Don Ccesar : Miss Chapman, Fisher-girl ; Miss M. Chapman, Marguerite ; Miss Couper, Hospital K urse ; Miss Crowley, Paysanne Normande ; Mr Donnelly, Windsor uniform ; Miss Donnelly, Neapolitan Orange Girl'; Miss Ellison, Flower Girl (a very good get-up) ; Mr Ellison, Yachtsman; Mr W. J. Finch, Albanian Chief ; Miss G-lceson, Mercy Merrick ; Mr J. K. G-oudy, Windsor uniform; Mr Gregory, Footballer; Mr J. P. Hamlin, Windsor uniform ; Mrs J. P. Hamlin, Lady oil 17th century ; Mr Harrop, Druid ; Miss Hitchings, Lady Barbara Yelverton (a good getup) ; Miss K. Hitchings, Old-fashioned G-ivl ; Mr J. B. Kells, Stockman ; Mr J. D. Kelly, Captain N.Z. Militia; Miss Kelly, Satanella; Miss Kennedy, Flo Aver Girl ; Miss M. Kennedy, Hospital Nurse ; Mr F. Kennedy, Highland Captain ; Mr R. A. King, Lieut. Napier Rifles ; Miss Ling, Maid of Athens ; Mrs Logan, Incroyable ; Mr C. L. Mackersey, Italian Fisher ; Mr L. M. Mackersey, Windsor uniform ; Mr P. McLean, Ischian Fisherman ; Mrs P. McLean, Greek Girl (a very good dress) ; Miss N. McLean, Roman Peasant; Miss M. McLean, Dorothy Fox ; Mr J. A. . McLean, Arab ; Mr J. Moore, Venetian Soldier ; I Mr E.P. Mountfort, Continental Peasant, delightfully vague but yet true ; Mi- N. A. D. Mow bray, Grosvenor ; Mr F. Newton, Yachting costume ; Mr W. Newton, Sailor ; Mr Nichols, a Page ; Miss Yachting Costume ; Miss Ormoud, Flower Girl: Mr F 7 Parker, Sailor, H.M.S. Basilisk; Mr T. Philson, Masher ; Mrs Rawliuson, Lady Nineteenth Century ; Miss Rich. Undergraduate ; Mr Richardson, Circassian ; Mr Salmon, Jockey ; Mr Sevvell, Sea Pirate ; Mr T. Sidey, Modern Court dress ; Mr Duncau, Dress of the Millennium ; Mr W. Tabuteau; Courtier time of Charles 11. ; Miss Tanner, Worcester China; Mr E. Tanner, Egyptian Leis ; Mr C. Tanner, Sailor Normande'; Mis 3 Taylor, Puritan ; Mr A. Tho'm"ps6n, ; 'Ralph Rackstraw; Mr E. Tuke, Huntsman ;. $lrs Tuke, Preciosa; Miss Tuke, " Grace Darling t Mr H. T. Warren, Jack

Tar ; Miss White, Grace Darling ; Mr Wellwood, Bluebeard ; Mrs Wellwood, Fatirna ; Miss White, Lcdy Teazle j Miss E. Williams, Violet ; Miggonton, Melissa. Those in evening dress were — Miss Adams, Mr H. Baker, Mr Beamish, Mr and Mrs Brassey, Mr M. S. Bell, Miss Bower, Mr J. B. Braithwaite, Mrs Chapman, Mr and Mrs G. P. Donnelly, Mrs P. L.Donnelly, Mrs Ellison, Miss Goudy, Mr Logan, Mr Mackay, Mr Milton, Mrs Parker,. Mi* Potts, Miss Pelichet, "Mrs Rhodes, Mr and Mrs T. Farmer. Mr and Mrs H. White, Mr A. Williams, Mr H. C. Wilson, and Mr Wiggontoa. Dancing was kept up with great spirit until half-pa9t two. Mr G-. Garry's band supplied the music, and Mr J. Johnson the supper and refreshments. Mr W. Bogle, our worthy secretary, saw, as he never fails to do, that every want was supplied ; indeed, it is quite apparent that Mr Bogle is the right man in the right place.