GREYTOWN HOSPITAL BALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5023, 11 May 1895, Page 3

GREYTOWN HOSPITAL BALL.

1 A BRILLIANT GATHERING. As time flows on, and year after fctyear comes round, the Hospital Ball *at Greytown still holds its sway, and the animal event, always looked V upon as one of the most brilliant successes of the season, loses none of its attractiveness. Old friends always make a point of attending to renew pleasant acquaintanceship, and have the annual chat with familiar faces, who for tho remainder of tlio year are lost sight of, and ' partially forgotten.in the midst of the. business and anxiety of every-day life. At every successive gathering, the happy faces of older residents arc missed from the scene, and their] places taken by the younger generation, and it is remarkable what changes occur in one short year. The Palace Hall is always scon at 1 its best on the occasion of tho Hospital Ball, so many willing hands being ever ready to work for such an object, and under the excelJknt generalship of that Prince of Mr I. H. Wood, there , is little wonder that visitors are agreeably surprised at the excellence of tho management in every detail. Nothing is left undone that would help to make the affair a success, and the substantial financial result which goes to swell tho funds of a deserving institution, is always warranted by the time and trouble taken by the small army of lady ami gentlemen workers who are directly responsible for the result. The Ball last evening, as a brilliant and representative gathering, was iu evory way fully equal to its predecessors, and that is saying a great deal. Fully one hundred and thirty couples were included in the gay and festive throng, nearly every nook and corner of the Wairarapa being represented. The galleries jfcraalso crowded with the more ■njtircd portion of the populaco, and if only to view the exquisite dresses which attired the majority of the dancers, it well repaid tho attend- , ance of lady visitors. The Hall was beautifully decor- . ated, bedecked as it was with Hags . and evergreens, and showed no end , of trouble bad been taken by those | responsible for this portion of the , work. The pretty effect produced j by the chrysanthemum archways | and bowers plainly evinced that , the ladies' handiwork had been called into requisition, and their | artistic devices were very highly ( commented upon. The floor, usually : a rather vexed question at like j affairs, was in capital order, ami ( even the most fastidioas had little so , complain of. The Committee have ' t gained a reputation in past years for obtaining the best music pro- 5 curable, and their effort on this . occasion was no exception to the | rule. The orchestra consisted of Messrs Smith (piano), Varnham j fjiible bass), Stowel (violin), and ( ignite (cornet), and their music i s universally praised on all sides, ( the selections being well chosen, f and played with such a brightness , that made it a pleasure to listen to ( them. Extra dances were also , admirably played during the ev?u- ' ins by Miss Fuller, Mrs McKenzie, , and Messrs Bunny and Williams, j The stippor, always a substantial ) item of interest - especially to those , who have travelled twenty or more ■ miles to be present-was up to the | usual standard of Greytown excellence, and under the capable management of an energetic ladies' committee loft nothing to be desired. Although the tables were relieved of their delicacies time after time, the liberality of our Lower Valley j friends seemed unending, and a very j substantial margin was still left to be disposed of by auction to-day. j The M'sC.-Messrs Wood, Bright, f fKenzie, and Toogood - were , atlyin evidence, and smoothed \ ir any bashftilness displayed by j backward dancers in the most acconi- , plished style, A programme of , twenty-eight dances was completed J about three o'clock this morning, ( t when the large assemblage dispersed | 1 for their various homes, thoroughly , impressed with the social and happy j gathering just ended, I