PIGEON BAY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIII, Issue 2804, 11 September 1903, Page 2

PIGEON BAY.

The first fancy dress ball, ever held in Pigeon Bay, took place on Tuesday evening last, in Messrß Goodwin Bros' great shed. Tho attendance was very large, and the whole affair a huge success. The assembly rooms, which are formed by the clearance of the upper Btorey of this enormous grass shed, are the very beau ideal ofjwhat a dancing hall should be. A lofty roof, a capital floor—polished to perfection—good lighting, refreshment and ladies' retiri; g room at one end, and card and gentleman's retiring room at the other, form a whole that satisfies every requirement. The otops up to the entrance used to be rather narrow, but to meet the case, the proprietors have now substituted wide and comfortable ones, so that every difficulty haß been smoothed over. Before tho last month or so, tbe different Committees had to find materials for the serving of refreshments, etc., but Messrs Goodwin Bros* have now purchased all that is needed, and are liberal and public spirited enough to let the Hall to residents requiring it, for the mere cost of lighting and insurance. Certainly by acting in this manner, these gentlemen have proved themselves public benefactors, deserving the thanks of all residents.

The Grand March was a sight to behold, and compated favourably with those of much larger centres, the proportion of good drebses being unusually large.

The following is a list of the principal cos tumes: —

Ladies—Miss M. Paton, Gipsy Countess; Miss M. Pettigrew, Grace DarliDg. Miss E. Fir.nston, New Zealand ; Miss Giles, Snow Queen ; Mi6s Knudsen, Sohool Girl; Miss M. Knudsen, Norwegian Girl ; Miss Kelly, Captain's Daughter ; Miss E. Lyall, Red Cross Nurse ; Miss Dixon, Ivy; the Misses Wells (2), Spanish Dancers ; Misß WilßOn, Ruination ; Miss Reynish, Shop Assistant; Miss L. Kelly, Flower Girl. Gentlemen—Mr D. McKay, Our Baby ; Mr W. Pettigrew. Cavalier ; Mr R. Pettigrew, Troubadour ; Mr J. Pettigrew, Christy Minstrel jMr J. Paton, clown ; Mr J. Kelly, Pirate King ; Mr G, Roynish. puss in boots ; Mr J. Reynish, sailor; Mr W. Firmston,"Royal Navy ; Mr G. Knudsen, time swagger ; Mr W. Knudsen, stockman j Mr A. Kuudsen, Sir Thomas Liptou ; Mr A. Staunton, nigger minstrel; Mr Geo. McKay, Gordon Highlander. Mr W. Pettigrew aoted as M.O. and per formed his difficult role with great amiability and excellent judgement. The music was provided by the two Miss Wells, oi Little Akaloa, who play capital dance music. Of course, many helped to make the dance a success ; but the one we noticed most, who seemed to be here, there and everywhere and never tire in his persisting eelf'abnega tion, was Mr Kelly. Mr E. Gloodwin also took great pains to see that everyone was thoroughly comfortable. The 'Franchise" dances, in which the ladies selected their partners from the gentlemen, were a great ource of pleasure and amusement. The refreshments were excellent and abundant and not the slightest jar marred the har mony of the proceedings

During a portion of the evening a cribbage match was played in the gentlemen's room on the stage, between the upper and lower ends of the Bay. There were six players on each side and the result was a vein for the upper end by one game, tho BCore9 being, upper end 16 gameß, lower 15 games. The dancing lasted all night and took in a great slice of the morning aB well. There was no balloting for the best dresses, and really so many were of great excellence, that it is invidious to particularise. Our reporter was particularly struck with Miss M. Pettigrew's oostume, as Grace Darling, a peculiarly appropriate dreßs, aB the night of the dauce was also the anniversary of the galiant deed of the heroine of the lighthousp. Miss M. Paton, Gipsy Couutesa; Miss Knudsen, school girl; and but, hut not leass. Miss Wilson's elaborate Ruination costume were all exceedingly admired. Amongst the gentlemen, the costumes of Messrs G, Reynish, as puss in bootß, D. McKay, as baby, tho M.C, as Cavalier, A. Knudsen, as Sir Thomas Lipton, and J. l'.itjn, as clown were specially notioeablo. Needless to say, there were a many ladies and gentlemen present—by far the greater proportion who were attired in ordinary evening dress

The weather wai all that could bo rtesired, and the first fancy dress ball, ever held iv Pigeon Bay, cau be looked back to by residents, as an unqualified success,