THE POSTER BALL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1197, 4 August 1911, Page 9

THE POSTER BALL.

TOWN HALL LAST EVENING. The Town Hall has of late been the scene of many brilliant functions, and the poster ball held there last evening (for the object of assisting the funds of the Society for the Health of Women and Children) must certainly be numbered among them. It was rjwite the first time that such a ball had been held in Wellington, and the novelty of the idea had aroused a considerable amount of interest and speculation, both among those who intended taking an active part in the actual event, and among those who intended 'playing tho part of mere spectators. Of the latter, there were very many, all occupying seats in tho gallery, and .keenly .criticising the posters when the time came for the poster march. The floor of tho big hall presented a gay and animated appearance, exclamations and laughter sounding from all sides as unfamiliar apparitions made their appearance in clusters, or in twos or threes. There were a large number of postersfar more than was at first expected—and seme of the dresses were really beautifully carried out to the last unimportant detail. There were somo in, fancy dress also, but not n large proportion, and a great many others were in ordinary evenIng dress. The vivid colouring of many of the dresses was quite in keeping with the decorations of the hall, which were of red, blue, and white muslin, draping the front of the gallery, and dividing it into alcoves. All of them were carpeted and furnished with comfortable couches and chairs. The front of the stage had also been draped, and carpeted, and furnished for the occupation of the vioeregal party, with the musicians stationed at one side of it. It was in the 6upper room that the greatest decorath-e effect was to bs seen, and it has seldom looked prettier than it did last evening. The. festoons of lycopodium, starred with red poppies, and carried from the central electrolier to the sides of the wall, were very, light, and graceful looking, and so were the festoons to be seen on tho outside of the gallery. All the lights were shaded, and covered with lycopodium, and the pillars wreathed, with tho same invaluable and (apparently) never-failing creeper. Tho stage was particularly pretty, the front of it being covered with foliage, and with baskets and big loops of red berries, camelias and foliage. / A great many of the tables were entirely decorated with white and yellow narcissi, and others with pink and cerise camelias. An exoollent supp-er was supplied by Mr. J. Godber.

The committee responsible for the ball and all its arrangements was formed by Dr. Platts-Mills (tho president .of the society]f,. wearing a dress of gold tissue with an overdress of nattier blue union embossed with gold; Mrs. C. Richardson (secretary), wearing black satin with an overdress of embroidered net; Mrs. F. Lectio (treasurer), in black velvet with touches of silver embroidery; Mrs. Corrigan, heliotrope satin with tunic frock of embroidered . ninon; Mrs. M'Vicar, blnck satin relieved with cream lace; Mrs. Lan Duncan, in frock of embossrd brown velvet with gold embroidered net sleeves; Mrs. Klgar, white satin with a deep border of blnck satin and an overdress of Mack lace; Mrs. Coull, white satin with bands of red on the skirt and an overdress of black ninon; Mrs. Winder, black satin and Maltese lace scarf; Mrs. Kirkcaldie, black and white, frock with touches of vieux ro.-e; Mrs. A. H. Atkinson, black velvet with cream lace; Mrs. W. J. Grey, black satin with an overdress of black embroidered niiion; Mrs, Corliss, emerald satin 'with tunic frock of black ninon; Mrs. J. Tripe, most picturesque as a lady of the eighteenth century in white satin and powdered hair; Mrs. Fitchett, white satin with overdress ft white lace j Mrs. F. M. B. Fisher, blue

satin with ninon overdress and white lace; Mrs. Kane, "Powder and Patches," with black and white floral petticoat, panniers of block silk, and black silk bedice with fichu of exquisite lace; Mrs. T. G. Macnrthy, "lady Teazle," with blue quilted satin petticoat, Ixxlice and panniers of pink brocade, and large black velvet hat with a plunie; Mrs. D. Jacksou, pale blue frock with embroideries; Mrs. Gordon Reid, pale blue satin frock with panniers of embroidered ninon; Mrs. iveil AT Lean, black satin with white lace; Miss Clark, white satin with tunic frock of palest blue striped ninon; Miss M'Lellan, pale blue frock.

Their .Excellencies, Lord and Lady Islington, who arrived a little while after the ball commenced, were received by the committee, and Lady Islington was presented with a bouquet of violets and maiden-hair fern by Mr&. M'Vicar, the secretary of the Society for the Health of Women and Children. They were accompanied by Miss Stapleton Cotton, Mrs. Guise, Captain Shannon, and Mr. Guise. Ihe second poster march of-the evening then took place, and, no doubt, did much to strengthen the decisions of the judges made during the previous one, when they had to elect the prize-winners—no easy task. Her Excellency was wearing a frock of nattier blue niuon, embroidered with gold over palest lemon satin, and over it she wore a transparent black cloak. A band of diamonds was worn in her hair. Miss Stapleton-Cotton wore emerald green satin with silver embroidery, and Mrs. Guise was in white satin, with an embroidered ninon overdress.

The poster that created the greatest sensation at first was that representing a Chinese laundry, a movable erection that wandered all over the room, with the owner vigorously ironing garments, and vociferously calling attention to his work. It was most completely fitted up, and was decidedly original. Ono of the prettiest in the room' was that representing Miss Greenwood's photographic studio—a dainty figure of the ill-fated Anne Boleyn, wearing a dress of that period in biscuit-coloured cloth, with borders of dark brown and gold, and with medallions of photographs embroidering the skirt. It was really .very charming. A particularly attractive poster was that representing Whitcombe and Tombs, in white satin, with a border of playingcards round the neck, designs of cards cm tho frock itself, and apiquaat little red cap, bordered with card designs. It was altogether most charming. Another very striking one was worn by the .poster representing Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills. It was of yellow kid, ornamented with fringe and beading, and with a circlet round the head in which was fastened a red quill. Another', very pretty costume represented J.. C. Standidge (painters and paperhnngers), and was very much up-to-date, being a harem dress of white satin with the tunic ornamented with designs of all the various requirements used in the business, nil artistically carried ont. The Wellington Candle Company, was another very pretty one, being of white satin with a blue panel, back and front, lettered in gold, and with a little coronet of coloured candles on the hair. SS. Williams, Ltd., the well-known turniture manufacturers could not possibly be overlooked, their representative weaving a striking dress of fancy roller blinds, covered with advertisements and suspended from a wooden frame resting on the shoulders. Effeotive, but very awkward when it camo to dancing, one cannot help imagining. • Among tho fancy dresses, a most beauti-fully-carried-out one was that worn by Mrs. J. Fuller, who went as Minnehaha, her dress being of white kid, white kid gaiters, and white embroidered moccasins. The tunic and leggings were fringed and beautifully worked with beads, every detail being most carefully carried out. Mrs. Holmes, as an early Victorian lady, was charmingly quaint, and, perhaps, who knows, wo miglit go back to the ringlets and the short high-waisted dress. Miss E. AVard was another "powder and patches." Miss Olive .Smith;,, as'a Greek girl, representing Miss May' Moore ,, was charmingly effective. ' ' . The prizes for the various kinds of poster and fancy dresses weie awarded by his Excellency the Governor during the evening, the following being the winners:— Mrs. Hamilton Gilmer ■(Victoria Laundry), for. tho best lady's cotton poster dress; Miss Lingard, for the best poster representing photography; Miss Burnes (tho New Zealand Shipping Company), for the best-carried-out poster; Wing Lee (thai Chinese Laundry), for the most original poster; Miss' Butts (J. ■ Godber), for the prettiest poster;, Mr. Tripe, for the best fancy dress (courtier of Henry VIII's period) ; Mrs. Fuller, for the . handsomest fancy dress;.Stockton Coal Company, for the best .gentleman's cotton dress.' Mrs. Macarthy was originally adjudged to be the winner of-the most handsome: fancy dress, but, being on the committee, she refused to take it, Mrs. J. Fuller receiving it in her place. Mrs. Field, Mrs. Maloclm Eoss, Mrs. Wilford, Dr. Collins, and Mr. Wardell were the judges. The distribution of prizes was not considered satisfactory by a considerable number of onlookers. Among, the posters Daphne Butter was represented by Miss Kcmber; D. S. Clark printers), Mr. Clark; R. W. Armit (tobacconist), Miss Speed; Staples and Co., Miss Litchfield; Miss May Moore (Rembrandt Studio), Miss Olive Smith; Nelson and Moate, Miss .Howarth; Wellington Candle C/tmpany, Miss B. Fitzgerald; Duthio Bros., Mrs./ Duthie; Miss Greenwood (photographic studio), Miss Lingard; Miss Walker (milliner), by the Misses Maloney; A. Lindsay (bootmaker), Miss Or; Whitcombe- and Tombs, Miss Moss; Naisniith's Laundry, Miss C. Butts; J. Godber, Miss Butts; Victoria Laundry, Mrs. Hamilton Gilmer; Morris's Laundry, Miss Morris; Dunbar Sloan - (pharmacist), Mr. Pip; Vacuum Oil Co., Mr. Butler; Father Christmas, Mr. Fitzgerald; I'luenzol, Mr. A. W. Bcale; Arcadian Cycle Co., Mrs. Fitzgerald; New Zealand Shipping Co., Miss Burnes s Union Shipping. Co., Mrs. C. Turrell;.Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills, Miss Collins; Singer's Sewing Machino Co., Miss Seymour; Electric Light Co., Mrs. Butter; Fuller Bros., Mrs. J. Fuller; Thompson-Fraser-Ramsay, by Miss Marks and Miss Pollock; Wellington Woollen Co., Miss Clark and Mr. Barber; W.F.C;A., Miss O'Flaherty;• The Dominion', Mr. Maysmor and Miss Phipp; S. Brown (coal and grain marchant), Mr. Fletcher ("Falstaff"); J. Lankshear; Osram Lamp Co., and Petone Blanket Co.