THE RACING CLUB BALL .

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1496, 19 July 1912, Page 3

THE RACING CLUB BALL .

. 1 e -—— ■ A BBILLIANT FUNCTION. Very brilliant and striking did the Town Hall look upon the occasion of the Wellington Racing Club's ball, held there last evening. The decorativo effects and tho completeness of arrangements aro well-known features of such occasions and last night the reputation of the club in such matters was nobly sustained. It was unfortunate that Hie weather conditions were so unpleasant, but one could not imagine judging from the large number of people present, that many were prevented by the rain from attending. Visitors were-present from various ports of the Dominion, north and south, and tho soft tones of the pink and white decorations formed a very charming setting for tho many beautiful frocks which were so largely in evidence. : Each year they seem to become more and moro beautiful, and last evening it seemed to one that they combined beauty of fabric with beauty of design more than upon previous occasions. The least that can bo said of it all was that tho hall presented a very brilliant appearance when, the ball had once commenced. Tho first things to catch the e ,- e wcro the entrance hall and staircase", enrgetet! in warm crimson and embowered in masses of evergreens, fern trees, mid palms, intermingled with coloured fairy lights and deep pink roses. This was continued to the floor above, with graceful arches, overhead decorated with foliage and red roses. Tn tho main hall itself the decorative scheme had been corried out in pink and white, the streamers that form the indispensable canopy overhead being of these two colours, intermingled with ropes of fairy lights, and lycopodiiim and tosss. Fink and white festoons of drapery and of lycopodium and pink roses had been .carried along the outside, of .the gallery, the effect being particularly attractive against the white background. It was a happy idea to curtail the space on the- stage by bringing the streamers from above the gasolier in the centre of the roof low down upon tho stage and so,hiding the organ from sight, as it enabled the stage to be much more effectively dealt with. ;Hero again were musses of fern trees, nikau palms, and evergreens, varied by qualities of pink flowers and with cunningly designed wheels of foliage and roses.. At the opposite end was a mest comfortably arranged sitting out room, carpeted., furnished with conchas and chairs and with brilliantly effective huge Japanese sunshades and screens. A large mirror bordered with flowers and evergreens divided this "retreat from the floor of. the hall. As usual, tho space underneath the galleries had been converted into alcoves, also carpeted and made most comfortable retreats for these not dancing or for resting between the intervals. Most excellent music i;as played by tte string band stationed upon the stage and also by t'e pipers, who played for the Highland senottische most stirringly. Supper was served in the" Concert Chamber; which had been carpeted in crimson and handsomely decorated. The tabbs were arranged with yellow and white narcissi, the handsome silver cup on the ■'central, table, being filled with New Zealand birch, and white narcissi, while all about were horse shoes and other sporting, devices. The tablu reserved for his Excellency the Governor, Lady Islington, and all who took part in the official set was arranged with yeilov; daffodils, trails of smilax, and yellow ribbons, whilo littlo golden horses, with garlands of yellow ribbon round the necks, carried out the character of the ball. The supper and the arrangements of the tables were the work of Jlr. James Godber, and fully justified, the reputation ho-has -gained for the excellence of his undertakings. The official >et was danced .by his Excellency the .Governor and - Jliss Harcoiirt; Her Excellency Lady Islington and Mr. Harconrt; thn Hon. Jlr. Jfa?sey and Mrs. Godley; Major-Gsnernl Godley and Mi-3. Collins; Jlr. W. S. Jloorhou.se and Mrs. Dal'etv; Captain Jl'Dougall and Jtrs. W. H. "Turnbull; the Hen. Dr. Collins, JI.L.Gv. and Mrs. Guise; Commander Stopford and Jlrs. Mooi'liouse. Lady Islington wore a very lovely gown of rose pink satin, over which wns worn a tunic : of chiffon falling in a. .point.at each side, and over the train,,and partly revealing a panel of lace at the foot of the gown in front. Dull silver embroideries bordered the edges of the tunic, and were also to be seen on the bodice, together with jewelled embroideries ' and lace. Her ornaments were a diamond chain round her neck, and a. diamond half-circle on her hair. Miss Harcourt was in a gown of white satin, with an overdress , of black 'ninon, relieved with a bertho of very handsome cieam lace; Jlts. Godley was in pale blue brocade, with cream lace on the corsage; Mrs. Collins, emerald green satin, with an overdress of ninon, bordered with deep insertion of the same shade, and jewelled trimming on the bodice; Jin;. AY. S. Mcorhouse, black satin, trimmed with jet and cream, lace; Jlrs. Dalgety (Christchurch), cream satin, with pointed tunic of black net, finished with a deep border of insertion and fringe; Mrs. W. H. Turnbull,- white satin, with panels of gold embroidered net, (ind gold embroidery on the bodice; Mrs. Guise, white .satin, with, an overdress of brocaded crepe de chine; Jfrs. Vavasour, pale mauve satin, trimmed with lace, ■ and with jewelled embroideries; Jfrs. C. Bidwi!l,,vieux rose brocade, opening over an underdress of white lace; ( .Sirs. Cecil Kebbell, black eatin with an overdress of black ninon embroidered in jet, and relieved with white lace; Mrs. Brandon, ma.Va satin, with an overdress of white embroidered net; Mrs.- Elgar, blue and silver brocade;-trimmed with silver embroideries and fringe ; v Jlrs. Goring'Johnston,' blue satin veiled with blue ninon. and silver embroideries; Jlrs. Walter Johnston, seagreen riitin with silver embroidery at the foot of the gown, and bodice of cream lace with touches of black, and with jewelled trim mi ng; Jlrs. Budge (Stratford). vieux rose -sarin, _ with pointed ■ tunic of floral ninon and jewelled trimming nhd fringe on the bodice; Jlrs. J. Armstrong I (Dannevirke), white satin, with'overdress of-crystal embroidered ninon i Jlrs. Arthur Duncan, white . fatiii. with pointed tunic , nf.black net,embroidered: with jet; Mrs. Whytp, reseda green charmcuse with black .pH overdress and jewelled trimming; -Mrs. A. Jlnrtin, Dink satin with panels of gold net; Jlrs. Heard; whiW brocade "trimmed .with gold.and jewelled embroideries; Mrs. Stopford. while satin; Jliss Vavasour, blue floral: chiffon over gold-coloured «alin; Jfi 1 ?. AY. Bidwi!!. green satin with jewelled embroideries and lace; 3r r s. A. Mj-ers, jjold and doen vieux rose brocade, with panels of gold embroidered lace, and with gold niedallionson Wlicf: Mrs. Tii"Wi.y. in block and jet; Miss Ngairo Riddiforrl, in white ?atin with lace overdress; Miss .V". Russell (Hawke's'Hay), in silver grey, with panels of soft pin): falling down each side of the skirt; Miss Johnston, black, with jet trimming and with diamond ornaments;. Mrs. H.. Crawford, pink satin with pointed. tunic of cream lace; Jfrs. G. Hamilton, white and silver brocade: Jtiss Payne, coronation blue satin, veiled ■with black ninon; Jlrs. F. Ward, deep cream satin with an oynrdrosi of black net, embroidered with silver; Miss Kathleen Fitzgerald, pale blue chiffon over satin of the same shade; Jliss Huia Bulklev . (debutante), white satin; Jliss Jlacdonald (IMondale, and another debutante), ivhi'.e satin trimmtd with Honiton luce; Mrs. liawso.i, black, with jet trimming; Jliss V. .'Raw-son, violet ninon over white satin; Mrs. K. Duncan, tunic.frock of red and gold brocade; Mrs- E. Brandon-, black satin and cream lace veiled With ninon; Jliss Nance Druihmond, deep vieux rose satin with an overdress • of black ninon; Jlrs. AY. Hume, old rose sa.tin with overdress of embroidered ninon and jewelled trimniing; Jlrs. George Hume, whito.satin with overdress of black net and lace, nnd with jet trimming on the bodice; Jliss' Elder, whito oatin with overdress of silk spotted niniin; Jfrs. Elder, black satin relieved with whito; Mrs. Fussell (Sydney), whito eatin; Jli.«s Mackenzie, whito satin with tunic of black net ami lace; Jliss Pearee, blue satin with ninon overdress trimmed with cream lace; Jlrs. C. Knight, flora! Ninon civor satin; Jlrs. AValkice, green satin with panels of white net. embroidered with beetles' wings; Jlr.-:. C. B. JRurseli. old gold satin with dull gold embroideries; Jlrs. Stathntn, black velvet with herllie of silver embroidered lace;' .Miss Kuthe.rford, mauve ninon over pink satin. Jliss Jlillar, cerise ninon over pale pink .=atin; de shot blue and green frock; Jli.is Holme?, deep pink ninon over pale pink satin; Mr=. A. Yoiiiik. pals ninon over Who satin: Mrs. Hayward, liln.i-k satin with iewellccl trimmm?; Mrs. Wylie. black; Mrs. Hurf'ld Cooppr fPal-nif>r=t->n .North), nale Wu-s satin with an overdress «f jewelled ninon: Miss fluUs, pale blue ninon i Jliss Abercrombie, "-hito satin and silver era.broid«ri«; Him l/tffll,

pale pink satin with jewelled overdress; ilisa Hartgill (Dannevirke), red niiion over white satin; IMiss Buick (Polmorston North), white satin; Mrs. Hcrdnian, pale pink satin m'th lace" overdress; Sirs. Tweed, black with emerald green; Sirs. Birkett, white silk; Mrs. F. M. B. Fisher, white sntin with' ninon and lace overdress; Mrs. MaeEwan, white satin with overdress of ninon with crystal embroidery; Miss Cleghorn, palest pink sntin with ninon tnnic; Mrs. Gillon peacock blue sarin with, panels and bodice of silver embroidered net; Miss M'l.ellon, pal? pink satin with overdress of jewelled'net; Hiss Booth (Xelson). floral ninon with cerise touches; MUs Shirtc.liffe. while fatin with crystal embroideries. The floral decorations were the work of Miss Prebble, of Messrs. Gibbons and Co., and the Scoullar Company provided the furnishings.