THE BALL AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3394, 2 June 1868, Page 7

THE BALL AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

. ,xue gfeat event of the day, however, which had (been eagerly looked forward to by no inconsiderable ! portion of the community, was his Excoilency's Jinvitation ball a« Government House. No (sooner had the Governor returned from his tour in the VVaikato than a public holiday was appointed, ,'and preparations were made for an invitation ball on j * scale of splendour and magnificence rarely, if ever, • equalled in ; the annals of the colony. Upwards of ; 500 intitatious were issued, and nothing was overlooked that; was calculated to conduce to the success of the ere'nt. Tb.e manner in which this impor- , tant department was provided and conducted reflects ] the very highest credit upon Mr. 0. ■ Cunning, of , i&ortland-street, who exerted himself to the utmost , to give satisfaction. , , Towards 9, o'clock the carriages began to arrire in rapid succession, and but a short time elapsed before over 500 persons had assembled, including all the 61ite and fashion of the city and suburbs. The eceue at this time was gay and animating beyond description, the elegant dresses of the ladies contrasting with striking effect with the brilliant uniforms of tha officers of the army, navy, and colonial forcer. Amongst those preaetit were some fifteen native chiefs, of whose names we have been enabled to aacertaiu the following: — Wiremu te Wheoro, Waikato; Aihipeue Kaihau, JS'gaiiteata j flori T«uro», Waiuku ; H»ora, Ngatipaoa ; Te Hoterene, Taipari, Te Kupu, Hauauru ; Pereme .te Pihau, Auckland; Kiogori te Ao,, Auckland; Honana, Ngatitnmate* ; Karauria Pupu, Napier; aDd'Teraha. His Excellency the Governor and Mrs. Colonel Beatson, Colonel Beataon and La Jy Bowen, led off the ball, the music being furnished by a select party from the splendid band of the 18 th .Royal Irish, under its talented leader, Mr. Quinn. , After supper, Captafn Young, A.D.C., requested those present to charge their glasses for the first toast. . His Excellenct Sir G. P. Bowest then rose and said : Ladies and gentlemen, I shall propose only two toasts this evening. The fir«t of these, I need scarcely say, is the health of that illustrious lady whosd birthday we have assembled to celebrate— her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen. (Cheers.). 'It has been said that, as the hours circle round the globe on the birthday of our Queen, not one hour passes of tha whole twenty-four in which her health is nob proposed in some province of her vast dominions, on which "the sun never sets," or in some fortress or ship of war where the bebeloved flag of our country floats proudly over loyal and gallant hearts. Bub lam firmly convinced that in no part of the British Empire — Of that vast and mighty empire which has filled the world with fame, And with great praise and marvel of the Anglo-Saxon namewould the toast I am about to propose be received with more enthusiastic loyalty than in this magnificeut colony, the Britain of the Southern Hemisphere. Without further preface, I will give, "The health of the Queen— God bless her." (Cheers.) The tdast wai drunk with the utmost enthusiasm. His Excellency, ag»in rising, said : Ladies and gentlemen, I have now to propose the " Health of the Prince and Princess of ' Walea, the Duke of Edinburgh, and .the re3t of the Royal Family." You will remember that in the old French Monarchy the children of the Sovereign were called " the children of France" — "les enfans de France." In our rougher language, we have not the same graceful phrase, but in our hearts we have the same sentiment. The sons and daughters of our Queen are regarded with almost the same pride and affection as their own children by millions of people who speak with English tongues. (Loud cheers.) Witness the preparations made in the Australian colouies and New Zealand to afford ft loyal and enthusiastic welcome to our Sailor Prince — a member of that gallaut profession that is always dear to Englishmen — (cheers)— and many members of which I am glad to see assembled here to-night — (cheara)—^together with their brebhraa, the officers of her Majesty's army, as well a« those brave volunteers — (cheers) — who went into the field at the call of duty ; and also those loyal Maori chiefs — (cheers; — who stood on our ' side in the late war. Ladies and gentlemen, "The Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the resb of the Royal family. 7 ' (Cheers.) ■ The toast was drunk amidst the most cordial demonstrations of loyalty. His Hokor the Spperintsndent then said : Ladies and gentlemen, may I ask you to fill your glasses. (Hear, hear.) I am now about to propose to you a toast which I am sure will be received with the heartiest enthusiasm. We have been invited here this evening to celebrate a festival in honour of which every British man, and 1 think I may also say every British woman, in every part of the wide domain over which the British flag floats, will heartily join— the anniversary of the birth of her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria. The hearty and enthusiastic manner in which you have juat responded to the toast proposed by his Excellency the Governor affords a gratifying proof of this. Opon a recent occasion, in mj capacity of Superintendent and a citizen of this province, it fell to my lot to propose the health of the Governor, who was then the distinguished and, honoured guest of the citizens. To-night, however, we meet bis Excellency in his own house, to partake of bis noble and generdua hospitality, so worthy of the occasion on which he has so, gracefully chosen to bring us together. Natives aad Europeans have always been found mingling their greetings to welcome to these shores the several representatives of her Majesty the Queen ; but to -none of them has the "cead mille falthu" been offered with greater cordiality and sincerity by both races cii»a to his Excellency Sir George Bowen. During thei* brief sojourn in this portion of the colony, Sir Ge«. rge and Lady Bowen have earned the goodwill and admiration of all classes, by their affability, kindness, goodness, and liberality, i and by setting forth that good example in . high places which is always held to be more precious than gold by every flection of the British nation, and more particularly valuable in a colony like ours in it 3 days of early settlement. With regard to his administration s of the affairs of New Zealand, we may feel sure that the luitre of the Crown, which for its purity shines out conspicuously among the \ courts of Europe, will continue to be reflected in the , circle of her Majesty's representative and his family ' in this .colony. (Cheers.) It is not as a citizen of Auckland, or the ' representative of any local interest merely, but &a an old colonist* that I am now about to prop >se to you as colonists of New,.Z ealand, members of one great fraternity, to unite to do honour to her Majesty's representative, and his good and amiable lady; (CheerY) I a«k you now to uuite with me in drinking the health of his Excellency the Governor, Lady ißtiwen, and ther members of their family. (Loud and enthusiastic cheers.) The toast, was drunk with three times three, and one cheer more. ' His'ExoBLLBNOV, in respondingto the toast, said : "Ladies 'and gentlemen, on behalf of Lady Bowen, myself, and our children, I thank his Honor the 'Superintendent for the very kind and, flattering terms — only too kind and flattering —in which' he has just proposed «ur health, ' and I thank all present for the cordial manner in which they have responded to the toast. On an occasion like the present, when bo many fair ladies are eager to resume the dance, " brevity" becomes, indeed, *f the soul of wit." I will only ask you to join* 'with me in the fervent hope that at each recurring anniversary of the birth of uur Queen ,tbJ people' of New Zealand and her Majesty's representative may 'meet each other here or eJse'.where, with mutually increasing esteem and respect. Beforewe separate, 1 will ask you to join with me in a 'bumper to " The prosperity of New Zealand." (Obeew.) ■* "'- n * "^

The toast was drunk with all the honouis After supper, the signal was given "On with the dunce;" and the festivities were kept up with unabated spirit until p.vst four o'clock a.m.