THE CARNIVAL.

Northern Advocate, 24 November 1888, Page 3

THE CARNIVAL.

THE Masquerade Carnival at the Excelsior Bink, on Thursday was extremely successful. The attendance though not so large as on the occasion of the Fancy Dress Carnival, was very numerous, and the view from all parts of the rink was charmingly pretty. The decorations were even on a more elaborate scale than before, the roof and sides of the hall being tastefully hung with coloured paper festoons, while suspended from the ceiling were numbers of gay Chinese lanterns. The walls were embellished with nikau and evergreens, and at the end of the hall a profuse display of flowers gave a refreshing finishing touch to the picture. The bicyclists of Whangarei gave a display of their skill, and this item was both novel and good, the cyclists being greatly applauded for the graceful way in which they went through their different manoeuvres. The lady rinkists looked very charming, the dresses contrasting favourably with tho surrounding adornments. Mrs Sissons looked very becoming dressed as Night. This lady's skating is a treat to see. Miss Wilson, as Marguerite, was charming, and Mrs G. North looked pretty as a Flower Girl. The following ladies were in evening dress : — Mrs Buckhurst, Mrs Eccles, Mrs Hutchings, Misses Wood, Dent, Whitelaw, K. Wilson, Pearce, Wilkinson and Murray. Several of the gentlemen were in masks, and succeeded in effectually obscuring their identity. One dressed as a member of the "not there when wanted" crowd, looked very ferocious. A peculiarly obese individual caused much laughter by the frequency of his falls, and a nondescript in an oilskin snit puzzled the spectators as to who he was. Rinking was indulged in until 10.45 p.m. with great vigour. A dance was to have followed, but all appeared so tired and heated that only a couple of dances wei*e gone through. This Carnival terminates the present season. Mr Bessell is negotiating for the lease of thej rink for next season ; and, if sucoessful, will spare no pains to make the same an attractive and permanent resort. He begs most he.artily to thank the public of Whangarei, and especially the ladies, for the liberal support they have accorded him since the opening of the rink. '