VOLUNTEER BALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14144, 20 August 1909, Page 6

VOLUNTEER BALL.

—,— ■■'! GARRISON OFFICERS/ % A BRILLIANT FUNCTION. "On- with the dance, let joy be uncoil*!'© fined," was the spirit in which the officers of, the Auckland Garrison and their guests, com* " menced the annual ball last evening. It-wag a gay and glittering gathering of "brave ■ men and fair women" that had assembled in the Drill Hall and its annexes when His Excellericy the Governor, accompanied by Lady 'Ml Plunket and staff, arrived. The uniforms of the officers added a brilliant touch of colour ' not usually associated with ballrooms. A. • guard of honour was provided by the' Permanent Force under Captain I'ilkington and ~-\ Lieutenant Smythe, and His Excellency was . received by the president of the Auckland Officers' Club, Colonel G. C. B. Wolfe; the chairman, Major W. R. Bloomfield- the vice-chairman, Captain F. B. Knyvett; and" " the joint secretaries, Captain Plugge'and Lieut. Cumming. The vice-regal party were" escorted to the ballroom, for which the gunroom was utilised, its bare walls being draped with flags and evergreens and the necessary polish applied to the floor. n

The official set was made up of His Excel-, lency Lord Plunket and Mrs. Wolfe, Colonel ■ G. C. B. Wolfe and Lady Plunket, Colonel ' F. W. Abbott, D.5.0., and Mrs. Reed, Colonel W. D. Holgate and the Mayoress of Auckland (Mrs. C. D. Grey). Colonel J. R. Reed and Miss Hill, Colonel G. W. S.-Pat-terson and Mrs. Holgate, Captain GathomeHardy and Mrs. Major, and Consul for:; France (M. Boeufve) and Mrs. Abbott. The dancing was continued by about couples to the strains of the Auckland Gar-' rison Band until the early hours of ~ the ; morning. ," The way from the gunroom to the main' " hall was temporarily covered in and the in-' \ terior decorated with palms and ferns. > The ;", major portion of the main hall was converted into a lounge, the other portion being reserved for a supper-room, where the ;« guests regaled themselves buffet fashion* at a dainty repast provided by Mrs* Gallagher. The decorations of the larger portion of the Drill Hall were carefully planned, the main;-' idea being a spring garden. In the centre; ■ was a large triangle daffodil garden, in which hundreds of real plants in full bloom grew i in real earth. Peach trees in blossom were in evidence, while numerous palms and exotics were dotted about among the easy chairs and cosy corners. The military touch was added by an erected bell-tent, guarded on either side by pieces of field artillery, V while in front of the tent were displayed the colours lately presented to Kings College Cadets. Numerous garrison trophies were also displayed at this part, a sentry with fixed bayonet guarding the treasures, probably more for picturesque effect than any other reason. Numerous screens and international flags, daintily set, completed a scheme of interior decorations that drew numerous spontaneous expressions of sur- '" prised admiration. The members of 'the Decoration Committee, of whom special ' mention is due, are Captains Knyvett, Spin-'. ley, Dawson, and Lieutenant McGilp. The Ladies' Decoration Committee, to whom the.. daffodil garden owed its presence, were Mesdames Wolfe (chairwoman), Abbott, Reed, Bloomfield, Major, and Misses Dawson ' and , Shera. The whole of the arrangements for this highly successful and brilliant function' ; were made by various sub-committees, working under the direction of an executive committee, of which Major W. R. Bloomfield was chairman and Captain Plugge and Lieutenant Cumming joint secretaries.