THE OFFICERS' BALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17274, 25 September 1919, Page 8

THE OFFICERS' BALL.

NOTABLE SOCIAL EVENT.

BEAUTY OF DECORATIONS.

PEACE TIME FESTIVITY.

The naval and military ball tendered last night by v the Auckland Garrison Offi- '• cers' Club to Admiral of the Fleet Viscount Jellicoe and Lady Jellicoe was the gayest and most notable social event Auckland has known for many years past. The last ball of equal importance was, by a strange coincidence, that given by citizens in the Town Hall on the occasion of I H.M.S. New Zealand's former visit six years ago. Such a ball as last night's could only have been given in peace time. The war has left many gaps in the membership of the Garrison Officers' Club, but most of j the surviving members who served abroad have now returned, and there was a vew . full attendance. The scarlet of the mill- ' tary mess kit and blue and gold of the naval full dress gave to the assemblage the vivid dash of colour absent so long from social functions, and the gaiety and beauty of the scene called to mind similar gatherings of other years, when the gar- I rison officers' ball was the most important ' and enjoyable social function of the season. I The outstanding features of the evening were the perfection of the arrangements and the beauty of the decorations. The Officers' Club Committee, working in conjunction with the Citizens' Reception Committee, achieved a success that will stand as a record locally for all such functions ; the arrangements were complete to < the smallest detail and nothing omitted that could in any way have added to the evening's enjoyment. The Official Sets. Between 400 and 500 couples were present. Lord and Lady Jellicoe and their party arrived promptly at 8.45 and were escorted to the platform by Captain Dow, where they were received by Colonel H. R. Potter, 0.C.D., Colonel Stevenson, Mrs. Potter and Miss Stevenson. The orchestra played the National Anthem, immediately after which the official set of lancers took place. Four sets were included in the opening dance, those taking part being: Set A— Lord Jellicoe and Miss Joyce Stevenson, Colonel Stevenson and Lady Jellicoe, Commodore Dreyor and Mrs. H. R. Potter, Captain Leggett and Mrs. Parkes. Pay-master-Captain Share and Mrs. Maguire, Colonel Potter and Mrs. Major, Mr. A. J. Entrican and Mrs. Logan, Colonel Duigan and Mrs. de Vas; set B—Pav-Com-mander Hodder and Miss B. Butler* FlagCommandant Ramsay and Mrs. E. R. Bloomfield. Major Tennyson and Mrs. Bennett, Lieut.-Commander Pott and Mrs. Aubin, Colonel Parkes and Mrs. Hardie Neil, Lieut.-Colonel Hardie Neil and Mrs. Wood, Colonel Logan and Mrs. Macintosh, Colonel Major and Mrs. H. Daweon; set CLieut.-Commander Spooner and Mrs. Hunter, Lieut.-Commander Boyle and Miss Heather, Lieut.-Com-mander de Salis and Mrs. Gardner, Surgeon-Lieut.-Commander de Vas and Mrs. Ware, Major Aubin and Mrs. F. Wood, Lieut.-Colonel Maguire and Mrs. Walhngford, Major Nutsford and Mrs. E. Davis, Major Coles and Mrs. R. Wilson set Surgeon-Lieut-Commander Macintosh and Mrs. Bamford, Rev. Crick and Miss Entrican, Paymaster-Lieut.-Com-mander Lloyd and Miss B. Wilson. FlagLieutenant Morgan and Miss Nutsford, Mr. A. M. Ferguson and Mrs. H. Brett, Mr. H. D. Heather and Miss Pagni, Mr. Winslow and Miss Maguire, Mr. Pagni and Miss Parkes.Many Exquisite Gowns. The official sets were watched with much interest by the other guests, who lined the gallery and occupied seats on the platform, and, later on joined in the dancing with much vim. The floor was perfection, and the brilliancy of the scene was enhanced during the evening by the playing of coloured lights on the dancers from the top gallery. Many exquisite gowns were worn by the women, the fact that functions of the kind had been denied them for so long no doubt - being responsible in large measure for the beauty of many of the toilettes. The decorations were without question the most beautiful ever seen in the Town Hall. They were not nearly as elaborate as usual, all the showing of bunting and I flags so frequently seen being noticeably absent. The outstanding feature was the observance of a very graceful and beau-tifully-designed scheme, worked out bv Lieutenant R. K. Binney and put into effect with the assistance of a highly efficient and hard-working decoration committee. The prevailing colours in the i ballroom itself were green and gold-; ; golden electric lights and strands of lycopodium were festooned from chandeliers ! to the first gallery, which was set with I rows of nikan palms/and round the gallery I itself. The columns were decorated with feathery bamboo and great clumps of flax and arum lilies stood under the galleries. Novel Platform Decoration. On the platform itself, arranged as a I drawingroom with green upholstered I lounges and easy chairs, was the most I conspicuous feature of the decorations, the ! framework of a real Maori wharepuni, lent for the occasion by a well-known citizen. The carved front was festooned with crasters of clematis, lycopodium, and boughs I of kowhai; a particularly effective backi ground was built up with masses of greenI ery, nikaus, ponga ferns, and cabbage I trees, with a shaded blue electric light 1 playing through the green foliage. Arranged along the lower part of the platform were masses of arum lilies. The entrance and stairway were also beautifully decorated with spreading nikau palms, bamboo, arum lilies and ivy. The concert chamber and supper-room I were transformed into veritable sylvan 'bowers; the former was decked in" pink roses, palms, and ferns, Mr. G. Mackay being responsible for the floral decora"- , tions. A long table was set in the middle ! of the room for the guests of honour, the decorations being pink roses and sweet- : pea in silver vases, 'silver candelabra with I j rose-tinted shades, and pink ribbon streamers and bows. All the other tables wero decked with silver and rose trails, and 1 large rosettes. / • The arrangements for supper were care- • fully thought out and entirely satisfactory, j all the usual rush and crowding being j happily obviated by the system adopted. ! There were four sittings, each for 250 | guests, the men's programmes having disI tinguishing marks ailoting their sitting. I The first supper set, which included all the guests of honour, was, arranged for ten ■ o'clock, and the last for 12 o'clock. A sumptuous menu was provided, and souvenir menu cards issued to the guests. New and Old Music. That very important factor in the success of a ball, the music, was entirely ' satisfactory. A military orchestra occuj pied a specially-erected platform under i the gallery beside the stage, and in addiI tion to many items, gay and modern, I played a number of old favourites, always ' included on the Garrison officers' ball ' prourammoe in pre-war days. A gong sounded a moment or two before each dance brought the men promptly to their partners' sides, the meeting being eipe- ; dited by the arrangement of a number of I " rendezvous," named after historic naval I engagements. There was ample and ! comfortable sitting-out accommodation, i lounges and easy chairs being set be- ! neath the gallery, in addition to those on the platform. But there was little sit- : tine-out among the dancers, save that t arranged by mutual consent.—and until , two o'clock this morning they gaily folI lowed the strains of the orchestra, making I the most nf an occasion which will always i he doublv memorable as marking Aucki land's official return to social gaiety, and the visit of the most distinguished guests whom for many years past the city has I been privileged to entertain. i Some of the Dresses. j Lady Jellicoe wore a beautiful gown of cream charmense brocaded in silver, with handsome diamond ornaments Mrs W H. Parkes wore grey satin, with a draped J overdress of beaded net in irridescent

-shading, the corsage being finished with a pink ro&s and with long net sleeves. Miss Stevenson, a debutante, wore a frock of white satin with silver embroideries. Mrs. Potter wore black charmeuse, with trimmings of gold. Mrs. E.'Maguire wore grey, with Oriental embroideries. Mrs. Devas wore a graceful frock of white satin, softly draped. Mrs. Logan's frock was of black georgette, and Mrs. Major wore white charmeuse and gold embroideries. Miss Butler wore black, with a swathed Oriental waistband. Mrs. E. Bloomfield was in a lovely frock of pink georgette, and carried a white ostrichfeather fan. Mrs. Bennet was in a smart , black toilet. Mrs. Aubin wore a handsome gown of black, with touches of white. Mrs. Hardie Neil wore black, | with a large pink rose. * Mrs. Wood I wore pink charmeuse. Mrs. Macintosh was in a pretty frock of white charmeuse and lace. Mrs. Dawson wore black charmeuse. Mrs. T. G. Hunter wore a lovely gown of rfharmeuse, with overdress of tangarine georgette and handsome stone embroideries. Mrs. Heather wore black georgette. Mrs. Gardner was in powderblue charmeuse. Mrs. F. A. Wood wore shell-pink satin. Mrs. Wallingford was in a pretty frock of white satin. Mrs. ■ Ware wore a handsome frock, with gold embroideries. Mrs. E. Davis wore shell - pink charmeuse, finished with passementerie and ostrich tips. Mrs. Roy Wilson wore a pretty cream lace frock. Mrs. D. Bamford was in cream taffetas, with lace finishings. Mias Entrican wore white, with soft touches of lace. Miss B. Wilson wore a pretty black georgette frock, with touches of pink, and pale-pink rose on corsage. Miss Nutsford wore a pretty white net frock, with frilled skirt. Mrs. H. Brett wore a charmeuse gown, with handsome overdress of net. Mrs. Payne wore a pretty frock of heliotrope charmeuse. Miss E. Maguire wore white satin, with overdress of silk embroidery. Miss E. Parkes was in white charmeuse and georgette.