EMPIRE BALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20263, 24 May 1929, Page 7

EMPIRE BALL.

MINUETS AND LANCERS. CHARMING SPECTACLE. Shaded lights, quantities of roses, artificial to bo sure, but none the less effective, and foliage plants made a charming setting for the Empire Ball organised by he Victoria League, and held in Scots Hall last evening. Festoons of roses caught with big bows of blue ribbon Were fastened to tho walls of the hall, and to the outside of the gallery. Dark crimson roses decorated the stage arid were interspersed among the palms, ferns and pot plants with which it was massed, while at the back, forming a frieze against the walls, were clusters of tall bamboo. The entrance to the hall was also very picturesquely arranged with foliage and great clusters of 'bamboo, which also lined the staircase. As a setting to the old world frocks, tho powder and patches which were worn by so many of the dancers, the decorations of the hall were particularly appropriate. Early winter though it is, mere seemed to be no shortage ot roses from the gardens which were used in such profusion to decorate tho supper tables downstairs. Crimson, pink m all its shades, and white, thev were everywhere to be seen as well as" tall vases of pale pink laculia and of chrysanthemums. Ropes of lycopodium were carried over head and also wreathed the pillars and woodwork of the room. Rose-coloured streamers softened the lights and threw a restful glow upon the scene, added to by the varied colouring of tbe frocks. Their Excellencies the Governor-Gen-eral and Lady Alice Fergusson attended the ball, and with them came a party from Government House, which included Mrs. George Baird, from Scotland, Countess Thelma Metaxa, and Mrs. Cecil Day. They were received by the president tbe league, Miss J. Mowbray. Her Excellency, who was presented with a bouquet of roses, shading from palo pink to deep rose, bv Miss Mowbray, wore a frock of gold tissue with an Oriental design in shades of deep rose, and a scarf worked in gold. Mrs. Baird wore a frock of black georgette over silver lace; Countess Thelma Metaxa was in a frock of lettuce green beaded in silver; and Mrs. Cecil Day wore a frock of brown lace over violet satin and a deep blue fjeorgette scarf. Miss Mowbray was in black satin beaded ir; steel and crystal. A delightful feature of the evening was tho dancing of a minuet by seven sets of dancers and of two sets of court lancers. Their stately grace, precision of movement and demure coquetry made an interesting contrast to the dancing of today, though that also can have its own grace of movement. In the set of court lancers, arranged by Mrs. C. E. Maguire, were Ladv Robertson, who wore a brock •of saxe blue taffeta shot with gold, a frilled panel at one side falling to break the hemline; Mrs. C. E. Maguire, oyster grey georgette with silver and crystal embroidery; Mrs. Napier, sedge green georgette with long floating panel at one side; Mrs. Hugh Fenton, silver lace over cyclamen crepe de chine; Dr. Margaret Knight, blue chenille georgette; Miss Beckett, mauve ring velvet; Miss Shayle George, white georgette with a panel of chenille embossed georgette. Their partners were Dr. Maguire, Dr. J. A. Watson, Dr. Gordon, Mr. N. Shayle George, Mr. A. Challoner-JPurehas, Dr. E. B. Gunson, Mr. Ryan and Mr. Eastbury. In the set arranged by Madame Baird were; Madame Baird, who wore black ring velvet with side panels of frilled tulle; Miss Massey, in cream georgette and lace, with panel embroidered in colours; Miss Polita. shot peach taffeta; Mrs. Calder. blue taffeta. Their partners were: Mr. R. D'Este. Mr. W. .1. Baird, Mr. E. Waters arid Mr. C. Scott. There were seven sets of minuets which, when danced, occupied (lie, whole of tho floor. In Mrs. H. E. Vaile's set were:—Mrs. Baker Cresswell, whose frock was made with a bodice of silver tissue and full white tulle skirt over silver; Mrs. Mervyn Reed, silver tissue, with green velvet ribbon; Miss Freda Rathbone, gold lace frock; Miss Marjorie 1 Stewart, frock of tucked taffeta and silver lace; Miss Jocelyn Bloomfield, green tulle; Miss Waller, gold lace and tulle frock; Miss Rosemary Waller, green tulle; JMiss Dolly Vaile, grreen net, with chenille spots over satin; also Commander Robertson, Lieutenant-Commander Spencer, Surgeon-Lieutenant Weldon, Pay-master-Lieutenant Hewson, Lieutenant Baker Cresswell, Lieutenant Delmever, Sub-Lieutenant Wado and Sub-Lieutenant Thevv. In Mrs. Heather's set were Miss Joan and Miss Derrie Heather, Miss Laurie Stewart, Miss Betty Wilson, Miss Joan Stokes, Miss Thelma St. Clair White and Miss N. St. Clair Whyte, Miss R.ona Richardson, Mr. Geoffrey Kissling, Mr. J. Gordon, Mr. Harold Owers, Mr. J. Maitland, Mr. D. Mensergh, Mr. N. Gallagher, Mr. H. Poison snd Mr. M. Hunter. In this set tho frocks whiclj were worn were of gold coloured taffeta with close-fitting bodices, full skirts, with frills and. scalloped hems. At the back of the shoulders was a bow of powder-blue satin ribbon which fell to the hem of the skirt. Bluo necklaces and a flower in the powdered hair of the wearers completed a picturesque ensemble. Their partners wore ordinary evening dress with coloured lappels on their coats to match the frocks of tho ladies, and powdered hair also, this being done in all tbe sets. In Mrs. Hugh Thomson's set (he following took part:—Miss Patty and Miss Rona Thomson, Miss Catherine Wells, Miss Audrey Walton, 'Miss Linda De Renzv, Miss Edna Bowel 1, Miss Mario Radenacher, Miss Marjorie Suter, Mr. Ronald Vares, Mr. Frank Hammond, Mr. T. Peacock, Mr. D. Ballantync, Mr. R. Simson, Mr. R. Jeffrey, Mr. T. Johnstone, Mr. Lan Miller. The frocks in this set were of apple-green taffeta with frilled panels at each side of the full skirts and with close-fitting Victorian bodices. A pink rose in tho hair and another at (ho waist gave a contrasting note of colour. Mrs. L. S. Rickerby's set was as follows: —Miss Fna Lungsford, Miss Dorothy Fenton, Miss Rhona Fenton, Miss Violet Fox, Miss Moira Gulliver, Miss F. Edmonds, Miss Freda Barnes, Miss Aileen Davies, Mr. At hoi Myers, Mr. F. Von Stunner, Mr. Peter Tonks, Mr. M. Hocken, Mr. C. Bowler, Mr. J. Ottley, Mr. P. Young, Mr. 11. Cooper. Tho frocks were of flame taffeta shot with gold, the hem and fichu being of gold net. On the shoulder was a gold flower and they carried gold fans. Miss Deighton's set comprised :—Miss Deigbton, Miss B. Horrocks, Miss M. Dryden, Miss B. Mair, Miss Steele, Miss O Mac Duff, Miss 0. Gandin, Miss L. Rickerby, Mr. M. Reilly, Mr. G. Miller, Mr. J. Williamson, Mr. K. Minninick, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. A. C. Heather. Mr 1) Wilson, Mr. P. Kelly. Tho frocks were of carnation-pink taffeta made in Early Victorian fashion, ornamented with true lovers' knots on the skirt. They carried black fans.

Miss Peggy Ford's set included (he following dancers:—Miss Peggy Ford. Miss D. Plummer, Miss Alma Frater, Miss Hwon Kingston, Miss Lois Mnhon. Miss Margaret Raiuger, Miss Marie James, M iss Winsome Airpv, Mr. Keith Rollings, Mr. T. Green. Mr,'H Thomson, Mr Pv. McPhail. Mr. Eric Tlerripton, Mr. D. Grant. Mr. T- Walkley, Mr. G. Palmer. The frocks were of cyclamen taffeta made with three-tiered scalloped skirts and piped bodices finished with fichus of cream lace. A knot of roses in the front of the bodiro and a rose in the hair crave n warm note of colour to the ensemble. In Mrs. A. Cerutty's set were:—'Miss Marjorie Cernfty. Mrs. Ewen, Miss Dorothy Wright, Miss Paulino and Miss

Jean McContiell, Miss N. Redstone, Miss Mavis McCulloch, ■ Miss Isabel McLachlan, Mr. T. Wright, Mr. J. White, Mr. Lan Malcolm, Mr. Norton Hammond, Mr. J. Lamb, Mr. Ewen, Mr. Olsen and Mr. Waters. The frocks were of turquoisegreen taffeta with gold lace fichus on the bodices, caught with rt rose. The very full scalloped skirts were finished with a big bow on the hip of-gold lame. Among those who were present were: — Lady Lockhart, who wore Naples 'blue georgette with crystal and silver embroideries; Sirs. G. T. C- P. Swabey, pale green georgette; Mrs. Douglas, -Chinese blue georget.lc; Mrs. J. B. Donald, black satin beaut' 3 with a floral shawl; Mrs. R. Coleman, silver lace over flesh pink georgette; Miss J. E. Murray, black satin maroeain with beaded embroideries; Mrs. W. C. Somors, primrose brocade; Mrs. F. Waller, mist grey georgette; Airs. A. M Ferguson, black georgette; Mrs. H. Kissling, black satin maroeain and lace over flesh pink with pink shoulder roses; Mrs. R. Isaacs, black maroeain with silver beading; Mrs. Grey George, Royal blue georgette; Mrs. Cerutty, rose ring velvet; Mrs. C. Heather, deep apricot georgette with crystal and silver beading; Mrs. Errol Hay, coral pink georgette with beaded embroideries; Mrs. Rickerby, black embossed chenille georgette; Mrs. W. Aitken, black chenille georgette; _ Mrs. McLaughlin, black georgette with black beaded embroideries; Mrs. Johnstone, Chinese red and grey lace; Miss Kcesing, pearl grey crepe de chine and lace; Mi. s Wynyard, black georgette; Mrs. C. Kissling, "black with a Paisley shawl; Mrs. H. IT. Partridge, moss green ring velvet; Mrs. Ashtoin, black georgette with black beaded embroideries; Mrs. Corbin, primrose georgette and silver; Mrs. H. Thomson, beaded ceriso frock; Mrs. Eisdoun, tangerine georgette with floral wrap; .Miss C. Murray, black with cardinal shawl; Mrs. Whitby, black ring velvet; Miss F. Murray, black satin beaute with blue and gold patterned shawl; Mrs. Dransfield, black georgette beaded in crystal and silver; Mrs. Donald Ogilvie, cyclamen crepe do chine with a black and gold embroidered coat; Miss Kent, fuchsia frock of georgette; Mrs. E. A. Dargaville, black ring velvet; Mi's. F. Seccombe, blue and gold shot taffeta; Mrs. Ross Clark, black georgette; Mrs. Gulliver, black ring velvet; Miss Joan Robertson, peach taffeta with frills of peach net; Miss Baxter, black and silver; Miss Somerset Give, coral pink taffeta and tulle; Miss Doreen McGarry, lame satin beaute; Miss Sheila McGarry, green satin beaute; Miss B. Johnstone, mauve georgette with diamante trimming; Mrs. Murdoch (West Coast), gold brocade; Mrs. A. V. MacDonald, black maroeain; Mrs. A. C. Patcrson, rose georgette; Miss L. Speedy (Dannevirke), white taffeta and tullo with panniered effect trimmed with pearls and rhinestones; Miss Mollie Hunt, bluetaffeta panniered frock; Mrs. Nevin, cyclamen georgette with Bhawl to tone; Mrs. J. J. Sutherland, cyclamen and silver tissue with geranium pink skirt. Miss Edna Kissling, a debutante, wore a frock of white georgette edged with silver and .ft floral shawl; and another debutante, Miss Mair, was in primrose georgette with diamante trimming and a primrose shawl to match. Each carried a posy of flowers to tone with their frocks.