THE RACE BALL

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1847, 31 July 1907, Page 22

THE RACE BALL

A BRILLIANT GATHERING. The Wellington Racing Club's third annual ball was held at the Town Hall Thursday. It was a brilliant function. The arrangements had been carried out on a scale little short of magnificent. His Excellency the Governor (Lord Plunket) and Sir J. G. Ward and Lady Ward were amongst the guests, who numbered between five and six hundred. The ball opened with a set of lancers, in which the official set comprised the following: —- His Excellency Lord Plunket and Miss Grace Harcourt. , ~ , ... Mr J. B. Harcourt (president or the club and master of ceremonies) and Lady Ward The Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward and Mrs Abbott. , „ Mr W. H. Turnbull and Mrs H. D. Bell., Mr Harold E. Johnston and Mrs Turnbull. ' „ Mr D. J. Nathan and Mrs Neil McLean. _ _ _ Mr Neil McLean and Mrs D. J. Nathan. _ _ , Mr J. W. Abbott and Mrs H. E. Johnston. A long programme of dances was gone through to excellent music provided by King’s string band. Supper was served in the Concert Hall upstairs. THE DECORATIONS. The decorations were on a scale of great splendour. The main entrance hall and stairways were thickly carpeted m crimson, and the r*ails and walls were hidden behind palms and ferns and lycopodium, an arch of the latter spanning the top of the stairivay giving on to the supper-room floor. In the main hall the transformation was one of much brilliancy. The whole of the space from the platform, up to the organ had been converted into a miniature area of rative bush. So skilful and artistic was the arrangement of the various shrubs, palms, and foliage that the simile used is quite applicable. From the large central chandelier in the roof of the hall to the balustrade of the gallery were suspended long streamers in alternate colours of red and white. Swinging lines of electric globes also hung from the chandelier to the end corners of the gallery. Dark-red festoons of drapery ornamented the front base of the balcony, which was also decorated along the whole of its facing with artistic drapes of crimson and white. Beneath the side tiers of the gallery carpeted lounges were curtained off, forming the cosy sitting-out places —every chair an easy chair, every sofa luxurious. At the far end of the hall facing the organ the whole of the space underneath the gallery was transformed into a veritable garden of greenery. There were bowers and winding paths, and sheltered nooks. Here the lighting was done in a restful rose-tinted electric glow from visible and hidden globes. Such a profusion of palms, potplants (many from Government House), and bush foliage had been requisitioned as to make the scene at either end of the ball deliciously cool in contrast to the dazzle and glare of the central portion where the dancers revelled. Spectacularly, while the dance was on, tbe ball was a sight to be remembered. The handsome costumes and the glittering jewels of the ladies, and the general animation that pervaded the whole function, were very striking. The floor was "fast"—in admirable condition—and everybody thoroughly enjoyed the ball, dancers and lookers-on alike. THE DRESSES. The display of elegant dresses was remarkable. Amongst the ladies present were: — Mrs David Nathan, who wore a magnificent gown of silver tissue over a foundation of white glaca-

Miss Eileen Ward, wearing a graceful gown of cream satin, made with Empire effect. Mrs Tweed, black net with black velvet bands, over white glace.Mrs K. Duncan, pink . glace, much trimmed with white Valenciennes lace. Mrs Abbott, pale blue chiffon, trimmed with pearl embroidery over blue glace. Mrs Goss (Christchurch), gown of net ornamented with ribbon work, panel of Brussels lace and finished with bunches of scarlet geranium. Mrs Goring-J ohnetene, frock of pale blue satin, trimmed with lace, and pearls. , , Miss Reed, green cliifton velvet, pink roses. . Mrs Ferguseon, white satin, net sleeves, breast knot of violets. Mass limamansh (Napier), cream taffeta trimmed with lace. Mrs Phillips (Canterbury), pale green trimmed with painted chiffon. Miss Didsbury, yellow silk. Miss Margaret Waldegrave (Palmerston North), a beautiful frock of white silk. Mrs F. Leckie, elegant gown of yellow floral silk, trimmed .with gold lace, and chiffon roses. She also wore a beautiful necklace of yellow sapphires. Miss Saville (Canterbury), palest green chiffon over green glace. Miss Johnstone, pearl sequin net over glace, with bands of green velvet, breast knot of violets. Mrs H. D. Mee, pink gold spangled net over satin. Miss Murray (Christchurch), pretty frock of pale blue silk, trimmed with point lace anu chiffon roses. Miss Brandon, cream silk frock, floral belt. Miss Stafford, pink silk. Miss Briston. black and white. Mrs Young (Kelburne), cream glace gown, lace bolero, threaded with blue ribbon. Mrs C. Bid well (Martinborough), white silk and pink roses. Mrs Hugh Beetham, black velvet gown trimmed with Brussells lace. Mrs (Dr) Findlay, beautiful gown of cream satin. Dr Elizabeth Gunn, London-made frock of cream taffeta, beautifully ornamented with, rouching of taffeta, and chiffon frills. Miss Fell wore floral silk, bodice much trimmed with beautiful lace. Miss H. Miles, cream chiffon taffeta, trimmed with cream lace, large pink rose. Miss K. W. McKenzie, pale blue chiffon taffeta, trimmed 'with point lace. Miss B. Evans, cream 6ilk heliotrope, waist belt and lace. Miss Nathan wore pretty frock of pale blue silk, trimmed with Valenciennes 1 ? CG* Miss Simpson, heliotrope glace, and luce. Miss Rawson, floral silk over yellow glace, trimmed with point lace. Miss Kember, cream glace, trimmed with eruipure lace. Nurse Davies, pink silk, trimmed with Valenciennes lace. Mrs A’Deane (Hawke's Bay), black silk lace over cream glace, breast-knot of autumn foliage. Miss Burke (Hawke’s Bay), white silk frock, with sequin trimming. Mrs Walter Strang (Palmerston North), exquisite ■ frock of paie blue silk taffeta, trimmed with silver fringe and Oriental lace. . ' Mrs Corrigan, pale blue silk, silver lace, and green velvet belt. Mrs Neil McLean, .picturesque gown oi painted chiffon or heliotrope glace. Mrs lan Duncan, floral net over glace, worked on pink chiffon roses. Mrs Holmes, black net over glace. Mrs Zacariah. black and white.