THE NAVY LEAGUE BALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7078, 16 March 1910, Page 4

THE NAVY LEAGUE BALL

A BRILLIANT FUNCTION. For some time the Navy League has been preparing to welcome the Admiral to Wellington, and last night a brilliant ball was given in honour of the visit of his Excellency and the squadron. A large and energetic committee was hard at work all day yesterday transforming the lown Hall and Concert Chamber into veritable fairyland. In the main hall the colour, scheme was red, white and blue, and the effect was very striking. Two large flags were drai>ed in front of the organ, effectively screening it, and the platform was a bower of greenery. A radiating row of lances, with their pretty triangular red and white flags, fringed the platform, and these same implements of war were grouped at tho pillars and at intervals along the gallery front. Underneath, the gallery a green carpet ran the entire length of the hall, and partitions were curtained off between tho pillars with stall more flags, cosy sitting-out places being the result. Bach white pillar was wreathed with greenery, and pink belladonna lilies in large jardinieres made effective splashes of colour at the base, and with tho electric lights, beautiful dresses and gay uniforms _ the scene was one of dazzling brilliancy. But the decoration committee excelled itself in the supper room. Hero tho patriotic colour scheme was abandoned, and yellow and green a very pretty, contrast to the more striking decorations of the dance hall. A long table ran down tho centre of the room, and a tall lamp with a yellow silk* shade was the centre-piece from which streamers of yellow satin ribbon depended, being attached to the two branching silver candelabra on either side. Vases of coreopsis, gallardias and feathery grasses were sot about among tho dainties, and a miniature Dreadnought was conspicuous at the top of the table. This table was the reserve for the supply of dainties to the small tables dotted round the room, each one decorated with yellow flowers and ribbon, and having menu cards tied with bows of ribbon in tho same delicate colouring. The long table reserved for his Excellency was decorated with yellow; flowers, and the centrepiece was formed by a large silver -bowl. Hero also the menu cards played a minor part in the decoration. The stage was banked high with pot plants, and a handsome bowl of vivid sunflowers stood in tho centre, front of the stage. The gallery was very pretty, the front being decorated with a festoon of greenery from which baskets of yellow flowers and drooping foliage depended at intervals. The wall bracket lights were shaded with yellow silk and greenery was entwined around the brackets, the long festoon which ran round the hall being caught up at the bracket and finished with a hanging' bowl of flowers. The supper menu was as. follow Oyster Baties.—Fillet of Sole en Aspic.— Salmon ; Gamie Tart-are. Mayonnaise of Chicken.—Chicken en Aspic.— ’ Savoury Eggs.—Patties a La Boino.— , Ham, Tongue, Egg. and Tomato . Sandwiches.—Meringues a la Creme. —Sherry . Jelly.— Fruit Jelly.—Vene, I tian Cremes.—Apricot Cremes.—Pina- , apple Charlotte.—Trifle.—Fruit Salad. —Chocolate Eclairs. —Olivo , paroles.— Sardines Crouton.—Petit Four.—lces, i Cheese Straws.—Dessert. fGodber’s. Punctually to fame the Admiral and his officers arrived, and the. official set was danced. The night was’Very wanm, and sitting out accommodation mas taxed to its utmost. < OFFICIAL SET.

The official .set was as follows:—The Admiral and Lady "Ward, Captain Prouse and Mrs Findlay, Sir Joseph Ward and Mrs Nenvman, Captain da Costa and Mrs Firth, Br Findlay and Mrs Ewen, Colonel Robin and Miss Edwin, Mr W. Eraser and Mrs Campbell, Commander. Horhe and lira" Palmer. SOME OF THE DRESSES.

Lady Ward wore a handsome gown of ivory satin veiled with ninon, the bodice, of filmy ninon',finished with crystal and : silver passementerie. Mrs Newman's handsome frock was of sase blue velvet with a vest '." and sleeves of cream lace. Mrs Findlay wore pale blue satin .with] bodice and sleeves of pale bine, ohiffon* and adorned with heavy silk embroideries. Sirs Firth wore black silk with a yoke, and sleeves of white lace insertion with crystal seams. Miss Edwin wore black silk with a white lace bertha. '»' Mrs Ewen's black ninon frock . was built over white and inlet with,,Chantilly la/oe. '.-, •; ; '.. : , i Mrs Campbell wore a;.sjiriin!p ; pink charmeuse princess robe with; silver trimmings. .v, Mrs Palmer was in white .satin with a. front panel of gold and' pearl embroidery, the same embellishment finishing the sleeves. Mrs Duncan wore black striped ■ ninon-

over white, with a chemisette of tucked Miss Richmond's grey brocade frock had some fin© old lace on the corsage, and she wore amethyst ornaments. Mrs Quaine (.Cliristchurch) wore dove grey satin charmeuse made in a severely princess style. Mrs 'i'ewsley's beautiful frock of pompadour silk veiled with cream ninon, thrice edged with silver fringe, a baud of rose pink velvet crossed tho lcit shoulder and finished with a bow on the right aide. , , Ylrs iSiundell wore black and white. Mrs Ken Duncan wore pale blue with cold sequinned bolero. . lira 1/r Webster wore black ninon, the bodice relieved with gold embroider}-. Mrs Dr Martin wore white satin and gold trimmings. Mrs (ill) tiiiiner, vieux rose charmeuse, with a draped skirt and protty swathed bodice. , , , Mrs Bowerbank, pale blue charmeuse, with a draped start and bodice veiled with pink chin'on. Mrs ijherih wore navy silk, and her two daughters, debutantes, were in. cream satin empire frocks. . Mrs Liykes wore pink satin charmeuse vith. silver seqiuned panels falling to the hem of the skirt. . Mrs I'oung, in cream nmon with silver trimmings. ... Miss aunpson, old rose ninon princess frock, with sleeves of cream lace. iii-3 iDr) loung, white satin with bands of black velvet over the shoulders. Miss Collins, pink satin with handsome creain lace trimming. Mrs Br ice Wilson's lace robe was built over white satin, and she carried a beautiful ostrich feather fan. Misa E. Russell wore white satin, with a jet Met in her hair. Miss M. Jones also wore white, with silver trimmings. . Miss E. Collins wore pale blue satin, with a vest of cream lace. " Miss Eweu wore mauve chifion _ over heliotrope silk. ' -.,'•■ ■„ Mrs Ward, white satin with silver and crystal encrusted insertion. Mrs Chaytor wore pale blue brocade, with panels of raised silver embroidery, the sleeves inlet with tucked and gathered net. ... Mrs Corrigan wore white ninon, with srold embroideries on the bodice. Mrs Cleghorn wore black and white striped ninon made in princess style. Also present were Mrs and Kemtoer, Mrs Abel Rowe, Mrs Shrrtcliffe, Mrs Francis Stevens, Mrs Uitzgerald, Miss Hilda Moorehouse, Dr Elizabeth Gunn, Miss Finch, Miss Collins ■ Mrs McCrae, Miss Butts, Miss Abbott, Miss Kembor, Mrs Rayiward, Mrs Barron. .