Jetty Ball.

Opunake Times, Volume V, Issue 198, 28 July 1896, Page 2

Jetty Ball.

This, the event of the season, took place on Friday evening, and proved an unqualified success. The Town Hall was gaily und artistically decorated, Mr Des Forges, who is well known as a past master -in the art, having, with the assistance of Mr J. Hickey, quite outshone any of his previous efforts in this direction. The walls were decorated with very some greenery, enlivened with artificial flowers. At the end of the room was placed the large mirror from his saloon, and in addition there were a couple of over-mantle mirrors, one on each side of the hall, which lent a very charming aspect to the room. Suspended from the ceiling was a very liberal display of bunting, and a number of Chinese lanterns nicely displayed considerably enlivened the decorations. Across the front of the stage in large red and blue letters was the motto " Success to our Ball," and at the end of the hall were two transparent illuminated mottos—" Welcome one and all " and " Advance Opunake." Mrs O'Brien and Miss Tait undertook the decorations of the stage, which was set out as a drawingroom, and proved a very great convenience for non-dancers, besides being a pleasing addition to the general effect. The floor was in fair order, and the music in the hands of Messrs Good and Putt left nothing to be desired. Messrs Markham (violin), Webb (cornet), and Miss Tait (piano), and Mrs W. Pearce and Mr M. Fowler contributed several extras, which were highly praised by the dancers. The floor was uncomfortably full during the early part of the evening, when there were fully 250 present. Mr F. Des Forges acted as M.C., assisted by Mr W. McLeod, and carried out the duties with satisfaction.

. A marquee was procured from Wellington which seated about 60 at a time, and was erected in front of the hall, so that entrance to it was effected by means of the front door of the hall. The tables were set out under the supervision of Mrs W. Middleton, and adds one more to her many triumphs in this line in Opunake. Sbe was also very energetic in obta ; oing donations and contributions. There was also a very generous and varied supply of eatables on hand, which bore solid evidence to the energy of the ladies' committee and their canvassing power. Mrs Knowles was most energetic in securing assistance and travelled far and wide for donations. It took a spring trap to bring the quantity of turkeys, fowls, cakes, &c, which Mrs Stevenson secured round the Pihama district, whilst Mrs O'Brien and Miss Tait were also most energetic in canvassing for donations. The generous manner in which the public responded in supplying eatables may be judged by the fact that on the following day the surplus goods brought nearly £5 at auction.

After supper Mr R. Lambie, Chairman of the Wharf Company, thanked one and all for their liberality in contributing to make the ball the brilliant success it most undoubtedly was, both "from a pleasure-seeking and a financial point of view, and he thought there remained no doubt but that the bazaar in such capablo bands would also prove equally successful. A word of praise is also due to the indefatigable secretary, Mr W. D. Scott, who was untiring in his efforts to make everything pass off smoothly, in which he succeeded admirably. We cannot enter on a description of the many beautiful ball dresses as it is beyond our power and technical knowledge, and must therefore content ourselves with saying that many of them looked charming. As far as our reporter could ascertain the honors of belle fell to Miss Newsham, whilst Miss K. Jeffries, Miss Treweek, Miss Vickery, and Miss Carter had many admirers.