COLAC.

Southern Cross, Volume 11, Issue 17, 25 July 1903, Page 10

COLAC.

The third annual ball of the Colac Rifles took place on the 10th, and was a great success. The company’s large hall was tastefully decorated with flags, evergreens, rifles and bayonets. Forty-eight couples took part in the grand march, led by Cape, and Mrs I)awson. In spite of the fact that outside, the ground was white with snow and still falling, there were probably about thirty couples present who did not take part in the march. I set myself the task of picking the belle, but found it an impossible one. If any of our country townships can, on such an occasion and on such a night, produce so many well-dressed women, so many women who can dance as well, and such a fine-looking lot of women as Colac did on the night in question, ‘ May I be there to see.’ Competition for partners was ' keen. ‘ The wind without might rair an’ rustle,’ the cry was ‘on with the dance,’ and ou the dance went, till at 6 a m., when parties might be seen in the clear moon-light, wending their way homeward over the crackling snow —some to Wakapatn, some to Oraki, some to Round Hill, others to Orepuki, to McCallum’s mill, to Massey and Fisher’s mills and other places, all profuse in their praise of the night’s enjoyment and much amused at the novelty of going home from a ball through the snow. Mr A. Smith and Mr Fenwick Grenfell were all that could be desired, as M’s.O. Mr J. Kingslatd of Invercargill catered for the supper. Songs were given by Miss Joss, and by Lieutenant Reichel of the Orepuki Rifles. Along with the officer just named were a number of members of the corps. - The veteran Sergeant John Patterson was with ns, and with his bright red coat, and shining medals formed a

striking contrast to the Khaki-clad warriors of Colac. Good music was supplied by Mr J. Moore and party of Riverton. In conclusion, allow me to offer a suggestion to the company. To enter the ante-rooms it it necessary to go through the hall, the result being that on a wet night a great amount of mud and moisture are carried into the ball, and dancers arriving during the course of a dance have either to wait awhile in the pold or pick their way through the spinning crowd, and it is unpleasant for ladies to have to go through the hall with heads wrapped up and dresses tucked up, etc. All this could be obviated by making a path down the side of the hall, and putting a door to each of the dressing rooms.