THE FANCY DRESS BALL.

Colonist, Volume XVII, Issue 1870, 2 February 1875, Page 3

THE FANCY DRESS BALL.

The fancy dress ball to which we made allusion in our last issue was, although not very numerously attended, a very brilliant affair. About eighty couples were present, and nearly all of them were in costume, although a few in evening dress were in the gallery. Many of the dresses were very beautiful, and it was evident that several of those present had gone to considerable expense in getting themselves up for the occasion. Amongst the best and moßt effective dresses were those worn by Miss Ellen, Harris, Hon. Mr. Edwards, Miss Stanton, Mr. H. Rawson, Mr. Stanton, Mr. Gully, Miss Monro, Mr. Fell, Mr. Acton Adams, Mr. Blackett, Mr. Nicholson, Dr. Boor, Dr. Cotterell, and Mr. Wix. The make-up of the last-named, gentlerean as Mephistopheles was exceedingly good, and Mr. Gully as John Chinaman was dressed superbly.' . The following are the names of the ladies and gentlemen present, (a» far as we can remember) who were dressed in accordance with the undermentioned assumed characters :— Dr. Cotterell, Italian brigand; Mrs. Cotterell, Italian peasant; and Master Cotterell Italian peasant

boy; Dr. Eenwick, Egyptian undress uniform ; Mr. Martin, Man-of-war sailor; Mise Martin, Spanish lady ; and Miss T. Martin, Lady Fern j Miss Campbell,.Dolly Varden j Mrs. Adams, Quakeress ; Mr. G-ouland, Barrister; Mrs. Gouland, Swiss peasant; Miss Wells, Flora ; Miss Jessie Wells, 80-peep ; Miss Harris, Swiss girl; Miss Ellen Harris, first as Zulieka, and second Queen of the Butterflies; Mr. Oldham, Spanish muleteer; Mrs. Oldham, Lady of the Sixteenth Century ; Mr. John O:dham, Hearts-ease; Mrs. J. Oldham, Lady of the reign of George III.; Miss Kent, Stars and Stripes ; Mr. Nicholson, Half Black and White Italian Clown; Mr. Kawson, Black and Scarlet, Spanish ; Mr. Maclean, Marshal McM"ahon;

Mr. Ambrose Moore, Mercutio ; Miss Kingdon, French peasant; Mr. C Bunny, first as Knave of Diamonds, second as ~" Earl of Somerset; Mr. Scaife, Tambourine; Mrs. Scaife, Court Lady of George III.; Mr. W. Scaife, Knave of Clubs —Sailor; ' Mr. Catley, Turkish ; Mrs. Catley, Miss Neville; Miss Monro, Cashmerian ; Mr. Acton Adams, Rochester ; Mr, E. Adams, first as Knava of Hearts; second, Court page; Mr. Wix, Mephistopheles. Mr. Were, Alonzo ; Mrs. and Miss Marsden, Vicar of Wakefield's daughters, in powder and patches; Messrs. Saxton (2), Foresters ; Mr. H. Rawson, first as Knave of Spades, second, - Court page; Mrs. Rawson, Isabella of Bavaria; Mr. Blacket, Robin Hood, in green velvet; Mr. Pitt, Fra Diavolo; Mrs. Pitt, Circassian lady; Miss Dodson, Hungarian, blue velvet, skirt trimmed with ermine, scarlet boots, and square scarlet

hat; Mr. S. Dod»on, Algerian ; Mr. Edwards Cardinal Wolsey, in scarlet velvet and rep ; Mrs. Edwards, Venetian lady ; Mr. Stanton, George III.; Mrs.Stanton, Esrueralda; Miss Stanton, Swiss girl; Miss 0. Stanton, T'ivandiere ; and Mr. Frank Stantoo, Algerine rover ; Mr. Griilly, John Chinaman ; Mr. Griffiths, James I.; Mr. Hervey, Student of G-hsgow Academy ; Vlies Saxton, Winter ; Miss B. Saston, Algerian ; Dr. Boor, Mr. Hardcaatle ; Mrs. Fruzer, Duenna ; Tweivty-two dances were gone through, and 'at intervals, Mr. H.'Rawaon, assisted by several other gentlemen, produced several dramatic scenes and o-era choruses, with excellent effect. There were several other ladies and gentlemen present but we do not recollect their names. The first scene represented a courtyard in Tunis, with slave merchants in Turkish costume, Circassian captives being sold by dumb-show auction, the chorus being " Merry Tuniß," from the opera " Satanella." The Becond delineation was a well-known scene from j

Goldsmith's favorite play, "She stoops to Conquer," in which Dr. Boor, as Mr. Hardcastle. acquitted himself very creditably. The third was a very effective scene, representing "Stonehenge" : the spirited invocation chorus from " Norma," being rendered by nine Druids, surpliced and laurel-wreathed. The fourth, " the Cauldron scene from Macbeth," was very successful. It represented the interior of a cave, in the centra of whioh stood the cauldron, over which an owl kept watch. The three witches were excellently personifiei, and the bats and other night birds were capitally arranged, colored fire? adding to the effect. Locke's music was capitally rendered. The scene was deservedly encored, and repeated.

The fifth, described as the ballet termed, " the Quaker's Daughter," was well sustained. Although there was no spoken dialogue, the intelligent acting and descriptive music conveyed the plot clearly to theaudience. It opens with the Quaker and his daughter at home; she is pretending to work, but surreptitiously reading a novel; the father goes out, and the daughter falls to reading the prohibited book. Her father returns unexpectedly arid removes the book, shaking his head sadly as he goes out again. The

daughter then places a signal in the window, which brings in the favored lover ; whibt they are regaling, a loud knock announces lover No. 2, and No. 1 is stowed away in a box. No. 2 brings, her a bouquet, which she refuses. Another knock startles them, and I she wishes No. 2 to go under the table, which he refuses to do unless she accepts the bouquet, which she unwillingly does. Her father returns, finds the bouquet on the table, and is Bssured by her it was brought by a small boy, " with Mamma's love." He then brings in another lover, one of the Friends, and very bashful, who presents the young lady with a cauliflower and a pair of bellows, which latter she uses to

the discomfiture of No. 3. The father and No. 3 then sit down for refreshment, and as fast as the former fills the glasses, No. 2 under the table empties them, until the father discovers him. No. 1 then comes forward, and the father is horrified at the idea of hia daughter having three lovers. A press-gang arrives, and the three lovers are demanded, vrhen they are brought in as cripples, and of course, the press-gang loaves. The two lovers and the daughter then dance, in the middle of which the press-gang returns, and this time are not to be deceived. A bribe however, settles the matter, and after more refreshment, in which the Quaker lover indulges to an unlimited extent, the scene terminates with a general " break-down," in which the two E'riends join most energetically, propping each other up. The performers were deservedly re-called before the curtain, as also the Manager, who was received most enthusiastically. Too much praiße cannot be given to the excellent music rendered by Messrs. Oakey, Jacobs, and Oorrick, it being some of the best dancing music we have ever heard. Dancing was kept up with epirit to the end of the programme, and Sir Roger de Ooverly being added, the company then sang " G-od Save the Queen," and separated with three hearty cheers for Mr. Rawson. i

— —- - Rev. Charles Clark.—This popular and talented elocutionist, will deliver his first ,lecture to a Nelson audience in the Masonic Hall to-morrow evening, Special Settlements.—We are informed.that the Government.intend to form two more special settlements, one at Oollingwood, and the other on the West Coast. Resident Magistrate s Court.—At the Kesi* dent Magistrate's Court on Saturday Fmnigan and others brought an action against on Mr M'Rae to recover the sum of £77 9s 8d for work done. The claim was admitted with the exception of £17 LOs, which M'Rae declined to pay. The case was adjourned for three weekn,.in order, that additional evidence might be adduced. Commercial.—Mr Mabin reports the sale of South British Insurance Company's shares at 50a. The English Mail.—This mail, which reached Auckland on Satarday night, arrived here by the Ladybird early yesterday morning, ' Fox Hill Railway.—Tenders are invited for the erection of station houses on the above line of railway, The Otago escorts brought to Dunedin on J»q. 18? the large amount of seventeen thousand nine hundred and fifteen ounces of gold. The Northern escort