NELSON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 36, 12 September 1891, Page 370

NELSON.

Dear Bee, August 27. The first item of news I must tell you of this week is the bal masque, which took place in the Provincial Hall, as usual. It really was the most delightful ball that I have ever been to. Most of us rather dreaded the masks, but although they were hot, and most decidedly unbecoming, still we all had such fun trying to rack bur brains as to who everyone was, that the two hours seemed to fly, and I think we were all surprised to find how quickly the time for unmasking had come. Punctually at eleven o’clock everyone unmasked, and then the fun was immense. But before going any further you must hear how pretty the room looked. Very little had been done in the way of decorating, but that little was most effective. On one side of the hall there are three very ugly windows. These bad been made quite pretty by Liberty muslin curtains draped from the top, and then across the wide ledges, and caught up here and there by pink camellias. The gallery was also draped with the muslin, in fact, whereever draping was possible it was done. The mantelpieces looked well covered thickly with green leaves, amongst which pink and white camellias hail been arranged. At the upper end of the hall a small platform had been erected, and this was made into a pretty drawing-room, with couches and easy chairs, etc. The supper was of the most recherche description ; in fact, the tables seemed to groan under their immense weight. The floor, too, was in perfect condition. And now, Bee, for what to me, as well as to you, is the most interesting part of the whole ball—the gowns. Everyone seemed to vie with each other as to w ho should have the prettiest robe, and I certainly never before saw so many artistic toilets. But one before all others excited my attention. It was worn by Miss L. Fell, in the character of Indine, and was just the sweetest thing in robes you can imagine, composed of a lovely shade of green Liberty silk, made plainly, with a short waist and a Watteau back. From her hair a green net veil hung, and long

strings of green shells hung from her shoulders and all round the front of her skirt. Mrs Houlker, too, had a lovely gown of soft creamy satin, beautifully embroidered in gold, and trimmed with real lace, but I am not sure what her costume represented. Mrs Watts looked well in a handsome black velvet, the entire front of the corsage and skirt being pink satin of a very pale shade, over which was a finely embroidered gauze—Court Dress. Mrs J. Wood looked extremely well as a character from ‘ lolanthe.* Her dress was pale blue Pongee cotton, with long flowing draperies, her hair hanging loosely and surmounted by a half crown of silver. Mrs Pearson was very taking as Esmeralda ; in fact, her dress was one of the handsomest in the room. The skirt was of a bright red embossed silk, exquisitely worked in gold with a bold design of flowers, and all round the bottom of the skirt hung little gold sequins. The corsage was of a dull gold satin, embroidered like the skirt, with a black velvet zouave also worked in gold and bordered with sequins ; little gold lace cap with sequins all round it. Miss G. Pitt, as a Magpie, was splendid, and the costume suited her perfectly. It was of black velvet and white satin, forming stripes for the front of the skirt, and the rest was black velvet, with white satin just peeping out at the back ; on her shoulder a magpie, her hair powdered and surmounted by a magpie. Mrs Percy Adams, a Court Lady, wore a lovely robe of green plush with a long train, the entire front being pink satin, powdered hair. Mrs A. Glasgow, Spanish Lady of high rank, black merveilieux, long tiain, the corsage being almost entirely covered with lovely black ostrich featheis, the same bordering the front of the skirt; a half-crown of gold in her hair, from which fell a long black lace veil. Mrs J. Sharp, an Eastern Bride ; the front of the gown was of white satin, the rest of black velvet bordered with gold braid, a white veil falling from her hair; Mrs Broad, Spanish Lady, in black merveilieux, and high comb, over which fell a black lace veil; Mrs Thorntjn, one of the characters from ‘ Dorothy ’; Miss Catley, Grecian Girl, pretty gown of soft white Indian muslin made in the Grecian style ; her sister looked well as a Gipsy; Mrs Buckland, Night, a becoming robe of black net over silk, dotted with gold stars, gold half-moon in her hair, from which fell a black net veil, also dotted with gold stars; Miss Broad, Incroyable ; red, white and blue striped satin skirt, red satin coat, hair- arranged in tiny curls, and powdered ; Miss Gibson, Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary ; a simple but pretty dress of pink pongee silk, with rows of shells and tiny little bells all round the skirt, which jingled prettily as she danced ; Miss Watson, The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe ; such a quaint costume of some cotton material, with dolls all round the skirt, high hat, from the inside of which also appeared a doll; on her back a large shoe just full of dolls ; Mrs Fell, a Maori Woman, a most splendid get-up, and when she squatted on the floor, and put a small clay pipe into her mouth just like the Maori women do, it was too much for every one’s gravity ; Miss Ledger, a Japanese ; Miss Morgan, an Indian Dancer ; Miss Wood also was an Indian character ; Mrs Levien, Spanish Lady ; Miss Oldham, Jeannette ; Miss Lightfoot, Esmeralda ; Miss Holmes, Daughter of the Regiment; Miss Chappelle, Snowball; Miss Worsley, Pink Domino ; Miss Renwick, Powder and Patches ; Mrs Duddy, Greek dress ; Mrs Roger Kingdom and Miss Curtis as Brigand’s Daughters were splendid ; Mrs Thornton, Tambourine girl. I really cannot think of any more, although I am sure I must have forgotten some. Now, Bee, for the sterner sex. Some of their costumes were very good. The Times was a splendid get up, the whole figure being covered with the Times newspaper, and the face covered with a huge cardboard clock. Mr Fell was the wearer. He afterwards changed his dress for a Yachtsman ; Mr Thornton, as Gobo, was good; Mr Browning, as Punch, was also good ; Mr Buckland, as the Nelson Evening Mail, was most amusing. Others there were Mr Cock, French Clown ; Mr R. Richmond, Chinaman ; Mr O’Moore, Chinaman; Mr E. L. Broad, Neapolitan Fisherman; Mr R. Kingdon, also a Neapolitan Fisherman ; Mr Leggatt, Lord Darnley ; Mr Oldham, old English Gentleman ; Mr Booth, an Admiral ; Mr Heaps, Cavalier; Mr A. Glasgow, Court Gentleman ; Mr J. Sharp, Magpie ; Mr G. Wither, University Student; Mr Cooke, Turk ; Mr Percy Adams, Canadian Skater ; Mr Macquarrie, Jack Tar ; and several more that I am unable to remember. We danced until after three o’clock, and all went home thoroughly tired, but delighted with one of the most successful balls that there has been in Nelson for a long time. I must not omit to tell you we danced the ‘ Cotillon,’ which looked so pretty with all the bright dresses, especially the ‘ Driving Figure,’ which most of us had not before seen.

Professor Zimmerman gave a most enjoyable concert in aid of St. Alary’s Church Organ Fund. Mrs Percy Adams, wearing a perfect robe of the palest shade of heliotrope, beautifully embroidered in silk, and trimmed with lovely lace, sang most sweetly ; Mrs Houlker, in black lace relieved with white, also sang, as usual, perfectly ; Miss L. Fell, in soft white cashmere, and Miss L. Jackson, in a mixture of cream and white cashmere, both played well. The other singers were Mr Grace and Mr Lucas. Professor Zimmerman gave two violin solos, which were much appreciated. I noticed among the audience Mrs Watts, in black, with pink ostrich feather cap ; Mrs Glasgow, black merveillenx, with the tiniest cap ; Mrs Macquarrie, black lace ; Mrs J. Sharp, old gold plush opera cloak ; Mrs Broad, black lace ; Miss Glasgow, black net with red, grey plush opera cloak ; Miss Gribben, crushed strawbeny gown; Miss Broad, pale blue velvet opera cloak ; Mrs Sealy, black cashmere, white lace eap.

Great excitement prevailed when Marlborough played against Nelson that much dreaded game (by mothers) —football. Nelson proved successful after a well-contested game. The day was rather cold, but people all flocked to Trafalgar Park. There must have been several thousand people watching the game all through. As I walked round I passed Mrs Pitt, Mrs J. Wood, Mrs T. Glasgow, Mrs Levien, Mrs J. Sharpe, Mrs Holmes, Misses Catley (2), Fell, Pitt, Renwick, Glasgow, Seymour (Picton), Watson, Gibson, Heaps, Sealy (2), Wood, Atkinson, and Mrs Littlejohn. Miss Gibson gave an enjoyable little dance to the boarders of the Girls’ College, which was kept up with great spirit until about half-past eleven. ‘ Princess Ida ’ is to be performed at the Boys’ College, and another evening ‘Mrs Jarley’s Wax works ’ are to be shown for the first time in Nelson, so in my next letter I hope to have some fun to tell you of.

Phyllis.