AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 17, 23 April 1892, Page 428

AUCKLAND.

Dear Bee, April 19. A Kaipara correspondent sends me an account of a leap year ball which has just taken place in the Arapohue Hall, and which proved a brilliant success. The ball was promoted and carried to a successful termination by a committee of young ladies, assisted by several matrons who acted as chaperones, and the response to the invitations was most general. The night was beautifully fine and bright moonlight, and the roads were in good condition. Quite one bundled couples were present, mans of whom came from distant as well as surrounding districts. No trouble had been spared by the committee in preparing for their guests, and the interior of the spacious hall was transformed for the nonce into an ideal ball room, with immense quantities of tree ferns, nikau palms, pampa grasses, and a profusion of flowers. The supper-room was also tastefully decorated, and the table, which was beautifully laid, was covered with the daintiest of supper dishes, delicions cakes, fruit, etc., and the choicest of flowers. Tbe ball room floor was in capital order, and the music supplied by Messrs French, Jamieson, and Lindsay, of Aratapu, left nothing to be desired. At functions of the kind it is, you know, the ladies’ privilege to nominate and decorate the beau of the ball. On this occasion, however, the custom was not observed, the ladies, no doubt, wishing to prevent jealousy amongst their masculine friends. Many pretty gowns were worn. Amongst the most attractive were Mrs R. Young, handsome trained gown of white brocaded silk and satin ; Mrs H. Hammond, black grenadine relieved with terracotta ; Mrs Atkinson, grey poplin gown trimmed with white lace ; Mrs F. Bradley, pretty crimson gown relieved with cream lace ; Mrs S. Bradley looked well in black ; Mrs K. Masefield, black grenadine gown trimmed with jet ; Miss Bessie Bradley looked pretty in black grenadine evening dress with cardinal trimmings ; Miss Masefield (Ponsonby), becoming crushed strawberry gown ; Miss Mabel Williamson, pretty blue and white striped gown : Miss Nellie Bradley, pale blue net dress; Miss Emily Masefield made her dtbut, and wore white net finished with white ribbons ; Miss H. Spick, white muslin with blue ribbons ; Miss Melville, heliotrope gown finished with white lace ; Mrs W. Webb, handsome black silk gown trimmed with jet ; Mrs Kidd also wore black with jet trimmings; Mrs J. Black, pretty black lace gown ; Mrs T. Bassett, cream nun's veiling and lace; Mrs Beasley wore a pretty grey gown; and the Misses Bleasley, white muslin : Miss Dargaville, white net skirt and white satin bodice ; Miss Stalworthv, white muslin gown ; Miss Morgan, cream nun’s veiling; Miss Harding, white and pale blue; Miss Cook, white net and satin ; Misses Corkhill, black grenadine with scarlet trimmings. A great many other pretty costumes were worn, but the names of the wearers were either unknown or forgotten. Owing to Passion week the dress circle at the Opera House has not been particularly well patronised. Amongst those ladies present Mrs Ireland (Hulme Court! wore a very handsome black silk gown, the neck cut V„ and elbow sleeves handsomely trimmed with jet, long tan suede gloves. She was accompanied by her two daughters, the elder wearing a pretty cream evening dress, and her sister pale blue, plush opera cloaks.

Mrs Cooper i Parnell) looked well in pale pink satin ; Mrs MacDonald (Albert Park),black costume; Miss MacDonald, grey : and her sister, black evening dress, and opera mantle; the Misses Devore, handsome cream silk gowns trimmed with gold guimp ; Miss Devore also wore a pretty crimson outdoor cape : Mrs Hope-Lewis looked nice in white flowered muslin ; Mrs D. B. Cruickshank, handsome dark flowered costume; Mrs (Dr.) McArthur, black merveilleux gown ; Mrs W. Lawry, beautiful black silk evening dress, the low neck and short sleeves finished with jet ; Mrs Armstrong, pretty white dress ; Mrs Moss Davis looked handsome in a dark fawn silk gown ; Miss Davis, pretty cream dress trimmed with cream silk ; Miss Scherff wore, I think, black ; the Misses Percival, pretty light frocks ; Mrs T. W. Leys, black silk costume ; and the Misses Whitelaw, light dresses ; Mrs J. McK. Geddes, handsome light silk costume ; Mrs Myers, black silk costume ; Miss Walker, pretty pink evening dress.

Muriel.