GOVERNMENT HOUSE DANCE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue X, 8 September 1894, Page 234

GOVERNMENT HOUSE DANCE.

Wellington, August 30. A DANCE was given last Monday night at Government House by Lady Augusta Boyle, in honour of

her birthday. It was, I think, the nicest dance ever given at Government House, and it was thoroughly enjoyed by about one hundred guests. A great many beautiful presents were received by Lady Augusta, and among them were some magnificent bouquets, which were laid out in profusion in the drawing-room. Lady Augusta received in a lovely gown of white satin, plainly made and trained, and looked extremely well.

The decorations were as beautiful as ever, the long corridor and staircase being filled with tall bamboo plants, ferns, palms, etc., the lights there being shaded with pink. The ballroom mantelpiece was an artistic mass of yellow broom and pot plants, and the drawing-room and dining loom were made beautiful with quantities of red and white camellias, violets, yellow daffodils, and palm plants. The lamps in the drawing room were shaded with yellow to match the yellow satin curtains and furniture. The billiard-room was used for light refreshments, and the dining-room was reseived for the richercht champagne supper, which was daintily served on small tables all ronnd the room. The supper was quite a feature, and included everything one could wish for.

Both the foursome and eightsome reels were danced, and also a Highland schottische, and for these we had a piper in Highland costume to play the bagpipes, the general effect being extremely good. Mrs Johnston Stewart wore a lovely silver grey merveilleux brocaded with black and trimmed with chiffon, and the Ladies Alice and Dorothy Boyle wore white frocks and tan-coloured shoes and stockings; Miss Duncan wore a beautiful pale grey satin gown trimmed with lace, and with shoulder straps ot white flowers; Mrs Arthur Russell, a lovely pale sage green silk gown, trained, with epaulettes and basque of deep green velvet, and (rimmed with biscuit lace; Miss Eila Williams, cream satin trimmed with deep lace and flowers; Miss Elfle Williams, pale blue satin trimmed with white lace ; Miss Hilda Williams, cream brocade and lace : the Misses (Walter! Johnston handsome cieatn merveilleux gowns : Miss Mills iDunedin), pretty yellow brocade with deep while lace berthe; Miss Buller, a pretty cream silk gown ; Miss Cara Russell, white ; Miss Menzies, blue silk ; Miss F. Menzies, pale green and white striped gown with green sleeves ; Miss Williams, (Dunedin) terra-cotta ; Miss Tolurst, white ; Miss Alice Grace, white ; Miss Douglas, pale heliotrope ; Miss O'Connor, mauve silk ; Miss Friend, white silk - Miss Coleridge, white silk ; Mrs Dan Kiddiford (Rangitikei) pretty yellow silk flounced with black lace ; Miss Cooper, pink corded silk ; Miss Keiller (Rangitikei) white silk trained and trimmed with lace; Mrs C. Izard, pale green silk; Miss Buchanan (C nterburyi, white eilk; Miss Ingles iNapieri, pale blue; Miss Fairchild, blue silk, and her sister, pink • and there were also present Mr and Mrs Arthur Pearce, Dr. and' Mrs Collins. Mrs Dowell. Mrs Montgomery, MrsH. Crawford, the Misses Turton. of Dunedin. Miss Gibson, of Dunedin, Miss Grierson, of Dunedin, Miss But'erworth. of Dunedin, and Captain Graham and several of H.M.S. Wallaroo officers, and Messrs Izard. I raw fold. A. Russell. Duncan. Pearce. Walters. Dransfleld Tripp. Anson. Gore, Fitzgerald, Hodson, Kolleston. Brookemith Warren. Hadfield, Woolridge, Minitt. Ridgeway. Kiddiford, Jackson Leckie. Robison. Pynsent, Cooper, Day, Duncan, Buller Colonel Fox, etc.

The dance did not, as is usual, break up at 12 o’clock, but was kept on till nearly one. There was one extra, which was played by Mr Day, King’s band supplying the rest of the programme music.