BLENHEIM.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue II, 13 July 1895, Page 51

BLENHEIM.

Dear Bee, July 1. THE MASONIC BALL given by the Killarney Lodge in Ewart's Hall was a decided success, and quite the dance of the season so far. The hall, which was most effectively and appropriately decorated with flags and Masonic emblems, was crowded with dancers, who all seemed to be enjoying the evening. The music, under Mr Vannini. wari excellent, and the delicious supper w r as done full justice to, and the table being one of the prettiest ever seen in Blenheim, deserves description, in the centre was a large mirror with vases standing upon and around it festooned with pale blue ribbons, while sprays of foliage lay on the mirror, and fairy lights in different colours and candles with pretty shades lit up the whole. Plants and palms rose from pretty arrangements of crinkled paper, and the front of the tablecloth was draped with pale blue (the Masonic colours), while serviettes bearing the Masonic arms were placed in glasses at intervals. During the evening a set of Masonic Lancers was danced, the ladies wearing their partners’ regalia. As to the belle, opinions di tiered to such an extent that honours were divided.’ Mrs Tom Watson was much admired in heliot rope silk with jewelled net. and so was Mrs Cleghorn, in black and white ; Mrs Francis Richmond was very handsome in black velvet; and so was Mrs Cionston, in black velvet relieved with pink ; Mrs John Conolly pretty black lace over pink silk, and pink ribbons: Mrs Richardson, becoming cream satin with pearl embroidery; Mrs Mclntire, handsome black silk : Mrs Thompson, black satin, with jet. and velvet: Mrs Ryan, black with jet; Mrs Fuller, black and blue; Mrs Jack Mowat. black and yellow ; Mrs H. V. Browne, pale green with ostrich feathers, opera cloak to match; Mrs Hiley. black and white silk ; Mrs George Robinson, orange silk and lace; Mrs Penny, black and blue: Mrs Park, red and black ; Mrs Ferguson, black : Mrs Tait, black velveteen, Maltese lace : Mrs Powell, black : Mrs Orr, black velvet: Mrs A. Rayner, black and silver ; Mrs Ballard, black silk ; Mrs Salmon, black net. and cardinal; Mrs Pritchard, black and cream : Mrs Stratford, black 'silk, and becoming cap; Mrs Clarkson, black and blue ; Mrs Mclntosh, black velveteen and jet: Mrs Gillespie*. Mrs Bonnily, Mrs Snodgrass, sea green silk with olive green velvet; Mrs Fred Dodson looked well in white; Mrs Elberk. black and pink ; Mrs Hillman, cream: Mrs Fisk (Picton). Mrs Oxley (Picton). black: Mrs Sheridan, pink and fawn : Mrs Dirk, becoming black silk and jet: Mrs C. Earp, dark red: Mrs Bell (Waitiopai), etc., etc. Among the young ladies Miss Mildred Fell (Picton) looked well in heliotrope silk and net; Miss Cawte wa<« pretty in cream silk and fur. and so were Miss Mabel Macey and

Miss Lily Macey in pink; Mish Ferguson was admired in a pretty ''hade of pink: Miss Mai Burnes (Wellington) was charming in pink with turqiioi.se and diamond ornaments: Miss Maud Carey looked well in red with black moir6 ribbons; Miss Lilian Horne wore a pretty bright red frock with chilfon frills: Miss Pike (Nelson), wore the prettiest dress in the roomlovely cream silk beautifully made; Miss Seymour was dintingute in pate [link silk: Miss Farmar, black and cau de nil ribbons: Miss Bertha Farmar. a pretty pale pink silk frock ; Miss Conolly (Auckland), a lovely pale yellow frock with biocade sleeves ; Miss Girling, pretty black velveteen gown with beaded net. cream opera cloak : Miss Dick was pretty in white embroidered muslin and pale blue ribbons ; Miss Bell, black with lovely white chrysanthemums; Miss Bartlett, pea green and maroon velvet; Miss Chaytor. white broch6 ; Miss E. Chaytor. pretty pink frock ; Miss Jane Chaytor. white; Miss E. Carey, white; Miss Gordon, sapphire blue velveteen and pink silk sleeves; Miss L. Stratford, white; Miss Dickens, cream; Miss Muir, black and gold. If I gave the names of halt the men present I should till up your valuable paper, so must leave them out. Extras were played by Mrs Park and Misses Ferguson and White, and Mr Corrie, and the Killarney Masonic ball will long be remembered as a red letter dance in Blenheim.

Last Monday we got a terrible scare, for there was a big fire in town, Claremont House being gutted, and a portion of the Criterion Hotel caught fire, and had it not been for the strenuous efforts of the Blenheim Fire Brigade, under Captain Snodgrass, aided by some plucky volunteers, the whole of the fine building must have been burnt, and if that had gone half the town might have gone 100. The brigade are to be congratulated upon the rapidity with which they got up steam and got the water on. but we sadly need a Salvage Corps here, for more harm was done to furniture and effects last Monday night by rough handling than by fire or water! Albeit, these rescuers had the best intentions possible. The first Catholic social of the series was held in Ewart’s Hall last Wednesday, and was an unqualified success. There must have been more than two hundred present, and from start to finish all went off well, and everyone seemed to be having a good time, especially a whole army of small boys, who made a raid upon the supper table, and devoured and pocketed wholesale. The supper table was laden with good things, and was prettily set out with vases and pots of flowers in red and green crinkled paper. Miss Leahy was much admired in a pretty pale blue gown, and so was Miss Gordon in black lace over amber : Miss Mai Burnes wore a stylish cream crepon and moir6 with black lace: Miss Macartney looked very well in black and gold: Miss Dick was pretty in black and amber ; Miss Kate Leahy, pretty pink frock ; Miss Mabel Macey was very pretty in pink veiling, and so was Miss Lily Macey in pink crepon ; Mrs H. V. Browne, a pretty shade of pink veiling ; Mrs Ryan, cream blouse and black skirt ; Mrs I*. Meighan, shot silk gown ; Mrs Thompson, black silk velvet and jet; Miss Bartlett, green and ruby velvet: Miss M. Nolan, pink and black; Miss. J. Cameron, [link ; Miss Davis, black and cream ; Mesdames C. Redwood. C. Earp, L. Dodson, Fuller, Penny, and Misses Nolan. Dodson, Horton, Ewart (two), Simson, Chittenden (two), Morison, Sullivan, Murphy, O’Dwyer. Whittom, Clayson, Penny, the Rev. Fathers Macnamara. and Dougherty. Messrs H. V. Browne, Chiltenden, P. Meighan, O'Leary, Holdsworth (two) Macey, Thompson. Pasley, S. Hodson, E. Conolly, L. Dodson. Nolan, Little, Sinison, H. Smith, G. Horton, C. Clark, O’Leary. Green, Macalister etc., etc., etc. The music was supplied by the Hibernian band, led by Mr Vannini. His many friends in Marlborough and the public generally will be grieved to hear of the very serious illness of Mr Charles Watts, of Lansdowne. Sincerity. Dear Bee, July 1. The first of this year’s CATHOLIC SOCIALS was held in Ewart’s Hall on Wednesday last, and as usual was a decided success. The arrangements were all perfect, especially the supper, which was under the supervision of Mesdames C. Redwood, Browne, Fuller, Dick, Meehan, and McMonagle. To please the rising generation, the ‘powers that be’ allowed waltzing on this occasion, and that entrancing mode of whirling around the room was greatly enjoyed. THE WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION are doinir a good work among us. Their new rooms in High-street are very attractive. Games of all sorts, illustrated papers and books are some of the inducements held out to those who frequent the street* and bars of public-houses, and lately the Union have started free bi-weekly concerts, which so far have proved very successful. On Saturday evening the items rendered consisted of readings, recitations, instrumental and vocal selections, those assisting being Mrs Kerr, Misses Rose, Girling, Parker, Brewster, the Rev. Mr Tee and Mr Crump. THE MERRY-GO-ROUND is departing for fresh fields, having closed a most successful season on Saturday last. Some folk growl at the amount of money taken out of the place by these peri pa ti tic philosophers, but they do not think of the blue mouldiness of life in an inland town, the doctors’ hi Ils and patent tonics required when we have nothing to amuse us. We hope the merry-go-round will visit us again. One of our citizens, Mr Bax, has just broken the world’s record in club-swinging in Wellington. He and his daughter have been giving exhibitions of the ‘art’ in various places of late. Still another departure from our midst. Mr and Mrs Booth, who have resided here for twenty-one years, left by the Waihi on Friday for Christchurch, whither Mr Booth has been transferred. Mr and Mrs Booth have been zealous church and choir workers, and will be much missed in many respects. Mabel.