BIRTHDAY BALL AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XXIII, 4 June 1898, Page 710

BIRTHDAY BALL AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, WELLINGTON.

Thursday, May 26th, will ever be celebrated in the annals of Government House, Wellington, as the date of the most brilliant affair of the kind yet seen in the Empire city. The decorations were most beautiful and elegant, and the electric light displayed to advantage the very handsome new paper, paint, and carpet of the Vice-Regal residence. The ballroom and two drawingrooms were fitted up foi dancing. The verandah was covered in and arranged with flags, chairs, etc., also lit by electric light. The upstairs corridors were comfortably arranged and decorated for sitting out. Large tree ferns and palms were much in evidence. Two huge marquees opened off the diningroom for supper, which was very elaborate, champagne, etc., and every possible dainty. The arrangements were perfect. The mantelpieces in the ballrooms were one mass of maiden hair fern, and large scarlet flowers. The supper table was very pretty with large silver bowls of ferns. Minifrie’s string band supplied the music, and was stationed on a raised dais in the first drawingroom. The Vice-Regal party entered the crowded rooms at 9.30 to the strains of the National Anthem. The first set. of Lancers was danced by His Excellency the Governor, Mrs Wallis, Lady Ranfurly, Admiral Pearson, Colonel Cavendish, Mrs Seddon, Lady Berkeley, Mr Seddon, Sir Henry Berkeley, Mrs Walker, Count de Courte, Mrs Penton, Lady Douglas, Capt. Dicken, Col. Penton. and Countess de Courte. Lady Ranfurly wore an exquisite gown of a lovely shade of green satin, the bodice and front of the skirt were draped with fine white lace, and also trimmed with clusters of double violets. She wore violets in her hair, and a tiara of diamonds and emeralds, also diamonds on the bodice. Lady Constance Knox looked charming in a pretty pink and white figured silk, trimmed with white chiffon; Miss Wallis, rich white brocade, trimmed with pearls and lace; Mrs Seddon, be: utiful mauve satin, brocaded with large white design, bodice trimmed with pale yellow lace; Mrs W. Barton (Featherston), fawn and salmon brocaded silk, trimmed with lace; Mrs Biss, pretty shot silk, chiffon on the bodice: Mrs Beere, black silk and lace; Mrs Brandon, white brocade with chiffon; Mrs Butts, all black; Mrs E. Brandon, black silk, trimmed with white lace; Lady Buckley, rich black satin, trimmed with sparkling passementerie; Lady Berkeley, lovely white satin, brocaded with dark flowers. white lace on the corsage; Mrs Collins, thick yellow brocade, the bodice trimmed with chiffon to match; Mrs H. Crawford, pink satin, the high bodice trimmed with fine ecru lace; Mrs A. Crawford, white silk and lace: Mrs Crowther, black velvet, white fichu; Countess De. Courte, beautiful pink silk, trimmed with velvet to match, and violets; Lady Douglas, black satin, the bodice trimmed with scarlet chiffon; Miss Dyer, white corded silk, trained, and trimmed with lace: Mrs J. Duncan, white satin, the. bodice trimmed with chiffon; Mrs Ewen, yellow brocade, white lace berthe; Mrs Eliott, black silk, white lace on the bodice; Mrs Edwin, black satin and laee; Mrs Fancourt, black satir. and white lace: Mrs Capt. Fitchett, black satin, trimmed with ruches of pink satin: Mrs Firth, black velvet, trimmed with lace and red roses; Mrs Focke. pale green brocaded silk, trimmed with chiffon to match, and passementerie; Mrs Friend, black; Mrs Finlay, black gown: Lady Gibbs, black satin and white lace; Mrs Gore, black brocade, white lace on bodice; Mrs H. Gore, white satin and lace; Mrs Gill, black silk; Mrs Gualter, black satin and lace, pale green cap: Lady Hector, pearl grey silk, trained, the bodice trimmed with folds and white chiffon; Mrs Hutchison, black silk with jet embroidery; Mrs Henry, grey satin with chiffon on the bodice; Mrs Hickson, blnck, with rucked sleeves of chiffon; Mrs Hamer, pretty pink silk; Mrs Harding, black brocaded satin with lace; Mrs Hudson, red silk veiled in black lace: Mrs Izard, yellow satin; Mrs C. Johnston, handsome black and white gown; Mrs Hall Jones, black gown: Mrs Knight," white silk, trimmed with silver spangles: Mrs Longdon. white satin, nnd red poppies, on the bodice; Mrs Mnntell, black satin, trimmed with Ince nnd green silk; Mrs Medley, black figured silk, and white lace cap; Mrs Mententh. white sntin with red flowers and lace on the bodice; Mrs Morison.

brown silk; Mrs Moleneaux, Wack satin with rucked chiffon sleeves; Mrs MeKellar, black silk; Mrs McPherson, cream satin with chiffon frills; Mrs Penton, lovely white brocade, trimmed with yellow chiffon ruches and white lace; Mrs Pharazyn, black satin and lace, aigrette in hair; Mrs Powles, black silk, white lace cap; Mrs Purdy, black satin bodiee, trimmed with moonlight sequins, green satin sash; Mrs A. Pearce, handsome grew satin, the bodice trimmed with cerise velvet and white chiffon; Mi's Rawson, rieh yellow brocade, trimmed with white laee; Mrs H. Rawson, white silk, the bodice trimmed with jewelled net and green velvet; Mrs E. Richardson, black brocade. trimmed with white lace; Mrs N. Reid, black brocade, pink and white cap; Mrs L, Reid, black satin, the bodice trimmed with white chiffon; Mrs M. Ross, grey satin with ruches of pink silk; Mrs J. Ross, black velvet trained gown; Mrs Samuel, grey satin, trimmed with lace; Mrs A. Smith, lilac satin, trimmed with cream laee; Mrs Stewart, black velvet, trimmed with white satin, under bla<*k lace; Mrs Stowe, black silk; Lady Stout, white brocade, trimmed with handsome pearl embroidery ; Mrs Travers, blue and black gown; Mrs Tripe, black silk with white lace; Mrs Tregear, black, trimmed with pink chiffon; Mrs Tolhurst, black brocade and chiffon; Mrs Tuckey, black figured silk, with white lace: Mrs Vaughan. black satin, trimmed with flowers: Mrs Waldegrave, white silk, trimmed with frills of pretty lace; Mrs Walker, black silk; Mrs Watkins, white satin, trimmed with silk embroidery; Mrs Wardell, black satin and lace; Mrs T. Wilford, blue silk, trimmed with chiffon to match; Mrs Wilson, black, trimmed with pink chiffon; Mrs Warren, pink silk, striped with black, and trimmed with black chiffon; Mrs Ward, white silk and jewelled net; Mrs Watson, black dress, the bodice of white chiffon and jet; Mrs Whittali, handsome white satin; Mrs Young, white satin; Miss Arkwright cream satin, trimmed with chiffon; Miss Allan, blaek; Miss B. Allan, white figured silk; Miss Blaek, black, trimmed with white laee; Miss Beere, heliotrope silk, trimmed with clpffon to match; Miss Brandon, deep violet silk, trimmed with lace; Miss Butler, white satin, trimmed with chiffon and pearls; Miss Burns, pale green silk trimmed with chiffon; Miss Butts (debutante), white gauze, trimmed with flowers; Miss Brandon (debutante), white satin, trimmed with chiffon: Miss Butterworth (Dunedin), pale blue silk; Misses Coleridge (two), white figured gowns; Miss Chatfield, pink moire and chiffon; Miss Cooper, black bodice, pink chiffon and jet trimmings; Miss Crowther, black lace; Miss Davy, black silk; Miss —. Davy, white silk and chiffon; Miss M. Douglas (debutante), white figured silk, trimmed vs ith pearls; Miss Dransfield, cream satin, trimmed with handsome pearl embroidery; Miss Duncan, blaek satin, the bodice trimmed with green chiffon; Misses Edwin (two), white silk and lace dresses; Miss Eliott, white satin, trimmed with chiffon; Miss Fairchild, cream satin, trimmed with laee and pearls; Miss Faneourt, cream; Miss M. Fancourt, black silk and lace; Miss Fitzherbert, white silk, trimmed with chiffon frills; Miss Friend, white brocade, with chiffon; Miss O. Gore (debutante), white watered silk, trimmed with chiffon; Miss Grieenfield, pale blue, trimmed with chiffon; Miss Griffiths, white silk and lace; Miss Gill, white silk and chiffon; Miss Haise, crimson silk; Miss Haise, crimson silk, trimmed with lace ; Miss —. Haise, black

and pink; Miss Harcourt, pale green si’k, bodice veiled in sequined net; Miss Hammerton. white silk, the bodiee rucked and trimmed with chiffon; Miss Hector, pale blue silk, trimmed with white laee: Miss Henry, white brocaded silk and chiffon; Miss G. Henry, pale green figured silk, trimmed with jewelled net; Misses Harding (two), cream silk gowns; M’ss Holmes, black satin and lace; M’ss Hislop, pale blue silk and chiffon: Miss Hickson, pink, trimmed with red ribbon and lace; Miss Hamilton. black satin, with white lace; Miss Hutchison, green brocade, trimmed with chifton; Miss Hirchberg, yellow brocade and white laee; Miss Hardy. Johnston, black silk: Miss Izard, pink silk, trimmed with chiffon; Miss Johnston, white merveilleux gown; Miss Krull (Wanganui), blaek, spotted silk, trimmed with Ince; Miss Laishley. pink: Miss Lee. black velvet, trimmed with white lace; Miss Lingard, pink silk; Miss —. Lingard.

white silk and lace; Miss Medley, yellow brocade, trimmed with white lace; M’ss Molineaux, soft white silk and lace; Miss MeKellar, pale blue silk; Miss MeGregor, yellow silk, trimmed with white lace; Miss Pearce, rich white satin and lace; Miss Pharazyn. white silk, trimmed with lace; Miss Powles, soft white gown; Miss Q lick, pink silk, trimmed with handsome passementerie; Miss Richardson. black velvet and chiffon; Miss Reid, yellow merveilleux, trimmed with lace; Miss G. Reid (debutante), white satin, trimmed accordion chiffon; Miss Stavely, white silk; Miss Stowe, pale blue satin, trimmed with chiffon; Miss Seddon, eream watered silk, trimmed with chiffon and flowers; Miss M. Seddon, white merveilleux, Miss Stewart, blue crepe gown; Miss Skerrett, cream brocade, with flowers on bodiee; Miss Stuart, soft white silk and laee; Miss Stafford, white satin, trimmed with jewelled net; Miss D. Tripe (debutante), white satin, trimmed with chiffon; Misses Tolhurst (two), white satin and chiffon gowns; Miss Walker, white silk; Miss Williams, white satin, the bodice of white chiffon; Miss A. Williams (debutante), white satin, the bodice trimmed with pearls; Miss Wilson, white silk, trimmed with lace; Miss Young, pale blue silk and chiffon. Amongst the gentlemen were Sir James Hector, Sir Walter Buller, Major Maddocks. Sir Robt. Stout. Sir Arthur Douglas, Bishop Wallis. Archdeaeon Fancourt, Hon. W. C. Walker, etc. The following afternoon the Countess of Ranfurly gave a very large ‘At Home’ in honour of Admiral Pearson. About fifteen hundred people were present, and were courteously received by His Excellency the Governor, Lady Ranfurly, and Admiral Pearson. Minifie’s band supplied some appreciated music, and there was a liberal supply of refreshments in the drawingroom. Lady Ranfurly looked very sweet in rose pink silk under beautifully embroidered muslin. Lady Constance Knox also wore the same shade of silk with lace insertion. In the evening Admiral Pearson entertained the Viee-Regal party, Bishop and Mrs Wallis, Sir Arthur and Lady Douglas. Colonel and Mrs Pole Penton, etc.

OPHELIA.