The Light Horse Dance, which has now almost become an annual fixture, took place at the Country Club on Monday night, and was in every way worthy of the gallant horsemen. No doubt there has frequently been a want of perfect accord between rider and the animal when the Troop has been paraded or took part in a sham fight, but none could say that there was not a most perfect accord amongst the members in their endeavour to make their annual entertainment an honour to the Volunteer Force and a pleasure to their guests. Invitations had been most lavishly issued, with the result that the resources of the Country Club were taxed to the utmost and doucin; hall and sitting-out rooms were crowded in the extreme. The decorations of the ball-room were of a similar nature to those of previous years, bub familiarity had not in any way' diminished the nests' capacity for admiration at the tastefulness displayed. The stage was enclosed is a tent of alternate stripes of red and blue, the colours of the Light Horse, and festoons of the same colours were gracefully arranged from the centre gaslight to the cornices, while bannerets were freely used as decorations for the walls, relieved by shields very artistically made up of cavalry accoun trements, ete. Very well executed water colours of a mounted officer and of a pri-vote of the Troop found a prominent close on the wall, and attracted a great deal of attention' and admiration; they were understood to be the work of the gallant Commander of the Light Horse. A notice of the Point-to-Point race that will shortly take place served to display the humorous and artistic skill of our well-known carib caturist, Mr. Hayter, whilst doing justice to the intensely martial aspect of the Light Horse, and the witching horsemanship of the troopers. The decorations were nob confined to the ball-room, but were extensively used in the entrance hall and the sitting-out rooms with capital effect, while cosy nooks were cunningly contrived in every available spot to the delight of ardent youths, but to the exasperation of those secking partners engaged for dances. Commdr. Vela and his band discoursed some excellent music, the floor was in splendid condition, and the attentions of the hosts were unbounded, so that no wonder all present enjoyed themselves immensely and voted the dance to be all that could be desired. The varied uniforms of our gallant defenders and the pretty frocks of the ladies greatly increased the brilliancy of the scene, and the Light Horse Dance of 1896 will long be remembered as one of the pleasantest of the season.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.