Coming as it does only in alteraste years, the Masonic Ball is naturally one ich special efforts are made and 1y_be said at once that the success attained io previous years was more than realized last night, Notwithstanding the enormous namber of guests of whom there were between twal thirteen hundred, the hall was by n0 means uncomfortably crowded. The institution of " smell island in the middle of the floor tended to keep the couples moving fairly in one direction, and thus to add to the comfort of dancing. At the same time the new arrangement of the orchestra, without in any forfaring with the sound of the music, greatly increased the sitting-out accommodation in which the Town Hall is otherwise somewhat deficient, supper room was open from ten o'clock onwards, and with an ample provision of tables and attendants the beary task of catering for 1,200 people was overcome with the least possible friction and delay. Altogether the Committre is to be highly congratulated on the excellence of all preparations. Several stewards were on daty at the doors to escort ladies to the cloak-room; the floor, which errs too mach on the solid side to be an ideal dancing floor had been thoroughly well treated and wax in good condition; the programme wer well chosen and well executed; and general spirit of gaiety and good. fellowship gave the only touch that w required to make the evening success Among the maw big dances that are given at the Towa Hall it might first seem difficalt to differentiate io appearance, bat it will readily be ander-stood that the bright and varied colours of the masonic regalia and the jewels worn by several of the Brethren lent rrecial brilliance to the gay and arum ed scone.
The decorations, as usual, were on lavish scale, and differed in many respects fiom the scheme followed in previous years. At the street entrance Vere numerous large tree palms, and Tmmediately feeing the do: tway was an immense Square and Compsss, which shone out brilliantly from the fir lights of red, white aad bloc that were entwined among the barcboo foliage, stairway wes arched. On the first landing, was a pedestal on which rested a casion containing Square and Compass, while lo of the pasesge at the top stairway were two more) podeetals, from which guests lifted their roames as they entered the hall The scheme of decoration in tke main hall was an excellent one. In the middle of the ceiling was a large five-pointed star of amber-coloured electric Jobes, which was draped with strips of The ceiling was festooned with many lengths of ever-greens, among:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.