The ball at the Choral Hall on April 2 will jive long in the memories of all who were present- Nothing succeeds like success, and from tbo moment the band struck up tho first waltz it was felb that bhe ball was going to bo a great success. Mayor Upton and his satellites had worked hard, bub their labours were admirably roeompensed. Though danc'ng was nob to begin till nine, people began to arrive at the Choral Hall very soon after eight, avid by a quarter to nine the hall presented a wonderfully bright and pleasing sight. Tho drcisce wero haiu'itorne in the extreme, ami though there were all shades of colour, they aeemed to- have the happiest faculty of blending well together, it would take fcha pen of a~Dickens to describe tho scent) just before the Governor came in. Tho central hall was briiUiant oven without me people. Tho walls wore smothered in bunting, over which hung heavy but graceful fostoons of Greenery. Below tbc:«o i'oniooiia were alternate stars, bayonets, swords, and ramrods bright with polishing, and handsome mirrors garlanded with flovrers; over each mirror were huge tablets of dahlias of various colours, tho eiiect being remarkably tine. At the end of tho hall, where tho orchestra is usually, stood U largo arch supported by a smaller on each side. They were er.tiroly of evergreen, finished oh' with pampas grass, and be gemmed with dahlias. The Governor's party entored a few rainutos after nine to the strains of tho National Anthem. His Excellency was, of course, in lull dress, and wore all his principal ordera ; but it was on the Countess of Unalow that every one looked witli greatest interest. Her diamonds were beautiful, and her dress was. most certainly one of the handsomest ever seen in Auckland -. white cut velvet train, with IriVO panels ot Venetian point la-ce down the Iront, opening to show a lining of super,} nasturtium-coloured velvet. The front of the dress was thickly embroidered with pearls. The bodice was cub low, of <vhito velvot, and trimmed with crejte <h chine and Vene tian point lace. From tho left shoulder crosswise to the waiiit was a broad band of diamond ornaments, in such splen dour and in such profusion that at first sight the whole of the front of her dress seemed composed of disimonds. 