SALES OF WORK.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4635, 7 December 1923, Page 3

SALES OF WORK.

METHODIST LAMES’ GUILD. When the annual sale of work of the Paeroa' Methodist Ladies’ Guild was held in the Central Theatre on September 20 last the guild was unfortunate .in striking a very wet day, and as a consequence the result anticipated did not materialise. However, nothing daunted, the workers got together,'and with ithe things not sold, and with the addition of many more useful articles, a further sale of work was held in the Centenary Hall, Arney Str.eet, yesterday, and a considerable profit is shown as a result . of their and enterprise. -The money raised, after providing for son.e- church work improvements in Paeroa, is to be handed over to the trustees of the Mt. Albert Methodist Orphanage. ■ The hall was attractively decorated for the occasion, the most prominent feature being the large, gaily decorated, well-laden Christmas tree, which occupied .the centre of the haH. Upon paying for' admission to ' the bazaar each person was handed a vumbered ticket which entitled the holder to a present from the tree. The following were the principal stall-holders: Jumble stall, Mrs ATa’tersall ; flower stall, Miss 13. Rickard ; sweet stall, Mrs L. Gibb and Miss Wood; Christmas tree, Mrs Jefferson and Miss Innis; bran .tub, Misses P. Innis and E. Waite, refreshment rooms, Messrs C. Morgan, E. E. Gillman, T. Dean, F. Innis, G. Davidson, and Parkinson. SUCCESSFUL hikutaia function - a most successful sale of work, 01ganised and carried out by a committee Of ladies belonging to the Croquet Club, was held in the hall on Saturday last, the proceeds being devoted to the augmentation of the fund of the Alley Memorial Park. The aspirations of the ladies proved too modest. the success of their efforts eclipsing their most sanguine expec- • .tations —a success that was thoroughly deserved, for they worked strenuously, and left nothing undone whereby they might capture the nimble .sixpence or the elusive threepenny pieces. AU tastes had been duly catered - for. The plain sewing and jumble stall, in charge of Mesdames I. M. Murdock, A. R. and I. M. Robinson, ' proved a source of considerable attraction to the ladies in search of “ things ” _u,sehil as well as ornamental and a roaring trade very soon depleted .the ornamental counters of their contents. The gift tree immediately caught on, and those in charge, Mrs Alf. Alley, assisted by Mrs Jas. Elliot and Mrs Rare, .senr., were in ...no time surrounded by a band if youngsters clamouring for attention, in haste to'get rid of the coins realm of which they were the ■’ happy, if only transient, possesK nors. This niost popular and seasonal, institution had so great a run that the supply, although often enough renewed, could not cope,with the demand, so much so that within a very * bf-ief period nothing but the branches and needles were left on the tree. The gift tree being. “ under bare poles,” the lollie stall. had its good innings, and .it • took the amateur saleswomen all their time to comply with, and satisfy, the demands of their juvenile clientele. Misses Sadie and -Agnes . Morrison, Aggie and Lucy Alley' were, however, equal to the occasion, and, needless to’ state, no one was sent ■“ empty away/’ ' ■Vieing with the lolly stall in. popularity was the ice cream and sundae stall, where Mrs Senior (Thames) and Misses Doris Alley and Bonny Elliot dispensed the eagerly sought afterand succulent ice-cream, the warm day necessitating a “ cooler ’’ which, just “touching the spot,” require! another after another to reduce the bodily temperature 3 to normal. : Here, .too, the demand was in excess of the supply, and the closure had to be declared. On his own at the end of the hall was the worthy president of the Bowling Club, Mr W. H. Alley, in charge of the meat department. Under his ‘ able-hand three, big, fat lambs were soon disposed of, and Sunday dinners of the first lamb of the season were acquired until the lack of provender .forced him, much against him will, to put shutters up. Afternoon tea with fruit and other ■ salads were to be had on the stage, where Mesdames W. H. Alley,. E Elliot and Shine reigned supreme, and where a good cup of tea, daintily served, lovely cakes and dainty sandwiches were to be had at all times. The value given for the money was such that visits ttfthe tea-room were repeated again and again. Of course, there, werse the usual guessing competitions, without which no'sale of work would be complete, "and other games calculated to wile the coin of the realm from the pockets of both willing and unwilling spenders, and those in charge—and they appeared to be legion—were as .assiduous as they were indefatigable In. the evening the hall was clear- - ed, and dancing, varied with compe- ' ..titions, was indulged in. The most amusing was the nail-driving for ladies and gentlemen, won by Mrs J. -Martin and Mr'S. Wyatt respectively, • •the prizes for the-euchre being annexed by Mrs Corbett and Mr Harry Ingham. Though the ladies considered their effort a modest one, and demurred against the use of the word “ bazaar ” as applied to it, considerable hard work,’ forethought, and ingenuity had been exercised, and the committee, which consisted of Mesdames Alf. Alley, W. H. Alley (secretary), Geo. Avery, E. Elliot, I. M. Murdock, A. R : >and I; M„Robinson, and P. Shine, is to be congratulated not only on the harmonious spirit that characterised the function, and the help that was generally forthcoming, but on the excellent takings, approximating £7O.