Presbyterian Harvest Festival.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 23 April 1918, Page 4

Presbyterian Harvest Festival.

The Harvest Festival in connection with the Presbyterian Church was concluded on Thursday night. "A most successful event" was the general verdict of all connected with the celebration. The ceremony of declaring the Fair open on Wednesday was carried out by the Itev. M. Bawden Harris. The proceedings were begun by singing "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow," followed by prayer, after which Mr Harris congratulated the Ladies' Guilds on tlie splendid collection of useful articles they had made, and hoped the goal they had set before them would be reached, and that at closing hour- there would remain nothing of value to be carried on to another year. He had great pleasure in declaring the Fair open. From the start brisk business was done, the stall holders being kept busy at all the sessions. iUe stalls were nicely decorated bv a band of willing workers from the Ladies' Guild and the Young Women's Guild, under the energetic supervision of Miss Lavender, rendering splendid service, each one viemg with the olliei m seeking to obtain the highest iesult. Pride of place was given to the Sweets Stall, which was a work of art in its construction. Three splendid cabinets were in evidence, also fire screens tastefully, yet strongly, made, found ready purchasers. The Produce Stall bore testimonjf to the prolific season, vegetables of all descriptions were there, while a fine sample of fruit was in evidence; pumpkins and marrows, with potatoes in large quantities found quick sale. Competitions were run for a sheep donated by Mr P. Oag, and a cabinet also brought in a fair return. Miss Middlemiss, who was in charge of the Sweets stall deserves special mention ; by her endeavours the sum of over ,£3O was collected, and the amount of sweets sold constituted a record for these efforts; besides this, she collected the greater portion of sweets on the stall from friends far and near, while her assistants, Miss Smel--1 lie'and Miss Walker, also aided by collections of cash and sweets which resulted in the fine total of £49 being netted as the result of their labours. The Refreshment Room under the guidance of Mrs W. K. Simpson did good business both afternoon and evening, her band of helpers being kept comfortably busy. An innovation under the direction of Mrs Cork, took the form of sixpenny concerts, and attracted much attention, the result fully justifying the inclusion of the effort to afford entertainment ■and add to the treasurer's receipts. Loud applause greeted the friends who so readily responded to the appeal for items of song, recitation, pianoforte and violin selections. In this connection the promoters wish to thank heartily Miss Bryers and Miss Pink for their help so freely given. . The auction in the capable hands of Mr Bould, was a great success. After 10 p.m. on Thursday he submitted the overplus of produce and obtained satisfactory prices. His happy manner put the audience in good humour and was admirably displayed in the auctioning of a sheep which he sold repeatedly until it had brought in a sum of no less than £4 17s (id. Miss X. McKegg was the winner of the sheep weight guessing competition. j During the evening the ltev. Bawden Harries proposed a vote ! of thanks to the two Ladies' Gui- : Ids, the canvassers (Messrs A. Murray j H. Murray, J. Siiiellie, D. Lamg and J. Rutherford, Mrs Cork, Misses Middlemiss, Sinellie and Walker), the performers at concerts, the stallholders and all who had helped to make the festival the success it was. This was carried with applause. Thanks are also due to the Levin Band for the playing of music on the opening night. . Taken all round this is the most successful Festival held b,y the Cliurcli and will enable the managers' board to carry out certain improvements to the Church property. The final result bears testimony to the spirit of heartiness with which the Presbyterian community laboured. The work of Miss B. Stewart, the indefatigable secretary and treasurer of the Ladies Gui t, deserves the highest commendation for, early and late, she laboured to make the Festival go, and great credit must be given for her work in this direction. Messrs Mellor and Mottershead rendered valuable service at the Produce Stall; they proved the no-lit men in the right place.