All Saints Church Bazaar.

Manawatu Herald, 7 December 1893, Page 2

All Saints Church Bazaar.

- - -i. - — - Yesterday with Commendable punctuality the Bazaar ill aid of the Parsotiage Was well and duly opened. A large gathering of ladies, but a few gentlemen, were present. The choir opened the proceedings by singing the hymn No. 1, Mrs Aitken3 presiding at the piano. The Curate, the Eev. George Aitkens, offered up a prayer, and then made the following address : — He said it gave him very great pleasure in. greeting Mr J. Gk Wilson who had travelled from Bulls especially to be there that day to open the Bazaar. He had come by train and by it would have to leave so that there was very little time to indulge in speech-making. Every one was aware of the object of the Bazaar whidh was to pay off a debt of £i§o due on the parsonage building. This amount had been ob tamed by debentures and £100 had been spent on the part purchase of the property and £50 on painting, papering and other necessary repairs. There were other sums needed to pay cost of title, &c. He desired to take this opportunity to thank Mr Bay for having given his services free of charge and regretted the Wellington solicitors had not been so like-minded. At present he would refrain from making any special mention of the services rendered by the ladies, as he trusted to be permitted to do so on the last night of the Bazaar. The show before them was exceedingly to their credit and their labour appeared to have been one of pleasure. Things did not always go so satisfactorily as one could wish but still he trusted and believed this Bazaar would. It sounded absurd for him to introduce Mr Wilson to them as he had been their representative for so long and he might add, he hoped he would be for some time longer. He would ask Mr Wilron to open the Bazaar. Mr Wilson said he gave it great pleasure to attend there that day at Mr Aitkens 1 request. In the Old Country, in England, there were State Aided Churches and many of those present hardly realised the difficulty there was in getting along in this Colony. He felt that all ought to assist in any religious action, but though we were here all struggling settlers and therefore had not much money, yet by assisting each other much could be done. The display before them that day was most surprising and endorsed that which he had said. They had in some of the leaders of the English Church, in Bishops Selwyn, Patter son and others, splendid examples of indomitable energy worthy of imitation. We could all do something in securing the success of the Bazaar by buying according to our means and by inducing others to buy. He hoped that all classes and all denominations would assist. It was not only necessary to have good clergymen but it was equally necessary that they should have proper accommodation. He sincerely trusted the Bazaar would be a financial success, and as requested, declared it duly opened. Business was then commenced with much activity by the different saleswomen. We offer a sketch of the hall. On each side of the entrance door, two refreshment .stalls were set out with small. tables at which a comfortable afternoon, cup and a little, gossip could be comfortably obtained. The good .things were many and suited to all tastes. Mrs W. Stewart and Miss Steele were in charge, assisted by a bevy of pretty and active maids, tbe Misses K. and M. Trask, H. Collins, K. Whyte, A. Stansell, L. Williams, F. and C. Deßidder and E. Little. In the centre of the hall to the right wall was the stall " Temple of Variety " which was' Very tastefully set off with curtains and ribbons and stocked with an infinite of work, the description of which more properly belongs to a Ladies' Journal than to aniordinary newspaper. Mesdames Whyte, Rhodes and McMillan had this stall in charge, assisted by the Misses Holmes, and A. and J. Whyte. Exactly opposite stood the 11 Unique Stall " presided over by the Mesdames Easton, Aitken, Dernier, J. and. W. Robinson and Young, assisted by the Misses E. and J. Symons. ; The " Unique Stall, was built an exact counterpart to its opposite neighbour, and contained work of all kinds, plain and fancy, bewildering to all but an expert to appreciate and explain. Adjoining was a small stall stacked with an assortment of fancy articles, and* the walls were hung with some excellent paintings and plaques. The sales' were entrusted to the Misses Easton and Tansley.

Opposite agaiu was a branch of the " Temple of Variety,'' under Charge of the larger stall, on which was slio\Vn a variety of ornamental furniture and t\Vo handsome painted mantel drapoe. In the centre of the hall was a, lone tree fei-b, in rather an out-of-the-way nook to the top left of the hall we found a poor lone exhibit ot vegetables which deserved a better position. Amongst these were a contribution from Joe Tos of cauliflower, a well-grown marrow, cabbages, lettuces, carrots and turnips \ a Very superior sample of four kinds of early potatoes from Mr G. Satherley's garden ; more pofcatopSi gooseberries pluhis and cabbages were exhibited by Mr Aitkens ; and a very fine sample of beans grown by Mr Stansell. In the evening two side shows were run. A Magic Lantern exhibi tion by Mr Alf. Fraser, and a negro oddity by Messrs Nixon and Young. To-night all attractions will be in even greater force. The results of yesterday's business totals over £55 .and good receipts are looked for to-day.