STATE SCHOOL FAIR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1579, 20 July 1916, Page 2

STATE SCHOOL FAIR.

IX AID OF THE NAVAL FUND.

The local State school teaching staff and scholars are to be congratulated upon the unbounded success of the Fair, held yesterday afternoon and evening, in the spacious building. It is about a month ago since the suggestion that a effort should be made by way of a ’ mixed concert and picture entertainment in aid of the Naval Fund. A school fair was subsequently decided upon, and this developed into something beyond what at first was anticipated. The objective was about £25, but the affair was taken up so enthusiastically by Mr - .Jackson, his staff and scholars, that about four times this amount will be cleared The children were invited to 'J bring along 1 gifts of produce and ■anything within their means, and every day the varied collection was added to until the head teacher’s ofiice resembled the stock-in-trade of a general store. Mr Gabites undertook to work up a programme of songs anti exercises, and the ladies of the staff supervised and curried out the tea-rooms and stalls. The spacious quadrangle was decorated with bunting and greenery, and the various stalls were quite a work of art. in the class-rooms the children’s work was displayed to advantage, and created an interest on the part of parents. The gifts included two dressed sheep, fowls, a goose and turkey, produce, sweets, home cookery and preserves, etc. There was a parade of school cadets in Main Street prior to the opening. Mi- Hornbhnv, Chairman of Committee, formally opened the fair, and congratulated the staff and children upon their efforts. He took occasion to contradict a statement which appeared in the press that the children had been compelled to bring goods, and that they had been tempted to steal. The public crowded into the building, and difficulty was experienced in gelling near the stalls. Good business was done, and the goods were soon converted into cash. Guessing competitions were soon in full swing, and the tea rooms wore well patronised. A fine orchestra, under the leadership of Mr Betty, discoursed a number of selections at intervals, and the children contributed several songs and drills. Over £SO was cleared before closing time in the afternoon. Prior to opening in the evening, the Borough Band played a number of selections. The building was again crowded. Competitions closed at !) o’clock. The unsold goods were then auctioned and everything quitted. At the auction sale a large quantity of produce was purchased by Mr Yates and Mr Fenwick, and handed over to the Patriotic Shop for disposal. Articles were also purchased and passed over to the school. The following are the results of the competitions: —Quoits (prize, pair of pictures), F. Duds on; doll, name guessing, Ernest Hemmingsen; camisole, Miss Rburner, Miss Cook, Mrs Rockell (guessed the correct number, 77), Miss Dimmer won in the drawing; goose (weight of pumpkin, Miss Honore; turkey (weight of pumpkin, 4931b5), Mr Ingle; cake (weight 11-Mbs.) W. King, N. Spring, Miss J. Robinson guessed the weight, Miss N. Spring won in the drawing; sheep (weight, ffllbs), Mr Lauvig and Mr Hussey, with correct weight, divided the prize; cake (bean guessing), W. Findlay 1328, correct number 1327. The gross takings were £lO2, made up as follows: —Plain and fancy jumble stall, £2l; produce stall, £1(1 2s; lea room, £l3, sweets

stall, £l2 IDs; competition for camisole, £D; sheep weight guessing, £6 14s; cake, bean guessing, £(»; donations, £8 2s; cake, weight guessing, £1 IDs; doll, name guessing, £2 14s; turkey, weight guessing, £2 Os (id; goose, weight guessing, £1 13s; quoits, £1 5s (id.

Mr Gabites directed the musical part of the programme. The Band was under the couductorship of Bandmaster Ehhett. A combined orchestra, under the leadership of Air Betty, was composed of the following instruments: Ist violins Miss Cook and Mr Ehhett; 2nd violin, Mr Gahites; piano. Miss Betty; llute, Mr Moormon; cornets, Messrs Osborne and A. Ehhett; bass, Mrs Osborne; The programme rendered was as follows: —Girls’ drill (trained by Miss Moxham; leader Winnie Walls); song, “Jack Tar," Mr Aitken, accompanist, Miss Moxham; part song and choruses, children (trained by Mr Gabites); Swedish drill, children (trained by Captain Gabites). The fancy stall was presided over by Misses Hare and Sewell; sweets stall. Misses Kockell and Desmond; tea-rooms, Misses Price, and Moxham; produce stall, Mr Aitkeu; Mr Gabites the programme and drills, while Mr Jackson supervised the arrangements. There were a number of willing assistants, and in this connection mention must not be omitted of Mr McKnight, the school janitor. At the conclusion, cheers were given for the staff and children, and all who had assisted in any way to make the affair such an unqualified success.