CHURCH OF ENGLAND FANCY BAZAAR AND INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 310, 17 December 1862, Page 4

CHURCH OF ENGLAND FANCY BAZAAR AND INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

The Fancy Bazaar and Industrial Exhibition in aid of the building fund for the new Church of St' Paul, Dunedin, were opened yesterday in the Old Club House and grounds, Mac!aggan-street, kindly leut for the purpose by Mr. John Jones, Tlie bazaar was originally announced to he held in the grounds of the Grautre, the residence of Mr. J. H. Harris j but soon alter the tlie proposal to combine with the bazaar an exhibition which should, as far as po-siWe, illustrate tlie manufactures and show the natural products of the Province, it was deemed better to secure a place where the more rare and valuable specimens should be safe from damage by wet weather. The Club House afforded this requisite ; and it is in many respects convenient, apart from its centrnlity, even though the pleasure of open-air promenading be lost to the patrons.

We regrd a Bazaar as a pleasantly exciting, and upon the whole easy, mode of raising funds, for any object which merits public assistance. Ladies, we know, a-e always ready to aid in works of charity or usefulness; and many of them no doubt become subscription collectors with zest and earnestness. the efforts of the fair workers a rc not in such a cjvse concentrated ; and there is not the immediate s-pur of competition. To make or to procure a stall full of fancy articles must certainly be a more agreeable duty, . when volunteers are plentiful as is, we. should fancy, g-.-nerally the case; and there is then in st >re the reward, which seems to be found in the disposal of their waivs by the impropptu vendors, and the pleasure of social intercourse, in one of its most enlivening public forms. There is too, the desire not to be outshone in the columns of .the Committee's balance sheet, which actuates those connected with the several stalls; and last, but not least, there is the pleasure with which the " sterner sex" individually yield to petitions, preferred with pretty pertinacity, to purchase at most uncommercial rates, things of which they neither Know the names nor can guess the uses. In practice at least, the counting house and the ledger must be forgotten within the charmed precincts of the bnziar; andthi^ perhaps, is a good, in an ardently tradirg comiuu'ity. For the Bazaar, the club room i 3 appropriated, but. it is extended to more than double its original size, by the available ground upwards, am) outwards to the street boundary, being boarded and canvassed in. The place is nicely adorned with flags, evergreens, and flowers, the euVct being grea'ly aided by the line of pillars supporting the dub-house verandah, which afford a natural line of decoration ; for the weather-' boardimrhas been removed, so as to form really one ap irtm-int, extending from the street to the back of the club-room.

But before entering the Bazaar proper, many visitors are likely to lin^U", and all may do so with pleasure, over an inspection of the large and excelUnt phoiojraphs by Mr Wi.ljani Meluish, illusisatin^ the *' Progress of Dunedin." There are vi>;ws fri>m various points, and from the same pointjookin& north and south ; th»-re hangs a print p/ecisely similar to that engraved in the Illustrated London News during August; last,and which was taken early this year, and near it is another, from very npnriy the same point inDowling-streefc. showing the city as it i<, t!ie photograph having been tak>n during tie present, mimth. ' : ' Wk doubt if ever before the progress of a city in its buildings was so well recorded as is the progress of Dunedin in these works of Mr Meluish. ,■-.■'„■. <

' Entering the Bazaar proper* the visitor has on. the right hand the long line of stalls, and to the left, seen; through the laurel-twined openings, are the refreshmentstall and the post office ; while, in front are the orchestra \yhence Mr JKohler and his talented assistants daily< ? most eloquent mu*ic^> and the small rostrum from which ■; : .'' ; . , But at . present we decline to publish for what that rdstr am. is chiefly intended* We. confess our ignorance of the

Tiornocluttiro of th- ::aar ;s^ • c cannot run up any ! long li-tol the arfioln upon t!ie .-t'lN% We k-iow ; th;it iipidv of f'.fia aiv e'i ga-it and •others pretty; and j we believe that we are nob wrong in including j tlie m. jority under the ... general title of i "fancy.'' Wnether they are generally useful as well a-; elegant one may ignorantly dou»t; but we' know that th t has nothing to do with their appropriati.'ness to the ocea-ion. We must, however, make s iinu attempt to inciiviilua]i«e the several stalls; aud here follows the result of that attempt:' No 3. : .Mr.-5 J. Cwgil], Mrs Harris, and Mrs Douglas.—Here th re are some charming specimens oi coiml work rom the Mauritius; leather work; fancy Hothes.for children.; and very pretty vases. No. 2: Mrs Caiitrell, Misa MKenzie, and Miss Wilson.—\ very capital general display, including1 needle and wool work, choice flowers, &c.

No. 'i: -Mrs Edwards, Mrs Moss,.and Miss Darling. —The mo>t prominent object is a Christmas tree, loaded with toys and trinkets, which b?ar a notification that it has been presented by Messrs Waters, Morion, and Robertson, of the Arcade; and the stall is crammed with more pretentious toys and presents for children.

No. 4 : Mrs Young, Mrs E. B. Cargill, and Mm ■Worfchington.—This stall has a profusion of choice plants in pots—to be sold, gentlemen, not to be swelled, and passed by with a word of praise ; hand buiquols, work boxes, bronzes, and children's a: tides.

No. 5 : Mrs Ick and Miss M'Leod.—Some large worked cushions and ottomans, collections of ferns pu>ier mache gooda, bronzes, including clocks! toilet articles, &c.

No. G : Mrs Bamforfl, Mra Kissling, and Misses Uamfurd (two.) —On this stall there is a draught board composed of thirteen sorts of New Zealand wood ; a card basket, of nine sorts, and a lady's dressing case similarly composed ; a basket and trays, fretted over with minute sea-weeds from the Mocrnki beach; and some photographs. No. 7 : Mrs Webb and Miss Je.s^ie Orbell.—.l malachite writing desk, elegantly mounted, is sure to attract attention here; and amongst the other contents of the stall are some elegant Indian robes, a fir.eh-worked large ottoman, and varied articles for th.; toilet.

No. 8 : Mr.sfMartin and Mis Morse.—This stall is devoted fo cut flowers, in bouquets'and otherwise, flowering plants, ferns, &c; around being hung baskets, &c, of Victorian sea weed, charming in their unpretending elegauce, and Avhich are label!* d a^ '' the work of orphans." The stalls, it should have been stated, are tastefully decor.-i'id. in front, according to the pleasure of the ladies presiding over them respectively ; and all are thoroughly well filled with articles for sale.

The Post-office, that thoroughly established minor mode of helping the proceeds of a bazaar, is under the management of Mi>s liuchanan ; while the refreshment staU adjoining, and at which various kinds cf creature comforts are provided, including oysteis, a tasteful innovation, is presided over by Dr and .Mrs Buchanan, assisted by members of .their family, THE EXHIBITION Was, as we have mentioned, originated for the purpo.f; of bringing together samples of the manula".tures and products of the Province, and if possible of the Colony, to-ether with specimens of natural pro lucts fitted for the raw materials of manufactures. 13i.it the time allowed was too short, and the idea too novel here, to allow of the object being carried out ■with any approach to completeness. The Committ c received vary many inquiries from the various Provinces j/S to how assistance could best, be afforded; and in several ca^es gentlemen, or, Committees, set to work to get together samples to represent their own dUtriefs. Enough Ins been done to arouse a g neral feeling of interest; friends have learned the way in which they could have given aid, if there had been longer notice; and the Committee have gained practic i experience of how to make an organised effort Jiereiit.-r. The Industrial portion of the Exhibition must therefore be accepted for whnt it is , interesting 11; a faint indication of what may be done ; and we believe that .should it be determined, as suggested, to repeat the experiment next y'-ar, an excellent collection, really illustrative of what is being proiliuiud in the Colony, and what can be grown in it, . will certainly be secure:!.

The photograph:; which are mentioned above as btivi^ in the entrance-hall, form. p'irt of the Exhibition. With this preliminary remark, we will endeavour to name s >ma of the more prominent and int':i\j3thij>; objects in the two Exhibition rooms and the, tent at. the back, confining ourselves for the present mainly to manufactures and natural prOClnCtionK.

Tho most, striking object in tlie Fh\>t Room, istha gilt octohodron, reprc.*eiiline; Approximately, the bulk of fc'te 201.1 obtained in this Province .since the first dis c.jvery ia--ty.;iir.;ii Ihvuhiipein which the precious metal crystallises. The faces of the octohedron are about 4 f.-ot across at, their bases, ami the weight of tjnch a masi of gold, infiy, we arc told, bo s«t down as about 22 tons. Around the octohedron there are fine saml»lo'J ot various kinds of g >ld, contributed by the Bunks and by yrivate owners ; and there is also a remarkably iiu<j spte.iniun of quartz, from Victoria. Mr. loverly, of Prince--street, exhibits in a case, an (inlarg.'.-a ui-idel of a patent lever watch; together wirh ;:<>;<! and s-ilver watches, and brooches, pins, nnJ oUii-vui'ticlcs of jowt-llerymanufactured from New Zealand gold. There are also two interesting samples or" coppt-r ore, richly Ret as articles of jewellery. iUt'Ksr.s Hocru; and Beaver contribute some beautifnl'iy finL-hod brjiOf-lis'-s, rings, &c. ; and Mr E.Jones has amount his collection a very elaborate piece of ivory cai vmg, set as a brooch. In the second room, t'.is g.-ntl.;ina;i sh-;ws, under a^ microscope, a diamond iv ir.s natural st'ite, ;:.s obtained from one of the South American rivers. The beautifully fretted appearance ot'iho d'awiond will well repay tie trouble of a careful examination. Worthy of being mentioned as aimuigst high-class arristic productions, are some imitations of dahlias and other flowers, cut irom turnip', by Mr Morton, of the firm of Water*, Morton, and Robertson ; for they have a perfectly natural look as regards their form, and something more than the beauty of the purest wax flowers.

D; ilecter, tlic Provincial Geologist, has contributed from tue stores of that department, a collection of thoDuuhly re .og.ii.se I and named typical minerals, purchase t in London, for the Government, as the beginning of a Museum ; the specimens relating to iron, copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, being eiicli grouped and clearly labelled. Then there is a colieotion of typical t«-rtiary fossils, purchased in M lbourne, and photographs of some of them, illustrative of one branch of the proposed proluctions of the department. A similar coliMi'i'lm of tlie tertiary fossils of New Zealand, brintt> hmnu the interest more directly to the visitor ; and thl; is more pleasingly done by a dozen large boar.'!*, placed in front of the counter, on which are displayo 1 native mosse.-*, seaweeds, and ferns. Some ot tlu; s a weeds especially are strikingly beauiiul, from th;: dulicacy. of their growth and the richness of then- color--.

lii the Second Room there is a central stand or trophy, from the top of which are hung strings of New Zealand birds, some of thorn very singular in form, they having been prepared for presentation to a public museum by — lien, I:sq.," the exhibitor being- Mr VV. G. Young. Helow thevi are a good many of the richly plumed bir is of Australia, stuffed and exhibited by Mr Armstronj;, architect; and a penguin, contributed by Mis l>a;ufoi\l. Between these lines and eases of Rtu'iied skins, there hangs a cage, in which there is a deei-li'd " object ul" interest"—an English sparrow fat and lively, but evidently disconcerted at being tin "cynosure of ail eyes," as is most certainly the fact. On a *i le table, two stereoscopes aiv; occupied with d. vt'i-ly manipulated potographs of New Zealand bus1.-, Hcent-j-y, tho work of Mr Lusk, an amateur.

Of wool there are only a very few samples shown. It is .-u.';!O.<ud as an explanation of the miserable <lis;>iay <>f t!us important staple, that holders do not tle.-sin 1, s:> i:;ir!y in the season, to show the quality of their stocks There are one or two samples from Inver<:ar^i!!, and three sent by Me-srs Clapcott Bro*, from PopDtviiiL-a; ft'iil the remainder consists of a few very small i>iu.'iie.s, whi'-h were undescrihed ana unnamed yesierd.-ty up to the openingl of the Exhibition. Coals arc somewhat better represented. There are blocks from the Clutha Company's Works, S'Mti: by Mr Green, of Princes-street; from LyttuUon, by 'Mr F. J. Moss; from the li'wv: i>on, contributed by (Japtain M'.ean, of the Aldiima; and from Tokomairiro. the contribution of Mr H:udy. Thero is also a collection of _small specimoiis of analy&sd coals, from the Geological DepartTtinit, all t'-ie known varieties obtained in Now Zealand liein^ repi evented The Buller Kiver coal i* saitl by |>r Hector to be far the best yielded by any known field in these Mauds, and to be superior to any yet discovered in A.us«ra!a. There are amongst the more curiously interesting specimens, pieces of coal bivn^u: fiMmthe Mackenzie lliver by Franklin in 1821. and from the American Prairies by Dr Hector himself.

X afro woods are best represented in the collection contributed by Mr H. Brundrell, of CargiJl street. It iiu-lu'es polished samples of the tutu, niaoko, t- O--tara, the tooth-leafed asiter, the broad-leafed aster, tha |.w>pper-tree f and others. The grains and xnarkii-gs of soinr; of the woods are excellent. There is a box o! red pine, made by Mr Fenwick, and exhibited by Mr G. Kenyon ; and Messrs Bullock and Walker send some capital black pine from Stewart's Island. Mr J. Hull contributes a nicely inlaid circular table top, all the woods used being native. In connection with building materials, we may notice a chimney piece oi indurated Gaversham stone, exhibited by Mr J. W. Feger, of the Edinburgh Castle hotel, together with worked stone of the same kind in its natural state. Mes-ra Jackson and. Bishop of Cbristchurch, hav.e sent capital samples of iheir patent flooring tiles, bricks {ordinary arul flre) and drain tiles; and our own Mr H. Farley shows other good biicks, made on his An-

demon's Bay field by Mr Wm. Hodkinson. Other contributors of bricks are Mr Lnmbtrt, of the North East Valley, Mr J. F. Axlidge. Messrs F. Warwick and G. Clarke of Cavershani, and Messrs Burton and Garlshore, of Arthur-street. There are good blocks of ihce stone, from the New River district; a useful looking, whitish stone, from >law»ki 4 the eeader

staiiopr tliat there ."are vast quantities to' 5,H? r' .m &Teat wa^es; bricks; manufactured fit vvntkuui : and .-peciiiuns of stones and shells from Inyercargill. Such is Southland's contribution to this department. The mention of iime str-n-i reminds us ot a sample *f marble from the Hofee Shoe Ranges shown by Dr Hector, and-which-will-be found ■ near the analysed coals, on tiie left hand side table. The marble is in its natural state, and also in the state in which, it remains after simple calcination and flaking —a beautiful white and regular powder|coutaining 96 pcr c-nt of pure e-irbanute oflirae. It is thus fitted for making mortar of the very be«t quality. On the right-hand side table will b- seen two decanters filled witii a pheasant looking beverage, which we leurn is currant wine, "made from-fruit grown on the Octagon," by Mr Peter Cunningham; seedling apples, s*:nt by Mr JJewey, of Tokomairiro; and Austra'.ian-grown tobacco, presented by Messrs A. ('. Sees and Co. Wheat is contributed by Mr Hardy from Tokoruairiro; and by Messrs Duncan, Young and Co, of Ruttrajvjtreet, their samples being grown by Mr Small, of the Clutua, and Mr James Shand, of West Taieri. The same firm show flour and bread from Otago wheat; and Mr Walter Wright of Battray-street, ha 3 sent several loave3 made from mixed colonial flours. Mr G. Matthews, oHhe Dunedin Nursery, has a very nice small collection of seeds on a part of the central stand ; together with a good specimen of fossil maple from the neighbourhood of the Molyneux. In the tent-covered court yard, there are fresh specimens of many native ferns and shrubs, set in rows. Here also we noticed some good castings for machinery, by Messrs Wilson and Selby, of. the Ota»o Foundry, Cumberland-street; several washing, bringing.and mangling machines!; and the new engine of our Volunteer Fire Brigade, looking smarter and more affective than ever, and glorying in the name of " The Pride of Duuedin," which is gaily blazoned on its sides.

Paintings, drawings, coins and other antiquitiee, models of machines and mechanical drawings, with many rare and curious articles, must form the subject of another notice.

It remains to be said that the Bazaar and Exhibition were opened at one o'clock: and that during the afternoon and evening the attendance was gratifyingly large, especially considering, the threatening look of the weather. Every department of the Bazaar was in a state of bustle and activity. Letters wore being delivered, fortunes were being told, mystically addressed missives were being disposed of to the curious, and on every hand sales of goods were being pressed. Everything went merrily and successfully, The band performance gave unqualified satisfaction.

The receipts will be the best proof of the business done. They were as follows: —Bazaar.received at the door, L 5 4; proceeds, of sales, L 42 0; Exhibition, receipts, L 27 7s (id ; total, L5Ol 7s 6d. The charge for admission was Is to each place. There is to be added to the total a sum of LlO, for which his Honor the Superintendent sent a cheque to Mr Eccles honorary secretary for the Exhibition, the note in which it was enclosed stating that his Honor thoroughly sympathised with the objects of the Committee.

The Bazaar and Exhibition will be open to-day( Wednesday), and on Friday and Saturday, but not on Thursday, which is a Presbyterian fast day.