GARDEN FETE.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXIII, 13 December 1920, Page 3

GARDEN FETE.

IN AID METHODIST CHURCH. A SPLENDID SUCCESS. Postponed functions, us a rule, are, not a success; but this did not apply to the garden fete, postponed iiom last Wednesday on account of the bad j weather, and held on Saturday aftery noon last in Mr and Mrs Frank Penu -j rose garden, Otaki. The weather being gloriously line, there was a large at \ tendance, including many visitor, jj from Manakuu, To Horo, Levin anu | other parts of the district. Tht ; function was organised and carrieo 1 out by the ladies of the Otaki, Mana 3 kau, and Te Horo Methodist. Churches, the object being to effect im | provements to the Otaki parsonage, j The ladies, assisted by willing work j ers, put much enthusiasm into thci.|| work, and were so ably supported by | the public that the affair was a grea.jj success, 'financially and socially. They U deserve congratulations on the sue j cess of their efforts. ‘ Punctually at 2 p.m. the opening j ceremony was performed by Mr J. 1 ■ | Brandon (chairman of the Towi Board), who delivered a neat speech. >lr Brandon said the object of thi gathering was to effect repairs to tin parsonage, such as rc-painting, The Methodists had done splendidly in the past in erecting and equipping tliG parsonage, on wliicli tlicre was no\» a debt of only £3l ss, which would soon be paid off. The speaker said the object of the fete was a most worthyi due, and ho advised all present to . empty their pockets by patronising the ' many avenue of spending provided at the fete. i The Rev. W. G. Slade, M.A., heart ily thanked Mr Brandon for so kindly opening the fete, and also returned , thanks to Mr and Mrs Penn lor loan- : ing their garden for the function; to the donors of goods for the stalls; to all the workers, and the public for their splendid attendance. The work stall, presided over byMesdames Best and Penn, was well equipped with a fine array of useful and pretty articles. Mrs T. Evans,; Misses Best, Bramley and Kirk had' ehaj-ge of the sweets stall, cool drinks and iee cream depot, having a busytime in disposing of their tempting wares, while Mesdames Slade and, Bramley and Miss Taylor did excellent ( 5 business at the produce stall. The | Christmas tree —a live Tata tree, in, | blossom, made an approprite tree for J

the occasion—was the centre of attraction to the little ones, it being well laden with toys, etc. Misses Bramleyj and M. Taylor were in charge of this.) ‘A "fish pond” was another great attraction for the children. Mr Earwaker 5 persuasive elocptenco caused the little ones to take keen interest 1 •in the ‘‘fishing,” and the hauls were] most satisfactory. Mrs A. Fursc and Miss Penn assisted Mr Earwaker. Of course the afternoon tea was freely patronised, and the ladies in chargej of this important department (Mes\ dames Albert Smith and B. Heap) were among the hardest worked of all. they did excellent business. A mim-: ber of others assisted in various do-) partments. • • ' ■ The hat-trimming competitions (in the able hands of Mrs Synnott) caused great fun. That for the men was won by Mr Jenson, who displayed exceptional millinery taste, while Mrs Hodg- i son won the ladies’ competition. A groat many ladies tried their hands at ( the nail-driving (in charge of Mrj Penn). Miss Milly Smith proving the winner after a tie with Mrs Los. A tkins. ,v *¥i Most of those present spent a pleasant time in social intercourse, and in inspect ing the garden. All expressed j themselves well pleased with the func-j fiOD. Following are the takings at the j Various stalls, etc.:—Gate takings. £7 : 18s 6d; work stall, £22 11s 7d; produced stall, £l3 16s Od; sweets, ice creams, and cool drinks. £lO 13s 6d; Christmas] tree, £7 13s; afternoon tea, £5 6s; fish pond, £2 ss; nail-driving, £1 10s; hat j trimming. 17s; donations, 255; total. £75 His -Id. Other small amounts to come in will probably bring total to about £77 or more. Seeingj that no raffles or guessing competitions were held, ihe result must be considered highly satisfactory.