WAIAU PA

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 426, 15 November 1918, Page 4

WAIAU PA

RED CROSS BAZAAR The Red Cross Bazaar held in the Waiau Pa hall on October 23rd was an unqualified success despite the very stormy day, which prevented many settlers from the surrounding districts attending. Although the effort thus became a purely local one the generous response of residents was not lacking. The liall and stage were tastefully decorated with nikau palms, shrubs and native greenery, making a very effective background for the stalls with their bright colouring and artistic designs. The plain and fancy stall well rewarded the workers for their patience in planning and carrying out a Red, White and Blue trellis design, the result being most pleasing. The flower stall had white adornments amid which several large red crosses were prominently displayed. The sweet stall with dainty boxes and baskets of lollies looked most attractive in its drapings of two shades of mauve. The children and their teacher should feel gratified at the attention theij stall received, the same being tastefully decorated in green 'and white with a dainty dressed bride subject of a raffle) prominent in the centre. The tea-rooms looked particularly inviting with a low surrounding rail of ferns and the tables, with their snowy damask and flowers, together with the generous platos of cakes and sandwiches, were well patronised.

Mr J. Henry, ex-couucillor for the district, in opening the proceedings referred to the good cause for which the bazaar was being held and he urged those present to open their hearts and also their purses as by purchasing freely they would reward the workers who had been so untiring in their efforts. The children in the afternoon and evening entertained the audience with several attractive action songs and recitations. The opening item comprised a tableaux " Keep the home fires burning; 1 ' boys dressed in khaki being grouped on one side, girls being seated round a camp fire, and all singing the well-known lines of the song. Tne scene was both impressive and attractive. " A Chinese Fair," rendered by the bigger girls and boys was also effective. The staging and dressing of this playlet was a special feature. The girls were attired in typical Chinese costumes, with their hair dressed high with ornamental combs. The boys, in their white suits and '' pigtails," caused much amusement. Another popular item was "The Fairies," rendered by nine little tots aged about seven. These juveniles made a very pretty picture as they stood grouped round the queen '• fairy." Their actions were true to rythm and time, and evidenced most skilful training. For this, praise must be accorded Mesdames Schofield and Torbet and Miss Maloney, for the time and patience expended on the little ones. Miss Audrey Hattaway, aged eight, gave a recitation, "A Prayer for my Soldier Daddy," which was both pleasing and touching,

The working committee consisted of —Mesdames Gilford (President), Forbet (Secretary), Clark, Mumford, Gunter, and Milich, Miss G. Clark, Messrs Grinter (Treasurer), (iifford, Mumford, Robinson, Clark, and Learning. The stall-holders, who were all dressed as Red Cross nurses, did a brisk business in their various posts, as follows, viz. : Plain and fancy (Mesdames Clark and Grinter), Miss G. Clark, £27 5s Gd; Tea-rooms (Mesdames Gilford, Torbet, Milich, and Miss D McLarin), £<'> 7s 6d; Flower stall (Misses P. McLarin and R. Sheppard), £1 Ss 2£d; Sweets (Misses E Milich and D. Learning), £1 14s lUd. For the speculative inclined there was surprise packets, fish-ponds and rallies, which realised £5 '.is: cash taken at tha door amounted to £1 6j flu; and the proceeds of the children's stall, which was in charge of Misses Malouey, Milich, Suter, and Webb, totalled £lO 7s. The donations to the .stock and produce stall consisted of cattle, a pony, pigs, sheep, fowls, ducks, turkeys, cats, and guinea piga- Mr S. Owen, a returned soldior, otficiuted as auctioneer in his usual capab.u manner, Mr A. G. Grinter acting as clerk and cashier The creditable sura of £4l 0s lOd was realised at these sales, making a gross total cluding donations; of £lOl 5s 10d. After deducting expenses, the nett amount to be handed to the Red Cross fund is £9.3 8s 7d

Mr Owod, on behalf of the com mittee, flunked those present for tne generous support accented to the promoters of the bazaar, and expressed satisfaction with the result The young men then set to work in an energetic manner, and cleared the hall for dancing, which was kept up until the small hours of the morning. Iu connection with the bazaar, the promoters specially think Mr C W. Gifford for the whole-heart-Hl manner in which he worked throughout.