ST. MARY’S ART UNION.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 38, 16 December 1893, Page 12

ST. MARY’S ART UNION.

One of the'biggest tjiings in the art union line is the drawing organised in connection ■with St Mary’s Church. Originally, fixed for the 20th of the month, it has been found' impossible to get in all the returns in time, and the drawing has therefore been postponed till the 17th January. “ Delays are dangerous,” ’tis said, but this does not apply to such oases as the present, and the alteration of date will prove a decided advantage in that holiday-makers and others anxious to try their luck will have a better apportunity of inspecting the articles, which, by the way, are of the aggregate value of about £6OO. One hundred prizes will be offered, and the maiority of these are now,on view m the shop in Dee. »tn-et which was a few months ago •ntilised for the same purpose by the City Band. We have said the •' majority of the prizes, and this is the proper place to state that one is not there yet. This is nothing less than a reaper and binder. Fancy getting a reaper and binder for one shilling! Why, one cbuld raise a loan on it straight off, take up a perpetual lease holding, and blossom out into a full-grown farmer right away. ±he machine has been generously placed at the disposal of the committee of management by the’Hon. J. G. Ward, who has further undertaken to deliver it free of cost at any railway Station or port in New Zealand. Prize number two- is a double - seated buo-gy from the establishment of Messrs Wfddowson and Fogarty. It was on the show grounds on Tuesday and Wednesday, and came in for a good deal of admiring ■comment. . . . ~ , Prize number three brings us into the realm of art. It is . a large oil painting subject, Queenstown the work of the Dominican nuns of that alpine town. It is a lovely spot, and the fair artists have reproduced some of its loveliest features many will desire to possess such a beautiful representation of the lake, town, and towering peaks. Prize number four introduces to us another branch of art—the musical. It consists of a fine piano, by one of the leading makers, .and cost over L7O. . , , Prize number five consists of hand-painted mirror panels. They come from the Invercargill Dominican Convent, and are exceedingly fine examples of a very attractive form of ornamental work. The design is different in each-birds in life-like attitudes being introduced in the one case and trellis and floral work in the other. Prize number six is a large painting representing a night scene on board a man-ot-war; number seven a handsome model of a steam Tacht; number eight a Spanish lounge—a charming specimen of arrasene work—contnImtecl br the local mins, Nnumbers nine, ten, and eleven consist respectively of a panel screen from the Queenstown Convent, a three-panel screen from the Gore Convent, and another screen from the Queenstown Sisters —this last being the [Bishop's prize. These three prizes will be deemed by many the finest things m the collection/ Much time and great skill have been lavished upon them, and the result is charming. The fox-glove work in particular is exquisitely beautiful—it would be difficult to assess the money value of these contribu-

tions, . . . , Passing on, the visitor encounters a rich and rare collection of Japanese ware screens of various design and size, with the characteristic beauties of the Japanese artist; an inlaid ivory table; vases, flower pots; varied examples of alabaster work; and numerous other things calculated to rouse the enthusiasm of lovers of the beautiful. Electroplated goods, with hand bags, silkembroidered cushions, hand-painted pictures, some fine oleograohs, atid quite a host of other articles of use and ornament, go to make up what is undoubtedly a most attractive display, Finally, there are trophies for the sellers of the greatest number ot tickets—among them a large oil painting and a gold ’watch.