THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND BAZAAR.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 52, 29 September 1864, Page 3

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND BAZAAR.

The event of the week— if we may dismiss for a moment the growing interest manifested in the ensuing Council elections, and the puzzling question of " Who's to be the Superintendent??" — is decidedly the Fancy Bazaar in aid of the Building Fund of the Church of England, held in the recently-finished Railway Station Buildings. Great preparations were made? to render -the affair successful, and tte amount of care and skill dilplayed in the '' embelfishment and decorai tion of the buildings reflect the greatest credit on all who engaged in the labor of love. The. bazaar proper was held in the general waiting-room, a large and spacious a partment, the walls of which were tastefully and very attractively decorated with a variety of banners ; while trophies of guns, swords, &c, were arranged at each end, and were . emblematical of we scarcely know what— unless it aimed at the harmony of the " Church militant" with the " Church triumphant !" Here the ladies' stalls were erected, in a kind of semi-circle, and on which were arrayed, in the most captivating and alluring manner their fair fingers; could devise,' the tempting wares they knew so well how to dispose of. To be sure, the bazaar could not boast of an enormous collection of articles, but this, we believe, arose mainly from the fact that so little time had been given for preparation. Still, the display was certainly a good one, and the receipts, considering the " hard times " so universally grumbled over, were, we believe, very assuring, at the close of the first day, to the promoters. From the bazaar room the victimised one had an opportunity to retreat by the general passage to the railway platform, where, the scene which awaited him was of the liveliest description. Throughout its whole length, this platform had been canvassed off on the side nearest to the rails, and a perfect profusion of evergreens, arranged in every imaginable form pleasing to the eye, met the gaze at every step. In the evening, when the pendant lamps were lit, the effect was greatly enhanced, and one could not help fancying himself suddenly transported to some fairy arbour, bedecked 'by a thousand fairies for the special delectation of their Queen. This fairy delusion, however, was quickly dispelled when, at the extreme end of the bower, a curtain mjsteriously disclosed a wonderfully correct imitation oi' the " Virginian Mummy." On an extemporised stage this very, droll piece was played by Borne gentlemen amateurs, to the huge delight of the spectators, and a "Stump Speech," containing some humourous local hits increased the hilarity to a most side-splitting extent. It was plain all present were bent on enjoying themselves, and smiling faces were the order of the day and evening throughout. The Garrick Club, assisted by Miss Hetla° Fleming, lent most eilicient aid in the rendering of some capital ballads, &c. ; and the Provincial Brass Band likewise contributed most materially to the attractions of the Bazaar. We are glad to observe the progress made by our Band, under the able leadership of Mr. P. Lnm, and their services on this occasion have been deservedly well appreciated. The following is a list of the mnsi« played by the band at intervals yesterday and evening : — «i. Invercargill Rifles March (P. Linn.) 2. Little Dorrit Schottisehe. 3. George Town Quadrilles. 4. Longford Polka. 5. Perth Waltzes. 6. Golden Stream Varsoviane. 7. Launceston Artillery March. 8. Evandale Sehottischo. 8. Huon Quadrille. 10. Ilobart Town Rifle March. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN". The refreshment-room — another apartment specially fitted out and decorated for the occasion was, "we observed, liberally patronised, and the piles of fruit and cake disappeared as if by magic. In another apartment, we believe sundry fair damsels were concealed, concocting " mails at all hours," and Her Majesty must have been defrauded of a considerable portion of her post-office revenue, if one might iudge from the charges to pay! But it would be endless to enumerate all the multifarious forms of " pretty swindling " usually perpetrated at bazaars. We daresay it is pretty well understood. How could one refuse to take the very last ticket for that sweet cusliion? or that duck of an album? or that most captivating smoking cap ? Who could send a letter to the Dead Letter Office with only 53. of postage to pay, and so fair a postman — we beg a thousand pardons — so fair a postlady, to deliver it? Then who could resist the temptation to have a little chat with "Aunt Sally ? surely no one ; so the venerable dame continues popular, albeit at the close of an evening she gives evident signs, of tear and wear ; but any facial disfiguration she may have suffered generally operates but slightly in repelling the attentions of her admirers, and with the oft renewed clay tube she is ready to face a thousand as of yore! In fact all the visitors at the bazaar went with the determination to be pleased, amused, and delighted. Lighl hearts and smiling faces were everywhere, and ere the visit came to an end, even the pockets somehow managed to become light likewise. There was only one thing to detract from the entire success of the bazaar, and that was the dispiriting influence of an almost incessant downpour of rain, which commenced on the evening of the first day, and continued throughout the whole of yesterday. This, doubtless, had the effect of deterring numbers from visiting the bazaar, and especially yesterday was this manifested by the small amount of receipts for admission. The receipts at the door for the first day, we are informed, amounted to upwards of £25, while the gross taMnga must have reacnea in all t<? nearly *ioO. Yesterday there was a great falling off, for the reasons already stated ; still it is satisfactory to learn that the Church Funds will at the close receive a very handsome contribution as the proceeds of the bazaar. The receipts at the door yesterday amount, we understand, to upwards of £15. Before the close, last night, an auctioneer, "just arrived from Dunedin," he said (but who, we are inclined to suppose, knows something more of the prices of drugs in Inververcargill than auctioneering in Dunedin!) managed to get rid. of -a. good many ai-ticles. We understand that the remainder of the articles will .shortly be exposed to; sale by. auction in a similar manner, but the time is not yet fixed. The' section of land in Riverfcoh, the gift of P. L. Erancis, Esq., was raffled for. and won by the . church. This added a sum of £28 to the-lunds; ' and the section is still in its 6wn ; hands.