THE CATHOLIC BAZAAR.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 April 1918, Page 5

THE CATHOLIC BAZAAR.

It will be a source of great satisfaction for&e ladies to the Catholic Church many weeks’ labours were brought to a successful conclusion last night' when initial night of the Bazaar (fventuated. The Town tAjfc was) crowded shortly after 8 o’Wock, and the stallholders had an -jtremely busy time disposing of Kres both useful and artistic. A J. Joblin, in opening the bazEr, said he had to apologise for the absence of Mr. E. W. Smith, M.P.,

! -who regretted his inability to attend, ) and also for the absence of Mr A. L. I Arrowsmith. Mr. Joblin, prefaced his remarks by a reference to their late parish priest, Eev. Father Connolly, saying they should remember where-he is and why he is not here. He was away with our boys who were fighting for the Empire. No one was better able to help them than the Ecverend gentleman. Speaking of the bazaar, he said the ladies had been working most industriously for many weeks past, and the beautiful collection of goods they had before them were the results of their labours, and he hoped they would be fully rewarded. The object of tho bazaar was to help on a good cause —the children’s school. As a member of the Education Board he was in a somewhat anomalous posi- ■ tion ESS Board endeavoured to provide schools for all denominations. The i Catholic community desired to educate their children in their own way and this bazaar was to help to pro-

vide funds for this purpose. He, like others, felt they were there as sheep to be shorn and geese to be plucked. He declared the B’azaar open, and wished it every success. , Father Kincade thanked Mr. Joblin for Ms kind remarks, and said if they were there like sheep to be shorn and geese to be plucked, he hoped those present would find it a pleasant operation.

The preliminary speaking over, business was started in real earnest, and the “shearing and plucking” commenced in real earnest. Three large stalls were in the body of the hall, laden with many beautiful pieces of fancy work, some of which were a revelation to a “mere man.” But the collection was not confined .to this particular line, for there many tempting comestibles which appealed to the practical and economical housewife, and 1 the tables, as the evening advanced, bore testimony to the business jabilitijgof the stall-holders.

No; 1 Stall (fancy goods) was in { chSpEe of Mesdames Bradley and Ongley.*

No. 2 Stall (fancy goods and miscellaneous) was looked after by Mrs. Phillips and Donovan,

No; 3 Stall (fancy goods and sweets) was‘ Attended to by the children of Mary’s under the supervision of Misses Meli-aughlan and Kennedy.

No.' 4 Stall produce, etc.) was under the control of Mesdames Kearins and Tomlinson. 0 '

Of course there were the übiquitous art union ticket sellers, flower sellers, supper tickets vendors, and the hundred -and .one familiar devices to extract the nimble sixpence or the slow shilling from the pockets of innocent “ victims ” Throughout the evening everything was bright and gay, and arrangements were carried out with a completeness that characterises all functions got up by our Catholic friends. During the evening fancy dances were contributed by a toumber of young ladies, which were warmly applauded by those present. In the supper-room tables with Mrs. Bagley in charge, were arranged for the convenience of patrons, and a selection of dainties provided that would tempt the greatest epicure.

The Wg-of-war competition provided jutet that touch o|f- excitement that added zest to the evening The first contest was between a team from the Freezing Works, consisting of W. Edwards, J. Kennedy, W. Winiata, Waki, and Tu and a Railway team made up of Wilson, Bennett, Welsh, Anderson, and Keneti. The verdict went to the latter, after a strenuous struggle. The next bouf was between a team of Taihape Maoris (J. Pine, J. Parau, P. Tairua, K. Wildman, and Rawhiti, their opponents being a team- of visiting firemen The Maoris got an initial advantage which they maintained to tha end. The excitement during these two bouts was ’most intense, the Maoris being carried away in a manner reminiscent of a Maori haka.

The Bazaar will be continued tomorrow and Thursday, when there will be a continuation of the tug-of-war competition.