FLORAL DISPLAY AND SALE OF WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 46, 19 March 1909, Page 3

FLORAL DISPLAY AND SALE OF WORK.

\\ lliteley Hull Wil* jill _\'CsU'! - ((:ly morning when the coniiniitl'-es in t-hjwjrl' of the floral ili.-jihiy aiul -si!,. „f u-ork weie busy j11:i liiuil aiTaMgcniciUs for tin- opening ceremony at 2.3(1 in tinafternoon. Heavy rain intervened. however. and the attendance at the opening uf the function 'Wa~ only fair. Ili~ Worship the .Mayor (,\lr. (i. Tischi opeuc'll tin- proceeding.-, anil scd .pleasure at .being present mi sui-li an occasion. Alter viewing the beautiful Mural decoration and the various -tails, lie feit lie must congratulate I lie congregation of liiteley Church on having amongst till-11l suck a willing ami energetic lot of workers. It had often been stated that Taranaki was the garden of X c «- ■Zealand, and the. excellent of tin; blooms anil ||ilant,- -on view fully warranted the sttateiueut. The flavor expressed liiis regret at the ptujtttrd departure of the Rev. T. (.!. lirooke. The ■rev. gentleman hail, during his sojourn in New Plymouth, taken a keen intcren't- in all matters t'.uit made for the advaiiceiniii.t, of the town, lie would lie greatly missed by the congregation and many others. The speaker was confident that the 'function would terminate siiceesstully. as the congregation a:i(l friends of Whiteley Church were ever ready and willing to help a, good caulse. while the workers could 'be relied upon t« ably 'perform their pants. "1 now proclaim the function open," concluded the llayoii- (ami turning to the ntail< holders), "1 give, you full permission to extract all the dollars you can." Soon a brisk bushiest* was in progress. The large room at iWhiteley Hall ii occupied by the plain ami fancy goods, stall, the eroi-kery stall, the produce and otllCir stalls. On, the. walls are Tanged the decorated mantelpieces, showing a wealtli of bloom most artistically arranged. Dainty little afternoon teiii tables are ranged oil either side of thu loom. Following axe the stall hold-

ere: — : llMain -and fancywork stall—Mesdames W. Ambury, H. White and J. Gibsoji. Crockery stall—t,Uns. (U. Carter. Produce stall —.Mrs. X. Okey, Missus L Okey, M. Amlmry, .M. West and K Ollis. ke creams—Misses K. C'oilis a:id ,M>, Black. Afternoon tea—Metklauies T. G. {sole, F. Okey, Wiekham, fcilmrp, H. J oil, Misses itainson, Okey (2), &ole (2) aind Joll. Pot plants tatail—Mesdames J, "W. Boon and Whitburn.

Tlie floral display is arranged in Uio large supper room, and, considering the Lrcccat long spell of <lry weather aad the latoness of the season, the blooms and plants are magnificent. The decorative competitions are worth going a. long iray to see, ■while the collections of the various exhibitors could scarcely be ibettered ia any part of the Dominion. Most of the blooms and plants are choice, some rare specimens being found, attesting what can be done ill itkese parts 'by the careful floriculturalJst. Following are the results of the competitions:—

DECORATIVE COMPETITIONS. (Judges: Mesdamies JStaadish, W. Bayly and H. Fookes). Decorate dinner table—Mrs. ,1. Hi Frethey (centaurca,, sweet peas audi grasses, heliotrope) 1; Jliss Irene i'retiiey (sweet jpeas and swan river daisies, heliotrope) 2; .Mm <lientio\v (sweet peas and .phlox dnimuiondi, red) 3. "ihere were seven entries in this class, and the judges -had not a little difficulty in making the awards. liowl of flowers—Mrs. J. 11. Frethey 1, Mrs. J. Gibson 2, Miss Uoodacre 3. Three -entries. Decorated mantelpiece—ills E. N. L. Okey (autumn, tints) 1, Mr>>. Fretheyfeeu'tourca, larkspur <and grasses) 2, Miss Black (sweet ipeas and lluwerinjg cypress) 3. Seven entries. The nianitlcpieces a-re -fixed on the -walls and: •show evidence of much artistic skill ill selecting the colors and arranging the flowers and draprngs. The three placed exhibits are particularly attractive. IMr. J. 11. Frethey's collection illeludes a showy lot oi gladioli, choice cactus dahlias of monster size and delicwte forauation, swan river daisies, centaurca, phlox druimlinomli, loses, zinnias, giant marigolds, grasses, etc. Considering tli short time iMr. Irethey has been a resident of New Plymouth he has every j-eason to feel satisfied with the .truly splendid result of his gardening labors. Auother very choice and iiiteresthg collection- is that of Mrs. J. tlibson. The blocms are all well g-rowli, and include cactus and -other dahlias, phlox druiimmlHli. fusehias, roses, bougenvillea, asters, choice grasses, etc. A collection of pot pla-ats, the property of Miss Armstrong, includes a perfect specimen of asparagus sjircngeri arid several well-grown flowering and foliage -begonias. The display from Mr. J. R. Duncan's Westmoi nursery commands attention, there being a miscellaneous collection of flowering -and ornamental pod* plants, flowering shrubs and blooms. The most conspicuous amongst these are the heaths, abutilions, pansics, dianthus, salpiglossis, coral tree anil California!! tree poppy. The last two , named are extremely rare specimens. The Mor-shead Nursery Co. are cxhibitiii" a -pleasing variety of choice flowering and foliage planU, including maiden-hair ferus, palms, asparagus ferns, cactus dahlias, lrydraugia, flowering cypress, etc. Despftc the continued heavy dowuiH>ur of irain last night there was » good attendance, and- brisk business was done. The hall -will be ii-opened at £..«) | this afternoon and in t'he evening for the transaction of business.