EASTER-TIDE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2030, 8 April 1890, Page 2

EASTER-TIDE.

GERALDINE. At fSt. Mary’s Church, on Sunday, the services combined both the Easter service and. a harvest thanksgiving service. There was a very good attendance both morning and evening. The church was beautifully decorated, in fact the decorations surpassed anything in that line previously attempted in this church. Behind the organ was arranged a profusion of evergreens, oak leaves, toi toi plumes, and flowers, surmounted by a cross of scarlet passion flowers. 'On either side of the altar were crosses worked in oak leaves, dahlias, chrysanthemums and other flowers and evergreens. The altar itself was loaded with a rich profusion of fruit and flowers.: A splendid sheaf of wheat and' another of oats stood on either side, and around them were arranged large rosy app'es, tomatoes, plums, marrows, &c., while at the back of the altar was placed a large cross, which was beautifully made with a variety of flowers and evergreens, with heads of oats worked in, the whole looking very pretty. On the reading-desk was a profusion of holly, bright with berries, flowers, &c. The organ was prettily festooned. The lamps, window sills, and lintels of the doers were also nicely decorated, while the font was one mass of trailing evergreens, lilies, and flowers. The Rev. J. Preston conducted the service, both morning and evening. TEMUKA. The Easter holidays were duly kept at Temuka, the banks, postofilce, and places of business being closed. Iho only section of the community who found a difficulty in keeping holiday were the farmers, who were kept busily carting their grain throughout the holiday, and the numerous and well laden drays that thronged the station were evidence of the prosperity of the district if of nothing else. Easter Sunday was gloriously fine, and quite an unusual number of people attended the services at the various churches.

Services commemorative of the Easter Eestival were held in St. Saviour’s Church, Temuka, and St. J ohn the Evangelist’s Church, WinChester, on ounday last. There were large congregations, and the services were very bright and hearty, the Easter hymns and other musical por* tious of the services being well rendered. St. saviour’s Church was beautifully decorated for the occasion, and considering the scarcity of flowers (owing to the dryness of the season) a very pleasing effect was produced, ihe Rev. T. A. Hamilton officiated in the morning at St. Saviour’s Church and m the evening at St, John’s’ preaching appropriate sermons on the subject of the “Resurrection,” and celebrating the Holy Communion at at both churches. A large number of parishioners participated in the Sacrament. Mr Gladstone took the mornservice at Winchester, and Sir Wm. Blunden and Mr Pinckney the evening service at Temuka. The offertories were handed to the Incumbent, in accordance with ancient custom.

Services were held in St. Joseph’s xioman Catholic Church, Temuka last Sunday at the usual hours. The church was most beautifully decorated mth these truly artistic ornamentator which it is so well known, as well as a lovely array of flowers made by the Sisters of St. Joseph. Winter’s Mass was well rendered by the choir, the offertory piece being the “Eegina , tlie Jeaa Deus ” being sung after the “ Sanctus.” Miss G-affaney presided at the harmonium efficiently. e Eev. Father Fauvel officiated at both services, and at the latter deiivered a splendid sermon on the -Resurrection. t> Wesleyan Church the Eev. ', ,nn preached, special refertS^ made t 0 the g lad W a J'u 6 comm emorated. At the Presbyterian Church also, were large congregations the services * tbe *•

EASTER MONDAY set in dull and wet, and there was little attempt at legitimate holiday making. Several shooting parties were organised, and the sport was fairly good, the dullness of the weather being, if anything, in favor of good shooting, 'lhe cheap excursion fares tempted a good number te visit Chnstehurch or Dunedin, but there was, no extraordinary exodus in this respect. Ihe principal feature of the day was the Bazaae held in connection with St. Saviour’s Church at the drilleheL This is an annual effort made by the congregation to keep their finances in goo I order, and the effort is a more or leas energetic one according to the church’s requiremeats. On this occasion the amount of useful and fancy goods

collected by the lady members of ihe church, to say nothing of produce, should mere than realise the requirements. The drill shed was atcanged in the usual order and decorated for the occasion. At the east end was a refreshment sta'l wilh small aide tables for the accommodation of private parties. This section was presided over by Mesdames Hayhurst, Phillips, E. Lee, and Dunford, and Miss Phillips, with Mrs Boulter as a sort of universal help. The substantial and tasteful viands there displayed tempted a large number to patronise the stall, and it is to be hoped that " good digestion waited upon appetite.” It the centre was a circular stall literally crammed with articles of every description, many of them of exceptional beauty. Over this Miss Macpherson was the presiding genius, and her fair attendants were the Misses L. and J. Pilbrow, and H. Sweet. To Miss Macpherson collecting for the church is an undoubted labor of loye, and she annually makes a very good display. Upon this occasion she excelled herself, for all sections of the commanity, irrespective of creed, appear to have responded to her appeals. Among the many b3autiful aiticles upon her stall may be mentioned a Gipsy tab'e, given by Mr Money, and beautifully handpainted by Miss Mary Paterson, with an artistically worked drape by Miss Nantes. Miss Quinn contributed a very beautiful haud-painted satin cushion, which was much admired. Miss Gaffaney presented a cushion of crewel woik, outline stitched, and Miss Lyons a cr«zy-work cushion. Both of these were capital examples of their respective classes. Miss Cullman, of Cimaru, a si sent a very pretty cushion, and some brackets and cushions beautifully embroidered by Mrs J. T. M. Hayhurst attracted much attention, and found ready purchasers. Mr Walter Rayner and Miss Rayner, a'though absent, were not unmindful of their old church, and sent down from their new home, the former some book slides in fuschia wood, and the latter some prettily painted ploques and vases, Mrs P, Wareing’s contribution was some very pretty fans, while Miss Lavery gave a crewelwoikad smoking cap, and Mrs Ben a very pretty bracket, Mrs Rayner, as usual, worked some woollen shawls, which were eogeily competed for. A noticeable feature of the stall was a choice collection of flix bags, toilet mats, etc., given by the Natives of Arowhenua. The side stalls were also well fiT&d with useful and fancy articles, the former if anytoiog preponderating. The ladies in attendance wore Mesdames liwnilton, Austin, Wills, Pilbrow, and Gaze, and the Misses Pilbrow, Wills, Lo Mercier. A.

Ernood, uni M. Ortoa. The goods they for sale found ready purchasers, but were too numerous to be particularised. Among them, however, may be mentioned acme basketware goods sent by Mr Hedges and some pretty cushions worked by Miss Le Mercier, Miss Orton did gooff business with a bran pie, a never failing “draw” to the youngsters, and Me L. Rayner devoted lv his holiday to presiding at a shooting gallery. The Misses Hamilton, Smythe, and Gaze, not yet in their teens, did good business with button holes, evidently greatly to (heir own satisfaction. .Needless to say, Mr Pinckney, the indefatigable churchwarden, was the ruling spirit of the affair, and worked with unsubdued zeal throughout the day. He found several able assistants, but was debarred far some time from receiving the aid of the Rev. Mr Hamilton, who was elsewhere engaged in his clerical capacity. The stalls, it may be mentioned, were erected by Messrs Corner and Larcombe gratuitously, a service du'y appreciated. To Mrs Perceval the vestry are indebted for the loan of a piano, upon which several ladies kindly contributed selections during the .evening. The attendance in the afternoon was not large, although the bufiaess done was fairly satisfactory, but towards evening it greatly increased, and the pkee presented an animated scene until a late hou r . The b'-zrnr will be open this afternoon from 3 o’clock and in the evening a large quantify ofproduce will be disposed of by auction as r well as some ot the unsold goods. Taken ■ altogether, although not on such a large scile as some of i f s predecessors, th<> baz'.ar must bo characterised as a success.