WESLEYAN BAZAAR, TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2354, 10 May 1892, Page 3

WESLEYAN BAZAAR, TEMUKA.

The congregation of the We .ley Church were most unfortunate in the weather they had last Saturday for their Bazaar and Gift Auction. This was to be regretted. Great efforts were put forward to make the bazaar a success, and it is (always regrettable to find honest endeavors frustrated by uncontrollable circumstances. The weather was as wet as it could have been; rain fell in torrents almost all day, the streets were muddy, and no one but the robust could venture out. Still, good business was done at the bazaar, and the ladies in charge of it had good reason to feel gratified at the result of their labors, considering the conditions uuder which they were working. The bazaar was got up chiefly by the ladies of the congregation, who have been working it for some time. They had formed themselves iivto two guilds, one married and the other single, and a great deal of the goods shown at the stalls were made by them. The bazaar was opened at 2 p.m. on Saturday, but all the arrangements were made on the previous evening, when willing workers very readily transformed the spacious drillshed into a picturesque hall. On the sides of the hall were large stalls, with V-shaped counters, on which the goods were displayed to advantage. In the centre was a stand for the band, embowered in a cluster of trees, from the branches of which depended a large variety of fancy goods. A large refreshment stall, partly curtained in, ran almost the whole breadth of the east end

of the hall, while at the opposite end was an immense quantity of all kinds of produce, with a corner screened in for the wild beast show. The work of making all these arrangements was superintended by Mr Dellow, and under his guidance it was carried out by Messrs Beaumont, Low, Powell, Miles, and Pawdray, while the decorations, which were both profuse and pretty, were the handiwork of a bevy of young ladies, and when everything was arranged the scene was pleasing and picturesque. The first stall as one entered was the married ladies' stall, and wa3 under the superintendence or Mrs J. Brown and Mrs McCallum, with Misses Holdgate and Ifouse as assistants. On this there were some very valuable articles, consisting of silver cruet-stands, marmalade jar, some excellent cutlery, several fine cushions, and a large quantity of fancy goods, baby linen, etc. The young ladies' still was practically a facsimile of its rival across the room, and was in charge of Mrs Elder, Misses E. Brown, Lily Brown, Storey, and Wright. On this, too, there was an immense quantity of aprons, pinafores, baby-linen, cushions, and fancy goods, and a great deal of push and enterprise was exhibited by the fair stall-keepers in the display of their stock. In connection with the bazaar a " wild beast show " was held in a corner screened off, and for this a charge of 3d for admission was made. The refreshment stall was under the charge of Mrs E. Brown and Mrs Longson, and on it was a lavish supply of the most tempting viands. Miss Lynch did well with the bran pie, Miss Fawdray had the " tree of advice," and Miss Gertrude Brown the flower and vegetable stall, all of which were loaded with goods. There was a large quantity of grain and produce, fowls, and live stock, of some of which Mr Maslin held an auction sale in the afternoon. Some of the lines were disposed of at satisfactory prices, but of course the inclemency of the weather militated against it. All the goods promised, too, did not come in until yebterday, when the bazaar was again opened. Notwithstanding all the disadvantages the bazaar was very well patronised on Saturday evening, and a good deal of husiness was done. The Arowhenua brass band played several musical selections during the evening, and at 10 p.m. wound up the proceedings with " God Save the Queen."

Yesterday afternoon the bazaar was reopened, and the weather being favorable there was a capital attendance. The stalls were replenished with further gifts, and a good • deal of produce, subsequently brought to the hammer by Mr Maslin, was supplied by country friends who, owing to Saturday's wet weather, were unable to come in sooner. The feature of the evening was, however, the promenade concert, which was particularly enjoyable. A glee party, under the leadership of Mr J. Harrison contributed a number of glees and choruses, and vocal solos were given by the Rev. J. Dellow, and Messrs Low, W. Smith, E. Whitehead, and Rutland. Li the course of the evening the bulk of the goods ]were disposed of, and the bazaar, which commenced under unfavorable auspices, terminated a financial success.