BAZAAR.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1137, 30 December 1873, Page 4

BAZAAR.

The bazaar held at the Schoolhouse, Palmerston street, in aid of the funds of St John's Church, exceeded in success the most hopes of the promoters. On Boxing Night the room was crowded, and the lady stallkeepers and their assistants did well in genteel barter. Hy the untiring efforts of the Committee, the schoolroom had heeu transformed into the I rlghtest and most attractive visiting place for holiday keepers. The walls, eovered with floral and evergreen devices, hunting, and many colored jnottoes, give a cheery aspect to the accustomed staid and quakerlike simplicity of the school-room. The stalls, furnished in abundance with every conceivable fancy article and nick nack, presented irresistible attractions to those who had put money in their purses and were out a holiday keeping, and the presiding dispensers of glittering bargains knew full well how to combine seductive blandishment and profitable exchange. At the door an impressive "first robber" levied toll, and escaping him by presentation of the universal shilling, the bewildered entrant only found himself in the toils of a persuasive flower girl who, will} 7 - nilly.deckedhis button-hole with flowers and levied toll again. Pressing onward, he found himself soon attain in silken fetters. There was a post-office and lady clerks, and eager messengers, and delectable billet doux, and portentous looking missives which opened meant nothing, save ihe compulsory payment of postal rates at fancy figures. ICheu came the lucky bag, and the wheel of fortune, and Christmas tree, and the inevitable shelling out of yet more likenesses of ■ hermajesty done iu silver, with chances on the investment of winning even a wooden doll or a wooden nutmeg. There was also a permanent raffle going on, wherein chanees might be taken at any time, and to any extent; and last there stood in cheering array the refreshment stall, whereat the exhausted explorer of the realms of fancy fair .might recuperate awhile and calculate his chance of running the blockade, in -bis passage to the door of exit, without again paying black mail. On Saturday night, wind and storm did not prevail, the doors were again thrown open, tbe stalls replenished, the presiding divinities again perpetrated their blandishments, and the exchequer gained another welcome tribute. Last night, Mr John Muuro held a Gift Auction and disposed of the balance of the stock at satisfactory prices. The cash results of the three evening sales being about £ISU, which after deducting expenses, will leave a very handsome contribution to the church funds. The stalls were thus arranged : No. I—Presided1 —Presided over by Mrs Sou tar, Mrs Larehin, and Miss Blaxall. No. 2—Mrs Wignell and Miss Lisa Bierstorf. No. 3—Mrs Whyte and Miss Fitzgerald. No. 4—Mrs Fleming and Miss Mary Easton. No. s—Mrs Finch and Miss Emily Blaxall. The lottery, which was very liberally patronised, was conducted hj Mrs 'Trent. The refreshment stall was .presided over by Mrs Powell and Mrs Fall a, assisted by Miss Keating, Mbs Hargreaves did good business in the .floral department. The general arrangements were entrusted to Messrs Day, Larehin, Fielder, and North croft, and the decorations were by Mr T. . Dobson and assistants.

The contributors of gifts for sale were very numerous, comprising members of all religious denominations in AVestport, and also many friends in distant places, Nelson, Christchurch, AVellington, and other localities, whence came gifts most welcome.