ROMAN CATHOLIC BAZAAR.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1633, 21 December 1882, Page 2

ROMAN CATHOLIC BAZAAR.

His Lobdship Bishop Luck will open the Roman Catlroltc Bazaar at 4 p.m. to-day, when it is expected there will be a large attendance. Our very special commissioner having "done" the hall yesterday, writes as follows :—: — Having nothing particular to do this sunny afternoon, and feeling, as one does in summer, lazily intent on amusing myself, I strolled pust the Volunteer Hall, frotn whence issued sounds that, combined with the weather, recalled to my mind a bee-swarming in our orchard at home. Verily, when i entered, the sight that greeted my eyes was that of a very busy hive —there were no drones in this one, however, but all workers, and the result of their labors will, lam sure, be as perfect as that of the busy honey gatherers a! ways' is. Gentlemen are uot supposed to be critics of needlework, but I generally find that what we admire is really valuable, solid worth as well as artistic design. Amongst the many choice things which combine both these qualities I will mention a few at each stall, which immediately attracted my roving eyes on entering. To begin with, No. I—the1 — the Auckland stall — presided over by Miss M. Cussen aud Miss Chitty : there is a pair of very chaste black satin brackets, the design being water lilies and bulrushes, true to life ; an exceedingly handsome footstool, strawberries on black cloth — this is a x*eally comfortable piece of furniture - firm enough to bear the weight of a manly foot (of at least moderate size) ; several beautiful smoking caps, true works of art ; a bracket of some wonderful raised work — plush aud velvet, the roses looking as if one could gather them } a grey velvet tea-cosy that would make any tea-table charming with a wife's gentle eyes looking over it. To mention more distinctively feminine things, a doll's cradle completely furuishe I, aud wh.it I was told is a babybasket, some mysterious combination of pin-cushion and powder puffs, some very pretty shawls, oue especially of delicate pink and white that would set olf brown eyes and hair to perfection. But I must not linger here, but pass to No. 2 stall, presided over by Mrs Cnssen. There are so many charming things that I hardly know which to mention. A Kate Greonaway mantle drape is very pretty, with its graceful groups of child figures ; another black cloth one with handsome flowers ; a most uncommon and elegant pale blue and olive green cushion with fuschias ; a real Japanese cabinet of perfect workmanship ; a beatititul and valuable cake-basket ; besides, of course, numberless small articles of fancy work. Coining next to No. 3 stall, I was struck at once by a beautifully modelled ship, evidently the work of a sailor's hand ; a Highlander, whose costume is perfect ; and a bride that will cause all the poor bachelors to sigh. She is dresbed in rose, the colour of love, cohered with tuille, orange blo&soins, and veil, in fact all that clothes with soft illusion the fair object of man's choice. Then there is a Kate Greenaway little girl's frook for "somebody's darling," and every imaginable article of boys' and girls' clothing, of real worth, for they are well made and of good material ; last, but not least, a very handsome music stool, beautifully mounted. At all the stalls there are also some really good pictures, works of art, that would be a "joy for ever" hanging on one's walls, also statuettes and crosses gracefully wreathed with leather flowers. After this feast of the eyes and mind, one is plea&urably sui prised by No. 4 stall, on which is a goodly array of moat dainty fare— turkeys, chickens, geese, pastry of all sorts (whose lightness speaks for itself), the pioverbial Christmas mincepies, a trifle that is by no meaus a trifle, and mountains of fruit aud cream. Could I but go back to my school-boy days, aud have an unlimited appetite ! All l can add is, that eutering this hall of bliss through an arch of flags and ferns, surrounded by charming things, and still more charming faces, our motto for the next three days must be — "A liffht heart arid a heavy purse."