KIHIKIHI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2242, 20 November 1886, Page 2

KIHIKIHI.

'FROM Ol R OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The ba/.aar in aid of the funds of the Roman Catholic Church, which was held here on Wednesday, was a success in every respect. Numbers ot people from surrounding districts, and of all bhades of religious belief, were prPsent, many of them lending active assistance in making it successful. The hall was thrown open shortly after one o'clock, but the attendance was not large until towards evening, when visitors Hocked in, filling the building. The stalls for the sale of goods were three in number, the articles being tastefully arranged on them. There was a great variety of things to select from, from dolls and marbles to ai tides of clothing, and even furniture, everything being the gifts of fuends, .so the promoters had to buy nothing. Muny ladies woiked for a long time preparing and making things both useful and ornamental for the occasion. The "adies who presided at the stalls were Mesdimes Kiely, Norwood, S. Bond and White, Mrs Jackson and Mrs La Prelle doing the honouis u f the refreshment table, which was well patronised, the good things being so tempting that they attracted not only the juveniles, but oldei people also, who evidently appreciated the quality of the refreshments so temptingly displayed. I speak from personal evpaiionce. In the evening the boiree was held, trays being provided by Mcsdames Jackson, Farrell, Cm boy, Biien, and Miss Donovan. I should like to give a bettei description of tho articles displayed for >ale, but as many of them uertiined to the mysteiies of ladies and babies' toilets I le frain from doing so, for the simple reason that I must plead guilty to a profound ignorance of such matters. I have j.n unpleasant remembrance of a certain occasion when I attempted to describe the dresses of some ladies who were at a ball at which I was pre-ent. I thought I got m very well while I was de-cribing the colours of the ribbons and dre-^es, and waxing bolder I attempted a descnp tion of the mateiials and their make, but not knowing the difference between richus and pannier.s, flounces and improveis, I soon got thoroughly confused, and not even politeness could retrain my fair readers from laughing heartily at my expense. That lesson was sufficient ; since then, before attempting anything of the sort, I get a written description from some one who knows something about it. Daring the afternoon and evening, the lucky bag played a prominent part in the proceedings, the most insinuating and fascinating ladies being sent round with the lists, the guileless male creatures allowing themselves to be plucked pretty freely, a process, however, to which they not only submitted with a good grace, but, judging by appearances, they rather liked it I think. Watching this part of tho proceedings was good fun for a few who, like myself, thought they possessed iron wills, and could steel their hearts against the blandishments of the ladies,— who, by the way, must have lived somewhere in the neighbourhood of Blarney Cattle— and could button up their pockets. But *' pride goeth before a fall ;" we were marked men, and before long the men of "iron will" had to give way to the influence of sweet blarney, one of these castiron gentlemen not only took chances in every lottery, but bought nearly half the thmgs^at the auction afterwaids. Mr C. Hunter very kindly came over to sell by auction such of the goods as were unsold dunng the day. Among the contributions were a pair of geese, four fine turkeys and m\ young fowls, all of which brought good prices at auction. I forgot to mention that on the refreshment table were some fine dishes «f strawberries from Major Jackson's garden. I did m»t expect to .see any locally grown fruit ripe at tins season of the year. Mis< Chitty gave valuable assistance all day at the tables and ev-eiy-vvhere she could be of any seivice. There was a piano on the stage, and several ladies played selections during the evening. The Misses Kiely— both children— played several duets exceedingly well ; the younger child has only been taking lessons for si.x months. I did not think it possible that anyone could attain such a degree of pioficiency in so short a time ; it reflects the highest credit on her teaching. Me-sdame- Hutchnison, Jackson, Kiely and several other ladies spent a good deal of time making things, and it must be very satisfactory to them to know- that their labouis were ciouned with success-. The amount netted on Tuesday wast' 7'»; this, with some money yet t<> come in for tickets sold, will biing it up to £'80 or over. As everything was given, the whole of this, with the exception of a very small sum, will be clear profit. I could hardly help noticing the entire absence of anything like sectarian feelings, ladies of the various denominations taking an active part in the proceeding*, and the gentlemen, by their presence and their purses also, assisting. All this must be very giatifymg to Father Luck, who woiked so haid to tnako tho ba/.aar a success, and to whose eneitry the success in duo in no sii all degroe. Tvventv-tive ye irs ago on tho 17th November, the Rev. Father joined the Older of Samt Benedict, and as some of the ladies made the discovery that tins was the date of his silver wedding with tlio Clinroli, they determined to present him with an atldiess suitable to the occasion. This was kept f% secret from the renpient, and they called on Miss kii'lv to leul it. They ottered the Father their heaity eongiatulations, and expressed an earnest hope that he would live to celebi.ito his golden wedding with the Church. Fathei Luck, in responding to their kind w i-hes, took the oppoitunity of thanking all those who assisted in getting up the | ba/aar, not only membeis of his own conUiegiition, but of other religious bodies also. The arrangements made to catch the saurian monster fell thiough, so he was not on exhibition. Ho was not to be caught, even with a pet lamb for bait, or salt on his tail. One individual came to me, looking very niy.-terious, and calling me aside, naid he had found tho monster, and would I come and look at him. With the instincts of a repoiter I huriied off with him in order to have the first description, and on the way I boi rowed a book on natmal history so as to post myself up in scientific terms. My friend took me round to the back of a ceitam house, and going into the stable locked tho don-, and taking the lid of! a box very caiefully pulled out -a bottle labelled "John Walker." For a shoit time nothing was heard, then followed a f unt gurgling sound as the wiiter thiough the medium ot the bottle took an obsoivation of the .-un, my fticml 01-'!. ing that that was the only ti ue nid -a ipin il s mri m, but ju-t then w e saw U>.in coming s.. we fled the scene. Tho pet lamb was put up for sale and fetched a. good pi ice.