PORT CHALMERS CATHOLIC BAZAAR.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 23, Issue 47, 23 November 1899, Page 19

PORT CHALMERS CATHOLIC BAZAAR.

As briefly announced in our last issue, the bazaar in aid of the Catholic church funds, Port Chalmers, w.is opened in the Garrison Hall, on Wednesday evening, by the Mayor of the marine borough. The bazaar (or carnival, as it is termed) was for the double purpose of paying off the balance of the parochial debt and providing the nucleus of a fund for building a suitable convent for the Sisters of St. Joseph, whose present accommodation is not what it should be. The ladies of the congregation had been for a long time making preparations for the carnival, and the result was that on the opening night everybody present admitted that it was the best of its kind ever hel lat the Port. The interior of the hall had undergone a complete transformation. The committee had performed splendid work in the short time at their disposal, and the a rustic and appropriate decorations, and the beautiful stage -scenery, the work of Mr. Anthony Anderson, were very much admired. The effective decorations, the prettily fitted up stalls, with their extensive stock of splendid goods, the moving throng, and tbe crowd of gaily-dresaed children on the stage made the scene, on the opening night, an exceedingly animated one, and the attendance of friends and sympathisers in such numbers must have been a source of great satisfaction to the Rev. Father MMullan, the bazaar committea (consisting of Messrs. Justi, A. Smith. Heller, Meade, Andrew Anderson, Hart, Galvin, Anthony Anderson, and W. Miller, hon. sec), and the ladies who had worked so hard for months previous. Four large stalls were devoted to the display of a varied and valuable stock of goods, which the fair stallholders had made, or collected, figuratively speaking, from the four quarters of the globe. No. 1 Btall was presided over, and contributed to, with one exception, by Dunedin ladies. This was devoted to things Spanish, and was draped in yellow and red. The ladies were Miss Staunton (in charge) assisted by Misses Louise Morkane, Crawford, Amy Woods, and Bash, with Miss Mulqueen (Port Chalmers). No. 2 stall — the English — was draped in the colours of the Queen of the Seas — red, white, and blue. The presiding ladies were Mesdames Meade and Mackie (Port Chalmers) with Miss Nellie Colehan (Wairati), the assistants being Mrs. Hannifen and Miss Harriet McKay (Port Chalmers), with Misses K. Daley and Wall (Dunedin). No. 3 was resplendent with the colours of Italy, and. was presided over by Mesdames Heller, Anthony Anderson, and Hart, assisted by Misses Coughan, Mullaney, Penny, and Docherty. Irish green was the hue of stall No. 4, which was in charge of Mrs. Qiasti, Mrs Andrew Anderson (Port Chalmers), Miss Emily Miller (Sawyers' Bay), assisted by Misses Carrie Morkane (Danedin), Fitzpatrick (St. Leonards), Maggie Miller and Felicia Azzaritti (Port Chalmers). The tri-color of France was displayed on the excellently arranged and generously laden refreshment stall presided over by Mesdames Charles Anderson, Gustafsen, and McCann (Port Chalmers), assisted by Miss Swanson (Dunedin). Besides the various useful articles to be found at such fairs there was a fine display of artistic work, among which was a superior collection of hand-piinted mirrors and panels, and oil and water colours contributed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of the local Convent. Prior to the opening ceremony the Port Chalmers Band, under Mr. T. McConnell played a number of selections outside the hall. During the course of the evening an excellent programme of vocal and instrumental music was given by the local Convent pupils. The items consisted of action songs, vocal duets and quartets, and a pianoforte piece, in all of which the children acquitted themselves admirably, and gave unmistakable evidence of the excellent education imparted to them by the good Sisters. The attendance on the second evening was good, and excellent business was done by the stallholders. A first class entertainment was provided for visitors, the children's performance again proving a great attraction. Visitors on Friday evening were disappointed at the non-appearance of Miss Moloney and Signor Squarise, who were booked for the programme, but having fallen victims to the influenza epidemic were unable to keep their engagement. The pupils of the Sisters of St. Joseph were again equal to the occasion, and gave a very pleasing entertainment, consisting mainly of action songs and dances. The stallholders plied their trade with vigour and success, the fish pond, under Mr. Cecil Delaney, being the centre of attraction for the youthful visitors. The matinee on Saturday drew a large crowd, when the Convent pupils again provided the programme, and also in the evening ; when they were assisted by Misses Staunton and Crawford and Mr. J. Fottrell, whose vocal contributions were warmly applauded. On Monday the pupils of the Christian Brothers' School Dunedin, gave an entertainment, consisting of recitationp, soDge, a gymnastic exhibition, and the mirth-provoking farce, ' Fun and Fury.' It h needless to remark that tne boys acq uitted themfelvf s in a very creditable manner, and that the performance met with the warm appreciation of the audience. A brisk business was done at the stalls, the attendance being again large. Notwithstanding the inclement weather the attendance on Tuesday night was very fair, and a programme of vocal and instrumental music was submitted, which met with the approval of the audience. Mr. Cecil Delaney' s fish pond was again the centre of attraction for the younger portion of the visitors.

MR. P. LUNDON, Phoenix Chambers, Wanganui, is still busy patting people on the soil. He has also hotels in town and country For Sale and To Lease Write to him. — mm * M