Greymouth

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1, 4 January 1906, Page 4

Grey mouth

(From our own correspondent.) December 23. The bazaar, organised for the purpose of raising funds for the completion of the tower of St. Patrick's Church, and for which preparations had been going on for a considerable time, was opened in >the Town Hall on Friday evening, December 22, in the presence of a very large assemblage of people. The body of willing and energetic workers who had charge of the arrangements deserve- the greatest credit for the admirable manner in which they; itarried out the work. The limited time at their disposal to create order and beauty out of something like chaos was utilised to the utmost, and the result was that the hall presented a very artistic appearance. The stalls, pf which there were., four — ' Efrin Go Bragh,' ' Bonnie Scotland,' ' England,' and ' New Zealand '— were laden with articles useful and ornamental. Off the main hall was the tea kiosk, where refreshments were obtainable. The opening ceremony, performed by the Mayor (Mr. J. A. Petrie), was brief, -and was followed by the first part of Signor Borzoni's great spectacular production, ' The Birth of the Empire,' the graceful dances eliciting continued rounds of applause. After an interval to allow buying and selling to pro-ceed-the remainder of the spectacle was given, and like the first part it created the greatest enthusiasm. The Very Rev. Dean Carew and the Mayor were greeted with applause on appearing on the stage. The Mayor- said that for many years the Catholics of G-fey-mouth had striven to raise a building wherein to celebrate public worship that would be a credit to the town. Most of them would remember the old building in Arney street which, in addition to being subject to be flooded, had many disadvantages. Some years ago they had decided on erecting a more suitable building, and the result of their energy, and patience was the fine building l .they now possessed. The festival was' organised to put the finishing touches to that building in the form of a tower which would be a mark to all who arrived in the .town either by land or sea. They had taken full advantage of the romantic site they possessed, and when the tower was completed it would signify to all that the spiritual wants of the town had not been He congratulated the members of the; congregation on the zeal and enthusiasm shown in pursuing, such 'aT .worthy object and said I that he understood that to the ladies would be due, 'in no small measure, the success which he was sure, from present indications, would attend the -festival. He. had much pleasure in declaring the bazaar open. He was quite sure ,they would not regret the assistance . they gave, and he was also sure that ;fche\ result of the festival would be that the spire -would be finished. Without doubt (says the 'Grey River Argus.') the series of spectacular displays "entitled ' The Birth of the Empire ' differentiates -the festival, from anything of its class ever previously held here.- The idea-, running through the- displays is to mark the characteristics, chiefly in dress and dances, of the jßritish""Einpire. S6mo additional features,- not quite relevant to the main theme, are introduced, " and- heighten and accentuate the purely British portion. Only a faint idea of the scope of the displays can be given, here; no description, could convey the graceful ~ manner in which the - different

dances were performed, or the beauty of the dresses, or -the artistic ensembles, all of which make,. the per-formance-a unique one. The ladies who presided at the different., stalls were :--■ •England.: Mesdames Hannan,' Noonan^ and-H.-Doo-gan. ' Ireland ! .: Mrs.- J. Doogan, Misses Rochfe, Fogarty and M.' Barry. ' Scotland ' : Mesdames Mcbtfnnell, Heaphy, and Miss Hudd. " ' New Zealand ' : Mesdames Foot, Sheedy" and Mahoney. / ' Refreshments ' : Mrs. Wilson . and - Miss Phillips. They were each assisted by a number of able /assistants, * who also took part in ,the spectacular displays. Each and , all worked with a will, and did all in, their power to make the festival a ••great success.