THE OLD ENGLISH FAIR.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11110, 31 October 1901, Page 3

THE OLD ENGLISH FAIR.

The Canterbury Hall has been transformed by the efforts of a number of ladies into a reproduction of an o.d English fair, "including even a caravan of gipsies. The fair has been projected in aid of the fund for the purchase of a new ship for the use of the Me/anesian Mission. The rooms adjacent to the large haJ have all been pressed into the service. lii tEe upper room concerts are given, under the direction of Mrs Burns, and there are also in the corridtttrs a Punch and Judy show and a very unique' shooting gallery. In addition to these are, a number of other side shows. " " The Countess of Banfurly, accompanied by the Mayor and Mayoress, and attended by Captain Alexander, arrived at 2.30, and was conducted to in the centre of the hall by his. Lordship Bishop Julius, Mrs Julius, Rev. Mr Winter, and' Mr ET Y. Cox, secretary. The stalls and stall-holders were as under:— - , General Stall—iMesdajnes Cook, G. Gould, Pyne, J, Palmer, the Misses Ainger, -c. Ainger, Cook, L. Cook, D. Cook,,N. Campbell, Harper, E. Harper, Hill, E. Hill, Julius, Walker, Wells, Wilder, G. Wilder; wares—autotypes, needlework, dolls,' German pottery, .Fiji curios; costume —End of XVm. century. *~ Aldington Stall—'Mesdames Bean, Downing, Lewm, Russell, Schwartz, the Misses. Bamfield, Heywood,. Lewin; j wares— ; costume—Early Victorian. Fendalton Stall—Mesdamea Dawe. Hamilton, . Hursiy Kesteven, Shand, TomUason, the Misses Brett, Cuddon, .Dawe, Laurence, Maddison; wares—All' kinds of general needlework and drawn thread work; costume—George 11. St. Michael's Stall—Mesdames T. L. Cowlishaw, Fox,. Ogle, * Wardrop, the blisses -M. Cotterill, Fenwick, Molineaux, Nedwilli Ross, Willcox; wares—Art needlework, pictures, and photographs; costume —George IQ. • ' - Biccarton Stall—Mesdames Woodroffe, Hawkes, the Misses K. Cameron) Earle, IS. Zanders; wares—Pottery, carving, -photograph frames, etc.; costume—Elizabethan.' Housewifes* Stall—Mrs Bassett, the Misses Barrett, Bassett, L. Bassett, Foley, Fryer, Oameson;"* wares—Poultry, butter, eggs, and other things dear to good housewives;, costume—Charles I.

Opawa Tapper, the Misses Anderson, Baxter, X'holmondeley, Jameson, March, Thomson; wares—Cut flowers, plants, ferns, bedding plants, isew Zealand bush clematis; costume—'"Kate Oreenaway." . ',- •" "...r, '- •' SSveefcmeafc Stall—Mesdameg- ' Jennings,. Cobham,. H. D. Meaies, the ilisses Preston, yvmes, Wilson; wares—Bonbons and sweets i costume—Pilgrim. There is alap , a'refreshment "stall on t3ie stage presided over by- a number of ladies. On Lady Ranfurly,and party taking their, seats on the-dais, the various stall-holders formed' up into procession and marched round the.hill, the various costumes making a very pretty sight. At. the conclusion of this Several, young ladies danced a" country ' danco and a.mimfefc ' very prettily. -The viceregal party then ascended to tliA stage. His Worship the Mayor, in asking-Lady,-Banfurly to open the Bazaar, said that Chris tchurch had always evinced a good dfal' of interest in the niiseion,., as . was. evidenced by the work done by th's Jadies on that occasion. He would ask Bishop Julius to say ( a feiw words as to the mis-, sion "before asking Lady Banfurly to declare the bazaar open. i Bishop Julius gave a brief sketch of the mission from its inception, and concluded by thanking Lady Eanfurly for having come to Christohurcb to open the bazaar. | Lady Ranfurly, in declaring the bazaar open, the deep interest ehe felt in the work, of the mission, and hoped thai; the bazaar would meet with the sue- , cess it deserved. ' < - Three cheers were given for Lady Ranfurly, and Miss Coltah presented her Ladyship with a souvenir programme and sliss Alice Burns with a bouquet. Th« stall-keepers then at once commenced business, there being a large' number- of visitors. The concert in the afternoon was well attended, and Mrs Burns, who organised this part of the basaar, deserves , credit -for the excellent character of the programme. That of the afterno'Jß,-, comprised items by Mesdames Burns aud Wilson, Miss Lucy Cook, and *Mr. H. M. Reeves. Dr. Crooke acting as accompanist.. In the evening there was ft very Lirgo attendance of visitors, the hall being filled. The stall-keepers did a good business during the evening, and there were large audiences at the concerts, and in the various side shows.

' To-day and this evening the bazaar will .be open, and is well.worth a visit.