OBJECTIVE REACHED

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLIII, Issue 2568, 22 April 1922, Page 3

OBJECTIVE REACHED

CATHOLIC QUEEN CARNIVAL A

HUGE SUCCESS

SOUTHBRIDGE QUEEN DECLARED

ELECTED. ,

The Catholics of the Leeston parish may well feel proud of the success which has attended their efforts to raise £1500 for the building of a new parish school at Leeston. They set themselves a-big task, considering the financial stringency of the times, but a spirit oi optimism has prevailed among ,the officials right throughout the carnival, and in the mind of the general secretary, at any rate, there was no doubt whatever that the objective would be reached. After the official opening on Saturday last even the pessimists had to admit that' the carnival bazaar was going tc ,be the most popular and successful held In the district for many years. On th> two afternoons and three nights of the function previous to Wednesday a britk trade was done at the 'three stalls and by the army of yoirng ladies running the various guessing competitions. The side shows-, too, did brisk business aid proved very popular with the young men. One feature which the manage ment must be heartily congratulated upon was the expeditious manner in which the various guessing competitions were got off and the results announced. The secretary and his assistant were kept very busy during every night oi the bazaar, and the fact tliat no less than 116 competitions were decided speaks volumes for their energy.

On the closing night (Wednesday) the hall was so packed with patru-is1 that it was almost impossible to get as far as the stage. All the stallholders and their assistants doubled their efforts to collect coin. Among the visitors present were Rev Fathers O'Connor, of Addington, Rev Father Leen, of Lin.-! ccln, Key Dr. Holloway, vicar of Lees ton, and clergymen from other churches. Eleven o 'clock was the hour fixed .Cor the closing of the queen competition, and from then till midnight the branch, secretaries and executive secretary n-id a very busy time. Just on midnig.it the result was posted on the board: Southbridge (Miss Marion McEvedy) (£540 7s Sd) i Lccst'on (Miss Lizzie McCartin) (£sll 8s lid) 2 Doyleston (Miss Mary Greenan) (£327 11s 4d) 3 I

The result was received with hearty, cheers, and the win was a popular quo. It shows a true sportsmanlike spirit on the part of the Southbridge people th-it they should work so hard for the school, which, of course, is really a district school, but will be built at Leeston. Tic Leeston people, too, can be very pro.u'l of the result, being only £29 behind the

winners. After the result had been announced Eev Father Finnerty briefly thanked all who had contributed to the success of the function and heartily congratulated the Southbridge people V.i topping the poll. The father of x,li? successful queen (Mr W. J. MeEvedy) thanked all-who had helped to put Iris daughter in the place of honour. Tie was a very proud man that night. Th? secretaries for Lceston and Doyles'on (Messrs V. A. Bendall and E. E. Winter) also congratulated the winner. After midnight several competitions were still to be decided and it was quite 2 a.m. before the majority of people thought of going home. The uett res alt cf the carnival is just on £1500, a truly magnificent achievement.

At a small function held among the officials several warm tributes were paid to Mr P. J. Eccleton, the executive secretary. Eev Father Finnerty sail that the Catholics of the parish owed Mr Ecclcton a lasting debt of gratitude for the splendid work he had done right through the carnival, but more especially since the bazaar opened. He had boon m close touch with the secretary for tho last few da^s and had some idea of tin enormous amount of work he had got through. Mr Eccleton had told him that he could sleep for a week and he could almost: believe him. The parish was in deed fortunate in having a man of Mr Eceleton 's calibre to fill the position. The branch sees aded their quota of appreciation, Mr Bendall saying that it was a pleasure to work with the geneval secretary, whose advice at all times was sound and helpful.

Mr Eccleton briefly but feelingly re plied, saying that the splendid result attained compensated him for any work that he had been able to do. COMPETITION BESULTS Space does not permit of printing tlie complete list of results of the guessing competitions, but the principal prizewinners ars as follows: Doyleston stall—Morris chair, Mr H Hood; doll, John Little; horse, F Jacobsen; oil painting,, P. Smyth; bulloc'-i, Eric Healey; painted mirror, George Bray. Southbridge stall—Pair geese, Mr B McEvedy; silk nightdress, W. Taiaroa: oil painting, Miss G, Bray; 51b ten,

Mrs Neave; baby's outfit, Mrs Noa'S. (Wellington); doll, Miss A. Chris!'.\v; case of petrol, A. Carroll; .suit ca?3, Miss Stapleton; horse, D. Gilinour; I'm". pig. E. Howatson; Morris chair, licv. Fatlicr Leen. Leeston stall —Painted vast!, Mrs Tin Ikington; stainless knives, Mrs J. P. McEvedy; hand painted vase, Mrs i<]cleton; lamb guessing, A. Schnack; box tea, Mrs A. E. Pearcy; tea set. Miss b McCarthy (Christchurch); hand paiiiiod mirror, Miss Linstxam; seagrass chair, Convent, Rangiora; baby's outfit, Mrs Jas. Young; carved tray, H. L. Palmer; half-ton coal, Mrs McCloy; hand painted mirror "Cats" Mrs Luddy; big sheep guessing, P. Heslop (172-Mb.s;; bridal doll, Mr Atkinson (Westlan-'l); seagrass chair, E. C. Imvood; organ, Maureen Dolan.