SCHOOL FAIRS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15257, 18 March 1910, Page 5

SCHOOL FAIRS.

THE EAST CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL.

A very successful school fair was opened at the East Christchurch School yesterday. The fine weather and the large number of attractions provided induced many parents, as well as children, to attend, and the building was crowded with people. The fair has been prepared on an extensive scale, desides the attractions usually offered at these entertainments, there are several notable novelties. Amongst these are a pet show, in which there, are dogs, cats, rats, rabbits, canaries, parrots and pigeons. They are all in the same room, where they make a very interesting display. In another room there is an art gallery. Its walls are covered with works of art, mainly paintings. The children themselves have contributed specimens of _ their writing, drawing and other work, and in one corner there is a map of the world, worked in silk by busy fingers one hundred years ago. A large marquee has been erected on the grounds for afternoon tea. Flowers, fruits and vegetables of the season are displayed in the room set aside for the produce stall, and bright-haired girls were busy yesterday selling buttonholes and other trifles. At two o’clock Mr John Jamieson, chairman of the School Committee, ascended a platform in the grounds and addressed the children and adults, who gathered around. He explained that the committee found it necessary to hold the fair in order to meet engagements which, it had been expected, would bo met out cf the 9d per head capitation. The Government had decided to withdraw that supply from the Education Board, and tlie'Board. consequently, had not oec-11 able to pay it to the committee, which had to obtain a sum of about £54. He added that he was greatly pleased at the attendance, and he and all members of the committee were deeply indebted to the ladies who had worked to make the fair a success and to the tradesmen and others who had made gifts. Mr T. H. Davey, M.P., at the chairman’s request, declared the fair open. He said that ho regretted the cause which had led to the holding of the fair, but it had its bright side, as the entertainment would bring many parents in closer touch with the teachers and the children. Ho referred specially to the efforts made by the ladies, who, he said, had done excellent work, for which the committee should bo 'very grateful. Dr C. J. Russell spoke briefly to the children, and at his request they gave hearty cheers for Mr Davey and the chairman. Mr Davey then declared the fair open, and a great throng of people, old and young, pressed into the building and distributed itself amongst the rooms and passages in which the stalls and other attractions had been placed. Business began at once, and was kept up briskly all the afternoon and until fairly late in the evening. During the evening special entertainments were given by “The Man from Mars,” the Frivolity Minstrels and by concert parties. The following is a list of the stallkeepers : —Afternoon tea : Mesdames Andrews, Marshall, Kingsland and Stanton, Miss Aitken, Pirie, Snowball and Thompson; art gallery: Mr W. C. Rowe; bachelor’s hall: Mr W. Wauchop; bookstall: Air A. C. Maxwell; bran tub: Misses 0. and N. Parker and P. Andrews; cake competition: Miss Aitken; doll stall: Mesdames Calcutt and Williams, Miss Gilmour; entertainment committee: Messrs S. C. Owen, W. A. Cookson, A. F. Drayton, G. Hooper, J. S. Kennedy, W. Wauchop, Mesdames Morgan and Parker, Misses Menzies and Trevail; flower stall: Mesdames Morgan and Parker, Misses Aitken, Parker and Snowball; hat-trimming competition: Miss Lvnskey; produce stall, Messrs J. Jamieson and Barker, jun.; shooting gallery: Air A. F. Drayton; sweets and icecream: Alisses Alenzies, Kent, and infant school teachers; variety stall: Airs Baker and Phillipstown School teachers; work stall: Miss Chaplin and Mesdames Dawson, Jordan, Rowe, Smith and Sugden; pets show: Air Harvey: photographs: Mr Percival; quoit competition: Air Smith; “The Alan from-Mars”: Mr F. Thompson. The following are the results of the competitions:—Doll-dressing: Class IT., Christina Shaw 1; class 111., Dorothy Breewins I, Gladys Harris 2. Doll’s hat: Elsie Parker, special. Doll’s hat: Ada Kennedy 1. Boys: Class VII., J. Sutcliffe, special; class VIII., S. Alacfarlane and H. Allington, specials. Dressed wishbone: Under 12, Phyllis Andrews 1, AI. Brewins 2; over 12, Iris Hester I, Laura Perkins 2, Doris Brewins 3., Original costume: Noeline Parker 1. The fair will be continued this afternoon and evening. WHARENUI. Yesterday a two days’ bazaar was opened at the Wharonui School, Riccarton, by Airs A. Boyle. The bazaar was organised by the School Committee to assist to provide funds for the construction of shelter sheds, asphalt paths and a swimming bath. The school, which has only been open two years, has made remarkable progress, and the bazaar, the first call made upon the people of the district, was a great success. It was opened by Airs Boyle before a very large attendance, and amongst those present were Alesssrs W. R. Smith and H. Langford, members of the Education Board. Throughout the afternoon brisk business was done by tho stalls, and a hattrimming competition and the numerous sideshows caused a great deal of interest and amusement. In the evening a concert was given by a number of ladies, who were assisted by the pupils of the school. The attendance at night was again very large, and tho stall-holders were kept very busy. The following were ih charge of the stalls:—Plain sewing: Airs R. W. Hanna; fancy sewing: Mrs T. Lane; sweets: Airs Young; novelties: Airs Coombs; produce: Mrs Church; refreshments: Mesdames Knight and Scott; flowers: Alessrs Edginton and Purse; carpenters’: Air White; side shows : Alessrs Coombs and Blood; hat-trim-ming: Mrs Rankin; bookstall: Mr Alley-; concert : Air Alounsey. Alessrs Gudsell and Coombs were joint secretaries, and did a great deal towards making the bazaar a success. The items at the concert in the e.vening were given by Alesdames Powell, Edginton and Cooper, Alisses Archibald and Edginton and Masters Edginton and Poeock, and the pupils of the school.

The bazaar will bo open again this afternoon and evening.