THE VETERANS' HOME BAZAAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12447, 17 December 1903, Page 6

THE VETERANS' HOME BAZAAR.

YESTERDAY'S PROGRAMME.

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL DAY.

OUTDOOR AND " INDOOR ENTERTAIN- ,' - MENTS. The grand bazaar and fancy fair in aid of the funds of the Veterans' Home, which was so successfully opened at Government House on Tuesday, was continued yesterday afternoon and evening. There was again: a large number of visitors, especially in the evening. The weather, though overcast all day, fortunately kept fine throughout the afternoon and evening, and the grounds were much drier than on the opening ; day, and this improvement added much to the pleasure of the visitors as well as to the comfort of those' officials and assistants whose duties confine them to the grounds. Good business was again done at the various stalls, and the amusements on the lawn in the afternoon and the evening's entertainment proved a i source of great attraction to the very large number of people who then visited the bazaar. ' GENERAL ITEMS. :

Some addition to. the work carried on in connection with the stalls on Monday were introduced yesterday. Attached to the Ponsonby B tobacco stall, situated in the grounds, was a .young lady poster (Miss .Lilian Phillips), who represented Golden Fleece tobacco and cigarettes and Atlas cigars. She was attired in a striking and handsome dress of yellow satin and tobacco brown, bedecked with numerous cigars and cigarettes. This young lady was the only poster on the ground. The monster Christmas cake tent was nicely decorated yesterday, and the weight-guessing competition in connection with the cake attracted numerous entries. Two large cheeses also presented to the bazaai were likewise displayed in this tent. The sponge ;ake competition was decided yesterday, the winner being Miss E. Grierson. The name of Mrs. E. D. O'Rorke, one of the most active workers at the Remuera stall, was omitted from the list of names supplied to our reporter on Tuesday. Good business was done, especially in the evening, in Lord Northland's hat stall. The hat which gained first prize in the professional trimming class was sold, amongst others, the price realised being £5 ss. An art union is being held for the disposal of the hat presentee! by Lady Ranfurly (valued at seven guineas), and another hat, valued at two guineas. A large number of goods were sold in the veterans' hall. The art union in connection with the bulldog puppy, "Vet.,"' was drawn during the evening, the winning ticket being No. 315, which wa3 the last one sold. Sentry duty was performed by the No. 2 Company of the Veteran Guards, under Major R. B. Morrow, Hon. Captain Stichbury being the officer of the day. Each company of the guards comprises 30 members of the Empire Veterans' Association, who, in addition to. their war decorations, wear an arm-ribbon bearing the inscription, " His Majesty's Veteran Guards." A number of the veterans from the Veterans' Home are j also assisting, a separate detachment being on duty each day. A volunteer _ guard is also on duty each evening, the various companies supplying the men on _ alternate nights. The guard for this evening is reI' quested to be in; attendance at seven o'clock instead of half-past seven, as previously arranged. THE AFTERNOON'S AMUSEMENTS. During the afternoon the pigeongram service inauguarted on the previous day by the Auckland Flying Club was continued, Mr. Hopkins, secretary of the club, being in charge of this interesting feature of the programme. A large number of messages were despatched by carrier pigeons during the day, and some 200 birds, most of which were the bearers of messages to different parts of the district, were- tossed at one time. A detachment of about 40 members of the Grammar School Cadets, under Captain MeCullough, went through a number of evolutions on the lawn between three and four o'clock. The movements were creditably gone through, and were watched by a large number of spectators. . A very interesting display was given by several. companies of school children under the supervision of Mr. F. H. Ohlson, headmaster of the Newmarket school. Each section was directed by its trainer, and the per-formances-reflected great credit alike on the children and on their instructors. The Parnell boys, under Miss Evans, gave a pretty sunflower march, the lads being conspicuously decorated with large artificial sunflowers. The Newmarket scholars, under Miss Lane, gave' a pleasing musical bell drill and Japanese umbrella drill, and the Devonport girls went through a course of clever ring exercises. ' Miss Daphne Knight's pupils received much applause for their Highland fling and Parisienne dances, and similar marks of appreciation were extended to the Napier-street School Cadets, who executed a number of exercises under Mr. Wilson. The various movements were performed to musio by Meredith's band.' ' ' At the conclusion of the school children s programme the lawn was occupied by some 50 of the.'boys from" St. Stephen's Maori Boys' School, Parnell, who, under Professor Carrollo, went through a number of gymnastic exercises, dumb-boll and pyramid drill, ground and leg exercises. These items were followed by some physical drill, accompanied by singing, and directed by Mr. Smith (manager of St. Stephen's stall). In each case the boys showed a high degree of proficiency. ■ THE EVENING'S PROGRAMME.

In' the evening the public, being relieved from all fears of showers by the improvement in the state of the weather, congregated at the bazaar in immense numbers, and so crowded was the" building that for a greater part of the evening great difficulty was experienced in moving about amongst the stalls. A' very brisk trade was plied in ail departments up till the closing hour. The grounds, which were brilliantly illuminated, presented a scene of striking animation and beauty. The illuminations of the lawn were' vastly improved by the addition of four powerful gas lamps, and, as on the previous night, Chinese lanterns and other illuminations were vised with good effect. A very excellent display of fancy dancing was given on the lawn by Mrs. Malcomson Boult's pupils, the music being supplied -by the Garrison Band. The first item was the Swedish march, the second a skirt dance, the third "Les Arcs," a French peasant dance, and the fourth a Polish winter dance. In the Swedish march the dancers wore Grecian frocks, and in the other items costumes appropriate to the dancing were worn. Mrs. Boult was heartily congratulated oh the display, which will' be repeated on Saturday evening. The Japanese fete dance and maypole dance will bo given on, Friday evening. A vocal and instrumental concert was given in the ballroom by the Imperial Mandolin, Banjo, and Guitar orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr. A. A. Partridge. The following programme was gone through very creditably:—Selection, (a) " Cupids on Parade" (Lansing), entr'acte, (b), " Pavana" (Allen), orchestra; tenor soli, "The Carnival' (Molloy), Mr. Abel Rowe; overture, "William Tell" (Rossini), orchestra; duet, "Ora Pro Nobis" (Piccolomini), Miss Grace Wrigley and Mrs. Abel liowe : valse di concert, (a) "Spanish Silhouettes" (Pomeroy), march, (b) " Behind the Hounds" (Allen), orchestra; selection caprice, " Among the Flowers" (Eno), orchestra; contralto soli "When in the Twilight" (Adams), Mr Abel Rowe; grand valse, (a) "The June Bride" (Allen), selection, (b) "Fanohette" (Allen)descriptive selection (" Geisha Dance"), (a') " Happy Jap" (O'Connor), selection, (b) " A Franges a March." Miss Winnie Strong acted as orchestra pianiste and Miss Grace Wrigley as vocal accomnanist. ■ In the cafe chantant an enjoyable musical programme was also given. Several items were given by Mr. S. Adams' orchestra and songs were sung by Mrs. Rosenthal and Mr. W. Whyte. Mr. Garratt gave some cleverlightning sketches, and Miss Brown contributed an Irish jig. Mr. Whyte was very successful in his items, and was encored for both his numbers. Some attractive items will also be given at the cafe to-day. YESTERDAY'S TAKINGS. The total sum taken at the bazaar yesterday was £424-, which, witt the sum of £500 taken on Tuesday, makes a. total of £924 for the two days. ■ The hat which has been raffled for £2 2s has been won by No. 9 voucher, Remuera, the holder of which is requested to call at the hat stall for his bargain. TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME. To-day's programme is as follows:—Afternoon: On the lawn —Garrison Band; four o'clock, school children; half-past four, Maori boys' drill. In the —Variety entertainment. Evening: On the lawnBattalion Band eight o'clock, Maxim guns; half-past eiyht, "A" Battery. In the ballroom— o'clock, Orphans' Club. Today and to-morrow the Automobile Association will supply three motor-cars, which will be available for rides on payment of a small fee.