ST. PAUL'S FETE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14232, 1 December 1909, Page 8

ST. PAUL'S FETE.

OPENS TO-DAY.

A GORGEOUS CARNIVAL. Those who attend St. Paul's Church Fete, which will be opened by tho Deputy-Mayor (Mr. A. J. Entrican) at three o'clock this afternoon, and will bs continued in Government House and grounds till Saturday evening, will find much to please the eye, a good deal to ideas© the ear, abundance to satisfy the palate, and just the proper quantity of instruction, but nothing to jar any sense. Art and nature have combined to make Government House and grounds a beauty and a joy. The grounds surrounding the house are luxuriant with flowers, and sun-kissed beds, blazing with. blossoms, alternate with shady nooks, which the sun only touches by glancing through the covering of greenery overhead. The grounds are perfect in their way, and all that was required for the success of a daylight fete was that the incidental marquees should be disposed so as not to spoil nature. This has been accomplished, and more. The exigencies of modern civilisation make it necessary for, a large number of people to take their pleasure at night, when the fall of darkness places the most beautiful and the least beautiful scenes on the same plane of obscurity. Hence it has been found ad- ! visable to order it that there shall be no night at Government House grounds for the remainder of the week, at least not till 10.30. This has been accomplished by a special installation of electric light, and, at all events, in the vicinity of the lawn, the night will be as vivid as' the day. The rehearsals have proved' that at night the grounds will present a really brilliant scene. . A cluster of four arc lamps, of a combined power of 6000 candles, pour their . radiance on the centre of the lawn, and other largo lamps of the same combined power illuminate the edges, while innumerable smaller lamps and Chinese lanterns lend brilliance and colour to the splendour of the outskirts. The upectaclo upon which •these lights will shed their radiance will be at times one of surprising magnificence. The lawn is flanked by a scene representing an old English fair on either side of a castle gate. This scenery was specially painted by Mr. W. Hutchinson, scene painter at His Majesty's Theatre. Through the portcullis, in the centre of it, troops will enter in orderly precision to evolve and drill. They will give place to nimblefooted maidens to the number of about 50, who, in sparkling and glowing costumes, will trip it daintily in country dances and gavottes, under the direction of Mrs. JN. Hutchinson. At times displays of physical drill will be given on the brilliantly-lit lawn, and occasionally rockets and aerial bombs will further invade the confines of the darkness, and throw the bunting and festoons overhead into vivid relief. Ranged round the lawn are the plain and fancy goods stalls, and at a greater distance are the refreshment marquees and side shows. One spot of beauty amongst them is the flower marquee, which contains banks of blooms and pot plants, and in the centre a fountain.

The scene inside Government House will; be in keeping with the outside. The dining-1 room has been transformed into a cafe chantant, and in the ballroom physical culture displays and entertainment* by the " Gay makers" will be given. The* programme for the fete is as follows:—Every afternoon there will be displays of old English dancing on the lawn, and the bands will play. On Wednesday evening there will be a military display (the troops marching along Queen and Shortland the ascent, of a fire balloon, and the discharge of rockets and aerial bombs. On the lawn there will also be a military tattoo and exhibition of manual exercises, a Maypole, and dancing. In the ballroom members of the ladies* physical culture class, under Mrs. H. Heap, will give two displays. On Thursday evening the chief'attractions on the lawn will be dancing and a gymnastic display bv Mr. Alp's pupils, while the "Gaymakers" will make fun in the ballroom. On Friday evening the second military display will be given. There will be Maxim and 6in gun drill, and the Auckland Engineers, who established a New Zealand record for the erection of an observatory at the recent military carnival at Palmerston North, will attempt the Imperial record, which is two minutes less than theirs. , On Saturday afternoon the Maori boys will give a gymnastic display on the lawn, while in the evening they will repeat it, and the "Gaymakers" will provide an entertainment in the ballroom. The result of the doll competition is as follows : —Class A: Miss Hope Nelson, champion (Sineer sewing machine); Miss Moore, 1: Miss M. Geddes, 2; Mrs. Woodley, 3. Class B: Miss May I. Reeve, 1; Miss Karin Sellgren, 2; Miss Bertie West wood. 3. Class C: Miss Helen Sellgren, 1; Miss Renie Ralph. 2: Miss Marsack, 3. The judges were Merdames Calder and E. D. O'Rorke and Miss Williams. There were 52 entries. • •: