ST. MARY’S CONVENT BAZAAR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1288, 5 November 1896, Page 42

ST. MARY’S CONVENT BAZAAR.

Visitors to the Skating Kink on Saturday were rewarded by witnessing a vei’y pretty and attractive spectacle. The interior of the building was transformed by profuse decoration, its barn-like properties being completely hidden by the wealth of flags and foliage attached to the walls and ceiling ; on every hand was displayed beautiful and dainty fancy work of all varieties and colours—oil paintings, painted mirrors and plaques, embroidery, art needlework, bric-a-brac, feather flowers, and many other pretty and indescribable things for which the resources of all countries had been laid under contribution ; and in the centre of the hall a number of children in striking and vari-coloured costumes, principally of the Phyllis order, gaily tripped to the measure of the maypole and fan dances. Even the unimpressionable reporters were captivated by the scene. Before ho well knew where he was, one of them found himself promising to give a shilling for a ticket in an art union for an epergne or something of the kind. That shilling had not been paid up to the hour of our going to jiress. General Booth, it will be remembered, on one occasion almost shattered the Salvation Army by the reckless statement that he had once seen a reporter put a shilling in the collection plate. A man who up to that time had been an enthusiastic follower of the General stood up when he heard this and walked out of the hall, declaring that if statements of that kind were to be made at the meetings, he must go and look for the truth elsewhere.

The committee and the stallholders, who worked with so much enthusiasm and whole-heartedness for the success of the bazaar, were not in particularly good humour while heavy rain was falling on Saturday, but still it was decided to go on with the opening ceremony. The Hon W. C. Walker, Minister of Education, arrived at 3 o'clock, and was introduced by the Hon Dr Grace. The Very Rev Father Devoy and the Rev Father O’Meara were also present.

Dr Grace read a letter which had been received from His Excellency the Governor, regretting that he would be unable to be present at the opening of the bazaar, and enclosing a small contribution towards the funds. For this, Dr Grace remarked, they thanked His Excellency, whose public spirit and generosity in these matters was recognised all over the Colony. Dr Grace went on to say that the Minister of Education was well known throughout New Zealand, but more especially in the province of Canterbury, for the deep interest he had taken especially in high-class education, and his presence there that day showed that he was willing to testify his appreciation of the very successful efforts made by St. Mary’s Convent Schools for high-class education. The Hon W. C. Walker said he considered it a very great honour to be asked to declare this bazaar open. It was true, as Dr Grace had said, that he had been connected with higher education in Canterbury for some years, and he was only soi’ry that Wellington was not so well provided as other parts of the Colony in the matter of higher education; but still he trusted that the day would come when Wellington, equally with the rest of the Colony, would be provided with these requisites. At the same time, the people of Wellington were fortunate in having many high schools, such as these convent schools in whose interest this bazaar was being held. He had always felt great pleasure in being able to testify to the good work done by the Catholic schools throughout the Colony. Especially was he glad to be able to assist that day in any small degree towards ‘their wishes in respect to these schools. He believed these schools were established as far back as 1850, and since then they had been doing continued and ever-increasing and systematic work, and the object of the bazaar was to relieve them of certain debts they had been obliged to incur in order to provide proper accommodation for the increasing number of their pupils and the enlarged scope of their work. It was unnecessary for him to say anything further as to the objects of this bazaar, or commend it to their good wishes. He was sorry the weather had interfered to a certain extent •with the attendance that afternoon, but he was sure, whether the weather was good or not, that that hall would be crowded for the rest of the week until the stalls before them were depleted of all the beautiful things they saw there. Mr Walker then declared the bazaar open, with best wishes fo" its success and the success of the convent schools. (Applause.) The stalls are : —No 1, “ Alma Mater,” under the charge of Mrs R. O’Connor, Mrs McGrath, and Misses O’Connor, Brady and Neville, whose assistants are Misses Redwood, Sullivan (2), Brady, Gallagher, Smith, Achison and E. O’Connor.

No. 2, “Cosmopolitan,” under the charge of Mrs Grace and Mrs Duncan, with Misses Grace, Rose (2) and Friend as assistants. No. 3, “ Kia Ora,” under the charge of Mesdames Devine, Holt, Bolton, Bridge, Gascoigne and Ramsay, with the following assistants : —Misses Seddon (2), Gascoigne, Fairchild, Henderson, McParland, Preston, Walslie, Fitzgerald, Waters and Walmsley. No. 4, “ Erin go Bragh,” under the charge of Mesdames Segrief, Gamble, Brady, Gleeson and Martin, Misses Segrief, Gleeson, McParland and Walsh, with Misses Fitzsimmons, Halpin, Gallagher, Butler, Geoglian, Walshe, Corliss, Segrief, Lawliss and Poll as assistants.

No. 5, Children of Mary stall, Mrs Truman and Misses Truman and Williams in oharge, assisted by Misses Tracy, Vincent, Fisher, Stevens, Mowatt, McGrath, Fanning, Duggan, Lodge and Beveridge.

No. 6, refreshment stall, Mesdames McDonald, Vincent, Sullivan and Redmond in charge, with Misses Rigg (2), Hardie, Redmond (2), Vincent, Bohan and Duignan. Tne work at the stalls includes some panels of glass and porcelain on which flower designs are painted with exquisite effect, richly embroidered chairs and cushions, plaques in great variety, art needlework, some beautiful crazy work, and innumerable other fancy and useful objects. At the “ Alma Mater” stall there is some really beautiful panel and mirror painting of birds and native woods. There is also here a handsome drawingroom chair in brown plush, embroidered, sent from Melbourne by the Good Shepherd nuns. Some paintings in oils at the “Cosmopolitan” stall attract immediate attention. The display at the “ Kia Ora ” (“ Good Luck ”) stall is especially attractive. It comprises all varieties of needlework, satchets, handkerchief and glove boxes, panels beautifully painted, some oil-paintings, including a scene at the Great Barrier Island near the spot where the Wairarapa was wrecked, vases, Japanese tea set, drawingroom chairs, &c. There is also a capital display at the “ Erin go Bragh,” including feather flowers from Madeira, a silver taa and coffee service, screens, crazy work (which apparently takes its name from the fact that one is driven crazy trying to find out how it is done), sime beautiful table decorations, a cabinet made by Mr Martin, Willis street, and a novelty in the shape of a musical jug, which is much like other jugs in appearance, but which plays a variety of tunes while it is in use. How on earth this is done is the mystery. All kinds of fancylwork are to be found at the Children of Mary stall, where also is a Roman medallion presented by Archbishop Redwood. A piano which is to be disposed of by art union in Is tickets is on exhibition in the hall.

The rink was crowded on Saturday evening, and splendid business was done, the receipts amounting to .£IOO 11s. The committee are : —’Messrs O’Meara, McArdle, Davis, Palmer, R. Duignan and Dealy, and the joint treasurers Messrs O’Meara and McArdle, while Mr T. J. Davis is an active and industrious secretary,