THE GARRISON BAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3262, 20 October 1897, Page 2

THE GARRISON BAND.

FANCY FAIR AT THE SKATING RINK. The Skating Fink presented a gay scene yesterday, when the Garrisjn Band fancy lair, organised in aid of the instrument fund, was opened by the Countess of Kanfurly. The crowd of willing helpers who have been busy decorating the building for the past day or two haVe done their work faithfully and well, lines of flags of all nationalities and of varied colour depend from thereof for the length of the building, and a profusion of flags has been employed to cover the walla as far as possible, while the long lines of red, white and blue cloth stretched a ong the roof assist to conceal in, some degree the baru-Jike appearance of the skating Emk in its normal condition. ‘Yesterday the platform Was arranged as a drawing-room, the nwnq.l stage scenery having been removed to make way for a line of handsome parlour screens ot black and gold design, carpets and inviting easy chairs Palms in huge pots adorned the front of the platform, leading to which was a narrow carpeted stairway with improvised balustrades draped with tod cloth. In the background behind tbo wall of parlour screens appeared a large painting of the Queen, and across the proscenium was the motto, “ ‘Welcome to our Governor and Lady Eanfurly." The fancy work t tails comprise the following Kanfurly ” stall, under the charge of Meedames Seddon, S hoi'b, T. G. Macarthy, R. E. Bannister, J. Hutcheson and Skinner and Miss Seddon ; ** Erin Go Bragh” stall, directed by Ales dames Fisher and Corliss; “Glasgow’’ stall, under the charge of Mesdames Kunoie and A. Barron, Mies Barron and Misses Uunoie (2); “ Huia" stall, in charge of which are filesdames T. K. Macdonald, Dobie, Clark, Moore, Turnbull, Long and Barr, and Muses Mee, Pownall, N. Gallagher, Allen, N. Duff, Holmes and Chapman. There is aUo a flower-stall supervised by Mesdames Hudson and R. B. Williams, and Miss Mary Seddou, with Misses Fisher and Pettit as flower-girls, in addition to whom are three or four tiny little girls offering dainty buttonholes to the visitor; then a tea kiosk, controlled by Mrs Watson and a staff of assistants; an Aaoot table and shooting gallery, and near the entrance the Victoria loUio stall, a rotunda, where Mesdames Truman and Johnson preside. The display of work at the stalls is of exceptionally good character, including the fancy and the useful, and embracing all the most varied and delicate products of the needle. The stalls ranging on each side of the hall, laden with goods, have been neatly decorated with nikau palms and the like. The decorations generally reflect great credit upon Mr Benner and his assistants. The tea kiosk is a spacious room at one corner of the building, and opposite to it are the tent of Madame Latour, the fortuneteller, and the tent also of the Gipsy Queen (Miss Edwards), a phrenological laboratory, with Professor Blumenthal and the Kev J. Crewes in charge, and a room for the phonograph.' A monster shoe in one part of the ball, surrounded by dolls, with an old woman ensconced in it, who doesn't look in the least old, attracts attention. The “ old woman" is a charming young lady, Mies Winnie Birch. Then there is a cordial counter for the thirsty which must also be mentioned. Tbo fair was opened at 3 o'clock, when Lady Kanfurly arrived, accompanied by Lady Constance Knox, Captain Ward and the Hon Chas. "HUI-Trevor. The vico-regal visitors were received by Mrs Seddon, the Hon T, Thompson and Mrs ; Thompson, and‘Mrs T, K. Macdonald, the Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Herd,. playing the National Anthem. The Hon Mr Thompson having apologised for the absence of Hia Excellency the Governor, Lady Kanfurly declared the fancy fair open, saying that she wished every success to so excellent a cause. At the call of Mr Thompson, throe cheers were given for the Governor's wife. When Lady Kanfurly bad ascended the platform, Mrs T. Kennedy Macdonald presented her with a handsome shower bouquet of Marochal Neil roses. The stallholders and their b'wy of assistants did not lose much time in starting their task of recovering stray ooin. .During the afternoon and evening brisk business was dope, and the scene at night in the crowded rink was exceedingly striking under the glow of the two large electric lamps in the roof, and the many electric lights in the stalls. Daintilydressed ladies flitted about to and fro, persuasive in their eloquent praise of the numerous articles of f fancy work intended for lottery ; an interested crowd pressed about the mimic racecourse to witness the equine straggles directed by Mr Houldsworth; Mr Robinson's shooting gallery had its score ot devotees; numbers heard the gipsy relate their fortune, or their want of it; the old woman in the shoe did a brisk trade with her dolls, the refreshment oafd was thronged, the . band played .at intervals, and on the stage a number of young ladies with the powdered hair and the flowing robes of the last century performed a graceful minuet under the direction of Miss Chapman, to the music of Mr £. J. King's band. . The scene was especially animated. . The fancy fair is to be open every afternoon from 3 till 530 o'clock, and in . the evening from 7 till 10 o'clock, .andi no doubt will result in a substantial increase in the fund for the band’s fine new instruments. Tickets for the art union are also selling rapidly. .. ■ • ;