CATHOLIC BAZAAR AT LAWRENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8388, 11 January 1889, Page 3

CATHOLIC BAZAAR AT LAWRENCE.

(From Ouk Owj<" Correspoxdext.)

Lavchkxce, January 7.

The Christmas festivities may be said to have set in with the Koman Catholic bazaar, opened in the Town Hall ou the !3th December. The Catholic congregation had been preparing for the event since last February, and the amount of work done in the time speaks volumes for the industry and good taste of thfe Indies. The hall was prettily decorated with Hags lent by Mr Hevell, K.M., and ferns. Although the rain cnnie down in torrents on the first day the hall was soon comfortably filled. Mr Taylor, the retiring mayor, in a short and complimentary speech declared the bazaar open. The Rev Father O'Leary followed, expressing his gratification at the very handsome display before him. He warmly thanked the ladies and gentlemen outside his own congregation who had contributed so largely to the success of the undertaking. Father O'Neill, of Milton, made a few complimentary remarks. Ho expressed his opinion that some of the goods displayed would compare favourably with the work at the Dominican bazaar held previously in Dnnedin. He enjoined the ladies to display as much energy in disposing of the articles as they had in preparing them, and never was priestly injunction so faithfully obeyed. Ni 1 stall was presided over by Mrs Liieiilern, assisted by Misses White, Sutherland, and Drew ; No. 2. Miss Kelliher, assisted by Misses Airey and Arthur ; No. H, Mrs Byrne, assisted by Mrs I'ai-ker, Misses A. Kelliher, L. Johnson, and Roughan ; No. -1, Miss Mills, assisted by Mrs ltoclia, Miss Matthews, and Miss J. Mills. The flower stall, kept fresh and green by a miniature fountain, was mulct' Kiss Johnson's tasteful management. Her assistants were Misses Ward, M. Airey, and W. Johnson. The refreshment (able bore gratifying testimony to the generosity of the public. It was so laden with contributions that notwithstanding the vigorous onslaught maintained during tho next three days the supply held out until a late hour on the closing evening. Wedding cake and tipsy cake—every variety of cake; baskets of small goods came in in such quantities that the ladies in charge—Mesdair.es Donlan, Drew, Kelliher, and l'onghan—were at a loss where to bestow them. Mr M'Donald was the donor of a wedding cake; MrWootton, a basket of spongecakes and "pastry. There was abundance of excellent music. Miss" Fraer played the opening piece, after which all our musical world assisted in turn. The local brass baud and that of the Blue Spur were in attendance (not both at once), while Mr Kerr rama in from Waipori, despite the downpour, to render his assistance in enlivening the proceedings. Thc3 Christmas tree nourished for awhile under the care of Miss Duffy, aided by a legion of small sprites, running hither and thither with lucky bags, gathering up the small coin. Later on Mrs Johnson took charge, and the trade developed amazingly. The fun grew fast and furious around thH tree pie as each one drew some lengthy unsuitable article from;its depths, although useful articles preponderated. The amount of fancy work was considerable, and of marked superiority. It was frequently observed that some of the work was too good for the times--that people could not afford such luxuries; yet it was the most expensive articles that were first disposed of. A magnificent set oi altar ve^tmenta continually held an admiring group. The design was worked in beau-tifully-shaded Berlin wool by Mrß Byrne, teacher of the Catholic School, under whoso snper-

vision nearly the \yholo of the fancy work was done. The vestments were mounted on white satin, trimmed with gold braid, and finished with a heavy gold fringe. The mounting was done by Mrs Kelliher. Next in value was'a sofa blanket made by Miss Mills. It was done in double Berlin wool; stripes of white, on which were worked rosebuds and forget-me-nots alternated with stripes of jnaroon shaded from the darkest to the palest hue. Hopes "of'cream joined the stripes, and a heavy fringe Rave it a suitable finish. It looked such a warm, luxurious article t'r.at no one seemed to be able to pas 3 without laying a caressing hand upon it, Miss Mills must have felt fearful that some of the gentlemen would leave traces of theiradmiraUon upon her work. The blanket was rattled for £i, and might easily have reached double figures had the list been kept open a little longer. Two mantle drapes made by Misses Ko-jghan and Kelliher deserve mention. Miss Jloughau's jonquil }il;es on black velvet was riehlooking in the extreme. Hiss Kelliher'a water lilies on old gold plush did not take' the eye so nuickly, but held the attention longer. They were both cleverly done, and realised good prices. Among the many brackets of every conceivable kind that of Miss Solomon, Cromwell, stood unrivalled. Pansies and bleeding h<art haud-painted on cream eaiin, cushions innumerable in crewels, crazy, and wool work found ready purchasers. Mrs Draper's pule blue plush, worked in cross stitch, was very handsome, £0 was Miss Airey'o, in mnroon. The design flowers overhanging the water was preity. Perhaps the first place in cushions should be gived to Mrs Gray (crazy work), as the old lady has reached the years when the eyes don't take kindly to such a trying task. Mi£s Neill Blue Spur, contrail!ed a poonah-painted footstool, which was mueli admired. Mrs M'Culloch, a wedding cake, which was rnllk-d for £6 10s. Among the many pictures offered was a handsomely-framed copy of Murillo's " Conception," presented by Father O'Neill. Its neighbours suffered considerably by its proximity; until the lucky winner removed ifc the others had little chance of recognition. There were some a!mirable religious pictures, some New Zealand sketches, all neatly framed, .and. I had almost forgotten, some gorgeously green pictures of Fontenoy. The bazaar was eminently successful. The weather precluded the attendance of the country people ui;til the last day, yet She takings on the opening day were over £M. The total results, all expenses deducted, amount to £250—a considerable sum for our smfil! community. 'The Christmas gaieties -*ere as thorough as if the word depression had never been heard. The Caledonian Society had as large an attendance as usual at their annual sports, but it cannot be said people went away so well satisfied. In not having bagpipe music the gathering lost a distinctive feature ; the same might be said of the step-dancing. The concert in the evening drew a fairly good attendance. Wrestling on the platform was an innovation, and, with all due deference to the management, not a coinmendablo or.c. The noble art has its admirers hero as elsewhere, yet it is not to e-hibitious of this icind men tako their wives and families.