WESLEYAN BAZAAR.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3300, 30 October 1883, Page 2

WESLEYAN BAZAAR.

The bazaar, instituted by the Wesleyan congregation, for the purpose of reducing a liability of £6OO on the church buibiing. and for which extensive preparations had been going on for some lime past, was formally opened this morning, by bis Worship the Mayor. The use of the NZ L. and M. A. Company’s spacious long room had been obtained for the occasion, and the view on entering, was really very pleasing. The room itself is a handsome one, well lighted, and when garnished with a bazaar, it has a very pleasing effect, There was a fair attendance of visitors, and at half-past eleven, the Mayor, standing on the dais at the end of the room, delivered a short inaugural address. He said he and the other Councillors, several of whom were present, wished the promoters of the bazaar all success. He was personally no advocate for Bazaars as a rale, but he was aware that they had their advantages. There was a large and varied collection of articles for sale here, and he saw that the stalls were presided over by a number of fair workers, whose animated faces and persua«ive powers would, he felt sure; attract custom for the large assortment of goods displayed. He a.'ain wi-hed ■he (romoters success, and declared the bazaar open.

Tlie remarks of His Worship were received with expressions of general satisfaction ; and th“re w< r-r calls for Cis Sutler and Gibson, neither of whom however, cared to respond, and the formal proceedings terminated. A stroll round the room yields very considerable pleasure, and n >t a little interest to the visitor. The stalls contain a bewildering variety of articles, all useful, and many of them very beautiful. It is impossible to give anything like a catalogue of thi m, it must suffice to say that they are most attrac live, and are displayed with much taste. On beholding what the taste and industry of the ladies have enabled them to accomplish, one is inclined to speculate in a comical way on what sort of a rough and tumble appearance the pretty things would have presented if male bands been employed to set them out. The “ art collection ” is the one thing lacking at every bazaar in this colony. How is it that we are so terribly backward in art—in a country that ought to be the home of landscape artists ? Two specimens by local amateurs are exhibited here, a crayon copy of one of Landseer’s pictures—by Miss Bowker; a very faithfully executed and admirable pi eduction ; and a watercolor study of Charles I.—by Miss Lovegrove. This picture is crude and har<-h, but it bears unmisiakeahle evidence of ability that ought to be zealously cultivated. Some capital specimens of the cabinetmaker’s art, the product of Mr John Jackson’s sawmill, in the shape of towel horses, stools,are exhibited, and there is alto a large collection of pot plants. During the day the bazaar has of course received only a limited share of patronage but in the evening it is pretty certain that there will be a large gathering of people. The Artillery Band have kindly promised their services, and they wi 1 play at intervals just outside the building, alternately with a small but very select string band, which will discourse sweet music inside. The various stalls are presided over and tended by Mesdames Jackson, Bundesen, Hold, gate, Warrington, Beck, Gabites, storm, Bezzant, F"S'er, and the Misses Turner and Whittaker, The book and p'ant sla'l is managed by Mr 0. Vogler, and several lady assistants. The refreshment stall which contains solid provender not merely an assortment of unsatisfying sweetmeats, things eatable rather than things auekahle, —is under the able management of Mesdames Foster, Bargefrede and Gilbert.

The congregation are to be congratulated on having among them so many real workers and lovers of the cause, for the Bazaar has been got up in a style that cannot fail to be attractive.