BALFOUR BAZAAR

Southland Times, Issue 20463, 16 April 1928, Page 4

BALFOUR BAZAAR

CATHOLIC CHURCH FUNCTION. A GREAT SUCCESS. Close on two years ago the Catholic congregation of Balfour decided to hold a bazaar with a view to obtaining the necessary money to erect a substantial and ornamental concrete fence in front of the church. Owing to the fact that a new Town Hall was in course of erection, the church officials thoughtfully postponed the bazaar so that the Town Hall Committee could have first say as regards a bazaar. The result and success of that function are now recorded in Balfour history. However, the long-delayed efforts duly materialized on Friday afternoon, when the Rev. Father O’Neill declared the bazaar open, and complimented one and all on the splendid array of goods in the various stalls. It represented the result of keen and concentrated effort. It was a good thing indeed to find the congregation anxious to make the church property beautiful, and he wished the efforts every success. (Applause).

The evening session was somewhat marred by a torrential downpour of rain, which commenced about 6.15 p.m. and continued throughout the night. Nevertheless quite a good crowd turned out, and despite continual demands for the nimble shilling one and all appeared to fall in with the spirit of the carnival and parted up very freely. Mr J. Hobson, Invercargill, presented two silver cups for competition as to the gross takings of the bazaar. One cup is for ladies and the other for men. Donations of fat sheep were numerous, while other lines of farm products, such as barley, wheat, oats, potatoes, geese, ducks, etc., represent quite a splendid advertisement for the productivity of Balfour soil and the generosity of its tillers. During the evening various shooting and guessing competitions were disposed of, with the following winners: Cake, Mrs Fred West; ham, Mrs D. Maloney; coal scuttle, Mrs C. Carmody; fancy suppercloth, Convent, Winton; lucky bird, Miss K. Sullivan, East Gore; manicure set, Miss E. Morris, Edendale; travelling bag, Miss Lennon; pen-paintd duchesse set, Tom Coogan; birthdaycake, Fred West; tin honey, E. J. Ward; box tea, W. Weavers; skipping competition, open to all, won by Miss Joan Wilson, with a record of 251.

During the afternoon and evening the takings greatly exceeded the most sanguine expectations, rumour stating" that about £l3O was collected.

The bazaar was continued on Saturday afternoon and evening and on Monday a grand wind-up dance will be held, music being supplied by Winton’s orchestra. The committee will be in a position to announce the winners of Mr Hobson’s cups at this function.