ST. MARY'S BAZAAR.

Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8279, 20 June 1895, Page 2

ST. MARY'S BAZAAR.

When the time arrived for the Mayor, aooord ing to arrangement, to declare the St; Mary's bazaar duly open for the transaction of business, the Provincial Hall was so well filled thai it wa? a difficult matter to g*-t from one part of the hall to another. Tb.9 Very Bey Father Mahoney, in calling upon his Worship to open the bazaar, referred to , tbe well-known charitable nature of that gentleman, both in his poblio and his prii vate oapaoity, and said that he knew that Mr Trask, if not there as the Mayor, would have been present as a oitizen to encourage a work of charity. He also expressed his pleasure at seeing so many present. Mr Trask, addressing the assemblage, a "id that it was very pleasant for him to be with them, and especially to ccc so large a gathering. He had taken the kind words spoken by Father Mahoney of himself bb coming from the heart, and not words of the lips only, for they had been fast friends in tbe past, and he believed would oontinue bo. Continuing, his Worship said that ha was present by invitation of the Beverend Mother the Lidy Superior of the Convent, and it afforded him great pleasure to oomply with tha request proffered, for there were few men in Nelson ouisida of the St. Mary's congregation who knew more about tbe good work the ladies of the Convent were doing than he. Tberefore it was always a pleasure for him to do anything in a reasonable way that he could to help them to keep their schools open. The objeot of tbe bazaar was to raise funds in aid of the fund for the. new wing whioh had be*en added to the Orphanage for little boys, so be asked those present to purchase liberally as far as their means would permit, and so help forward tbe good work in a practical and sympathetic way. (Applause.) His Worship then formally declared the bazaar open, and, to give business a start, Baid that he would give each of the first four lady stallholders who applied five shillings each. This offer met with applause, and waß quickly availed of. Business then commenced, and oontinned apace, the stallholders being particularly busy in showing their wares. Taking a look round the Hall, the first stalls for notice are the two work stalls, on which are displayed tbe useful and ornamental articles, of which mention has been made, and great interest has been taken by the fair sex in what is there to be found. TheEe stalls are presided over respectively by : No. I stall, Mesdames Frank, Counsel, Louisson, Crisp, and Miss C. Frank ; No. 2 stall, by Mesdames Scott, Kacquarrie, Doff and Miss L. Scott. The Candy and Flower stall was in charge of Mrs Hall, assisted by Miss E. Frank, and here was displayed a great variety of toothsome sweetmeats, which met wiih appreciation from the numerous purchasers. Mrs Barnea direoted operations at the Produce Stall, and had for her assistants Misses Hunt and Fraaer. Here were to be found a great variety of commodities from a string of sausages to a pumpkin. At the Refreshment stall were to be found Mesdames Parmenter and Turner, who had a bountiful supply of delicacies. In a oorner, after the retiring manner credited to fairies, was the Fairy Well, the attendants being Misses Maud Frank and Hall. The Christmas Tree, last mentioned, but not least, was an extra large one, and the presents thereon of more than ordinary excellence. This was, of course, well patronised, and the drawing created the ÜBUal amount of fun and excitement. The Mißses J. and E. Frank, MoQee, and Young were in charge of this department. During the evening, the Stoke Orphanage Brass Band, ander the oonduotorship of Mr H. Leaper, played a number of selections, and their playing was much admired; A great deal of pleasure was derived from the Maypole dance, in whioh thirty little girls, some of them very tiny, took part. The various evolutions were performed to a musioal accompaniment without a mistake, and very pretty they looked, the fancy dresses lending brightness to tbe scene. The obildren were trained and directed by Miss Weybourne, assisted by Mr O'Connell, and Miss Mabel Frank accompanied on the piano. Among other items worthy of speoial mention are tbe mechanical toys, which greatly delighted the youngsters, and were viewed with considerable interest by the older folk also. The crowded Btate of the room told rather against the sale af the articles on the stalls, bat tbe s am of £33 was nevertheless netted for the evening's work. j The bazaar will remain open every after- ' noon and evening till Saturday, the hours being from two till five, and Beven till ten. Daring the evening musioal selections, vocal and instrumental, will be rendered by well-known and favorite amateurs. On Friday, another Christmas tree will have fruited, and ihe crop will then be gathered.