DAFFODIL DAY.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13873, 15 September 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

DAFFODIL DAY.

A SPLENDID SUCCESS.

GROSS TAKINGS EXCEED £250,

(From. "The Colonist," Sept. 13.)

Once again the public have responded generously to the appeal for funds for. | our soldier boys. Daffodil Day on Saturday proved a great success, and resulted in over £2-50 being raised for Christmas gifts for those who are fighting for us. The' weather prospects were anything but promising at an early hour 012 Saturday morning, but fortunately the clouds cleared away, and an ideal spring day followed—in fact, the conditions could not have l><*en more perfect for an outdoor function. Flowers came to hand in abundance from town and country, and many generous givers completely stripped their gardens of their choicest and best flowers in order to assist the cause. ■ Daffodils naturally predominated, hut there wore basketloads of hyacinths, freeslas, anemones, and other beautiful spring blooms, besides arum lilies and other flowers. . Never before has there been such a collection of flowers in Trafalgar street. Stalls were placed at intervals on the footpaths, and business commenced at about 11 o'clock, and continued steadily until between 5 and 6 o'clock, when the last of the blooms were cleared out. Many persons were sceptical, when they saw the huge quantities of flowers, and thought of the many appeals that have been made, whether the blooms would find' a market. In Nelson, where every householder has his garden plot, flowers are not a novelty, therefore the- result is all the more gratifying A happy idea was the early-morning house-to-hause canvass by children with buttonholes for sale and an invitation card for presentation to witness the afternoon ai-rangements. This work was undertaken 'by the girls and boys of the city schools, and it is 1 safe to say that 90 per cent, of the I large crowd which flocked to Trafalgar street during the day wore buttonholes. From this source alone a considerable sum was raised, Itinerant flower sellers were busy all day, as well as girls with collecting boxes, who appealed directly to those who were not seen carry* ing flowers. Everything passed off without a hitch, and the committee responsible are to be congratulated upon the success of their efforts. The -display of bulbs in the annexe at the Empire Theatre was a very fine omi, the-choicest varieties in profusion being staged; and the various donors deserve special thanks for their contributions. A word of praise- is due for the very effective staging of the blooms, which were displayed in three tiers. This greatly enhanced the effect compared with a flat table display. It will be made a matter for consideration by ihe Horticultural Society that this system be adopted at the society's shows in future.

Many shopkeepers dressed their windows with daffodils and spring flowers in honour of the occasion. Mr F. W. Fairoy made a fine display at his shop in Bridge street. The features of tho afternoon were th<? crowning of tho Daffodil Queen, the profession of dec-orated bicycles, vehicles, oic, and ni' children in floral costumes, and ll:.<. maypole dance. At a. quarter to 8 the Daffodil Queen (Miss Rona Hamilton), who looked extremely ( handsomo in an orange velvet 3'obe, arrived iit the foot of the Church Steps, with her retinue. They made their p;o;>ress in decorated motor cars, the Senior Cadets forming a guard of honour. Bishop Sadlier delivered a brief address appropriate to the occasion, and tben called upon YFUis Mona.Baxter. (Qtieen of the recent Carnival) to crown the Daffodil Queen., :TJi:s ceremony having been gracefully performed^ e!\eers were givexi far the 'newly-crou'.neti Queen, for "Our boys at tho front,"and for "The King/ after which the National Anthem was played. Headed by the 12th Regiment Band, a procession was formed of the Daffodil Queen and her retinue, in motor cars, the competitors1 in the decorative competitions, Senior Cadets, the National Rflserve Band, and the Motor Reserve, vhich proceeded to the Post Oflice and returned to the intersection of Trafalgar and Hardy streets, where the mayiole dance was gone through- by a number of little girls, attired in costoimes representing various flowers, under the able direction of Miss Anderson. The Bands then marched to the Empire Theatro, where tho choice display of cut flowers, pot plants, etc.; were auctioned by Mr. Alfred Gould. Tho sheep for the weight-guessing competition were kindly lent by Messrs F W Fairey (throe) and R. Gaukrod<*er (one).' The weight of the four sheep was 8541b. The nearest guess was that of Miss E. Hair, who guessed 356K». Other estimates ranged from 4Mb to 13011b. STALLS AND STALLHOLDERS. The names of the tstalls and stallholders are ..as follows:— '•_ Daffodil stall: Mesdames C. J. Harlev (Mayoress), R. B. J:u>kson, A..R. ]? l+ching, T. Eastcott, and Miss Richmond, in charge: Misses Sclanders; Warnock (2), Cock (2), Houlker, O'Hnra-Smith, and Izard^ assistants. Buttonholes: Miss Fanuo. m charge ; Misses E. and I. Hair and Dimant, assistants. ' n 1? Pot plants, etc.: Mesdames (*. !'■• Dodds and Chappel, in charge; Misses Widdowson,- Dodds, Worley, Martin, MacKenzio, and Mrs Weir, and Mr &■ H Moller, assistants. . , Assorted flowers. Misses Wilton and Soaly, in charge; Misses Lucas, Fleming, Cowan, and Mrs Pogson, assistan Arum lilies: Mrs G. Wastney and Miss Violet Coster. . _ Freesias: Miss Cooke, in charge, Misses. Coster, Wastney, and Saxon, aSJumble stall: Misses Smith and Haldane, in charge; Misses Vinuig, Mackenzie, Clarry, and L. Smith, nssist- * Hyacinths and anemones* Miss TJ ud" son. in charge; Misses Andrew, TomHnson, Hunt (Richmond), and Masters Simpson aud Millar, assistants.

Tiafalgar Hotel stall: Mrs McGillivray, in charge; Misses Bosher, Kitto, Wilson, Windus (3), Paul, and Ward, assistants. .' . = ■. t " ' Clothes baskets: M^ss G. Harley, ?.u charge; Misses Clark,' E. Bisley, Satchell, Batynber,-and Grace, assistants. Empiro Theata-e annexe: Mr A. E. Tasker, Miss Ewart, Mrs Tasker. Mrs Lock and Mm Crawford supervised generally. The dining tables at tho Masonic, Commercial and Trafalgar Hotels were decorated by Mrs Dodds, Mrs Weir, Misses Agnes Dodds,, A. Widdowson! Comer, and Master lan Dodds. Special floral menu cards were painted by Misses Farnie and Sadd. y

COMPETITIONS. Competitions resulted; as follows •— Decorated barrow : Misses Woolcombe U) and Morrison; toy barrow, Betty Humphreys. J Billy-cart: G. Hood ( s . s . Tahiti) 1. Tom Culhford (red, white, and blue) 2Joy go-cart: Rona Stewart 1. Decorated bicycle: W. Hawk© (red, white and blue) 1, Noel Frank (Belgium) 2. Dress representing a flower: Monn Baxter 1. Most original dress representing a flower: Rene Lock. Most original dress: Sheila Sadlier ("knitting") 1 HugbDodds (a cat) 2. Most novel design: Geo, Hamilton 1. Decorated basket: Vera "Vi&ens 1, Eileen Akehurst 2. _ Mesdames Bett and' Coote were the judges. THE TAKINGS. Details of the takings ar© as follows: Sale of badges (Miss Ewiirt) 1 5* o' Bulb display and auction 27 & 3% Anemones and hyacinths 12 8 3 Freesias 12 3 9 JunAlo ■ . 11. 7 0A Buttonholes 32 2 6 | Daffodils 20 7 10 Assorted flowers 4 5 6 Arum lilies 2 13 0 Shower of coins 10 13 <i Pot plants 24 10 0 Clothes baskets 9 7 6 Sheep .gue&sing 6 2 0 Mrs McGillivray's stall and Trafalgar Hotel 21 10 0 Mitsonic Hotel (Mr and Mrs Beirne) 7 0 0 Commercial Hotel 5 3 10 Miss Bland (sale of flowers) 2 J 3 Eileen Brown (motor rides) 110 0 Mrs Brundeil (nutshell fortunes) 2 13 0 Railway Band 12 0 2 Donations: O. Glasgow £2 2s, A. Lulham £1 Is, Mrs Bamford os. The Misses Gilkison very kindly donated the takings at the Haeremai tea rooms on Saturday to the fund. The amount has not yet been handed over, but it is expected to be over £20. Several, amounts from motor drivc-s have also to com© in, which it is expected will bring the total receipts up to £250. In the evening»the Railway Band appeared in th© streets and performed selections on a variety of weird instruments. They, also gave a miscellaneous entcrtainn ent from a motor lorry. The committee desire to gratefully thank the hundreds of town and country donors of flowers, the owners of niotor cars and expresses who collected blooms without charge, and all those who rendered willing assistance. We are asked to state that the sum credited to th© Masonic Hotel in connection with Daffodil Day was a donation from Mr and Mrs Beirne personally, and did not represent collections. The amount was £8."