THEATRE ROYAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 91, 14 April 1903, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

TANOY BAIR AND BAZAAR. The Grand Fancy F.iir in aid of the funds of i3t. Joseph's (O&fcholic) School was duly opened on Monday evening by His Worship the Mayor (Mr E. Dockriil), who, in his opening remarks, repressed the' pleasure it gave him to perform the ceremony particularly as i tha funds were to be devoted to educ t- [ lional purposes, as the highest duty we owed to our children was to give them a goad eouad educa iuc. He referred to the objection? of Roman Oitholicsto the present secular system of education, and siid if they were to judge by the resolutions passed by osher religious bodies who take a deep interest in

the moral training of their children, in their opinion also the present secular system had.be;n tried and found wanting. The great reformer, John Bright, had said the great object of educ ition was to p'ant in the minds of children the love of country, love of virtue and the fear of God, which made it clew that he contemplated something more than the secul»r sys'.em now in vogue. The Roman Oitholics were certainly to be congratulated on their efforts on behalf of the moral welfare of th'-ir children, and he hoped tha bazaar would be a complete success. EDs also congratulated the ladies on the cptandid display of goods and the arrangements for the bazaar and their efforts would mee") with the success they certainly deserved. He hud much pleasure in declaring the baziar open, i The Theatre was inconveniently crowded throughout the evening, some 800 people being and locomotion being a matter of coosiderablo difficulty, This, however, from a financial point of viewr, was most satisfactory, so that the opaning night whs in all 1 aspects a thorough success. Great taste had heen shown in the decoration of the various stalls, all of which pre sented a vision of splendour, the magnificent and richly ornamented speoimens of art needlework giving some of the stalls all the gorgeous appeatance of an Oriental baziar. This was all the more so by reason of a number of young ladies being attired in Japanese costume, and very charming they looked. The atng i was in keeping with the rest of the scene, having a huge Japanese umorel a suspended in the centre with rows of Chinese lanterns overhead, while on the boards were set tempting tea tables and chairs fhnked by gilded screens. There was a varied display of fligs and coloured paper, all uniting to give a gay and festive appearance to the scene. The refresh menfc stalls wereliberally supplied with all sorts of light confectionery as wtll as refreshing drinks. The latter greatly in requisition, for the h«at in iha building whs well calculated *o make this business brisk. The bran pie was also well favoured by the younger visitors, and the side shows proved attractive, The great feature of the Fair was getting up raffle for all sorts of articles from handsome cushions to coal". The ladies who had this matter in hand were most persevering and persuasive, it being difficult to refuse their appeals, but in such a gcod cause the money spent was well invested, and ere the Fair closes the amount gathered in should constitute a record. The Very Rev. Dean lieKnnna presided over the ballot box. and ensured f*ir play to all. The fancy and pi -in work stalls were presided over by Mesdatnes Dockril), E. M. Smith, W. Bennett, J. Bennett, Olarke, O'Connor, Mcllhone, Whittle, and Miss Radford. The confectionery and sweet stalls were in charge of Misses R. Bennett, Bleasel, Stephenson ; the bran tub was supervised by Mrs. Wilder moth and MasW J. Parker, and the gentlemen's stall was a 1 tended* to by Mdme. Tntzchka, Mrs. Galagher, \t\& Miss- At each stall there were youog lady helpers, all being kept busy during the evening. The Town Band played an excellent s lee'ion of music outside the Theatre, while inside the strains of Mr. Rountree's orches'ra gave the visitors a musicil treat. The takings at ths door amounted to f.Luut .£l9.

The Fiir will be continued to-night and to-morrow nighc, and should be well patronised.