EXHIBITION OF ANTIQUES

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1933, Page 8

EXHIBITION OF ANTIQUES

STRATFORD DISPLAY SUCCESS. BRIDAL DRESSES OLD AND NEW. - An air of mystery pervaded the Stratford town hall yesterday on the occasion of the Stratford Presbyterian Church’s carnival of brides and exhibition of antiques. Long stalls all round the hall were spread with antiques and curios from many parts of the world, of many ages and’ of diverse values. Twice during the day, in the afternoon and evening, a succession of brides, picturing fashions from 150 years ago to the present day, appeared one by one on a dais on the stage. Large numbers attended a display such as has not been given at Stratford before. The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan) apologised for the absence of the Hon. A. Hamilton and introduced Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P. Mr. McMillan congratulated Mrs. Polson and her helpers on the splendid collection they had made. The impression had been formed that the exhibition was in aid of the Mayor’s relief fund, whereas it was for the church fund. The churches had enough good work to do for themselves and were in need of help and all the encouragement they could get. The Presbyterian Church was going to present a cantata for the funds. Mr. Polson read a telegram from Mr. Hamilton explaining that Unemployment Board affairs prevented his attendance. Mr. Polson endorsed Mr. MacMillan’s remarks regarding the church’s efforts and emphasised what he considered Stratford’s uniqueness in the community spirit it possessed and the Way citizens pulled together on such occasions. Mr. Polson thanked connected with the display and extended a special welcome to the Maori court.

Excellent presentations of the brides were given by Stratford girls, who found that to pose on a dais in the glare of a battery of lights and there remain motionless for a minute and a half was no inconsiderable ordeal. As each bride took her shy pose an interlocutor, Miss Eva Longstaff, recited appropriate verses of “The Brides of Yesteryear,” a poem composed by Mr. A. H. R. Amess. Three of the dresses belonged to Mrs. Trimble, and were dresses she wore herself at different periods in her early married life.

All the brides were neatly and strikingly arranged by Mrs. Meikle. The list was: 150 years ago, Miss Lucy Penn; 100 years ago, Miss Manu Porritt; crinoline bride, Miss Twinkle Guthrie; pantalette bride, Miss Andrea Uniacke; colonel’s bride (1856), Miss Dorothy Joyes; in her going-away dress, Miss Maisie Smart; in her reception dress, Miss Peggy McCready; 1868-1878, Miss Dorothy Thompson, Miss Margaret Phillips and Miss Enid Haselden; 1910, Miss Hazel Hoole; war bride, Miss Jean Bremner; 1927, the shorV-skirted bride, Miss. Mollie McMillanpl93l, the golden bride, Mrs. Meikle; 1933, the pink bride, Miss Sharrock. The antiques displayed were many and varied. To delve into the history of them all would have provided a book of interesting stories. There was a piece of delicate white and pale blue tapestry, the work of Mary Queen of Scots, and in it was still the mark where the needle had rusted. There was Mr. N. B. Fryday’s collection of guns and implements of warfare, Schneider rifles with fixed bayonets, originally used by the Armed Constabulary; and the pair of handcuffs used when Titokowaru was conveyed to the New Plymouth gaol. There was the silyer cradle presented by the borough of Stratford to Mr. and Mrs. G. Sangster when they were Mayor and Mayoress on the birth of a son, who has since made his mark in the Taranaki football world. There was a spinning wheel 500 years old and 16 wonderfully-executed ivory figures dating back to the early 14th century. These were just a few of the exhibits. There were wasp-wasted dresses, curios from South America and South Africa, from India and from Canada. A man in the interested crowd produced a watch with six hands which gave one at a glance the time in New Zealand, in Melbourne, Bombay, Berlin, London and Capetown. The promoters, Mrs. W. J. Polson and Mr. A. H. R. Amess, prevailed upon him to exhibit the watth, and at night the same man produced the quarter of a farthing he possesses; ‘

In addition to all these wonders was a collection of dolls of all nations exhibited by Mrs. Plinuner, Khandallah, and Mrs. R. R. Tyres, many native implements, Italian bronzes, Sheffield plate, Chinese fine ivory work, a stuffed crocodile six inches long, numerous old books, a collection of crested china and a host of small but ancient and beautiful etchings to interest the visitor for hours. There were five paintings by a Stratford artist, Mr. V. Corbett, one an original and four after Rembrandt and other masters. Just inside the door there was a comprehensive display of Maori handicraft

The parade of the brides in the evening, Glided by the better lighting effects, was even more spectacular than in the afternoon. Items were given as follow: Songs, Messrs. B. Bellringer, A. Sextus and Huia Puketapu and Heni Re'i; cor- ? net solo, Master G. Sayers; rendezvous tableaux, Misses M. McMillan, P. McCready, dance (Misses N. Dimes and E. Hazelden), soloist, Mrs. C. Crabbe; Three Old Maids of Lee, Mesdames W. Davis and C. Crabbe and Miss H. Hoole; dance, Miss J. Cresswell. Miss E. Moon or Mr. Rogers’ orchestra played the accompaniments as was required. There was also a one-act humorous sketch entitled “On the Honeymoon.” The setting was a seaside boarding-house and the players were Mrs. Barking (Miss N. Dimes), Annie (Mrs. N.Deare), Mrs. Wossopp (Mrs. C. Crabbe), Mr. Porterhouse (Mr. G. Mclsaacs) and Mr. Wossopp (Mr. J. Cormick). The circle of the hall was packed and there was no seating room left downstairs, late-comers having to stand among the .stalls. Stall arrangements were made as follow: Sweets, Mrs. A. G. Milne, Misses Dagg and Huston; wedding cake, Misses Anderson and Brown; cake, Mrs. Smart; flowers, Mrs. A. H. R. Amess, Mrs. J. C. Allen; marmalade, Mrs. Windleburn; afternoon tea, Mrs. P. Thomson and helpers; cocoa, Miss Femmel. The wedding cake, which was to be appropriate to a carnival of brides, was donated by the ladies of the church and iced by Mr. T. Smith.

The show, which was opened in the afternoon, was continued in the evening and will go on to-day, when Archdeacon Gavin will talk about old coins. Last night Mr. Rogers’ orchestra was present and there was community singing.