GRAND FANCY BAZAAR.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1823, 5 November 1874, Page 2

GRAND FANCY BAZAAR.

A Bazaar for the disposal of the thousand and one articles which the industry and ingenuity of willing hands and wise heads have gathered together during th© past few months was opened in the Academy of Music.to-day — the object being a very commendable one, namely, to augment the fund being raised to pay off the debt on St. George's Church. For some months preparations have been going on to make the bazaar successful in achieving the object in view. The ladies committee to whom was entrusted the management have been untiring in their efforts to make this bazaar superior to anything of the kind which has preceded, it, and the display to-day showed that these efforts have not been ill-directed. Not only have the. committee gathered a collection of mere fancy goods, but they have succeeded in bringing together a most elegant assortment of really useful and valuable articles, to enumerate and describe which would be a difficult task. In spite of a great many hard things which have been said and written about bazaars; they continue to be very popular as a means of raising money for almost every conceivable object —church not excepted. There are many reasons why. this is thus. People can contribute small articles from their stock of household gods when they cannot sometimes afford to give in coin. Ladies who devote themselves to fancy work do not begrudge the time spent in making some piece of embroidery or other specimen of their delicate handiwork, and so it happens that a great deal of moneys worth is often got together where great difficulty would b3 experienced in collecting money. Having got the goods, then, and opened the fair, the next object is to, induce the presence of customers with money in their pockets. Nothing succeeds better in this direction than the fancy bazaar, at which the fair saleswomen assume their most attractive manners, enlist the persuasive eloquence of the fairest of their sex in their service, and do the utmost that lies in their power to dispose of the merchandise they have collected, pushing their wares in a manner which suggests that some excellent business qualities are 'lost, or but seldom exercised. The ladies love bazaars, and so do some of the gentlemen. The flutter of excitement attendant on the preparations gives a zest to the work, and. the little social gatherings known as bees are events to be remembered when the bazaar has almost passed out of memory. This morning the Academy presented such a scene we only dream of infairy land. The i hall is decorated with ferns and evergreens, and other tasteful ornamentations, last night and this morning having been spent in the process. And the stalls on each side are of such dazzling gorgeousness as to suggest wonderment that such an unlimited quantity of finery could have been collected. Every conceivable article— either useful or ornamental—is there, and the manner in which these articles were extracted from what appeared to be inexhaustible repositories .was perfectly bewildering. All manner of delicate and fairy like attire peculiar to ladies, attractive nick nacks, gprgeously-dressed dolls, pincushions illimitable, and an extraordinary quantity of those never-failing articles, gentlemen's smoking caps. And these are but an infinitessimal portion of what might be mentioned if any man could be got sufficiently strong minded to undertakethe task. The fair keepers of the several stalls and dispensers of the goods therein were energetically at work this morning arraying their shows to the best possible advantage, that is, in such a way as to outrival the others in point of

effect; for it might be known that the great object in these bazaars is that Mrs. A.'s stall may be far and away superior to the stall of Mrs. 8., and vice versa. However, everything within the Academy is on such a scale of magnificence that it would be hard to discriminate as to the different degrees of excellence possessed by these stalls; and as the amateur saleswomen show themselves on these occasions most determined to dispose of i what they have been at the pains of collecting, there should be little doubt of the affair turning out as successfully as all hope it may, and as many confidently expect it will. The stage is occupied with a refreshment stall, and in this are contained all that could be wished for in this respect, being likewise presided over by " gracious ladies," who distribute their smiles and other bewitching arts with, as much cordiality and readiness as they will doubtless give away—for the sct-emolumentary consideration — their wares. Perhaps one of the most noticeable features in the bazaar is an immense doll's house, constructed of kauri. It stands in the centre of the Hall, and is a specimen of the most wonderful mechanical manipulation, being finished in a style which defies fault - finding, while attention has been paid to the most minute points in house-building and furnishing. In fact it is a minaturo mansion. The interior (upper and lower story) is divided into different compartments, all of which, are furnished after the manner of mansions in general. In a word, the house is an evidence of the most remarkable ingenuity and patience. It was originally given by Lady Bowen to a bazaar in Auckland, and was won by Mr. Lush, who has now presented it to this for the time being "institution." Two of the stalls have received titles, namely the City Mart s?nd Cash Palace. The first of these, which will be presided over by Mesdames Sandes, Curtis, Binney, Cook, jKennan, Lear ; Misies, Errington, Belcher, and Wiseman, is eonspicuom for a number of articles of more than ordinary attractiveness; among them may be enumerated a really magnificent antique chair, covered with, blue velvet, the work of Miss Errington: a large Christmas tree covered with, articles of more or less value and most tastefully decorated with, little wax illuminations, which, will be lit in the evening for the better display of the tree ; a beautifully framed picture representing a scene from an oil painting " The Return from Duty"—the frame of this —which is leather work—waa made by Mrs. Curtis, and is certainly a sample of exquisite workmanship; and many other articles such, as a very nice ottoman, a fleet of minature ships, ranging from three feet in length, downwards, &c. The stall immediately opposite this is the Cash Palace, the lady proprietresses being Mesdames Macdonald, Puckey, Cox and Kilgour. Here there are hosts of things to choose from, all equally excellent, and arranged to the best advantage. A devotional chair, presented by Mrs. Cox, i$ brilliantly covered with woolwork, and is a prominent feature in the show ; besides this and many other valuable articles, there are a number of hassacks and ottomans —in fact everything that it is at present convenient to think of.

On the right-hand side of the entrance the stall of Mesdames Lush, Fraser, Tyler and Spencer is situated, and teams with gems of local construction. For instance there is a small aquarium the work of Mr. Spencer, and a number of handsome wood earrings by the same gentleman. But without wishing to form a judgment of the merits possessed by any one article over another, it may be said most people will be impressed with the beauty of the leather-worked frame of a large-sized picture, by Mrs. E. K. Tyler. The flowers are worked splendidly, in fact it would be difficult to conceive of anything more sp. Visa vis to the latter showis that of Me3damesMarshall,Jefferson,Airey,andMiss Hanley, which has also its undoubted attractions. Not the least is a rustic couch—a picturesque seat for a garden, and is the more curious inasmuch as it was constructed by Mr. Nichols, of Shortland, simply out.of the firewood which he has had in yard. This is a useful article. There is also an admirable specimen of illuminated writing by Mr. Frater. , Our space will not admit of entering into minute particulars. The best way in which to ascertain what aro the wares in this ephemeral world of finery and curiosities is to pay a visit —in such matters ocular demonstration always claims a superiority orer any other way. The gallery of the Academy is called the picture gallery, because there are pictures positioned there. Though not numerous, the pictures are good. So far as the bazaar itself goes, it is decidedly an improrement on the rery successful effort of some three years ago; it is to be hoped that a like result will-be recorded as regards the finances. The bazaar was formerly opened at three o'clock ; or rather, it was opened without any form at all, Eer. Mr. Lush having stated that there would be nothing to mark the opening in the shape of addresses, as is usual. (Subsequent to our reporter learing on this assurance from Mr. Lush, it appears that a most irregular proceeding took place. Mr. Wm. Eowo was asked by a risitor to make some remarks on the occasion, to which that gentleman responded. He expressed himself gratified tb see so large an attendance, and alluded to the worthy object in view, but said he was quite unprepared with an address, as he had been called upon quite unexpectedly, and was, moreover, under the impression that the bazaar had been formally opened.