Sale of Work.

Thames Star, Volume xxx, Issue 9451, 29 September 1899, Page 2

Sale of Work.

The sale of work in connection with, the Baptist-Congregational Church, held yesterday in the Miners' Union Hall, proved a great success, exceeding the expectations of the most sanguine. A description of the stalls, with those who presided over them, appared in yesterday's issue. In opening the sale the Rev. A. Dewdney apologised for the absence of His Worship the Mayor (Mr. H. J. Greenslade), who would have performed the opening ceremony but for his absence from this town. Mr. Dewdney went on to say that while it might be desirable if churches and church institutions could do without sales of that order, he would remind those who objected to the principle of the thing that for the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness God was pleased to accept the offerings in kind and the work of the hands of the people. The goods for sale that day represented a large amount of self-denying labor on the part of many willing workers, and he was sure God would graciously accept the' labor of their hands. After prayer I for Divine blessing Mr. Dewdney de-j clared the sale open. J

Business began straight away, and throughout the afternoon all were kept busy, and the cheerful faces oi the workers betokened the fact that they were doing well* In the evening the hall was crowded, and all went merry as a marriage bell. The Kauaeranga orchestra, under th© leadership of Mr. H. Lange, rendered a. number of selections in a thoroughly musicianly style, and gained loud applause form the large assemblage. Mr. W. Hansen's phonograph, too, proved a great attraction, the capital records being excellently reproduced by the splendid instrument, and the room was kept, constantly full with eager listeners. The lollies and other toothsome delicacies, which were in charge of the Misses Driver and E. Renshaw, proved as attractive to grown-ups as to the children. The young men's department of the Christian Endeavour stall, with its collection of goods made by the young men, did splendid business, every article being sold at^satisfactory prices, whilst the needlework, in charge of Mesdames Bray, Shepherd, and Dewdney, and Misses Fower, Hudson, Gribble, Lamb, Sammerton, and Wells, was also very successful. Mesdames Brown! and Johnson and their helpers had a busy time in the refreshment room. Mrs. Green at her second hand book stall, a novel feature of the sale, did capital business, while the button- 1

holes in coats and dress of the visitors showed that Mrs. Grigg, Mrs. Batson, and their helpers had not been idle. l It would be invidious to select any for special mention where all vied with each other to make the effort a great success. Proceedings concluded shortly after 10 o'clock, when the Rev. A. Dewdney announced that the takings for the,, afternoon and evening exceeded .£6O, a"~resu!t which was received with applause, all present joining in the singing of "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," i