THE CORONATION BAZAAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7506, 13 September 1902, Page 3

THE CORONATION BAZAAR.

(Geftttaoentan.) One of the most brilliant functions of the season was the Coronation Bazaar held at the Boyal Botanical uardens, in aid'of the Hospital for Sick Children in Great Ormond Street. Its success was mainly due to the presenoe of the Queen, who, proving as always her sympathy with every moye- j ment for the alleviation of the poor, opened : in person, on June 10, a fete at which all London society was serving or served. Her Majesty, accompanied by F rinoess Victoria, Prince and Princess Charles of Denmark, and other members of the Boyal family, arrived shortly after four o'clock, to per-form-her first inaugural ceremony since the Bong's accession. The reception room pre- j pared for the Queen was charmingly decorated by Messrs Waring, as their gift to the bazaar. Heliotrope and pale warm fawn colour were its predominant tints, with groups of foliage and bloom around the walls resting on a margin of soft warm green. Here the Queen returned for tea after spending over an hour in visiting the stalls and making purchases. One of the prettiest features attending the opening ceremony was the presentation to the Queen of the eouvenir, containing the portraits of the children of the stallholders (with that of Prince Edward as a frontispiece), by Baroness Clifton, aged three ; and one of the most important was the handing by Lady Lilian Grenfell at the Stock Exchange stall of a cheque for £1000 to endow a cot, to be named after her Majesty. The Queen accepted the cheque in a silver casket, and a brisk trade at this stall was done in little silver models of the cot as souvenirs. The Queen visited nearly every one of the thirty-six stalls and made purchases at most of them. From stall No. 9 (Mrs Bradley Martin), bottled peaches were ordered ; from stall No. 7, a silver cigar case for the King; from No. ; 13 (Cora Countess of Stafford) two silver boxes and books were bought ; at the South Africa stall, an ostrich feather fan and boa were purchased from Lady Sarah Wilson and Mrs Neumann ; Limerick lace_ and a Dewsbury bath blanket were obtained at the British Industries stall; and the Russian, the Millinery and the Canadian stall were others amongst those visited. In the German stall (presided over by Princess Henry of Pless, the Duohess of Westminster, and Mrs Cornwallis West) the Queen was especially interested. Selling went on gaily all the afternoon after the departure of the Royal visitors, and a huge sum is assured to the hospital. Everyone admired the decorations and awnings by which Mr Adrian Hope, who had throughout worked like a Trojan, secured ample shelter and yet coolness and space. The stalls with their green trellis work covered in creepers (many of them in flower) were particularly pretty, and the garlands of evergreen hung from mast to mast made a graceful setting for the gay summon dresses of the stall-holders ani visitors. Our Indian and foreign guests were almost all present. The Chinese Ambassador was to be seen walking about with his arms full of dolls, and Mr Ohoate and the Maharajah of Cooch Behar were amongst those who went about laden with

packages. A considerable sum must hava been made at Madame Melba's concert, one . of those organised by Mrs Walter Palmer ; and Lady Decies had a packed audience at her cafe chantant, at which La Belle Otero assisted. Many of those who had been selling dined in the gardens, and Mrs Hud- . son's refreshment stall was much in demand. The cool, covered tent in which tea was served was one of the most- pleasant places in the show. From the onlooker's point of view, the scene was one of the most brilliant imaginable, and it is delightful to think that every hit of this pleasure and gaiety went to augment the funds of an institution which must appeal to everyone, and which is in great need of practical sympathy.