ALL NATIONS’ FAIR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 235, 4 October 1937, Page 2

ALL NATIONS’ FAIR

PRESBYTERIAN BIBLE CLASSES An All Nations’ Fair in aid of misjsion. funds and organised by the vari- ! ous Bible Classes of the Wanganui Presbyterian Churches, was held on Saturday afternoon and evening in St. Paul’s Hall. Every detail of the several well-stocked stalls had been well planned and were decorated to represent different countries. The attendants were dressed in the national costume of each. One entered through a Dutch windmill to purchase goods from the stall representing Holland, and whose attendants—in Dutch hats and costumes in varying colours—were members of St. Paul’s senior and intermediate Bible classes.

A centre of attraction was tlie Scotch stall, appropriately decorated with its enticing variety of Scotcn cookery, including the delectable Scotch bun, while at the other enu of the stall sewing and fancywork goods were displayed. The stallholders were the senior girls of St. Andrew's Bible Class, dressed alike in tartan skirls, cream blouses and tartan ties. Scotch haggis—for which there had been a number of orders given in—was piped round the stall by two junior members of the Highland Pipe Band.

Tne cake stall, in the form of a French cafe, was well-laden with cakes and the entries in the cake cooking competition, which were sold by the Forde! 1 and St. Andrew s intermediate girls, wearing checked aprons over their frocks and white starched cook caps. A profusion of pink blossoms adornea the sweet stall (Japanese) in charge of the junior girls of St. Pauls, St. James’, and Knox classes, fhe Indian stall was managed by the vVestmere Bible Class girls dressed in saris and Indian robes.

Afternoon tea was in charge of the St. John's Hill and Westbourne (Castlecliff) Bible Classes. An exhibition of Chinese work was shown b> Mrs Ker. Before the official opening oy the Rev. J. Paterson, of Stratford, a former minister of St. Raul's, who came speciality for the occasion, the Doxology was sung anti a prayer offered by the Rev. A. C. McLean, who also spoke briefly on the objec. of the fair. The Rev. Paterson said he was very pleasea to see old iriends and it had given him great pleasure to be asked to come and open the fair. He reierred to the difficult state of the world to-day, specially mentioning the conflict in Asia, and said that never have people had greater need for Christianity to comuat the sins of hatred and oppression, and also stressed the necessity of Cnristian people carrying the Christian principles into the lives oi others. Zealand is still in need of Christian ordnance. In the back-blocks of the district where he now lived, there were places not visited by ministers. In many back-block districts in New Zealand there was no Christian influence. There was a big job still to do. They wanted young men and women teachers who were Christian, ’ said Mr Paterson.

The cake competition was judged by Mrs Connor, and the awards were as follows: Rich fruit cake, Mrs R. D. Campbell 1, Mrs J. Caird 2. Family fruit cake, Miss G. Adams 1, Miss A. Henderson 2. Sponge cake, Miss G. Bartrum 1, Miss B. Higgle 2. Sponge with butter, Mrs V. R. Robinson 1, Mrs R. D. Campbell 2. Sponge roll, Mrs Alec Caird 1, Miss Nancy Christian 2. Chocolate cake, Miss G. Adams 1, Mrs Ker 2. Nut bread, Mrs Bergin 1, Miss A. Henderson 2. Points prize lor best cook, Miss G. Adams.

Tnere was a very large attendance in the afternoon and again in the evening, when an enjoyable entertainment was provided, the items including choruses, action songs, single and double pol, long poi, quartette, and an ancient Maori song given by the scholars of the Maori Girls' College, Marton; songs by Mr Frank Rule and Miss Merle Spurdie; elocutionary items. Miss Phyllis Taylor and Miss Pat Rowe; viola solo, Miss L. Burnetreel O'Tullock, Misses J. Beaumont’ F. Keys, and E. Hawk; Highland flmg, Miss Swann’s pupils. The playette “The Old Lady Shows her Medals" wes presented, those taking the characier parts being Misses Phyllis 'laylor, Thelma Bergin, Kathleen Bruce, Jean Campbell, Messrs S. Hanlon and Colin Sherriff.