BAZAAR AT OREPUKI.

Western Star, 27 October 1900, Page 3

BAZAAR AT OREPUKI.

A bazaar in aid of thoOrepuki Anglican Church was held iu Sorenson's Hall, Orepuki, oil-Thursday aud Friday, aud its success exceeded the most sanguine expectations". On the opening nielli I lie mm <>F £9 16s was takeu a I tbe door, and line, ••dded to sales and iiiC'irx.o from fide shows etc., brouubt tbo grand total up to .£OO for tho one evoniug. On Thursday, when our reporter looked into tho ball, there was a scene of bustle and stir, the energetic members of the Ladies Guild being up to their ,

eyes in business arranging ibe stalls and decorating tho hall with clamatis, kohai blossoms, ferns, and numerous kinds of evergreens whiob, in festoons and garlands, looked very pretty, particularly on the stage, Which had been most effectively and artistically got up. Tbe Guild, who wore indefatigable iu their efforts, are j deserving of great praise, the members being Mesdames Bennett (president), Griffith (secretary), Slockwell, Bell, aud Misses Young (2), and Hirst. In tho preparatory work the ladies were assisted by Messrs Benuett, F. L.e, Ferguson, Todd, 11. Pophain (who is doaerviug of special thanks), Clark, Griffith and Crowther. The stalls were nicely ( arranged, those ia charge uf each beiug ( responsible for the got up, which reflected credit on the designers. Fol- ( lowing were : the stall-holders, the ( second name of each pair being that of the assistant :—No I.—Mrs | Griffith and Mrs Simpson ; No. 2 \ ,

Mrs Bennett and Mrs Crowther; No. 3, Mrs Stockwoll and Mrs James Bennett ; No. 4, Miss L. Yotiug and Miss Small; produco stall—Mrs Sorenson and Mrs Straw ; Flower stall—Mrs Connor and Miss Howell, assisted by Miss Maud Small, Miss Bennett, Miss R. Wallace and Miss M. Berndtson ; refreshments— Miss Young and Miss Hirst; Christmas Tree— Mrs H. Bell assisted by Miss Stockwell and Mr J. Straw ; snowball, a gigantic luoky bag, whioh took the placo of the usual bran-tub— Miss May Htrst aud Mr C Williams ; post offico—Mr G Clark; art gallery— Mr W. Todd. Mrs Bell superintended the work of stage decorations and was responsible fot the excellent musical programme which had been arranged for the delectation of tho

large audience each evening, this lady also playing tho major portion of the accompanimonts. To particularise the more important useful and ornamt.ntal gifts received by tho guild would bo a work of suporerogation, but we think it tilting that uu exception should be inndo in one or two iustauoey. Mrs tfeid sent two handsome panels, tho work of her daughters, Mrs Muir and Miss Keid ; Mrs J. W. Moore (Kivorton) a large and handsome i jar in barbotiue, worked by tho douor; i itud theae were vory much admired, as were also other beautiful and useful j articles contributed by ladies aud i gentlemen of the district. Some oven cauie from a distance, Mrs Sorensou having received valuable articles from , triends iu Cauterbury. The Misses \ McKenzie, daughters of the weil- j known coach-driver, eont some Bplen- ] did samples of. drawu thread work, , which attracted considerable attention, , as also did oil paintings of flowers , in oil by Mr Lennon and a landscape by the Rev. Mr Davidson. The stalls

ooutained a profusion of work in arrasceno, wattle, mountmellick, Diaeraniu, drawu thread, and point lace, and tho beautiful finish and fiue noodle work of tho underlines, pillowshams, toilet goodß, etc., wero much admired. Tho children's olotbing, particularly some fauoy dresses and pinafores, were excellent work, fn fact, as the auctioneers say, the gifts wero li too numerous to particularise," and the generosity, not only of Anglicans, but of Presbyterian and Roman Catholic friends, was specially remarked upon by tbo Guild, who greatly appreciated the valuable assistance rendered. In the ovening the hall was crowded, and about 8 o'clock the Kev. D. C. Bates, who mooted the establishment of the guild before resigning the parish to Mr Davidson, opened the bazaar. He said it was always a great pleaauro to him to come to Orepuki, and

particularly on that occasion. He remembered some 1 2 months ago gathering a few ladies together and proposing a guild. They looked serious, and no wonder when th°y meant to work as that night's collection showed they could work. He was surprised at the amount of work accomplished, and the best way tor all to show their appreciation was to purchase the goods. The bazaar certainly reflected tho greatest credit on all concerned, and all would recognise that to tho individual members it bad been a -labor of love. He hoped tbafc the result would be a gcal one, and that very soon they would Imvo a church worthy the heritage they enjoyed. Their success would not hindor anyone and they were pleased with tho lovo autl charity shown by other denominations in giving assistance, and they i could confidently appeal to tho geueral

public fur Iho good ihuy did to tboir children in theso days aud would do in the days to come. Ho hoped tbe the cburcb would be built ou a strong foundation, and be an honor to tho guild aud also to Grepuki, whoso nauio wan now synonymous with success?. In coucluoiou he asked them lo eilend thoic generosity. For tbo causte tbat needs assislnDCe, l» l or llio fulure in tho distance, li'or tbenoo"! Ibut we oau do. and thou tboir bazaar would bo a grand miceuHK. —(applause). Tbo Uuv. Mr Davidson then aunouuced a tableau vivaut, aud on tbe curtain rising the scene was a ohui'Tuiug one, creafcly onbauced by Greek tire. Tbo representation was of " Britanuia," the characters being;—Britannia, Miss Ardley ; Scotlaud, Mißa Stock well; Ireland, Miss (JroWther ; Now Zealand, Mins Cameron (of "Kiverton). Tbo noug was sung by Mrs Blno, of Jnvorcargill, who also gave many others during th* evening-to tho great delight of all. /.Thereafter there was a continual ham

of life. The alallholderß looked pleased; bouquets sold wellI; the art gallery—artfully arranged in a corner—drew crowds who were loud in their praises of Mr Todd's ingenuity ; Mrs Sorensonand Mrs Straw appeased the appetites of tho famishing, and, by means of a gift-oako from Mr Maxwell, into which they had plact d 28 silver coins, and which they sold at 3d a slice, they caused a run on toothsome edibles ; the Christmas j tree delighted the kiddies ; the snowball was rushed, Mr Hirst greatly assisting to popularise the attraction ; aud generally everybody looked pleased and happy. At intervals songs were sung which contributed very much to tbe enjoyment of all, the following being tbe vocalists : Mrs Blue, Misses N. Simpson, Crowther, and Stockwell, and Messrs F. lieichel, C. Giiffitb, R. Berndtson, aud Clark. The Misses Bell played a pianoforte duct and Mr J. Glennie gavo a cornet solo, the baeaar beiug closed with the tinging of God Save-lbe Queen.