OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XII, 21 March 1903, Page 817

OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

DESCRIPTION OF TOWNSVILLE. The “Australian Handbook” gives the substance of the following particulars of Townsville: —“Townsville is a municipal town (proclaimed on February 15, 1800), and the principal city in North Queensland. with money-order office, savings bank, and telegraph station, situated on the shore of Cleveland Ray, anl about 870 miles N.W. of Brisbane. It was discovered by John Medwin Black in 1854, and named after his partner, the late Captain Towns. There is regular communication with all ports north and south by several lines of steamers. There is monthly communication with the Home country, via Torres Strait, per the steamers of the 8.1. Company; and to China every three weeks, per China Navigation Company’s steamers and the E. and A. boats. Hotels: The Queen’s, the Imperial, the Palace, Metropole, Tattersall’s, Post Office, Commercial, Courthouse, Grand, Alexandra, Exchange, and many others- It has 75 miles of roads and streets, 2564 dwellings within the municipality; and property of the ratable value of £874,744. Estimated area of municipality, six square miles. It is a picturesque, if not elegant, town, built on the banks of Robs Creek, and partly on the slope of Castle Hill, which rises to an altitude of 1000 feet. On the beach, which is a fine stretch of sand, several hotels and private dwellings are erected, while on the Melton and Stanton Hills tnere are numerous superior residences. The business portion of the town consists almost entirely of the main (Flinders) street, Melton and Castle Hills preventing it from extending to the northward. The street, however, extends for a considerable distance following tne course of Ross Creek, and is thickly built upon for over a mile. The hospital, three two-storey brick buildings, had ample accommodation for about 100 patients. The last cyclone did much damage to the eastern and western breakwaters, both of which are on a large scale. There are also a new Custom-house (one of the finest buildings in the State), a large and commodious post and telegraph office, a town hall, two Masonic halls, immigration barracks, a Courthouse, and a brick gaol, now proposed to be converted into a lunatic asylum, and an extensive penal establishment at Stewart’s Creek (4J miles distant), one of the best buildings of the kind in Queensland. The Supreme Court is a fine two-storey building, situated on Melton Hill facing the sea. There are four State schools, also a State school at North Townsville, and another at West Townsville, and the St. Joseph Roman Catholic schools, a grammar school and an orphanage. The school of arts is a fine two-storey brick structure in the centre of the town, with a large and well-appointed concert hall, capable of seating 500, and a library of 2116 volumes. The Norman Hall is one of tne largest concert-rooms north of Brisbane, having seating accommodation for over 1000, with all the appointments of a bijou theatre. The places of worship are: St. James’, St. Peter’s, and St. John’s (Episcopal), St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s (Roman Catholic), Presbyterian, Congregational, and two Wesleyan chapels. Townsville is the headquarters of the Bishop of North Queens-

land, the Right Rev. Dr. Barlow. An Episcopal Cathedral, costing £23,000 when completed, is sufficiently far advanced to be used for worship. Even in its semi-finished state it is the most imposing ecclesiastical edifice in the city. There is also a new large and picturesque Roman Catholic church- Population within five-mile radius (census 1001), 15,506; within the municipality, 12,717. MASTER PLUMBERS. The picnie held at Motutapu on Saturday in connection with the Auckland Master Plumbers’ Association proved most enjoyable, everything being done by the officials to make the day a success. Special provision was made for the little ones’ enjoyment, races being run in which nearly all the toddlers received prizes. The return journey to Auckland was most pleasant, the weather being calm, and the moonlight effects fine. The following are the results of the sports:—Apprentices (all-comers under three years at the trade), 100yds: Mercer 1, Petford 2. Journeymen plumbers, 100yds: Gribben I, Courtney 2. Association apprentices (over three years at the trade), 100yds: Miller 1, Monds 2. Mr Reid’s employees, 100yds: Coleman 1, Craig 2. Three-legged race (allcomers), 100yds: ( lark and Conquer 1. Apprentices’ consolation, 100yds: Lonergan 1, Randell 2. Young ladies (allcomers over 15 years), 75yds: Miss Smithson 1, Miss Fowler 2. Sack race (all-comers), 50yds: I.ecky 1, Kean 2. Married ladies (association), 100yds: Mrs Hitchcock 1, Sirs Lonergan 2. Old men's race (over 40 and under 100 years): Little 1, McLeod 2. Single ladies (plumbers’ daughters), 100yds: Miss Miller 1, Miss Fowler 2. Plumbers’ daughters, 100yds (association): Miss Swales 1, Miss Fowler 2. Journeymen plumbers’ wives, 75yds: Mrs Barton 1. Allcomers’ 100yds: Short 1, Goodson 2. Master Plumbers’ Association: Clarke 1, Peace 2. Plumbers’ tug-o’-war (Masters v. Men), 12 a-side: Won by Masters. Mr Leckie showed good judgment as handicapper, and Mr Lonergan ably officiated as judge. The secretary, Mr C. Peace, looked after the children’s races, and attended to matters generally. MAJORITY PICNIC. The "Majority Picnic,” in celebration of the firm of Messrs. Macky, Logan, Steen and Co. being twenty-one years in business, was held at Squadron Bay on Saturday last. About two hundred invited guests were present. At the bay various forms of amusement and an excellent sports programme contributed towards the enjoyment of the outing. The results of the sports are as follows: —looyds apprentices’ race: Eyre 1, Logan 2. Storemens’ handicap: Booth 1, Daniels 2. 100yds open: Hen ton 1, Stewart 2. Hop, step and jump: Wilkinson 1, Jones 2. 440yds handicap: Stewart 1, Henton 2. Threading the needle: Cotes 1. Potato race: Wilkinson 1. Sack race: Carter 1. Manx race: Cotes and Lind 1. Bootlacing race: Cotes 1. Pillow combat: Wynyard 1. Tug-o’-war: Upstairs 1. During the afternoon a cricket match was played, Upstairs Employees v. Downstairs Employees, the game resulting in a win for the former

by 40 runs. The prizes were presented to the successful competitors on the re turn journey by Mrs J. C. Macky.

MAORI GIRLS’ SCHOOL BAZAAR IN THE METROPOLITAN GROUNDS.

The grand bazaar in aid of the funds for equipping and furnishing the Queen Victoria School for Maori Girls at Parnell, which had to be postponed from March 11 owing to the bad weather, was opened on March 12 in the Metropolitan Grounds, under the most favourable weather conditions imaginable. The day was beautifully dear, bright and cool, an ideal day for an open-air bazaar, and the attendance was naturally large. The strenuous efforts put forward by the promoters to make the bazaar a success were deservedly successful.

The scene in the grounds was a most picturesque and animated one. On entering the grounds by the Symonds-street gate, one passed under a pretty arch of grejnery and along a path decked with greenery to the second gate leading into the bazaar. From there the scene was an extremely pretty one. The white tents comprising the stalls stood in two rows, and a row of Venetian masts ran up the centre of this street. From the masts to poles in front of the various stalls were draped alternate strings of flags and greenery, while at the base of each mast there was a pretty cluster of greenery. From most of the stalls floated flags, and the lines of greenery with which the stalls were decorated contrasted well with the gay colour of their decorations. The bright green sward, the white tents, the flags, the draped greenery and the moving crowd, made one of the prettiest pictures seen in Auckland for a very long time. At the western end of the ground equal trouble had been taken with the decorations, the inner fence being lined with flags and greenery, and the Prineesstreet gate decorated with an arch. The trees in the enclosure at this end made a very effective background to a very pretty scene. The bazaar was opened by His Worship the Mayor (Mr Kidd), who expressed disappointment at the postponement of the bazaar from the previous day. and pleasure at the beautiful weather which now favoured them. The outlook was promising from every point of view, and success was practically assured. They regretted the absence from among them of several who had taken an active interest in the inception of the work—he referred more particularly to Archdeacon Dudley, who might be considered the father of the scheme for starting the Queen Victoria School for Maori Girls at Parnell, and Bishop Cowie, who strongly sympathised with the movement. Thanks to Mrs Judd and many other ladies the work had been carried steadily onwards. Ths building was now almost complete, and would die opened some time next month. The school must prove a great factor in the future of the Maori race, and the training which the girls would receive would be such as to make them suitable helpmates for the boys. Civilisation was being promoted in this manner, and they all looked forward to the improvement of the Maori raee. Great credit was due to those who started the bazaar, the original committee being eon.posed

of Miaa Lily Gillies, Miss Horton, anj Miss A. Stevenson, who, with the com* mittces associated with them, had done yeoman work in the production of thia magnificent bazaar. Praise was also due io Miss O’Neill, Mr Crombie, Mt Gilfillan and others for the energetic manner in which they had arranged the details and brought things to their present state of perfection. The school being a memorial to our late great and glorious Queen Victoria, they trusted that for all time it would be the home of a great work. It was now his dutj to declare the bazaar open.

During the afternoon and evening the Bavarian Band played a number of selections in their usual finished mannerDuring the afternoon an excellent prefs gramme of fancy danees, physical exer« rises and other evolutions were given afi follows:—Floral drill and march (New* market schoolgirls), national dance (Miss Knight’s pupils), dumb-bell drill (Newmarket school junior boys), bicycle maze (Miss Bews’ pupils), advanced physical exercises (Professor Potter's lady pupils), skirt dance (Mount Albert schoolgirls), physical drill (public school cadets), dumb-bell exercises, with Maori chorus (pupils of St. Stephen’s Native School), national danees (Miss Knight's pupils), searf drill (Newmarket school junior girls), Indian elub display (Bercsfordstreet school senior girls), wand exercises (Newton East and Newmarket school girls), bayonet drill (Napierstreet school cadets). In the evening a squad from the Gordon Rifles gave a display. An orchestra, under Mr. Ilardey, played in the city refreshment stall. The street and entrance decorations, which it would be difficult to praise too highly, were carried out by Mrs Arnold, Mrs R. Dargaville, and Misses Mowbray, Ansley. Lodge, Henderson, and Kissling, and the Rev. J. T. McWilliam, who are deserving of very great credit for the admirable way in which the work has been done. The. tents were supplied and erected by Messrs. E. Le Roy and Sons, and all the carpentering and general work was carried out by Messrs. Sam. White and Sons. The bazaar was again splendidly patronised on the second day, the weather being all that could be desired. Business was very brisk at the various stalls, while the various side shows were well patronised. Tn the evening there was a very large attendance, and the grounds presented a very pretty appearance. As on the previous day the Bavarian Band was in attendance, and evolutions and exercises were gone through' by squads from various schools. Late in the evening the perishable goods unsold were disposed of by auction, Mr Louis Lewis conduct ing the sale. Mr John Marshall has donated ’£so to the Epsom and Otahuhu stall, a generous gift, which was gladly accepted by, the ladies in charge. Including this donation, the takings yesterday amounted to £526 13/11, making a grand total for the two days of £llO4 1/5, a result which exceeds all expectation. The hon. treasurer (Mr F. E. N. Crombie) estimates that the profit will be about £BOO, though Ihe estimate cannot be ainytlSng but. approximate at this stage. This is considered most satisfactory, and the promoters of the bazaar arc to bo complimented on the splendid success of the undertaking.