CATHOLIC BAZAAR AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 1, 25 April 1884, Page 19

CATHOLIC BAZAAR AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

(The Budget, April 5.)

Bazaars and fancy fairs are such very popular and well established social institutions, and are bo much alike, that is rather a difficult matter to say anything fresh or novel, or something that has not been said before. The one held in the Alexandra Hall on Monday and Tuesday nights was in no way different to others of its kind It was for the purpose of raising money, and in that we have no doubt the promoters succeeded. The money raised at this bazaar is to co towards helping the nuns in the erection of their convent, as well as assisting the Rev. Father Cbastagnon to clear the debt off the church property. With regard to the convent, we may state that it is a branch of the order of Notre Dame des Missions, the mother house of which is situated at Lyons, ia France, and the noviciate house for the colony, at Nelson. The Order was introduced about twenty-five years ago, and was the second order of nuns established in the colony me order has several splendid conventual establishments in the Colony, the first monastery erected in New Zealand being at Cbristchurce, where the handsome tbeee-storied brick building is one of the ornaments of that city. From the framework of the buildine which is being erected here it can be seen that the edifice is by no means a small one, and the fact of the ladies coming here and investing so much of their money in the building is a striking instance of their foremght— for, like ourselves, they look forward to a grand and prosperous future for the town and district. The prioress of the convent is the Rev. Mother of the Annunciation, and she has five sisters with her who came from Napier, Nelson, and Christchurch. It well known that the education given at these convent establishments is not of a superficial nature, but is of a substantial character ; and although all the scholars have to conform to the general regulations of the establishment, the religion of those of other persuasions is never interfered with. * The bazaar was formally opened on Monday by His Worship the Mayor (W. Bayly, Esq.). the room at the time being graced with the attendance of some of the elite of the town and neighbourhood who, by their presence— being connected with other denominations —showed that Christian feeing which His Worship referred to in hia opening speech. Shortly after four o'clock, the Rev. Father Chastagnon ascended the platform erected over the orchestra and introduced Mr. William Bayly. His Worship the Mayor then spoke as follows :— Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me much pleasure in opening this bazaar, and I trust it will be a great success. The ladies wh i have ben preparing for it deserve every credit for their work, and as the ladies always made bazaars a success, I am sure those present will make this one a success also. I cannot conclude the few remarks I have to make without reference 131 3 the ladies of the convent who have lately taken up their abode in this town, and for whose benefit this bazaar is being held. The large and magnificent building they are erecting will be a credit to them and an ornament to the place, and I heartily wish them every success in thei : undertaking. It is a pleasure for me to see the Christian unity which exists among the people in this town where everyone appears to be ready to lend a hand to assist the other. ihiß I consider to be true Christianity, and success in all their undertakings is thus achieved. I will not detain you longer, as the fair cUll-keepers lam sure, are wishing to commence their work. I therefore now declare the bazaar to be open. (Applause.) We will now proceed to give a more detailed description of the bazaar. On entering the door the interior of the Hall presented a very pretty appearance. The goods offered for sale were very tastefully arranged on stalls running the full length of the room on either side. The thing* exhibited are almost too numerous and of too varied a description to enumerate in full, but we shall try to mention I the most noticeable. The prices for the articles ranged from threepence up to— well any figure that the fail sellers could obtain without altogether sacrificing their consciences. Not the least attractive feature was the ladies —married, engaged, and single— in attendance to entice the customers by all sorts of feminine devices and bewitching persuasions. The ladies looked their best, and did their utmost ; proving themselves most successful adepts in the art of legerdemain, for they successfully accomplished the most difficult of all feats— that of making the money pass from the gentlemen's pockets to their own. The stall to the left on entering the hall was presided over by Mrs. Grey. Mrs. W. D. Francis, Mrs. O'Day, assisted by the Misses Grey, Duffin (2), Hearn, Revell, Scle, Salisbury, Russell (2), and Cousins. The articles on this stall were numerous and beautiful. Cushions were in variety, the work being very artistic, especially one' made by the Lady Superior, which was much admired. The Arrascene and Indian work was very much admired, as was also the gipsy table, the work of Miss M. Russell. There were also a doll, dressed as a bride (given by Miss Sheehan), fender stools, ornamental bead brackets, coseys, watch-stands, splash-work fern pictures, crochet work, pictures, children's toys in abundance, card baskets, portrait of the late Archbishop Vaughan (gift of Mr. W. D. Francis), and children s and ladies' underclothing; in great variety. There were many other beautiful things, bat our space is limited, and we must proceed with the description. The Btall on the other side of the room wa* presided over by Mrs Seffern, Mrs. McGuire, Mrs. Boyhan, Mrs. M. Francis, Mrs. O'Brian, Mrs. J. Cock, and Mr«. Ryan, assisted by Misses Collins (2), Cosgrave' Christie (2), Cholwill, Bennett (2), Bullot, Honeyfield, Pardy, Stockley (2), Swanson, Townsend, Willis, and Williams. This stall was conspicuous for it* beantiful samples of Arrarc;ne, bead, and wo>l work, amongst which were a gipsy table and several cushions worked by Hiss M. B. Collins ; a fender-stool in bead-work by Mrs. O Brien ; and a quantity of work done by the nuns. Amongst other articles we noticed a fern table, case of stuffed birds, a handsome table lamp (gift of Mr. J. T. Davis), a picture (the gift of Mr. Okey), statuary work baskets, toilet sets, a number of flowering plants (the gift of Mr. Mitchiaon), children* clothing, slippers, smoking c»p«, banner

screens, dolls' cradles, prayer-books, jelly spoon (gift of "U,. Ruest), whatnots, and a Chinese fish (gift of Mr. B. Collins.) It however, impossible to enumerate all the beautiful things, but fe mQs t no t omit to mention the large doll dressed as a bride, witt a ntun ber of ■mail dolls as bridesmaids (the gift of Miss Cosgrav /6 ) t the bridegroom being represented by the wax boy from the esta> jiishment of the New Zealand Clothing Factory, which was kinr^y ] ent by Mr. Simmonds for the occasion. ,■ . The refreshment stall was presided over b; Mrs. Callaghan, assisted by Miss Billing, and on it were several hp cakes, the centre one having on the edges of it in sugar letr<> - s << T Qe Baazar." The Rifle Volunteer Baud kindly gavetbbJ /services, which enhanced the enjoyment of the bazaar. 7 The bazaar in aid of the funds of the X L Plymouth Convent and for reducing the debt on the Catholic ft- / p^p^ty wa9 opened again on Wednesday. As a rule the de^.r ion of one bazaar is but a repetition of the description of anor T r j^ j n c present instance the bazaar is worthy of more than ps--" a g notice, for we do not remember to have seen a more vari' ,oable, and useful collection of articles on any ocoasion than } K £ displayed. Instead of there being any scarcity there is ■> ys plethora of fancy and other goods; and the various strifer ife iully and tastefully loaded with exhibits. The work of ty-it y -i !»-*, sP f the convent was much admired, as well as some done b .'- , tt o f the congregation. Mrs. Callaghan had charge of the re >* Jen t s tall, on which were several large cakes. There was a itp- y attacdance and a brisk business seemed to be doing by the yo;.- jadies, although at a late hour the stalls were by no means bare The bazaar • j brought to a close on Thursday night, when r most of the ar -;:kj remaining on the stalls were disposed of for what they would fci jh. Shortly after nine o'clock the bazaar cakes were disposed of ofi the art union principle, — Miss Birch getting the first prize, Mas'Uar T. Callagban the second prize, and Mr. Hancock the third priwe. The/Key. gather Chastagnon, shortly before ten o'clock, closed the ba/zapr, thanking, in the names of the nuns and himself, the ladies aiiH gentlemen for the assistance they had given in bringing the bazaar to so successful a termination. He thanked His Worship the Mayor for opening the bazaar, the Volunteer Band for playing at it, Mr. Courtney for disposing of the surplus goods, and the public generally for their liberal support. He said it afforded him great pleasure to Bee the unity in which the various denominations lived together in New Plymouth. They would find that no truly educated man was a bigot, and he was glad to find that no bigotted feeling existed in New Plymouth, but all were friendly, united, and respected each other's convictions. He concluded by again thanking them all for their assistance and support, and declared the bazaar closed. The total amount taken at the bazaar, as far as we can learn, is £177 6s Id, divided as follows: — Stall on the right, £80 2s 8d ; stall on the left, £63 18s lOd. Taken at the door, £33 3s 7d.