CATHOLIC BAZAAR AT AKAROA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 7, 10 June 1887, Page 17

CATHOLIC BAZAAR AT AKAROA.

(Akaroa Mail, May 27.) AMONGST the other Fources of amusement provided for the public on the Queen's Birthday was the basaar held by our Catholic friends of the Peninsula for the purpose of paying off some debts that have been incurred in connection with the enlargement of the church and addition to the presbytery in Akaroa. The ladies belonging to this church and their friends have been busy for a number of months in preparing goods of all sorts for the successful holding of their bazaar, and the exhibition of works of all sorts, useful and ornamental. Last Tuesday showed what ta6te and skill can achieve when combined with earnest hearts and willing fingers. Owir gto the large number of bazaars beld here recently, all the religious denominations in the t»wn having had a recent innings, the one under notice for several prudential reasons was delayed until Her Majesty's birthday, and the success of the whole affair showed the wisdom of the step. The proceedings took place in the Town Hall, and during the whole career of that useful building its interior never looked prettier and fetter tban it did at the opening hour, noon on Tuesday. To the untutored ordinary male reporter the whole scene seemed a peep at fairy land, with the addition of seasonable and useful articles of all tints of the rainbow, some of which one could recognise as being intended for the comfort and adornment of the happy homes of the Peninsula, and amidst these and flowers flitted the fre9h and pleasant faces of the busy stall-holders. The stalls were arranged round the Bides of the large room of the hall, and were, as already indicated, crowded with every conceivable article of use and orn-imenf, while in one of the ante-rooms a substantial ard elegant luncheon w-.s laid out by Mr. Rodrigues, with that taste and skill for which t genial host of the Madeira Hotel has been so long celebrated. 1 - über important part of the show was under the charge of Mi i..kn, Mrs. Narbey, and Mrs. Kotoloski, helped by a number of young lady assistants, and could not have been in better hands, the wants and wishes of their customers being promptly and civilly attended to. The stalls for the sale of the other goods of a less perishable nature were in the hands of the following ladies.— Stall No. 1. Miss De Malmanche, Miss Rodrigues, and Miss Helen Rodrigues. The goods on this stall were what were officially described as fancy goods, and to this description we can have no possible objection. Stall No. 2, Mrs. Citron, Miss Annie Cullen, and Miss Kate Narbey. This Btall

was the shop for plain needlework and generally of useful articles, but to tbe unexperienced eye of a simple newspaper man iruch of the work looked highly artistic. Stall No. 3, Mrs. R. M. Barry, Mrs. W. Barry, and Miss Barry (Christchurch). The contents of this stall were jaostly Japanese goods, which are now the popular and fashionable nick-knacks for decoration. Stall No. 4, Mrs. Ditely, Mies Eearns, aod Miss Rose Narbey. This stall had also a fine and useful collection of that sort of plain work that might be described as "handy for all." A beautiful Christmas Tree bearing all the fruits both in and out of season, presided ovep by the Mi&aeg Lelievre, Callaghan, L. Cullen, and 0. Ditely. Fathers Kickham and Hurley, along with a considerable number of the public, were present at the opening ceremony, which took place at 12 o'clock. In forma) ly opening tbe proceedings, Father Kickham said ho was sure they would all be sorry not to see tbe representative of the district, Mr. Montgomery, pi.vjnt that day, but he had just heard from that geatlemaD that the state of the political atmosphere in Wellington, and the exigencies of party, prevented him leaving Wellington for the present. He felt that his thanks were especially due to those ladies who had worked so hard and so long, with the excellent result that they now saw on the stalls around them, and he was sure that if the result was not a success it would not be their faults. He trusted all would work harmoniously together— both sellers and buyers — so that they would be able to bring the work they had all at heart to a successful issue. He had now to declare the bazaar open. (Applause.) During the afcernoon, selections of music were given by the following young ladies, which, by the way, added greatly to the enjoyment of the proceedings : — Misses Callaghan, Narbey. Porter, and Hahn. The room of the hall was crowded during the afternoon and evening ; in fact, almost inconveniently so. When the doors were closed at 11 p.m., it was found that the result of the day's takings was £84. The bazaar was again opened on Wednesday for business at noon, but owing to the wet weather and the state of the roads, the attendance during the afternoon wa3 but limited ; but, as the weather cleared towards the evening, the attendance again increased until after tea the hall was again quite crowded. A large selection of capital music was again supplied during the evening, and several gentlemen, among others Messrs. Penrose and Jacobson, came prepared to ting, but the excite-ient of the rafflings, anJ the solicitations of the stall-holders quite precluded the possibility of this pait of tbe programme being carried out. The results of the day's takings were about £41, making a net total of £135 for the two days. At the end of the proceedings, when almost all the goods were disposed of, Father Kickham took the opportunity of thanking those who had worked so hard and well to make the undertaking the success he was so thankful to say it was. He had not only to express hie thankfulness to the ladies more especially interested in the matter, but also to those and other kind friends of other denominations, who had so kindly given them their assistance and Eupport. It was almost his first official visit here, and he had met with much kindness and sympathy, and the whole matter would be a pleasure to him that he could never forget. Again thanking all who had in any way interested themselves in the affair, he had now to declare the bazaar closed. (Applause.) A large quantity of goods and Peninsula produce still remains unsold, which we understand Mrs. Cullen has taken in hand to sell privately.