THE WELLINGTON BAZAAR.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 28, 4 November 1887, Page 13

THE WELLINGTON BAZAAR.

OPENING CEREMONY BY ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD.

(From our own Correspondent.)

Quite a wonderful transformation was effected at the Wellington Opera House last week, the occasion being a grand bazaar, which was got up by the ladies of the Thoindon and Te Aro parishes, in -aid of the church funds of both parishes. For the past six or eight months these ladies bave used the most strenuous exertions to bring the bazaar to a successful issue, and the result must have been very gratifying to them, and must have amply compensated them for their labours. Institutions of the kind have in past years been by no means uncommon in Wellington, but no former bazaar has ever eclipsed the present one, either for the amount of goods collected or for the choiceness and variety of articles so collected. The result of the bazaar, from a monetary point of view, has also been eminently, satisfactory, and will largely help to diminish the parish debts. This result is mainly due to the fair stall-holders and their assistants, to whom every credit is due for their activity, zeal, and energy. Indeed, the manner in which they set to work to find the end of the deepest pockets was truly marvellous and speaks volumes for their business tact and ability. The bazaar proper was held on the stage of the Opera House, which had only one fault, that of being too small for the crowds of people who thronged the bazaar nightly. No less than eight miniature shops or si alls were fitted up on the stage, besides a large arbour in the background designated the flower stall. The array of wares to be disposed of Were arranged on these with great taste, and the scene when illuminated by electric light at night was a very brilliant one. To the executive committee, who are as follows, is largely due the successof the bazaar— viz., tiev. Father M'Kenna, Messrs. K. P, Collins, K. A. Marshal, A. M'Donnld, and T. Hodgins.

The formal opening of the bazaar took place on Tuesday, the 26th inst. at 3 p.m. Shortly after that hour his Grace Archbishop Bedwood, attended by the Very Key. Father M'Namara, S.M., V.G., Bey. Dr. Watters, S.M., D.D., and the members of the executive committee, entered the Opera House. His entrance was the signal for loud and prolonged applause, and when quiet had been restored he declared the bazaar open in the following speech .* —

" Ladies and gentlemen — I have much pleasure in being here to open this bazaar, but that pleasure would be greatly enhanced if the task had fallen to the lot of one who would have honoured us with his presence and encouraged us with his sympathetic words had he not been prevented by indisposition, — I allude to his Excellency the Governor (applause) and I am sure you will join me in heartily thanking him for his kind willingness to be present which we accept with the same gratitude as his actual presence. (Loud applause.) However. I am glad to replace him,J albeit unworthy, and the occasion affords me unfeigned gratification for many reasons. It is always delightful to meet a large gathering of friends bent on innocent enjoy* ment, and it is an equal pleasure and cheering sight to see great numbers of persons working harmoniously and vigorously for some good and noble object, and when success rewards their efforts our joy is complete. Now, I believe this bazaar is and will be an unqualified success. It is a success already, inasmuch as it proves to induce tho vast amount of industry, art, ingenuity, skill, and taste which was lying dormant in so many members both of the strong and fair sex in this city and which wanted a fitting opportunity to display itself. Let anyone go round and inspect those beautiful and well furnished stalls, and whether bis eye be indulgent orcritical he will find, I venture to say, unmisteakable pioofof considerable talent, great industry, and exquisite taste in not a few of the articles so profusely exhibited to the admiring, and, I hope, purchasing public (applause). And while I bestow the well earned meed of praise on the indefatigable exertions of all who have given co much of their time and anxious care to produce and procure this varied assortment, I beg to tender to them one and all my warmest thanks. lam grateful indeed to the numbers of my own fleck but still more so to many kind friends— God bless them — who bold not our religious tenets, but are heartily at one with us in all charitable undertakings and have moat generously spent a great deal of their time and trouble to help us on this occasion (applause). I also offer ray hearty thanks to the Garrison Band, Mr. Grey's band, the Hibernian and St. Patrick's College bands for kindly giving us their pleasurable services during the evenings of the bazaar (applause). Beverting to the multitudinous contents of these stalls, I wish I had more power of description at my command than I bave at present to do justice to the splendid array now set before ue. But yo" know I am not an auctioneer, nor a manufacturer, nor an art critic. The many fair occupants of these picturesque stalls will replace me

in these respects as you will presently Bee. You may try, ladies and gentlemen, to keep your money as fa*t us you like, but they or some one else will have it out of you— that is if you will only come and let them try (laughter). Why, we have enU«ss ways and m ans of diving straight into your pockets and getting at tbe cash. We have music, and song, and wit, and humour, and the electric light, and 'he magic dissolving views, and the in< chanical bear, and the great fire eater, and what not (laughter). Besides we can furnish your house f r you, supply your families, make your nurseries wild with Joy, replenish your larder, stock your poultry yard, refresh your palate, gratify your stomach, inspire your patriotism, tell your fortune.improve your most refined tastes — aye, and delightfully ease your pockets (laughter), causing you to practice economy and retrenchment, now the order of the day, in a way which will suit us and make us happier. For the wisest mouth that ever taught mankind used to say "it is happier to give than to take." But I perceive lam launching out into a speech, the very thing I had made up my mind not to do. I suppose the genius loci is affecting me. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I know not how you feel, but I feel desperately in earnest here this afternoon. I have got some money in my pocket, so have you no doubt, and plenty of it too I hope, and I am determined to spend it. So without further preamble I declare this grand bazaar open to the public and I mean to be, if possible, the first put chaser (prolonged applause). , The bazaar was entered from Manners street by the centre door, a raised platform being run from the door to the stage, over the stalls

No. 1 stall was the first which the visitor reached on the left as he entered the market. It was presided over by Madame la Comtesse de Jouffray D'Abbans and Mrs. Grace, assisted by the Misses Grace, Maud Grace, Ida Johnston and McClean. A beautiful bassinette completely furnished, presented by the Comtesse de Jouffray D'Abbans stands immediately outside this stall.and ajbandsome hand-painted fire screen, and some plaques also hand-painted, were worthy of notice. No. 2 stall was in charge of Mesdames Sharp, Holcroft, and Segrave, with as assistants, Misses Chambers, O'Kane, Power, Loveday, Segrave, Leslie and Grenner. In it was a vast variety of beautiful articles, some of the most noticeable beirg an admirably worked chair, the back in wools on a dark ground, a large model of a ship, a well made bassinette, and two Swiss scenes handsomely framed. No. 3 stall was under the management of Mesdames O'Meara, and Maginity, assisted by the following young ladies from the Convent High School: Misses M. and N. Cimino, T. McDonald, J. Davis, J. Pkerritt, O'Dwyer, Devine. Donovan, Cullinane, Scully, Maginity, Collins, (who was dressed as Mary Queen of Scots) and J. Reid. This stall was filled to repletion with most beautiful articles, mostly fancy goods, a great deal of which were manufactured by convent pupils. A chair and music stool to match, the design of which was passion flowers on white Telvet (band-painted,) a pair of foot-stools, wool-work mounted in claret-coloured plush, and a hand-painted mantel drape, the design of which consisted of water lilies on a crimson satin ground, stood out prominently amongst a profusion of other beautiful articles. No. 4 stall was under the guidance of the following children of Mary: Misses McManaway, Sheridan, and McCarthy, with tbeir assistants, Misses Moss, Ryan, Swan, Bowden, Weetraan, o'fteil, O'Connell, O'Brien, Harding, Duffy, aDd Leitschendel. Miss Anna Stewart Parnell, a life-sized doll dressed in a white silk evening dress, was entitled to special mention at this stall. She was dressed by Miss O'Beirne with great taste, and reflects great credit on that youDg lady. A full set of vestments worked in wools on a white velvet ground is also on this stall. Theie are, besides, a set consisting of a cushion, brackets and wall pockets, hand-painted white marguerites on crimson satin, a chair worked in arascene on a groundwork of crimson and peacock-blue plu=h, a pair of framed photos, one of Archbishop Redwood, and one of Father McNamara, a Spanish work gold lace brackets etc. etc. No. 5 stall is conducted by Mesdames Nidd, Hewitt, and Rrown, with Misses Nidd, Hewitt, Fraser (2), Weybourne, Tabri (2), Seagrave, and Bohan, as assistants. Amongst the more notable items in this stall were an ottoman in black silk with a hand-painted floral design, a miniature bride and bridegroom in a dress suitable to the occasion, a portrait in oils of Michael Davitt, a pair of oil paintings representing Italian scenery, and numberless other choice articles. No 6 stall the produce stall was conducted by Mesdames Redmond, Burn, and Brown, assisted by Misseß Bergio, Marshall, Brown and Burn.jßesides a large scock of edibles there are on this stall also for disposal, a model schooner, a pair of parrots, a coop of game fowl, a wedding cake, etc. In No. 7, stall which is managed by Mesdames Crosbie, Green, Freeman, and Redwood, assisted by Misses Lawson, (3) Saunders, Ellwood, Lovegrovp, Reid, and Wbittaker, were to be found a variety of goods, priests stoles, puint lace cushions, brackets in crewel and other work, hand painted milking stools, and dolls of every variety from the etherial fairy, to the Maori chief. The flower stall already mentioned was No 8, and was in charge of Mesdames Gardner and Fisher assisted by Misses Kane, Gillon, M. Gillon, Fisher, M. Fishsr, Tompkins, Shannon, Brandon, Gardiner, and Kingdon. The idea of a flower stall was a novel one, and was a great attraction in the bazaar. But, perhaps, the most attractive stall in the bazaar was that managed by Mrs. McDonald — the refr. shment stall — where a most tempting array of eatables was displayed, Mrs. McDonald was assisted by Misses M. McDonald, L. McDonald, M. Gibbs, and G. Holcroft. There were also a number of " side shows " carried on in conjunction Buch as gipsy tents, polling booths, etc., and in fact it may be said that no service for unconsidered shillings was left untrif d. The St. Patrick's College Band, Garrison B*md, Grey's Band, and Hibernian Band, &aye their valuable services throughout the bazaar, and were much appreciated. The electric light was supplied by Messrs. K. A. Ashcroft and Co. by contract and was very successful. Tbe first day's takings at the bazaar realised the handsome sum of £180, and the tecond (Wednesday's) reached £140.