CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 44, 22 February 1889, Page 27

CHRISTCHURCH.

(Prom our own Correspondent.) The Shakespearian Festival came to a close last Friday night, after a most successful " run "of fifteen nighta. iicer the withdrawal of the Swiss Singers, the attendance continued as gx>d as ever, and tb« visitors instead of having their attention distracted by the muiical performances, devoted themselves to inspecting the stalls. The reittlt was that in the early part of the week some good business wu done by tha fair vendors of the beautiful and useful things which were on sale in the Rink, On Thnrslay and Friday nights, in aidition to the auction sales, the business ot getting off tne art-unions in connection with the various stalls was attended to. These art-unions were, I thought, a somewhat novel feature. Usually there is one big artuniou in connection with a bazaar, and frequently prizes are con. tributed by each stall, as well as from outsiders. At the Festival each stall had a special arl -union, and the stall- holders had to attend t j the business of selling their own lottery tickets aa well as that of Betting off raffles and making sales I think myself that tha old plan of having one general art-union is preferable. Baiter prizes can ba given, the ladies are freed from a lot of lesponsibiluy, there is no clashing between the art-union and the baz iar, and better resu w are enbured altogether. Th^se lotte.ies, however, were, I believe, tolerably successful. In Mrs. Lonargaa's art- union tnere were soma very good prizes. Amon-' tueie were a suite of furniture, a cow. » poiv, aud a watch. These have baen preity widely distribute i. Tn« furniture was won by a ticket-Holder in Queensland ; the pony by a iddy m belong ; the Wdtcb by a. gentleman ai Spiingston, aud u.e cow by 1 know not who. Probably Crummie will fi id Her way b-tck 10 the donor (Mr. Henly, of Shand's irack), upon the payment by him of her equivalent in gold to Mrs. Lsn-trgan. Among the prize-winners at the bazaar, the police have been singularly fortunate. I believe some distinguished mentbers of the gallant corpe have been ao " set up" with domestic articles that thej

cad start housekeeping forthwith. The resolution of some of these ' gentlemen was pat to a severe test in order to retain poaaession of their winniDgs. One gallant officer, who ia a popular favourite with the ladies, was besieged for an artistic quilt which he won, but he was adamant to their pleadings. He kept his trophy, and bore it off in triumph. A brother officer won a handsomi Japanese screen. He, like the owner of the quilt, was proof against the wiles of his lady friends, and kept a tight hold upon fortune's gift. Father O'Connor, of Rmgiora, was another favourite of the fickle goddess. In addition to winning a real golden Arab steed, he canied off as many cushions, brackets, mantle draperies and nic-nacs as would stare a bazaar for himself. I should advise all promoters of forth coming bazaars in Canterbury to at once apply to Father O'Connor for a portion of hia winnings. Jflarly applications will probably be best rewarded, so I should advise stall holders to be in time. Brother Joseph, too, was among the lucky ones. The prettiest of Mrs Lonargan's pretty fire-screens tell to his share. There were many longing glances cast at this screen' as it left the hall, and I think it was responsible for several breaches of the Tenth Commandment. I shall hope to see the screen adorn the sitting room in the Brothers' new house when it is erected. The lucky stars of Father O'Donnell, Canon Loughnan, and Father Halbwachs were not. in the ascendant. They, with admirable perseverance, invested innumerable shill ings, but it was no use. One •hilling went after the others until the shillings made pouods, but neither shilling nor pound ever brought anything back aa a solatium for its own loss. There was a kind of tradition in the hall that Father Loughnan bad won prizes, but I fancy that his acquaintance with them begau and ended with bearing about them. Among the lay patrons of the bazaar perhaps the luckiest speculator, after the members of the "foorce," was a little lad who came in with one shilling to spend. A yonng lady assistant coaxed the coin from the boy's pocket and put hia name down on her list. The objeot to be raffled was a very fine ole 'graph. When the raffle came off the youngster found himself the happy possessor of the picture. He looked as if he did not know whether to be more surprised or delighted at his good fortune. On Friday night the curtain was rung down upon the Shakesperian show. At eight o'clock that night the scene in the Rink was very different to what it bad been on preceding evenings. The stalls were denuded of their belongings, the lights burned dimly, and the whole army of Sbakesperi ins who had strutted and fretted their hours opon the stage had disappeared. Not even the ghost remained . The kingß, queens, lords, ladies, shepherdesses and clowns had melted into thin air. All had presumably returned to the tombs whence they had emerged a fortnight before. The noise and " buzz " had ceased. The voice of the showman was silent. Pretty girls no longer pomcad upon you at the entrance with a cushion in their hands aa i a request that you would " put your name down." The Jfiliz ibethan village was deserted and lonely. A. few visitors walked silently about the hall, inspecting the building-). Members of the conmutee awai.ed the last scena looking as if ihev were very glad that it was all over. At the G.oucester street end of the hall a knot of men assembled to see the Bale of the buildings They hid not long to wair. Mi. Donuolly, of the Rink, became the propr.et ir of Shakespeare's home and of the ancient castles at a moderate figure. After th-t there was no more to be done but turn out the lights and closa t l ie hall. The groat Shakespearian Festival was over. The expenses have been somewhit heavy, but after all calls have been met there will be. I believe, something like a thousand pounds to hand over to the Rev. Mother. This is not &o large a sum as it was at first anticipated would be realised. But considering the dulness of tbe times, and the stupid, unreasoning bi^ot r y which the Festival evoked. 1 ihiuk the manager and the committee are 10 be congra ulated upon having achieved so much. There is cousideiable excitement here concerning the visit of tbe squadioo. A citizen'B bill is to be given iv tbe Kink, and all tbe ladies are deeply interesie i in the affair. The Orlando alone has a small regiment of iffirers, so the belles of Uhristchurch will have an opportunity of produciag an impression upon the susceptible hearts of the " tars that love the water." There is no doubt but that the local Josephiues will do their very best to leave eich other a long way behind ia regard to external adornment on the occahi m of this big bill. Tne result of the rivalry will be good business at tbe drapers' shops. Mrs. Studbolmt's fete at Merivale has been a great succesp. The idea of an amateur lepiesentation of a Shakespearian play in the open air is a Home importation. A couple of yeais ago there was quite a fashionable cr.Zi at Horns for »li s species of private theatricals. The " Midsummer Night's Dream ' was the piece chosen by Mr?. Btudholme for ivi reteutatiun. 'lhat play and "As you like it " are generally the most popular for ouidoor reproduction. There has been quite an epidemic of iashionable marriag?s here lately. The double weidiEg of Mr. Harroan's two daughters last week attracted a gieat deal of notice. One of the joung ladies became the bride of Dr. De Renzy, at tbe hospital. The doctor is not many months in the Colony, so he is evidently a young man who knows his own mind. He is Iruh, and with all an Irishman's Impetuosity in love affairs, be without loss of time brought his wo>iog to a speedy and happy end. He is a clever physician, and I am sure has a distinguished fu'ure before him in this Colony. The cable states that commeits have been made iv London upon the emission of the Queen's head fiom t le new stamps issued by the New South Wales Government. Ibe Orangeman of Christchurch will see in this a further ilh sTdtion of the success of the insidious designs if tbe Church of Roait* in the colonies against the Queen and Crown. Uuless i Lie "glorioue, piuus, acl immortal" William corner quickly to ibenescue, there is a grave probabiliy that tnat awful •• Church of Rome" will upstt the throne, its occupant, tbe Biitish constitution, and the whole empiie into tte dungeons of the Vatican. where the Pope will keep the lot under lock and key until the crack of doom. It is stated, too, in the cable news that Dhuleep Sing, in a proclamation issued to his Indian subject?, said that with a certain sum

of money he would undertake to free India, and that he counted upon the Sikhs and the Irish soldiery to join in the revolt. Dhuleep Sing, like a good many more in the world, evidently doss not understand the Irish character. The Irishman will fight at home for the rights of his own country, but tbe Iri«h soldier has never yet proved false to the British uniform upon his back. Irishmen are patriots, bat they are not traitors. That ttuy ara the one they nave provaa by their endurance of exile, imprison an en t and death for the sake of their country ; that they are not the other their mouldering bines ia the trenches wherever England's battles have baea fougtn imply prove. Dhuleep Sing has mistaken his m^n. He will have to look for the traitor's heart beneath the soldier's coat elsawaere than among Irishmen. In the last number of the Weekly Freeman, thare is a pretty cartoon entitled " Sjon." Ireland is represented as a beautiful peasant girl, with large, wistful, expectant eyes, and black hair. Her bead rests in a thoughtful attituda upon her rigat am; taa leEfc is thrown over the harp by her side. Hovering over her there is aa angel with a crown, inscribed with the words "Homa Rule," in its hind. This is about to be placed on Erin's brow. A fervent Acnan to the title of the picture involuntarily arises to one's lips at sigat of the cartoon. I regret to hear that Mr. Kennedy, whose ability as an essayist at the Literary Society I have before mentioned, met wi*h a somewhat serious accident lately, through being kicked by a horse. Mr. Kennedy is recovering. On Sunday, at 11 o'clock Mass, Father Doyle, a priest newly arrived from Home, preached a practical sermon on the evil of lukewarmness among Catholics. Father Doyle remains permanently in Canterbury, I believe. His Lordship Dr. Grimes is still absent on the Coait. I have heard it mentioned that the ladies of the congregation contemplate furnishing the Brothers' reception-room in their new house. 1 hope the report is true. The Brothers have had to put np with a very unluxurious abode, and it is time that something was done to make matters a little more pleasant for them. The Little Brothers of Mary have scored another brilliant •' win " in Sydney in the recent University examinations. Their pupils beat all competitors. The weather here ia very fine. The farmers have been working night and day in order to get their crops under cover before rain comes. In theatrical circles there has been a regular flight of the swallows to Dunedin for the race week. George Darrell's big tank, real water, and all h ave gone. The Swiss Singers have closed their season and have departed southward too. The amateur shows are all over ; so, after being surfeited with amusements, we are left now to ruminate on our late pleasures. It is always a feast or a famine in regard to amusements here. I see that tenders are called for the new Lunatic Asylum. It ii to be hoped that tbe new structure will not share the fate of its predecessor. Sunnyside has been a most unfortunate institntion lately, All sorts of ill-luck seem to have got on its track. I believe it is not seLtled yet as to who will take Father Kickham's place at Lyttelton. Many enquiries are made upon the subject, but no official notification has been made as yet, though there are many rumours.