Diocese of Dunedin.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 10, 20 August 1897, Page 19

Diocese of Dunedin.

MOSGIEL. THE GRAND ECLIPSE FAIR. (From the Taieri Advocate.') The Grand Eclipse Fair and Tornado of Fun, in aid of the building fund of St. Mary's Catholic Church, was opened in the Volunteer Hall on Wednebday, August 11. The fair has been more or less discussed for some months past, and during the last few weeks it has formed one of the principal topics of conversation among a section of the community. For months the ladies connected with. the congregation have been busily engaged in making articles for the fair, and it was confidently expected that the display would equal anything of the sort seen m Mosgiel. All day on Wednesday the hall was thronged with a small army of busy workers, preparing the stalls for the opening. In the evening, as the hour for opening drew near, a large number oi people commenced to assemble in the vicinity of the hall, and the majority aiterwards wont inside, so that by the time the fair was opened thi-re was a good attendance. Mr. VV. Carncross, M H.R , in opening the fair, said the task that had been imposed on him -s\ as a very pleat-ant one. He felt, though, that Father O'Neill could have filled the position far better himself! He supposed, however, that Father O'Neill felt a little modest, and' wished to take a back seat for a time. Th'-y all knew the object of the present gathering, which was to clear off the debt on. the local chapel, aiid to further beautify and ornament the interior, so that ihey would all agree that the object was a good one. There were a lot of pretty things to be seen on the stalls, but there were many other pretty things which wore yet to be exhibited. He hoped they had all come prepared to be liberal, and to patronise the young ladies, and he telt cu e they would have tuoh a good time that they would want to come back again every night the bazaar was open. Mr. Carncross concluded by declaring the bazaar formally open, and' wished it every suceebs.

A glance round the hall showed that the space at command had been deposed of to the very beat advantage. On the left hand side, entering the door, were the four goods stalls, while on the opposite bide of the hall a portion of the space had been partitioned olf and served as a shooting gallery. At the front of the hall on the right hand side of the door was situated the refreshment stall, and in the centre of the hall was the fishpond. It will thus be seen that the .stalls were excellently arranged, while there was also ample room for visitors to inspect the goods or otherwise do business. The stalls were all very prettily drained, flags and greenery having 1 been used in profusion to give them an attractive appearance. The whole of the hall in fact, showed the effect of the trouble which had been gone to in the matter of decorations. The costumes worn by the assibtants looked very gay, and helped to impart quite a festive appearance to the interior of the hull, thtre buuig quite a lar»e number of young men and maidens, dressed in all manner oi fancy costume*, assisting- in the various departments of the fair. Commencing from the btage end comes No. 1 stall, which U presided over by MesJames Mowat and Cornish. Here' as assistants, there are Misses K. AlcLachlan (Highland lassie), a! MeLachlan (Indian lady), Coruibh (Gipsy), Cameron and Rabbit. Prominent among tho goods on this stall are a handsome pa:nted mirror and panel, marble clock, cushions, painted umbrella stand, crazy work, tables, paintings, and some very fine drawn thread work. No. 2 stall is in charge of Miss Crant 1 , who is assisted by Miss-ei Theresa CBrien (buuirncr), Nellie Knott (Greek la'iy), Brown and Guwne. Displayed ou this btall are a verj' handsome v> orked chair, paintings, draughtsmen, tea cosey, doll's bed, and cushions. At No! 3 btall Mesdanies o'Donnell and Mather are in charge, assisted by Misses A. Knofct (Starry night), M. Knott (Marguerite), J. Drumm

(Erin). J. O'Brien (Erin), B. O'Brien (Comin' thro' the rye), and M. Column (America). On this stall a very nice chair catches the eye. while among" other articles displayed are a foxglove and other cushions, foot-stool, pictures, panel *. tables, and Mower biskets. No. 4 stall is in charge of Me -dames Wilkie and IT.uvke, who are as--i^t< d by blisses Maggie Knott (.Queen of hearts), Winnie Knot t (Shamrock), J. Turnbull (Highl-md las-ie), L. Hawk > (Spring), and Stephens, rrominent amongst the articles dUplayi d at this stall are a screen, painted panels, pictures, mirrors. painted table, cushions, quilt, and plaques. Tn addition to those mentioned there were large quantities of other articles, both us ful and ornamental, on all the .stalls. The refreshment stall is p"o-ided over by Mrs. O'Kune, who is assisted by Mrs. Greenslade. Mis.-es K. Flynn and Quelch. Ilere is displayed a Tery tempting array of all manner of goo I things, both eatable and drinkable. In addition there is also for disposal a fine bridescake, picture^, painted photo panels and plaque-*. Ihe fish pond, in the centre of the hall, had Miss E. Flynu (Swiss peasant ) as its presiding genius. Avhile the •■•hooting gallery was under the charge of Messrs. G. Murdoch, J. Elder and 1). Stevenson. The wants of visitors in the matter of buttonholes were well looked after by Miss Meiklciohn, who made an excellent flower <^ Irl. In addition to those mentioned above a laige number oC gentlemen were attached to each of the stalls, and assisted the ladies in disposing cf their wares. After the opening speech the business of the evening commenced in real earnest, the assist uits from the different stalls \ieing with each other in their efforts to extrat t the coin from the pockets of their willing, or unwilling, victims. Wherever the visitor turned he was met by the same demand, the nimble Colonial Robert being in great request throughout the evening. A lurge amount of business was done by the fair shareholders, who proved themselves quite adept at obtaining members tor the different raffle I*.1 *. Good business was also done at the refreshment stall, and die anatenr anglers were busy all the time, while the continuous crack Irom the direction ot the si ooting nailery showed that that por ion ot the lair was popular. We had almost omitted to mention the fact that a guessing competition wfc held, Mr. C. O'XIUI being in charge ot the sheep.

On Wedne-day evening the Mosgiel Brass Band played some fine music outside the hill before the fair opened, while inside a splendid orche-tra, under Mr. A. F. Robertshaw, played se\eral selections in first-class style. A Highland fling was dance 1 bj Master McKechnie, vs lule Mr. McKeuhnie nu\e a number of items on the pipe-, and Mr. E. Rigor rcndeiel the song "Green grow* the rashes. ' in an excellent manner. A dance , " The lily of Killarmy,' was prettily danced by sixte n litil< j girl-, who h id b< en coached by Miss MeliiiiJiliii. On Thuy-day own nu. in addition to the ordinary attractions )li-< .Mnho-on s.p.il; two snug-. \ lii<'h wen nuich apjireciated.

A special fi atnre ot the WAr \v i- Ih"e\ <lh-.it l.m-io gi\eno'i the pip.'s. s;>;<.n lid s^rviii-in this aireition bun^ n nde-i'd b\ Mr. A. Gia\. eJI tie Douglas Iloiel. Dime.. 11. ail by l'ipe-Majoi McKeelnne. The dancing of Ma-ter McKechnie w.lO danced 111 c.411' i' a di'l". lent d.inee c \l!i L\enu.u to In- father's pl.t} mg. waaKo grea'ly .ippreciatiel. Ibe ()'tt in Ihwii 'hi>' n the following ac ount of the conclusion of the lair .-The lklipse I 'air 111 aid ot M. Mar»'(Jnur< h. Mi«s 'i. 1. w,b biouuht f o,a close on » \enn.^. '1 he Mosyiel Bra” r> md a_ari ua\e th. ir s,. n j ( . umlplivd -c \c! al selection-) \eiy -\\i eily. The li.uhL.nid pi[.<'is w , 1 ■ al-o 111 < \ nl. >,ciThe .Morninultin AH'i-tr<ls ueitid "i< it in> niiue.it on I'nd .j and Sat unlay L\ til- ir pt rl< «r ii'.iut'i s 'I |. ■ < hiMie n s d.une was miieli a >pr< ciaUd lai h i-mimk^ 'J Ik st ii hold r- and their as-,,M nitw irki d as-idiv u-ly. -md with \erysiii,!.s lory lesi It- Tl c \arieiusil ■ -.nows v ■ 1 1' well p nroiii-i.l, and ihc (It iw 1 eriwd uhieh tiionmd the Nolunti.r 11.11 on v aiupl iy e\ening n u-t )ia\c cum I away ple'i-iiiu ntolli tions 01 ihe nit.i--.im. The Vet^ Rjv.FatherO.Nt.il], m ihanl n.y all who h d uueii tin ir ser. i ( - anl the I Head v, ho had con' 1 ibuted to the financial r-ult. e\pre-Md llk hope tl-itt 1 - it (he lieeLin^ to wh.hall had so «ood-i.u:noiuvdly submittetl would ha\e .1 ie il hhrj r tti'ict on tlien c iii-tit ution-. as they woul I !• iv c tlu m.in.h-ium d 1 know inn tint all hiJuliti - were ren.oud oil ht. JMai\ s Chur h through the heirty co-e)p.'ial loll ot all mc'.uhmi! tlie enmnuinity.