DOMINICAN BAZAAR AT OAMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 22, 30 May 1901, Page 27

DOMINICAN BAZAAR AT OAMARU.

On Thursday evening the bazaar, in aid of the funds of the Rosary Convent, was opened in the Theatre Royal, Oamaru, by his worship the Mayor. The Dominican Nuns (says the Mail) have ever been first and foremost, following the pioneers in Africa and other land?, taking no part in politics, but quietly and unostentatiously working out their mission of education and nursing. Here in Oamaru especially are they well known and revered, and Mr. Hedley in his opening speech paid them but a well deserved compliment when he said they were ladiea whose self -sacrifice everyone respected. Those actively responsible for the arrangements of the bazaar have imported a new feature into the present venture, the spectacle, 1 The Birth of the Empire,' the creation of Signor Borzoni, whioh has been previously staged in Wellington, Christchurch, Wanganui, and Invercargill, and in each centre, judging from the reports, made a sensation. Still we were not prepared quite for last night's exhibition, which reminded one of those magnificent ballets whioh are to be seen all the year round in Leicester Square at the Alhambra and Empire Theatres and which cost thousands of pounds to btage. The stage of the Theatre has been very much enlarged for the occasion and is now. roughly speaking, GOft x 45ft. On it, two on each s'de, are four stalls, representing the United Kingdom, Africa, India, and New Zealand, while almost the entire back of the pit is taken up by the Canadian stall, which is devoted to refreshments. The United Kingdom exhibit, prettily draped and picked out in red white nnd blue, v ith various flags to support the other decorations, is prtsidc'i o\cr by Mm. Grant, with whom are associated Mrs. J. B. Grave and Misses M. M'Phee and Lamb. This stall, as all of the others except the Canadian, is crowded with works of art and fancy of every description. Perhaps the best of Mrs. Grant's stock is a really beautiful fire screen and ecme framed mirrore. There is also a very hamfcouuly framed enlargement of the late Bishop Moran, which is duplicated on all the stalls. Then, too, there are pretty and artistic panels, downy cushions, and a hundred and one articles to tempt jou to disgorge. The next stall we come to is that devoted to Africa, which for its prettiness of arrangement and the multifarious character of the articles exposed for sale divides honors with the Indian stall. At the African stall, amidst Mausers and swords, cartridges and fu<-es and a real pom-pom shell, presides Mrs. O. R. Wise, assisted by Mrs. Ardagh, Mrs. J. Rooney, and Mrs. P. Toohill. The btall is a very pretty arrangement in color and in addition to the warlike mementoes expot-ed, we presume for sale, is also a very beautiful ana varied assortment of fancy and artistic work. Across the ftage and facing Mrs. Wise's, the New Zealand stall is under the management of Mrs. Cagney, Mrs. Spiers, and Mrs. O'Neill. The chief feature of this etttll, which is tastefully decorated, is the paintings. An article which at once catches the eye is a beautifully hand carved portrait panel— Bishop Moran with Monsignor Coleman on one Bide and Monsignor Mackay on the other. N( xt door, so to speak, we came to India, which is very nearly if not the most prettily arranged and decorated stall in the hall. litre Mrs. Corcoran is assisted by Mesdames Molloy, Cooney, and Byrne. A hand-carved wood table, with under tray and a centre painted on opal is without doubt the most valuable, as it is the most attractive, article exposed for sale. Now we come to a little variety, however — the Canadian stall, at which Mrs. Fagan, Mrs. Kelly, and Misses Fagan and Maxwell dispensed tea and dainties to all who wished at a very reasonable rate. The stall was prettily arranged, as far as space would allow, in light blue with white laoe and greenery, the whole surmounted by Canada's legend in gold.