Spanish Columbian Festival, Dunedin.

New Zealand Tablet, 22 November 1906, Page 24

Spanish Columbian Festival, Dunedin.

. . — « ■ The. goad w.ork S'i&Vers'^.oP Meroy:!*' are"; doing in South ; Dunedin,'; where theyVprov-idc-ail:- the"r. comforts of a home for- bver~ eighty fchildjfen, Jls well ~ known to all. 'Ilie-manner'an ""which "the spiritual, and temporal wants of these children are attended lias received well-merited praise from all who visit the orphanage. For some years after the establishment of the institution the Sisters -were accommodated in - 'a small cottage, which was altogether unsuitable, for the purpose. A few years ago the community decided lo erect a new convent, which would provide the necessary accommodation for the. / Sisters in charge of the orphanage and also of the parish school. To do this they incurred a heavy liability, and the festival now taking place has been organised, to" assist -in liquidating this "debt. Although there has been an annual .appeal on behalf of the orphanage, this is the first time the Sisters of Mercy -have asked for assistance on their own behaK, all ' -money realised for the orphanage being kept strictly for that purpose. That the committee _of management worked with considerable zeal and energy was patent lo all present at the opening ceremony on Monday evening, a s-His Majesty's Theatre "had undergone a complete transformationflags, banners, bunting, and Chinese lanterns being used to produce a most artistic effect. A cursory inspection -of the stalls was sufficient to show that the stallholders and their assistants had done their part ; the stock of goods on exhibition being as varied as it was artistic and valuable, it was a credit to local art, industry, and talent. "" • The committee consists of the, Rev., .. Father .Howard as chairman and treasurer, and- Mr. J." J. Marlow, secretary, with Messrs. .\V. Carr. J. Saunders, J. McCurdy, P. Fitzgerald, T. Hoare, C. A, Shiel, J. O'Connor, J. Mooney, J.. Hill, R. McLean, J. Rattigan, J. McDavitt, M. Mulquin, \V. Fulton, J. Mulholland, C. Coiumb, _J. Hally, F. -Fftzpatrick and J. Hughes. -;. - : ; - The following is a list" of the stallholders and their assistants :— Stall No. I*.—' Barcelona,'— (dolls and lollies). Stallholder, "Miss A. Helcy ; assistants, Mrs. Herbert, Misses Faulkner, Coiumb, Hughes (2), Tarlcton, Lcybuin, Bagley, Macdonald, Black (2), Keogh, Lestraiigc, Collins, Murphy, Salmon, Messrs. Herbert and Leyburu. Stall No. 2.—' Castille.'— Stallholders : Miss MacKay, Mrs. Mowal, Mrs. Cornish; assistants; Mes- , dames Crow, Breese, Misses Lamb, Mowat, 'Cotter, Cameron, Wyinks, Bunbuiy, "Heffernan, Anderson, McCarten, McDonald, O'Biien, Mount, Wilson, Jay, Rodgers Messrs. Calian and Mowat. Stall No. 3.—' America.'— Stallholders : Mrs. Mcc, Miss Faulkner, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. *Bernech ; assistants : Misses Ma-honey (2), Brennan (3), Hefu-rnan (-2), Mulholland, ,Tot Butler, Leonard (2), Francis, Nora McDermolt, Keir, Edwards, Lucy Mcc, Quirk, Reid, Messrs. Connors (3), Brennan (2), Mcc (3)' McLean, J. Mulholland, Quirk, Master T. Heffernan Stall No. 4.—' Madrid.'— Stallholders : Mrs. a Milne and Miss Carroll ; assistants f Misses Simmonds, Black Flynn, Mellick, Crow, Brown, Bourke, Otto, Collie, Carter, Doswell Lemon, Donn-er,- -Kilmartin, Wood, O'Sullivan, LawJor. Stall No. s.— (Children of Mary, South Duncdin).— Santiago. '—Stallholders : Mrs. Mario w and Miss Damford ; assistants : Misses Long, Sheridan £2), Perkins Dunford, McGowau (2), Rodden- (2), Francis (2) McBride, Messrs. Diumni, McCurdy, Turley, Gibbons, Rodden, Lynch, Fitzpatrick-. ... Stall No. 6.—- Monte Video.'— Stallholders : Mesdames 31 ecu an, Salmon, ■ Major, Foster; assistants: Misses Dickinson, Hemsley, Slattery, Tanner, N. Tanner, Pounds, Smith, Brennan, M. Brennan, Sweeney, J Sweeney, Hart, Griflin, O'Connor, A. G-'Connor Salmon. ... „ , - Stall No. 7.— ( tea rooms,'- flower stall and^fernery).Honda Espanola.'— Stallholder : Miss - .Staunton • • assistants.: Misses Bryant (3).,- Ilannan' (3)7 Brady, O Neill, Piirton, Milli£can,.«. Dougherty -(2), .John-son, Brennan, Tracey, Emslie,. gVanson, Quirk, Clancy, Power, Hanniffan, Messrs. Corcoran, Millea,- Turner, , Miles. In addition to a varied collection of dolls and art" needlework in -No. 1. Stall tbcre were also shown , some -excellent panels., in oils,/?one especially, o!" : being particularly noticeable, ■ whilst " a fine oil-painting of Lak» Manapouri., is\;sxire- to, attract attention because of . its artistic, merits; ■• --',■-- ;^ . In NoT r 2 v .Stall there is a fine exhibit of artistic goods, including , carved; tables, .screens, a carved- Moorlsh palm- stand, carved" Indian screen, specimens of • poker work, hand-painted • mirrors, oil-paintings, and a ' fine wardrobe' with carved panels. , " .

;" -;ln "the" American Stall" are displayed -various' specimens v. of art needlework, hand-painted cushions, ; art . wood work, painted rnjrroTs, , carved panels, - _in oils, Qil-pain tings, ,frirc.;sfcr'eens, etc: > -, \ J"-,, y. In the --Madrid Stair'tho; .principal -articles- are ■(■■ a , carved teakwood' screen;,- painted ' mirrors,' painted ■ - screens; cushions 'in various designs, carved oh-airs, .painted plaques, a pretty salad, bowl, and other valuable* articles. - . •>':1: 1 , In Stall No. 5. there are' among otjjfoeffrthingsHoo ' numerous - to mention a very fine sideb6^?a^ several - panted, mirrors, oil-paintings, iire- screens an applique and jewel - worti, plaques, panels in" oils;'!*- besides cushions, and many fine - specimens of arV needlework. ' .--- .In the Monte -Video Stall the collection includes painted mirrors, carved tables, chairs, >and coal scuttle ; cushions in various artistic designs, . and a comprehensive exhibit of needlework. L' "' The flower stall and fernery and tea rooms are -"located in the Victoria Hall, which lias undergone a complete transformation under the direction of Miss Staunton, who presides over this portion, of "the bazaar. Here is exhibited a very fine wardrobe, art-, istic in design atid^ ornamentation.' ' - The opening ceremony took place punctually -at eight o'clock. The Rev. Father Howard, -"addressing the large gathering, said he had to apologise • for the absence o,E the Mayor, who was to have- opened the - bazaar, and therefore he had to request the "Rev. Father Coney to perform the ceremony. The object of the bazaar was to assist ihose de-voted ladies; the nuns -of South Dauedin, in their good work. 'The good Sisters spent the whole' of their lives in "the training of the young, .and in caring for the waifs and strays, the homeless and fatherless. Their lives were devoted to ,tlns glorious work, and the 'object was to raise funds to provide a convent for the Sisters. The object, he was sure, would appeal to "all irrespective of docliinal feelings, and he felt stfre -the festival, which" they were about to inaugurate, would be a. great success. He had much pleasure -in: calling upon the Rev. Father Volley to open, the bazaar. - The Rev. Father Coffey said it was not easy for any one to address such a large audience at .so short a notice. When he came into the theatre he h-ad no idea that -he would be called upon to speak that night. Jhe Mayor had been asked and had promised to open the bazaar,, and it Mas only when he came into the theatre he .was infoimcd by the" secretary that his Worship had sent, woid at the last moment that he would not be present. It was unnecessary for him (the rev. speaker) to lefer to the object of the' bazaar, for this had been done by Father Howard." **%s object appealed to every Christian— it- was- to assist the Sisters oi Mercy in the great work they were engaged in on behalf of the children of the district. It appealed to every Christian, as far as his means would permit, to assist hi making the bazaar a success. That success would not depend so much on the opening but on the close, when he hoped Father Howard would be able to hand a substantial cheque to the Sisters of Mercy. 1 hey were looking for financial results, and to bring this about they would require the sympathy, co-operation, and generosity of all. He had to apologise for the absence of has Lordship the Bishop, who had always taken, a deep interest in the- work of the Sisters of Mercy and it would be a source of the greatest pleasure to -him to hear of the success of the bazaar. Before going away Ms Lordship had shown his sympathy with the undertaking by presenting a very handsome prize, "and he had entrusted a certain sum of money. to himself (the revspeaker) .as his representative to be spent' among the various stalls. The large audience which lie saw before him augured weli for the success of the bazaar and owing to their enthusiasm and generosity he trusted it would be possible, for Father Howard to hand over to the Sisters of Mercy a substantial token of the people's appreciation of the good work they are' doing. Father Coffey then . declared the festival open.- ■ -*- -; At the. conclusion of the opening ceremony the first part of the programme arranged -by -Si-ghor Borzom\v a s proceeded with.- The entertainment was full of life and color, arid was watched- with intense-interest throughout by -the.-- large ;, audience. The . - specta F cular'^eff ects ■■ Iwere-very-fine, the dances were most graceful, and- "the intricate parches, were - gone through with the"- - utmost precision. The inci-dental music to the tableaux, dances an f- n \ a r r - cI - ie §„^; a^ contributed by an .efficient orchestra, mvderi Mr: ;A ; >"F. Robeitshaw,. " may ;be here " mentioned that -Mr. . J.-O'-Connbr", who takes- %e part 'of Columbus, .and , .Mr. J.,:-Mulholland,.,:acted^as,.^.jdintMnah- : agsrs* of the spectacular part, of J the proceedings. > m Yfi'y sood • business was . done during -.Monday ;• and - ( Tuesday, levenings.- The,. bazaar"' 'will' be open every even: ' ing during this week, and, apart -altogether from ' the . deserving for - which the- fair is held, the -"spec- ■ tacular display is well worth the price of 'admission