Waimate

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 21, 28 May 1908, Page 24

Waimate

St. Patrick's Catholic Church at Waimatc (says the 1 Press '), which is now in course of erection, is sufficiently forward to show that it will be a beautiful and commodious church building. Towards the expense of the building £1000 is already in hand, and the balance, about £1000, it is expected will be realised by the proceeds of ' The Grand Imperial Fair ' opened on Thursday in the Waimatc Volunteer Drill Shed. There was a large assembly of people at the opening. „One side of the hall was taken up with five good-sized stalls well filled with pictures, embroidery , work ' of various kinds; and other useful and ornamental articles. The stalls had the emblems and words ' Dominion,' ' Ireland,' ' England,' ' Scotland,' and ' Produce ' respectively over them, and each was in charge of a number of ladies. The other side of the hall was occupied by a shooting gallery. In introducing the chairman , (Mr. N. Francis), Very Rev. Father Regnault acknowledged with gratitude and pleasure the able help of Fathers Aubry and Tymons. He said he was sorry to leave Waimate after nearly twenty years' residence there, during which time he had many pleasant experiences of the kindness _of the people. Sir William Steward, M.P., and Mr. John Manchester also spoke,' and the bazaar was then declared open by the chairman. A very pleasing, picturesque, and well organised 1 '-floral dance ' by forty girls was carried out in perfect

order, style, and time, to the music of a string band. Good business was done at the stalls, and it is proposed to continue the bazaar until the 3Uth i'nst. Among those present at~ the opening was the Yen. Archpriest Le Menant des Chesnais.