Maslerton

New Zealand Tablet, 31 December 1908, Page 17

Maslerton

Tho Town Hall, Masterton, was crowded on the even- Y nig of December ,14, on the occasion of the: opening of a - bazaar m aid of the funds of St. Patrick's, parish school. Ihe stage was set out very attractively (says the Waira- -'. ro'pa Daily Times), the background being a' semi-circle ofmirrors, and when; the pretty, young performers graced the ' boards, the effect was picturesquely striking to a degree.. The mam stalls were representative of England, Ireland and Scotland. The first-named, devoted to fancy goods' .....-■was in charge of Mrs. M. C. O'Connell, who was ably assisted by Mesdames Bmuiy, Mutrie, Collier, O'Neill Cooper, Denis, and 'Kendall, Misses McKillop and Stempa, and a number of young ladies as outside representatives, beotland attracted attention ' by a life-size model of a Highland lass, and the stall was managed by Mesdames McEwen and O'Meara, and Misses O'Callaghan (3), O'Leary (2), Connor, Hanley, and Duggan. In Ireland's bower the attendants were— -Mesdames Chapman, Nee, McEwen Johnston, Waters, and Hoar, and Misses Burke, Williams, Cashion, and Chapman. Mrs. Hourigan and Miss L. Stempa had control over the flower market and .Christmas tree. The commissariat was in charge of .Mesdames O'iDowd and Collins, and the. ladiejs, connected the serving of general refreshments were: Misses Chapman, ■"■ Hourigan, Donovan, Clarke, Frost (2), Timms (2), Curry, and Car rick. The heavy responsibilities devolving upon the secretary, - *Mr. F. J. Dupre, were discharged iii a' manner . reflecting very creditably on his organismg -ca--.pacity and untiring energy. A strong committee assisted' ■■ him, v the members of which worked: one and all with a will ' to ensure the carnival's succesfe»#*&Very Rev. - Dean Mc- 4 Eenna also supervised the programme,,. andv initiated and ■ suggested various devices to perfect the arrangements, ,a»d was ever ready with a kindly word of greeting to visitors and . manifested a general interest iiv^the evening's pro- ' .gramme. . '■. :• c .-, ' Shortly, after 8 o'clock the fair was formally declared .vopenby the Mayor (Mr. P. L. Hollings) v In the course of his remarks he said he esteemed it a very great honor to have- been asked v by very -Rev. Dean .-McKenna to perform; the opening ceremony: When that "gentleman had asked 3 :/him. to attend he took it : as ail instance of the broad-Y : mindedhess and liberality Iwhick alw^stj characterised the ; i Y Dean's work. ' YHe lived ih an ageY^en we were able JtoY tolerate each other irrespective of creeds/and although not '.a Catholic. himself he 'was? pleased " r df "'the opportunity fcoY be present decla^Ythe f unction : <%ap YHe wished Wi cbngß'a : talafe" : ihe'!;E^omptefs and »>those %s&s had -.worked ito>YprepareY:the; -various, branches on thel^splehdid' result '"of'-if „ rthgir. lahprs,.,., .There was! .a v debt^,o». , St, .Patrick's School^ of £300, which it was hoped to pay off "this week, and Ytt was his desire, to* see that accomplished. -^Fbr earnestness,-! sincerity, aiuT zeal the Catholics, 'said speaker, could '"! not be excelled, and, he. thought .that it was through the« zeal and earnestness wbichjthey. put, jnto. their work tftatl entitled, them to succeed as .'...they •.."always' had done. " '^ Dean McKenjia' ■'"thanked 'thY Mayor for his kindlyp remarks, and said he lioped the wishes expressed by liirfiVj would be as they- coincided- so .closely with higM own. • ,-.,.,-„..-. ...Y •■>• v ,- t ; --. . ._■•.-...■ T '•■■•-fl The musical' and. dancing "portion of the programmell was then proceeded with, ' : aiid : tlie large audience irasfl treated to" an entertainment wbich for variety and high-Yl class excellence, given as it was in addition: to the ordinary -I attractions of the bazaar, couH hardly be surpassed. There I

were nearly fifty exponents of the . various tdahces 'put" on, Y and the completeness of these, together with the artistic execution of tlie; figures and the very apparent' careful training of the; dancers, reflected-. greatly to the credit "of Miss Sullivan, who has worked assiduously for some weeks past in preparing those taking part. ;