THE KING’S CARNIVAL, CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 11 August 1910, Page 1273

THE KING’S CARNIVAL, CHRISTCHURCH

OPENED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR His Majesty's Theatre (writes our Christchurch correspondent) has been completely transformed, its accustomed appearance giving place, so far as the ground floor is concerned, to a great arcade, flanked on either sideNvith gaily decorated stalls laden with wares, useful, ornamental, and in many instances of a costly nature. In nooks and open places side shows of many descriptions ply a vigorous crusade for patronage, while the intervening space is thronged with sightseers bent on improving the shining hours in pleasure and speculation. Operations were commenced by workmen after midnight on Sunday for the removal of seats, erection of stalls, etc., and before the hour of opening arrived everything was in thorough order. The manager of the carnival, the Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., and his energetic committee made every effort to accomplish this object, and if the initial success achieved is a forecast of the ultimate one, then there will be reason for congratulation and satisfaction. The formal opening .took place on Monday evening, when the ceremony was performed by his Excellency the Governor (Lord Islington). His Excellency, accompanied by Captain Shannon,, A.D.C., and Mr. R. Kerr-Clark (private secretary), arrived at the theatre punctually at 8 o'clock, and was received by his Lordship Bishop Grimes, Very Rev. lather Price, and Sir George Clifford. The Marist Brothers' School Cadets, looking smart and brisk in their new dark green uniforms, formed a guard of honor, and his Excellency paid them the compliment of an inspection. The Governor was warmly cheered by the assembled crowd as he entered the building, and also when he appeared on the stage to give his address. In a brief preliminary address (says the Press), tho Bishop said that the Catholics of Christchurch had for many years to be content with a large wooden building to' do duty as their principal church in the city. Ten years "ago they resolved to erect a temple more worthy of the Most High, and more in keeping with the increasing beauty of tins fair City of the Plains. Though not largely endowed with worldly wealth, the generosity of their people in their contributions had won universal admiration. The very poorest among them had given their guineas, and others had given their hundred or thousand guineas, according to their ability. They were ambitious,- and they resolved to have a finished cathedral, complete in all its richness and details, though by this they incurred a debt of £20,000, involving the payment of £IOOO per annum as interest. They were gratified and proud when they saw the new temple opened, in the presence, of, an illustrious predecessor of his Excellency, as well as the Prime Minister and a previous' Prime Minister of the Dominion. They were proud to hear the then Governor's eulogium that the Cathedral was the handsomest in the Southern lands, and the verdict of the press that, it was the architectural gem of New Zealand. The people had continued their generosity, with the result that not only was the interest paid, but the total debt had been reduced by £BOOO, leaving barely £12,000 still to be paid off. A short time ago it was proposed that the inauguration of the reign of King George should be marked by the holding of this carnival, celebrating in a pleasing manner the rise and onward march of the King's marvellous and world-wide. Empire. They were pleased to have the honor of welcoming his Excellency, and his condescension in acceding to the request to open the carnival was proof, if wanted, of his broadmindedness, proof, of his desire and determination to help every good and noble work. Words could not adequately express the indebtedness of the clergy and people to his Excellency. One could only hope that his stay in New Zealand would be one of pleasant and happy years, and that when Lady Islington and her daughter arrived they would share the happiness of those years, and be the recipients of Heaven's choicest blessings. His Lordship then invited his Excellency to open the carnival. His Excellency was received with cheers when he rose to address the gathering. He expressed his gratification at kind references which the Bishop had made to him, and the generous cordiality which the audience, had shown towards him. When the Bishop visited him in Wellington and asked him to assist in opening the carnival he had most gladly acceded to that invitation, and he had very great pleasure in being present. He knew that the object for which the carnival was arranged was very near the hearts of the Catholic people, and he could only hope that the result of the next fortnight's work would be eminently successful. It was hardly necessary for him to commend the carnival to the earnest and hearty support of the people. All who belonged to the Catholic religion in Christchurch had a very earnest desire that the carnival should be a very successful one, and that they would work unitedly to make it so. What they had accomplished in the past, aided to an incalculable degree by the Bishop, showed what they could still do. They had succeeded in establishing in this charming city a Cathedral of beauty and dignity, which stood out as a. conspicuous feature amongst _ buildings of architectural beauty, and which at the same time' conferred glory and honor on their Church. When he visited the

Cathedral he had been greatly struck with its beauty and dignity. He had always admired to a peculiar degree the style of architecture which had been selected. His Excellency referred in an interesting fashion to the beautiful cathedrals of Europe and the different* styles of architecture which they represented. He said that he had always looked upon two buildings in Europe as standing supreme in beauty and dignity—St. Peter’s, at Rome, and St. Paul’s, in London. The Catholic Cathedral in Christchurch had faithfully followed the basilica style, and he could congratulate them on the beauty and dignity of the building which had been erected. He was informed that the original cost of the Cathedral was £50,000, and that a debt of only £12,000 remained. It must be their aim to clear all the debt off the building, and have it standing in their city free of any encumbrance. , He was there not as a member of the Church, but as Governor of the Dominion, to do what he could to assist, realising as he did that Catholics represented an appreciable and important element in the community, and one whose efforts and aspirations should always evoke the sympathy of whoever occupied the position he occupied just now. Apart from that, he held that all movements and endeavors which had for their object the raising and elevating of the spiritual life, from whatever religious denomination they might come, should find in the King’s representative an active and sympathetic coadjutor. In the age in which they lived many were apt 'to look perhaps too much on the material side of life. The religion which some of them were taught in their younger days was now looked upon with a less amount of anxiety and more indifference in this age than it might be. Every occasion should be taken by those who held responsible positions to stimulate and encourage in every way those who were working to promote the work of the Church — a work which was becoming daily of increasing value and, doubtless, of increasing difficulty. The idea of a bazaar was not an original one, but until some genius devised a new method it would hold first position as a means of raising funds. He sincerely hoped that the carnival would be generously supported, and that before his term of office in New Zealand expired the Roman Catholics of Christchurch would be successful in extinguishing the whole of the liability on their Cathedral. He had much pleasure in declaring the King’s Carnival open. Cheers were given for his Excellency, who afterwards visited the different stalls. Seven stalls and a number of side-shows represent the business activities of the carnival, and each has a corps of assistants working in its interests. The stalls are distinguished by the names of countries in the Empire, and their contents are just about as diverse as the productions of the Empire. They are all in artistic settings, and their attractions are such that they must commend themselves to patrons. As far as the entertainment part of the programme is concerned, Signor Borzoni has shown that he is a past master in the arts of spectacular display. The stage is continuously the scene of attractive dances and tableaux. It would be difficult to arrange anything more brilliant than the grand march, in which two hundred performers in resplendent dresses and uniforms take part. The marching, dancing, and scarf drill are most effectively designed, and the whole has an entrancing effect. The concluding tableau, Britannia surrounded by the representatives of the Empire, was a remarkable effective finale to a brilliant spectacle. The programme included a set of tableaux, succeeded by a march and polka; court minuet, danced by naval officers and young ladies; a hornpipe by a group of children; a picturesque polka; 1 Our British subjects from Hong Kong,’ an amusing turn by some gaily-dressed and juvenile Celestials ; a Canadian dance; a duo, ‘ The teaser,’ danced by a little maiden and a sailor boy; the Spanish bolero, gracefully footed by Miss Barker ; a gay Parisian dance ; and a sash dance. The effectiveness of these spectacular items was enhanced by large mirrors at the rear of the stage, and also by the artistic effects of the limelight man. On the whole, it was an excellent entertainment . The following is a list of the officials and stallholders; Executive committee Manager, and treasurer, Very Rev, Thos. W. Price, Adm.; lion, secretary, Mr. E. O’Connor; committee, Messrs. R. Beveridge, T. Cahill, G. Dobbs, W. Hayward, J. R. Hayward, M. O’Reilly, J. Power, W. Rodgers, and J. J. Wilson ballot supervisors, Messrs. Geo. Dobbs and D. Steinmetz assistants, Misses M. Wharton and J. Cronin, and Messrs. P. O’Connell and W. J. Dobbs; musical director, Mr. H. H. Rossiter. Stall No. 1. —New Zealand (Addington congregation) Stallholders, Miss Sloan and Mrs. Wilson ; assistants, Mrs. Judd, Mrs. O’Leary, Misses M. Toorish, R. Toorish, K. Delaney, McAleer, Stevenson, Reiner, Granger, Dobbs, McDonald, and Egan. Stall No. 2. —Australia (Catholic Club and Tennis Club) —Stallholder, Miss McGuire; assistants, Misses M. Cronin, K. Redmond, M. Canavan, C. McKendry, A. Foley, M. Horan, D. Meachim, M. O’Connor, F. Gardner, A. Madden, A. McGill, and L. Payne. . Stall No, 3. —Africa (St. Mary’s congregation)—Stallholders, Mrs. W. Hayward and Misses Johnston; assistants, Misses Daly, . Bryne, Dennehy, T. Mahoney, W. Shaw, McGrath, Flynn, C. Mullins, Cassin, Davison, V. Harrington, and Harrington ; in charge of plant and flower stall, Misses Barnett; E. Haughcy, M. Harrington, and E. Harrington. * Stall No. 4.—lreland (H.A. Society)—Stallholder, Mrs. W. Rodgers; assistants, Mrs. McGillicuddy, Misses M.

Grainger, A. McGloin, M. Stevenson, Griffin, 'N. Toomey, Honnell, E. Rodgers, H. Toomey, J. Harney, , r . S -f, U No- Scotland (the Misses White)—Stallholder, j. liss Maud White; assistants, Mrs. Mead, Misses Loughnan, T>A«5 rop n ’xj E | Sl t? Lu T Coffey, McKeowen, McSweeney, 1 opplewell, Holehan, Holchan, Birmingham, and Grant. Mi. w 1 11 6.—lndia (Children of Mary)—Stallholder, Miss W alley; assistants, Mrs. Daly, Mrs. Green, Misses Murray, J. a O Connell > T J - Hughes, M. Harrington; L. McPhalen Anderson, W. Harrington, F. Nelson, S. Hannan, and J. Walley. m Stall No 7.—England (Refreshments)—Stallholder/ Mrs 7 V Cahill; assistants, Mrs. E. Bowler, Mrs. Saxton, Mrs. Duddendge, Misses Anderson, Burns, Cassidy, Commons, Brosnan, Dineen, Fanning, Hanna, Horan, Kearney, Knight, Lavery, Leader, Main, McCarthy, Rogers, Smith, Tasker, Chelan, A. Ryan, Harrington, Mr. N. Sturrock, Mr. P Amodeo - / Art Union Stall.— J. A. McKinnon, n + i S r e n, u (nnder the management of the Christchurch Catholic Club)—Model of St. Peter’s, Rome, monster jumble sale, shooting gallery, guessing competition, and the Pike.