BAND OF HOPE UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 142, 17 June 1910, Page 3

BAND OF HOPE UNION.

AXNTJ3L GATHERING.

The Auckland Band of Hope Union celebrated their 30th annual gathering in the Choral 'Hall last evening, the hall being packed by members and sympathisers of the' union. Mr. C.~ J. Parr presided, and .in his opening remarks said he was very pleased to preside at such «i large gathering of young, people devoted to the cause of temperance. He saw in the audience many friends of his from -whom he differed in matters of faith, in matters of politics, and various other questions, but he was able to eay that he was united with them, one and all, in anything making for the good of the young people of the country. (Applause.) They were doing something for the young people in the school syllabus on behalf of temperance, and those present would rejoice to know that the State teachers took a pride in inculcating into the minds of students a desire to become good and honest citizens. The Band of Hope was a great educational agency that must not be lost sight of. They were doing a work, unpaid—a great work in the true education of the children in this country. In conclusion, he hoped the young people •would not weary in the good work. There were other young people coming along, and it was their duty to help those others, as they had been helped," and if they did this there would be less need of hotels—indeed', there would be no use for hotels. (Applause.) The first part of the programme was then proceeded with. The choir, composed of over two hundred children, with Air. L. Falkner I as conductor, gave . the choruses, "Hip, Hurrah!" and "The Might of the Child," in an enjoyable manner. Miss L. Stokoe, in her recitation, "The Husband's Vow," displayed much dramatic power, and in response to continuous applause, gave as an encore, "Those Letters," in a pleaSing style. Another particularly good item was dumbbell display by twelve East-street Mission girls, conducted T>y Miss V. M. Arneil, "who herself gave a display of Indian club-swinging. This item received congratulatory remarks from the chairman, and these were well deserved. . The choir also gave the action songs, "Here We Stand" and "Sailors." In the second part of the programme, the Rev. J. Wilson gave a short address, in which he made an earnest appeal to the children to keep their records clean. Tho choir were responsible for two excellent action songs, "Jap Fan" and "The Fiddler and the Crocodile," while Staster Fagan and the choir gave "The Tinker." A pleasing item was the duet, "Only You," by Mis3 Stokoe and Master Fagan, a verse having to be repeated by way of an encore. The Ponsonby Baptist Band of Hope girls, trained by Miss Dimmock, gave pretty action song and drill entitled, "Rainbow," and the evening .concluded by a chorus from the ehoir,~"The Pledge Song." This evening, the programme, with a slight addition, will be repeated, and in itself it has sufficient merit to warrant a large attendance being present at the Choral Hall.