MUSIC AND ELOCUTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 219, 15 September 1924, Page 8

MUSIC AND ELOCUTION.

! WELLINGTON COMPETITIONS. CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS. (By Telegraph.—-Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The local competitions ended on Saturday night. Championship awards are as follow:— Elocution. —Ladies: Mies A. Winkel (Dunedin). Men: B. Ginger (Wellington). Girls: M. Yates. Boys: L. Searle. Vocal.—Ladica: Miss B. Aydon. Men: E. Swain. A feature of the competitions this year was the introduction of Maori poi and canoe dances, which were a great success. Mr. J. F. Montague, who has just returned from the south, and who has"had a wide experience in eiich matters, says that this year's competitions were easily a record "for New Zealand in every respect. The entries totalled 3080, and the judges have been working very hard for three weeks, morning, afternoon, and evening. The standard reached in every eection —music, dancing, and elocution — was exceedingly high, especially in singing and elocution. The principal winners in elocution came from Dunedin and Christchurcli, though many of the Wellington competitors showed remarkable talent in these sections. Four outstanding competitors were: Miss Mary Cooley (Wellington), Miss Winkel and Miss Yates (Dunedin), and Mies Mavis Ritchie I (Christchurch). Mr. Barton Ginger (Wellington) was easily the most successful among the men. The children's sections were probably the most popular \ with the public, and the talent displayed by the young performers, Mr. Montague declares, was truly remarkable. A new element introduced this year was the Maori poi dances competitions. The public enthusiasm over these was unbounded, and excitement ran high as each set came forward. The attendance was enormous, and close on 50,000 people paid for admission during the three weeks' season.