GIFTED LYTTELTON

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18914, 1 February 1927, Page 2

GIFTED LYTTELTON

SINGER. PRAISE FOR MISS MERLE MILLER [THE PRESS Special SerTlee.] WELLINGTON. January 31. ••In the course of time it niay be found practicable to establish in New Zealand a school similar to the State t'oiiservatoriutn and thus develop to the fullest extent the capabilities of its gifted young people." Thisi remark was made to-day by Mr Roland I'oeter of the Stato Conservatoriuin of Music, Svdnev, who is just commencing a world tour via the United States and lire-it Britain, and who is a passenger with Mrs Foster on the Maunganui. Mr Foster will combine business with pleasure, having a number of engagenieirts fqr lectures and broadcasting recitals and further, owing to the suetcss of Miss Ethel Usborn in London, ho" has received a number of invitations to teach there and jvill do so during Mav, June, and July. "In the course of the Wellington competitions, which I was privileged to judge," said Mr Foster, "I heard a number of performers whose work displayed promiso of an unusual degree, and 011 the occnsion of my last visit I •idvieed one of the winners, Miss Merle Miller, of Lyttelton, to conic over to the .State Cnservatorium with a view to embracing a professional career. This young lady's remarkable success, as a student has fully justified expectations and there is no doubt that if 6iie perseveres she ought to go far in the musical world." Dramatic Soprano. Miss Stiller went to Mr Foster ds a contralto but her voice has extended upwards until she now sings dramatic mezzo-soprano roles, and in Mr Foster's opinion and that of Damo Clara Butt will finally become a dramatic soprano. At the end of the year s work Miss Miller was entered for the highest grado examination in singing, winch represents ordinarily three years of study. Not only did she pass with honours but in the advanced pianoforte section came out at tho top of the list, beating all tho students who were taking tho pianoforte as their chief 6tudy. In other musical and theoretical subjects Miss Miller also took honours. This indicates tho possession of musical gifts and attainments of exceptional merit. Although Miss Miller is specially mentioned, Mr Foster added that she whs a representative example of tho talent possessed by New Zealand, and ho feels assured that many others brought under public notioe at tho competitions would meet with equal success if it was within their power to pursue an intensive course of study at an institution like the Stato Conservatorium. "Perhaps in the course of timo it may bo found practicable to establish in New Zealand a school similar to the Stato Conscrvatorium and thus develop ♦o the fullest extent the capabilities of its gifted young people," he said. Mr and Mrs Foster will travel about 20,000 miles in the couree of their tour, which will last about nine months.

WEDDINGS. SEPIE—HALPIN. The Sacred Heart Church, Addington, was tho scene of a wedding recently, when Margaret Mary, only daughter of Mr John Halpm, and the late Airs Halpin, was married to Francis J.oseph, youngest son of Mrs Sepie and the late Mr Sepie. The bride was given away by her father, and tho wedding ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father O'Connor. Also present were: Itev. Fathers o'Regan, Hanrahan (2), Halvey, McKay, Quinn, and McEwan. Appropriate music was supplied by Mrs McCormick. Ivory georgette, heavily embossed with beads, formed the Bride's frock. The lone train of white georgette, lined with pink crepe de chine, was caught on th? shoulders with orange blossoms. The veil fell from a coronet of orange blossoms to the hem of the dress, and a bouquet of mountain lilies and maidenhair fern completed a dainty toilette. The bridesmaid, Miss Gertie O'Meara (West Coast) wore a charming frock of bois, d& rose, made on simple lines, with a picture hat to match. Pale pink gladioli and carnations with maidenhair fern composed her bouquet. The little uower girl, Joan Sepie, niece of the bridegroom, wore a pretty white georgette frock with goffered frills, and mob cap of silk tulle. The bridegroom was attended by his brother, Mr J. Sepie. Following the ceremony, the relatives and friends were entertained at Ballantynes. Mrs James O'Regan (Inangahua Landing) received the guests. She wore a rosewood frock witholack satin hat, and carried a bouquet of apricot roses. On leaving on- her wedding tour, tho bride wore an ensemble suit of wine repp cloth, with crinoline hat to hatch.

PETT-DOBBY. A wedding was celebrated at the Methodist L'liurch, Lyttelton, recently, when Ajinie Lillian, third daughter of Mr and Mrs J;'. Dobby, of Hawkhurst road, Lyttelton, was married to James Baden Hamilton, son of Mrs and the late Air J. M. Pett, of Catford, England. 'lhe ceremony .was performed by the Rev. B. Dubley, and Miss Foster presided at the organ. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a simple frock of ivory crepe de chine, trimmed with silver leaves. The hand-embroidered veil was arranged with a cpronet of pearls and orange blossom, and she carried a bonquet of white hothouse flowers. Miss Jessie Dobby attended her bibtcr as bridesmaid, and wore a mauve crepe de chine frock, and a band of mauve tulle round her hair. She carried a bouquet of pink and white hothouse flowers. Little Beatrice Smith, cousin of the bride, acted as flower-girl, •wearing a. frock of pink crepe de chine and rose buds round her nead. She carried a basket of mauve and pink flowers. The duties of best man were carried out by Mr Keith Loader, of Lyttelton. On leaving the church the bride was presented b.v her sister Irene with a lucky black cat. After the ceremony a reception was held at the residence of the bride's parents, where Mrs Dobby received the quests wearing a smart blue frock and hat to tone. Later, the happy couple left by motor amid showers of confetti. The bride wore, over her travelling frock, a black silk Ottoman coat trimmed with -srhite fur, and hat to match. SEARCH FOR FILM STARS. "The girl in the pictures" is always of great interest to her sisters in the more work a day world, and it is no wonder ttiat there arc so many entrants for the competition being conducted throughout the Dominion by the First National Company. At the Crvstal Palace last night, the compete tion was started in Christehurch, with a parade of fourteen pretty girls of varying types and styles. Some were shingled, some Eton cropped, and some had long hair; and their dresses were -g varied as their coiffures. One girl wore a dainty cyclamen frock with petalled skirt, another a turquoise-blue velvet plainly cut, another a frock of black and gold, and another s 6imply* . mode apricot eouple satin.

SUMNER DANCE. A very enjoyable danoe was held by the Sumuer-Redcliffs Rowing Club on Saturday, the first of the series of dances to held in the' Rcdcliffs Community Hall. The hall was suitablv decorated with the club colours (blue and gold), greenery, and coloured pinwheels. Fred Smith's Marimba Band supplied the music. Tho dancers were: Misses P. Ellis, L. Ellis, D. Ellis, P. Neave, M. Neave, M. Hullett, M. Tumor, M. Howard, K. Healey, A. Conjerford, A, McGrath, 0. Carter, K. Blackwell, J. Milne. J. Etheridge, E. Cunningham, R. Newbory, J. Lyall, R. Willis, T. Willis, H. Monk, E. Mitchell, N. V. Corten, G. Dale, I. M. Carter, I>. Fluerty, A. Hannahy, D. Neave, L. S. Wood, HL C. P. Wing, J. Wing, Barrow, T. Barrow, C. Hines, is. Hullett, E. Etheridge, J. Abernethy, R. C. Nevill, G. Ell, D. Blackwell, A. Kellenbrig, G.* D. Barker, R. W. Gormack, D. Hogarth, Henry, Jackson, V. G. Swift. M. G. Wills, D. Colo R. Blackmore, M. B. Roberts, S. Nielson, J. Walton, M. Bowman, J. Marshall, A. Sutherland, D. Fisher, M. Dawe, G. Samuel, C. R. Mosom, R. E. Brown, T. Smith, G. Tomlinson, W. Gopperth, R. Lethaby, and W. Hunt. The City Council last night approved aud adopted regulations under the new traffic by-law. On the motion of Crs. C. P. Agar and A. a resolution was carried, in exercise of the Council's powers conferred by By-law 14, revoking all regulations heretofore made under Sections 187 to 321 inclusive of By-law 1 and adopting the regulations. They will come into force on February 10th.