RADIO CONCERT

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21866, 20 August 1936, Page 7

RADIO CONCERT

—♦- ANNUAL APPEAL FOR ORPHANAGES " ;? A SUCCESSFUL EFFORT The worthiness of the cause and the merit of the entertainment given in. the Radiant Hall last evening together made the annual broadcast concert for the combined Anglican, Presbyterian, and Methodist Orphanages an even greater success than it has been in previous years. The committee had this year worked strenuously to that end, and apart from the large attendance at the hall has every reason to believe that its efforts have met with the success they expected. Telephone calls were received continuously during the performance from all over New Zealand from radio listeners, stating the amount they were prepared to contribute in appreciation of the concert and of the work of the orphanages. No admission was charged at the hall, but a collection taken up realised £2O, and a donation of £3O was received there. Mr J. L. Hay, in opening the concert, said that he had been premised £5 if 10 others would give the same amount. He had received five sums of £5 before the concert, and appealed for a further five. They were received before the end of the evening. Youth organisations of the city have offered their assistance to conduct a house-to-house canvas of radio listeners to receive their donations, and when those from the country districts come in it is expected that the total will surpass the £7OO realised last year. Added to the street collection recently made the orphanages should benefit substantially from this year’s efforts. The concert last evening was of higher standard than previously, and was very well received, both by the audience in the hall and those listening over the radio, so far as the latter’s appreciation could be judged by remarks made over the telephone. The main part of the programme was provided by the members of the Optimists Club, under the leadership of Mr K. G. Archer, and their presentation of papular song hits were a. substantial part of the Evening’s success. Miss Bina Addy, the Indian mezzo-contralto whose singing attracted such attention on her previous visit to Christchurch, again drew rounds of applause for her singing in native costume of two wellknown negro spirituals. Perhaps the best received item of the programme was the native action song “Haele Mai Hemepara,” by the Tuahiwi Maori party. The Rev. L. A. North was the soloist for the Optirhists’ Club. The programme was as follows: —“Here We Are! Here We Are!”, “Pack Up Your Troubles,” “I Love a Lassie,” “Peggy O’Neill,” “Marching Through Georgia,” “Abe, Abe,” “Who’s Your Lady Friend,” “O, Listen to the Band,” Christchurch Optimists’ Club; “Side partners,” Messrs R. Simpson and V. Aldridge (of the Woolston Band); “A Hundred Pipers,” Mr J. Tennent; "Caller Herrin',” “Jock o’ Hazeldean,” Miss Cicely Audlbert; action song, “Haere Mai Hemepara," Tuahiwi Maoris; haka, “Peru. Peru” (traditional war dance), Te Roopu Pipiwharauroa; some humour, Mr H. Instone: “Angus McDonald,” Miss Nellie Lowe; “What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor,” “Billy Boy," “Blow the Man Down,” “Down Among the Dead Men,” Christchurch Optimists’ Club; poi dance, a mixed performance by the girls, (Te Roopu Pipiwharauroa); ■“Battle EVe,” Messrs J. Tennent and S. Andrews; "Go Down, 'Moses." “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” Miss Bina Addy: "What a Wonderful World it Would Be,” Master Ron Soutter; “My Bonny Lies Over the Ocean,” "Funiculi, Funicula.” “The End of the Road,” Christchurch Optimists’ Club.