POPULAR COMPETITIONS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2216, 31 July 1914, Page 9

POPULAR COMPETITIONS

; SECOND NIGHT. A crowd of some hundreds of people laughed, talked and applauded through the two-and-a-half hours' of amateur effort on tho second programme of the "Popular Competitions" at the Town Hall last night... Ml'., Alfred Boothman controlled as best -he could both the alnateurs and. the audience. The programme opened with a pillow-fighting - contest 0)1 •revolving poles. The various competitors, who ranged from knioker-bockered youngsters to sprout--1 ing manhood, whose elaborate coiffure was disturbed in hoart-breaking fashion by unmercifully wielded bolsters, made desperate attempts to put into operation the laws of gravitation, and unseating their opponents' with: their whirling pillows,. The final tussle was such a protracted affair that Mr. Boothman eventually nad to declare it a dead heat. The audience-.literally shrieked with delight whaa two 'of the competitors, after unseating each other, sundered apart the supports of the pole, and' sent competitors, supports, pole and all holus bolus.

, Then oame ladies' solos, and a batch of boys with mouth-organs.' The' first "organist," a very diminutive'juvenile specimen in blue shorts' devolved from one melody to another: in remarkably quick succession. He played in perfect tune, and apparently would have pursued his melodious path right through the entire programme but for, a warning hand that seized his jerkin and bade nim desist. He was the moßt pppular performer,- • I The second heat of the dramatic im- ■ personations only attracted two competitors—a lady and, gentleman, the honours going to the former. Tlie two ■ other contests wertr for dancing. The following are tho, results of the various contests: —. Pole and pillow fight—Messrs.-R. A. Nixon, L. Thompson, J2. Jenkinson, L. A. Stebbing, Grant, and Campbell, who will all compete in tho final. Ladies' vocal solo—Misses Vernon and Myers (equal). Mouth-organ contest—Master Clifford Sherivin, 1; It. A. Nixon, 2. Dramatio impersonation! (second heat)— Miss Aitkon, 1. La Rinka Dance —Miss Maule and Mr. Martin,el; Miss Jonson and Mr. Ansell, 2. ' , . Children's dance (second hoat)— Misses Noyer and O'Leary, and Masters Rowell and Dentice all to compete in the final. ' . During .intervals in the programme M. and Mddle* Craus .gracefully gave exhibition dances. '... . . . The competitions will be iontiuued j this evecins. : J