THE COMPETITIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 122, 17 February 1919, Page 6

THE COMPETITIONS

A CHILDREN'S DAY GOOD ATTENDANCES The awakening interest in the Wellington music, elocutionary, and dancing competitions was shown by the large attendances at all sessions on Saturday. Tho programme was designed so to provide rfii interesting day for the children, and it entirely fulfilled all expectations. The children entered into the various-tests with (i keen zest which showed how much they enjoyed the work, and the Very best spirit prevailed-amongst them. That admirable spirit, infected the audiences, ten, and made for the happiest conditions.

The remits of Saturday's competitions were as follow:—

Piano Solo (10 and under 13 years), "Hnmorcske." from "Aquarcllen" (Gnde).

—Recalls—Gladys Turner (Lower Hutt), Marihella Pirelli' (Wellington), Edna Sneddon (Hataitai'. Highly commended— Miss Mavis K. Dillon and Master Raymond Sneddon. . Final—Edna Sneddon (142 points), 1-j Marinelia Picchi (140 points), 2. Recitation for Girls (12 and Under 10), "Hundreds of Years Ago" .(Bootey).Recalls—Pearl Jacobs (Wellington), Leah Hyman (Hataitai). Mary'Cooley (Wellirgton), May M'Donald (Kilbirnie). Commended—Mavis Halliday (Hataitai), Arita Home (Wellington), Aggie Atkins (Hutt), and Hazel Davies (Island Bay). -Bov.s' Snug (under lfi). Ow" selection. Recalls—Esmond Reid (Wanganui), Thomas Geor.ee (Wellington), and John Watters (Wellington). ' Patriotic Song for Indies. Own selection:—Recalls—Mrs.; Hallam 'Welling, ton), Miss Delia O'Connor (Wellington), and Miss Men Castle (WeHirifl-mi).

Recitation (boys under 9), "Tommy's Dreadful Dream."—Result — Lawrence F-arle, 141 points, 1; Pavfnoml (Wellington), Whitehead (Lvnll Bay), and Maxwell Bosher (Wellington). 139 points, 2; George. Power (Wellington), 138 points, 3. Reading at Sight (boy or girl ; iinder IS'.—Result—Leith Riddeil (Wellington), 119 points; Man- Cooley (Wellington), 140 noints; Leah' Hyman (Hataitai), 144 points. In this'section a. gold medal wos specials donated by Mr. Donald Gillies, of Cuba Street.

Children's Chorus (under lfiV minimum of twelve voices. Own selection.—Result —Maris! Bros.' School, Newtown, i:i"pts., 1; Aro Strept Mission, 134pts., 2.

Juvenile Choir, onen to any boiw-fide school choir or Sunday school choir, and not to exceed 30 voices; first prize, challenge shield presented by Becrg and Co.; second, certificate.—Result.—Marist Bros. School, Newtown; 152pts., 1; Aro Street Mission Sunday School.' 143p15., 2; Brooklyn Methodist' Sunday School, 141nts.. 3. Recitation (boys 9 and under 12), "The 1 amplighter."—Kesult—Harold Crawford, Wellington, 136pts., 1; John Neale, Wellington), 120pta., 2; Hector Larsen, Wellington, 128pts., 3. Character Recitation (boy or girl under 9), own selection.—R-ecalls—Fay Smith (Wellington), Maxwell Bosher (WellingStella Chapman (Christchurch). Highly commended—Betty Hoare (Lyall Bav), 'Mario Macarthy (Miramar), Joyce Whitehead (Lyail Boy). Phyllis Martin (Wellington), Sinclair Brown (Wellington). Final—Stella Chapman, 14(5 marks, 1; Fay Smith, 145 marks, 2; Maxwell Bosher, 143 marks, 3.

Action Recitation (boy or 1 girl 0 and under 12). Own selection.—R-ecalls— Ngaire Phipson (Wellington), Thelma Mken (Wellington), Hazel Hordwicke Wellington). Highly commended—Kath-, ieen O'Brien (Newtown), Hector Larson (Wellington), Jean Sutherland (Wellington), I'annv Hyman (Hataitai). FinalHazel Hardwicke. 148 marks, 1; Ngairo Phipson, '148 marks, 2; Thelma. Aitken, 142 marks, 3. ; Musical Monologue, Onen Class.—Final —Miss L. C. Adams, Christchurch, 175 marks, 1; Miss Fanny Kutner, Wellington, 173 marks, 2; Mr. F. Hargreaves, tir-vmout.il, 170 marks, 3.

High Ming in Costume (bov or girl unter 12).—Recalls—Constance Miller (Wellington), Jean MacLachlan (Wellington), Eehe Taylor (Wellington), and AVillie Brown (Wellington). Final—Willie Brown (% mark?),, 1; Bene Taylor (94 marks), 2; Jean MacLachlan (92 marks), 3. Sailor's Hornpine, in Costume (boy-or girl under 12).—Pecills—Willie' Brown, Thvllis M'Millan. Eenee Taylor. FinalAVillie Brown (82 points), 1; Phyllis M'Millan (81 points), 2; Eonee Taylor (77 points), 3. Operatic Dance (waltz time), girls under 12.—Recalls—Clarice Read, Roma Bitossi (Wellington), Sinclair Breen (Wellington). Final—Roma Bitossi, 1; Sinclair Breen, 2; Clarice Read. 3. .. Recitation, ladies, "The King of Denmark's Ride."—Finalf-Miss Hazel Jeffery, Hataitai (154 marks), 1; Miss Doris Stevens, Wellington (148 marks), 2; Miss Edith M. Sullivnji, Wellington (145 marks), 3. Miss iJthel Palmes, Wellington (143 marks), highly commended. Vocal Solo and Accompaniment, ladles and gentlemen.—Final-Mrs. Myrtle Haywood, Wellington (179 marks), 1; Mr. W. 'JI. B. Brittenden, Christchureh (176 mnrks), 2; Mrs'. B. Patterson, Wellington (173 marks), 3. Recitation, men, "Bannerman Rode the. Grev."-Fiual—Mr. F. Harereaves, Greymouth (149 marks), and Mr. L. H. G. Power, Wellington (149 marks), equal, 1; Hr. E. C. Smyth, Wellington (145 niaiks), 2.

i THE EVENING PERFORMANCE I The evening entertainment opened with I a children's play, /Courage," acted by Misses Gertrude Austin, Olga Gibberd, Iris Eggers, Fay Smith, and May Farquhar. It was a "quaint and pretty Dutch story, and the young people gave a very creditable interpretation. Miss Austin, iis the mother, showed considerable, ability. Three girls rln.ved the piano solo, "Hmnoreske" (Gride), and the judge, in announcing the awards, had something to say on the subject of pedalling. The effect of his remarks was tliat pianists ou"ht to neial with their heads and not with'their feet. The competitors •in the final of the operatic dance class were three well-trained and > naturally graceful children, Miss Roma Bittossi ("Coster"), Miss Sinclair Breen. ("La Beerc Suprise"), and Miss Clarice L. L. Read ("Cloud"). The dancing was excellent in all enses, and in giving first place to Miss Bittossi, with Miss Breen second, the judgo confirmed the verdict of the audience as indicated by the applause. Miss Breen's performance was a particularly attractive one. There was interesting'competition in the action recitation, bn'v or girl, nine to twelve years of age. The competitors recalled were %Miss Ngaire E. D. Phipson, Miss Thelma Aitk;n, and Miss Hazel Hardwicke. Miss Hardwicke, who is a child of talent, gave a really delightful dramatic rendition of the'old nursery Thyme "The House That Jack Built.'.' She managed to infuse into the familiar lines a surm'isimr amount of vivacious and dainty ' humour. Miss Phinsoii recited "A Lesson With the Fan" with diamine; ap- j ireciation of the possibilities of that useHil instrument of feniinino wile. Miss Aitken, who started nervously, but soon found her confidence, was effective in "The Lady Reciter Up-to-Date." Master \ Willie Brown's sailor's hornpipe was a ; particularly good •effort. The hoy's danc-' I ing was exact and clean finished, and he" followed faithfully the true -hornpipemovements without introducing any of the looseness seen often in stage dancing. Miss Phyllis M'Millan danced skilfully,and Miss Renee Taylor, who was much younger than either of the other comni'titors, also gave an excellent hornpipe. The pace set by the piper seemed a trifle 100 fast for her. Master Prowu was placed first also in the Highland (ling. In the character recitation class for children under nine years, the three recalled' competitors were all attract iv<\ Miss Stell" Chapman's Red Hiding Hood" showed that the child possessed dramatic W:i:!!». and Master Maxwell Hoshor's "Tlie Bootblack" was an excellent bil i-f characterisation. The youngest child, Mi<s l''av Smith, had the mc-4, formidable tast. She gave a ShaW'spearem scene. Prince Arthur, plcnilim; with Hubert to spare his eyes, and it is nn discredit to the little girl to say that she was overweighted. (-onsiderin-; lier age she did very well. In (ho. final of the musical monologue, Miss L. ('.. Adams won with a very . graceful and feeling interpretation of "A Bunch <rf Roses." Miss Doris Stevens's "Carry On" and Miss Fanny Kulner's "The Coward" were both co'"'is. Three ladies, iss Hazel Jefl'ery, Miss Doris Slovens, and Miss Edith Sullivan, I .♦

recited "The King of Denmark's Itido" in the final of the ladies'recitation class. They were placed in the order named, Mr. E. C. Smyth and -Mr. I' 1 . Hargreaves shared first honours in the men's recitation class, Che test piece being "Bannerman Rode the Grey." Mrs. Myrtle Haywood won in the vocal solo and accompaniment, with an artistic interpretation of "Nav, Tho' My Heart Should Break." Mr. W. M. Brittenden was second with a robust rendition of- "The Riderless Steed," and Mrs. Edith Patttrson, who sang "Happy Song" attractively, was given third place. The ovening entertainment was brought lo a close after 11 o'clock with an amusing comedietta, "At the Registry Oifice," played by Misses Doris Stevens and Fanny Kutner.

TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME. This morning the contest will begin for the Bristol Scholarship (piano ?olo). Other items will be sacred solo (soprano or mezzo-soprano), recital ion for ladies ("Tiie Chambered Nautilus"), Shakespearean recitation (under 21). . In the a'flerncon there will bo an oneratic solo for men; English song for ladies; song for girls under 16; sacred tenor solo; and the first section of the New Zealand test recital for ladies, and the, Shakespearean recitation for gentlemen. A very fine programme will bo given at the evening session, commencing at 7.45 o'clock.