ORPHANS' CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 14, 17 July 1923, Page 9

ORPHANS' CLUB

A SUCCESSFUL EVENING,

Another large audience spent a happy and well-amused evening at the Town Hall last night, when .the Wellington Orphans' Club gave a successful entertainment to their lady friends, who gathered in great force. The cafe chantant arrangement, which is a feature of these cheerful evenings, was adhered to the tables being centred by conical caps of brilliant colouring, which, when lifted disclosed some very desirable eatables for supper. It was a matter of regret that His Excellency the . Governor-Gen-eral, who. is the patron of the club, was not. sufficiently well to be present, and his apologies were made by Orphan Dr. Izard, the president, who also welcomed the guests in a brief and courteous speech.

The ever-useful Tutankhamen came in for the chief theme.for a bright, amusing programme, taking the form of an extravaganza, written . and produced by Orphan W. B. Lambert. The first scene opened at the Orongorpngo Cainto, where in a long "smoke-oh" for sucli busy men as the workers at. the place, very excellent solos were given by Orphans W. Ooudie, Esjcrton Pegg, P. Barcham, p! Martin. J. Osborne, W. Lambert, and T. Goodhall (cornet), with a delightful unaccompanied quartette by. Orphans Mayall, Howe.. Church, and Hall, Orphan R. Moore following: with another good solo. Then, through the agency of a remarkably active monkey, personated by Orphan. Dave Halley, there was an explosion of dynamite,, and all present were blown over to the site of the-tomb of Tutankhamen. This weird' region :s introduced by a Spirit Dance, well executed by Orphans B." Sims. G. Martini J: Hunt, F. Chin, and Ted Edwards! The filmy costumes were well designed, and the mysterious waving of arms and garments carried out'according to character by the dancers, received much ap. plause, and not. a little laughter, . the quaint-ness of seeing men gliding and' waving overcoming most of those present with hopeless merriment. The Spirit, of the Tomb (Orphan. Hodge's) gave a baritone solo, "The Persian," and was followed by another tuneful quartetteOrphans Phipps, Campbell, Goudie, and Brown The company gave an effective Echo Chorus," followed'by "Invictus '* given by Orphan Church. The mummy dance was exceptionally good,, and was performed by the same dancers as those who gave the spirit dance, both bein°arranged by Miss Estelle Beere. to whom much credit is due. Orphan Mayall's tenor solo, "Nirvana," was good, as <ils3 ,was that given by Orphan ' W. B. Brown, "Long Ago in Egypt." The humorous song, "In the Days of Tutankhamen" contained some matter for applause and laughter, and wSth another specially.written quartette. ."Awake Tutankhamen." followed by'a.duet-' and chorus, a clever and amusing entertainment came to a close. The cast of eha*acters included the -.following:—Foreman, P. Tsbister; Bob Sempletbn, Fraser. Thompson; Ganger, Ash Edward; Waiter, V. Oswin; Chinese .Cook, P. Barcham, who also appeared as Tutankhamen; -Swagger, T. Goodhall; Antonio, W., B. Lambert; Wagoner R Moore; Egyptian Priest, V. Oswin : Doctors, E. Nolan and A. Pickett; Prime Minister, J. F. Carr: Sir Harry Lauder P. Isbister; Admiral of the Fleet. Culford Bell. The introduction by Tutankhamen of the last-mentioned well-known men, as having been with him thousands of years ago, caused much amusement, as also did the finding of an ancient parchment, which, when opened after "much care and trouble proved to be the plans for Lambton Station, which also had waited for realisation since before ths 'Stone Age." •

_ Supper'followed the entertainment. and: in the Concert Chamber was a good orchestra which played for the younger folk while the large hall was being cleared for dancing. The musical director was Orphan H. E. Wilson ;' stage managers, H. Liardel and E. A. Herron ; scenery (excellent),'by Orphan Ted Edwards and H. Liardet.and by kind favour of Mr. Bert Royle. The pianos were lent by The Bristol. The proceedings began with the-National Anthem", and a' good overture by the orchestra under the leadership of Orphan T. Gbodhali. Among those present were:—Colonel R. J. Collins, C.M.G.. and with him his granddaughter. Miss Margaret Collins, Colonel Esson, C.M.G., Mr. and: Mrs. E. A. Batt, Mr. and Mrs. D. Maclaren Mr and Mrs. M. Carr. Mr. and Mrs. J Tfiasdale, Mr. W. H. Bennett. Mr. and Miss Harcourt, Sir John.and Lady Luke. Mr. and Mrs. J. Hislop, General and Miss Robin, Mr. and Mrs. P. Easson. Mr. .and Mrs. Bert Royle. Mr. and Mrs! Page, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Brown, Dr. nnd Mrs. Herbert, Major and Mrs. Gibbs, Mr. and Mrs Spear, Mr. and Mrs. Williamson, Mr. and Mrs. Grant. Misses Isaacs, Cameron, Messrs. Pritchard. Cate, Kerr; Robertson, Meadowcroft! Brownjohn. Hornis;. E. Nolan, G. Martin, Sims, H. D. Edwards, Churchill, S. Smith, Oswin, and many others.

The French entertainment' to Have been given on 3rd and 4th August by the punils of the Girls' College, and for which tickets are already issued, is postponed till the 10th'and 11th of August, owins; to the Girls' Week-end being fixed for the former dates. '

The early settlers are coming to the fore again with a dance, which will be held at their hall in Brougham street, and which will, no doubt, be as happy and sociable an occasion as their functions usually are. Mr.' W. A. Edwards is making the arrangements, and it ia hoped that members of the association, and representatives of pioneer families will endeavour to" attend the dance.

A number of matters of interest were ■brought before a meeting of the Women Prisoners' Welfare Group yesterday afternoon; at which Mrs. J." Henderson presided. In reply to. a letter from the group concerning the Spa-h----linger treatment for tuberculosis, 'the Prime Minister said that the subject was receiving close attention from the Hi"h. Commissioner's Office in London. It w"as' reported that a visit .from Nurse Webster, the Red Cross representative nurs* who had received the special training at Bedford College, London, had been paid to' "Point Halswell.' Her talk' about "Personal Hygiene" was'of great inter.' est to the inmates. A hearty vote of thanks was passed-to Nurse Webster also to. Mr. Tiller for' the gift o f one of his pictures, to be disposed of for the benefit of educational work at the Point; thanks-were-also due-to Mrs. Smith, Matainui, West-land, for a donation of IBs ■ to Mrs. G-rogan .for ' ;{f^ of knitting'wool and books; and te Mrs. H. S. Hadfield for needlework, books. and patterns for the inmates, (hese latter gifts being likely, to be of both: use "and pleasure' to ■ the needle-workers at; the institution, pi . whom .'there are several ezcslleut oaee.'' ' .

The following resolutions were passed by the Women Prisoners' Welfare Group at a meeting held yesterday, and are to be forwarded to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice: "(1) That in view of the facilities afforded at Point Halswell and Addington for the reformative care of female delinquents, tha Government is urged to insist that all sentenced Jferiiaie offenders be committed to these institutions. This society is strongly of opinion that the present system whereby delinquents are committed to the care of -private institutions though fully staffed, well equipped Stale institutions with their accommodation less than half utilised are maintained, is ;v grave economic waste. This society is also of opinion that the State should assume sole control of all sentenced fe-n-ale delinquents, leaving to privats institutions the wide field of much-needed preventive and after-care work." Another resolution was passed: "That this society express satisfaction at tho reintroduction of the Women Justices of the Peace Bill, also at the proposed amendment to permit women to act as jurorsIi) regard to the last proposal, this society trusts' that the" Bill will be so worded that where women may require to plead exemption- on the ground of domostic or family obligations they may bfl able to do so without'personal attendance at Court."

Mrs. Bidwill (Featherstou; is staying at the Royal Oak Hotel.

Mrs.. Weston and Miss M» Ward havo le;t for a visit to Sydney. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Tripp have le.ft lor their home in Canterbury. Miss Doris 'Russell has returned to Curistchurch after spc-ndiu" some weeks in Wellington. ' ■■"...

Miss B. Cameron has returned to Wangaiiui after a visit to Wellington. Mrs. Duncan Stout is paying a visit to the Wairarapa.

Mrs. Wall and Mrs. Earle. of Wan<™mu paid a brief visit to.Wellington last week. .

. Mrs. Westmacott is the guest of Lady Bell at Lowry Bay.

Mrs W. Glenn has left for a visit to the Jhsses Nolan, at Auckland. Lady Johnston i s staying at the Hotel i^ec-il at present.

Sir George and Lady Clifford have returned to Christchurch . after spending race week in Wellington. Sir Charles and Lady^ Campbell^ have returned to Christchurch from Wellington. , °

The fortnightly social gathering of the Australian Club is to' be held on Wednesday evening.

A ball which is being anticipated with a great deal of pleasure i s that of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club, which will take place in the Concert Chamber The chaperons will be: Mesdames -W Duncan, B. Clarke, and J. E. L. Cull Members of committee include: Messrs. Ewart, Nicholson, Duncan, .Blair, and Rowntree. The secretary £or the affair is Mr. D. Chatwin, of Brougham street. The members of the Hataitai branch of the W.N.R. held a 500 afternoon last week at the residence of Mrs. J. Arcus Hataitai road. Mrs. Arcus and Mrs! I3ear were the hostesßes, and donated the prizes. The. prizewinners.,'were Mrs. I'ortune and Mi-s.-.-Penlingtow. -n?he'-pr»-sident, Mrs. Bear,; thanked Mrs. Arcus, on behalf of the members for placing her residence at the disposal of.'the branch It was intimated that a gift tea for Violet Day would be held at an early date. ■ . . ■