DUNEDIN COMPETITIONS

Evening Star, Issue 15910, 16 September 1915, Page 4

DUNEDIN COMPETITIONS

P.'-Vr- - - »' / j ,JI, V ‘ - - i Frasi Dax.-t-Wednesiiat! ‘ ■ - - The Dunedin Competitions Society commenced their 14th annual festival yesterday, and the first evening’s audience was satisfactorily largo when all conditions are considered. In the unavoidable absence •• 'Of tho Mayor, Mr F. W. Calvert presided. In the course of a few. preliminary rek- ; - marks the chairman said that this was the , 14th year of tho existence of the Competitions' Society, That it had been in existence so long was 'satisfactory proof that the work .was appreciated, and the, committee might fairly claim to have estab- : dished the life of the,society. Some kindred societies had not been so fortunate. They had had a short and meteoric life. . The Dunedin. Society- had been enabled to cany on from three chief causes: (1) They had never aimed at giving extravagantly large prizes; (2) the society had been managed by’a- committee of men who were in no way connected with the professions whose work it was to train competitors; . and (3) they committee had always endeavored to obtain from outside Dunedin gentlemen in the front rank of their pro fession to act as judges.' The result was that prizes gained m the competitions here ‘Were valued. Last yeas., unfortunately, the society, in holding the festival, had met with heavy financial loss, but personally- he did not regret having held it. The committee had been thanked for so doing by a multitude of teachers, parents, and pupils. This year, again, it was W,ith grave misgiving's that tho committee faced the heavy responsibility attendant on these competitions, but their decision to carry on had been governed by the knowledge that not to go on would have disappointed the large number of competi- • tors, and. inflicted loss upon a large body of teachers. Ho was assured that the work of the society was having a good effect upon the community, inspiring enthusiasm among, pupils, and keeping up v the standard of the professions in Dunedin. This year they were starting the evening sessions at 7.30. In concluding, Mr Calvert introduced the judges, both of Whom made a few remarks, . Results of the day’s work were as under;— * LITERATURE. ESSAY, Amateurs— The Merits of Town • v Planning.’ First prize £1 Is, second prize certificate. Mrs J, Lambert (Auckland) " 1 A. Phillpot (Invercargill) ► . 2 Reginald Day (Dunedin) 3 Other competitors: Mrs Kate Downing • and Herbert Hall,

The judge (Mr A. Bathgate), in his comments on the essays, said there was very little difference between them.* Not one of them stood out as of superior excellence, and they all disclosed defects.

DRAWING. DRAWING COMPETITION, for . school children 12 years of ago and under— Drawing in ■ pencil of a plant from Nature. First prize gold medal, second book, third certificate. W. L. Cross (Taieri) 1 C. E. Wilkins (Anderson Bay) 2 Other competitors: A. R.. Reid (Taieri). Elya Baker (Dunedin), Sybil Baker (Dunedin). and William Stevenson (Dunedin). DRAWING COMPETITION, for school children.over 12 and under 15 years— Original design iri color, to he accompanied by drawing of plant, in which design was based. First prize silver medal, second book, third certificate. J- J. Cross (Otokiaj ... ... ... q Miss G. IJ. Wilkins (Anderson Bay) ... 2 “Bcrdidous” ... ‘ 3

DRAWING COMPETITION, AmateursDesign for programme coVer, suitable for- reproduction , in half-tone, printing , worked in design to be “Dunedin - Competitions Society Official Programme.” First prize silver medal, second bonk, third certificate. S. Prouse (Dunedin) and Miss E. M. Thomas (Christchurch), equal 1 Other competitors: Elva Baker and Olive Halligan. MUSIC. (Judge; Mr Hector R. Maclean, Sydney). lIANO DUET, Amateurs, 16 and under IS years—-‘Bpain’ (‘Prom, Foreign Parts.’ Moszkow.ski).. Prizes, £2 2s and 10s 6d. , Misses Ellen M‘Dowell and ivv Hume , 85 . ... , ’ i Misses D. Nanmann and Adonia Aiti ken, 78 ... 2 Misses Nellie Varney and Gwen Bennett, 70 ... ’. ... . 3 .Also competed: .Miss Marjorie Stoneham and Miss Jennie Leslie. 68. The judge said the performances had • • been really very good, but Misses MT)owell and Hume, bad been best in . their balance and lone color. Those taking third place had not been so good at the finish. INSTRUMENTAL TRIO (Piano, Violin, and ’Cello), Amateur—Own selection. Prizes, £3 3s arid £l Is. Mr Leu. Swan (violin), Mr- Phil Palmer (cello), Mr Warwick Braithwaite piano), Haydn’s trio in O minor, 80 1 ■, These were tire only competitors. Tho judge said the performance had been a very charming one. There had been nothing “brassy” about it. BARITONE SOLO, Amateurs—‘A Memory,’ 1) flat (Goring Thomas). Prizes, £2 2s and 10s 6d. J. H. Cocks (Christchurch), 76 1 John Jacobs, 71 2 F. M. Perkins, 70 3 Also competed: Russell’V. Ritchie 56, W. E. G. Carr 52 ( Anthony Spears 57- 0 ‘ Firkin -62, J.- H. Kerr 61, £. J. Chapman 59, TV. W. Strang 62, George Proctor 65, Hector S. Mackay (Middlemarch) 46. The judge said the three recalled competitors had been better than they had been in the afternoon, but two had-im-proved more than the other one. Mr Perkins had been a trifle throaty in portions of the solo, and Mr Cocks had finished a ■trifle jerkily. SACRED SOLO, Soprano. Amateurs—‘Hear Ye, Israel’ (‘Elijah,’ Mendelssohn). Prizes, £2 2s and 10s 6d. iMifs Rebekah Carr (Dunedin), 81 ... 1 Miss Can was the only competitor. Tho judge said Miss Garris performance had been pleasing, but her voice was somewhat metallic, and there had not been - sufficient contrast between the movements. It was a very difficult solo to sing, and few artists cotlld do it the way it should ho done. This young lady had done very well, and was worthy of.the prize. . .-SONG, Amateur, Ladies (without- music and accompanied by self)— Own selection. Prizes, £2 2s and 10s 6d. Miss Alma Le Fevxe (Palmerston), 85 1 Miss Meda Paine, 8l ... ... 2 Miss Conic Aslin, 77 ... 3 Also competed: Miss Annie Yuill 67. The judge said there was no serious fault to .he jpund with the performances, and as far as the recalls were concerned two of the accompaniments had been somewhat difficult. PIANO SOLO, 16 years and under 18 yeairs— ‘Invitation to Waltz’ (Weber). First prize, scholarship, entitling the successful competitor to one year's •■free tiiitibrt. (teacher id be selected by winner); second prize, £1 Is. Recalls: James G. Johnston, Miss Adonia S. Aitken, Miss Hilda Balk. Also comp fed: Miss D. Naumatin 70, Miss Marjorie Stoneham Miss Myra Ilauph (Duntvcon) 69, Miss Nellie Varney 78 Master Malcolm Gray 77, Miss Gwen v ■ Bennett 59, Miss Jennie Leslie 56, Miss Florence Matches (Oamaru) 71, Miss : Agnes Lawlof (Waimatc) 74. This com- ' p petition will conclude to-night. ; ’ ELOCUTION. - (Judge, Mr W. J,. Paine. Melbourne.) ' ■RECITATION, amateurs (ladies). ‘ Auto- - biography of a Wedding Ring.’ Prizes, £2 £s and 10s 6d. *' .Miss Julia Millar (Port Chalmers), 80 1 w ’Miss Irene Aslin, 78 ... 2 Miss E. Johnstone, 77 ... ... 3 Also, competed; Miss hit a Morrison 63, Miss Iris Ramfeay 67, ; Miss Ella M'Cleary . 62. Miss -E. MTeak 75, Miss -A. Stubbs . 60, -Miss May_ Coulter 68, ’Miss Daisy M. Nowey 60, Miss' Molly M. gmimonds 69, , Mrs Joseph. Black 58, Miss Rita Gillies 75, ‘ Miss Daisy Smith 60.

v Mr Paine said Ti6 was sure the auSssjoe recognisedtha osany dlfficultiesin connection with this rotation. .The chief of mpso lay»in • suMletles of intonation and We niceties of expression necessary, and it was in this respect, in creating the atmosphere, that most of the competitors had failed.. As for the work of the evening, the audience would not thank him for minute criticism, but he hoped that every competitor would personally interview him during this demonstration, for he was persuaded that in conference with the adjudicators lay the most important educational value of these competitions. RECITATION, humorous, amateurs (ladies). Own selection. Prizes, £1 Is and 10s 6d. . _. Ml 88 ® n : Billcliff (Christchurch), 78 1 Miss Lizie Adams, 76 ... 2 Miss M. Thraston, 72 ... ‘.7. !!' 3

Also competed: .Misses Lottie Clarkson 51, Ella M'Cleary 52, E. D. South 51 Lillian Foster 52, A. Stubba 54, Daisy M Newer 62, Hilda Swift 49, Victoria Jefferson 54, Airs Joseph Black 50, Mrs Johnstone 64, Miss Eileen Bain 47. The judge said Miss Thruston had improved on her afternoon’s performance, and her enunciation had been more distinct. Miss Adams had also improved, .nit in some instances her enunciation had been somewhat weaker, and she had been inclined to slur some of the passages. In the case of Miss Billcliff, her by-plav and her facial expression had been very' good.