The Magic “Twenty=Three”

Evening Star, Issue 19143, 9 January 1926, Page 4

The Magic “Twenty=Three”

COMPETITIONS YESTERDAY’S SESSION SOME MORE GOOD WORK The Competitions Festival was advanced another stage yesterday, when five more items were disposed of. Professor Maxwell Walker, the elocution judge, was again very complimentary in his remarks concerning the work of most of the competitors—-the lady competitors particularly,—in the dramatic recital. Only two marks separated the four who were' recalled in this ifem. Following are the results: — > DRAMATIC RECITAL. Miss Anita Winkel, ‘The Doom of Stephens,’ and Miss Sheila Neilson, ‘ Death of Minnehaha,’ 91 marks, equal ... ... 1 Miss Jenny Griffiths, ‘ The Losing of a Soul,’ and Miss Nellie Osj born, ‘ The Highwayman,’ 89 marks, equal ••• 3 Also competed: Miss M, B. Cowio (Invercargill) 74, Miss Elspeth Mackenzie Forbes (Wanganui) 77, Miss Frances Frye 08, Mr A. Eaton Hurley (Wellington) 80, Air B. Goodland (Christchurch) 85, Alias Rona Scott 87, Air F. G. K. Foster 76. Miss Colleen Costelloe (Christchurch) 08, Air N. D. Scurr 74, Mr AA r . H. Alosos 43, Alisa Marie Parfitt 67, Air Sara Aitken '(lnvercargill) 70. The judge remarked that they had had the pleasure of listening to a very brilliant quartet of reciters, with very littie difference between them. Of those who were not recalled there were two or three worthy of special mention. Alisa Rona Scott did very well, and Air B. Goodland had recited what was really a comic piece in such a sympathetic and artistic way that he had gained 85 points. Me (Professor Walker) would suggest to this competitor—who was, he believed, only sixteen years of age—that ho should specialise in pieces of a more serious character. Of Miss Winkers performance, the judge said she had beautiful diction, hut inclined to commonness in impersonating men. The selection was not worthy of the performer of her calibre, who should always do only the host pieces. _ He would advise her not to choose pieces necessitating the impersonation of men. ‘ The Sign of the Cross’ was sheer but in spite of the unsuitability of the piece this competitor was bracketed for first with Alias Neilson, whose voice was of fine quality, and who gave an artistic rendering of ‘Hiawatha.’ She was a little shnll in one passage. Alias Griffiths had fine expression, and her phrasing was good. Several of the pauses were wrong, however. Ihe dramatic effect was good. Miss Osborn also gave a fine performance. Iho dramatic effect was good, and the phrasing excellent. .VIOLIN SOLO (Professionals or Amateurs). Air Rees AFConachy (Timaru), Handel’s ‘ Sonata in A Alajor, <-»

Mr W. H. Le Gal, ‘ Ave Maria (Bchubert-Wilheimg), /O marks 2 Also competed; Mr R- J- Greene, The -winner, said the judge, smoothly and well m tune, and witn where required. The various movements were veil to trusted. There was plenty of life and energy and an absence of squeak. Showed a true and artistm A reallv good performance. Air be uai played the first pari, of Ins selection nicely being well m tune and satisfying though he might have been a little more subdued in places where marked. The octaves in the second versa were not quite true, and this gave the music, a roughness. A little fater the octaves became .more out of tune. 1 The double-stopping generally ♦ was not good. ■ • MEZZO-SOPRANO SOLO (Operatic). Miss Marjorie Nelson (Christchurch), ‘Far Greater in His Lowly State,’ *S marks ...... 1 Miss Thelma Ayers (Rnngiora), ‘ Flower Song.’ 8/ marks ... ... 2 Mrs Connie Flamank (T.mani), 0 Love, From Thy Power,’ 8b marks ... Miss Florence Simmer 85 was also recalled, while Miss Dorothy Stentiford 80 and Miss Dons Wheeler 80 were the other competitors. Of the winner’s performance, irofessor Thomas said that the recitative was intelligently declaimed 'and the voice nicely modulated. The solo was well and dramatically sung. The sentiment of the words was followed, which ‘made them full of expression. If there had only been more power the render- , Luc, would have been better, especailly

Consistent Daily Attendance - • « The Million in Sight Big Attractions To-day On each of the five days of this week the attendance has numbered over 23,000 and under 24,000. Should this average be maintained, the million mark will be reached on Thursday next—and then for the gold watch! Late last night and early this morning that arch-enemy, the wet sou'-wester, was in possession, and, rather than confine the operations to the working of sluicing claims, the organisers of the Otago Court’s Treasure Hunt postponed the opening of the field till noon, when conditions were much better. Yesterday the weather was summer-like, and the gatekeepers’ returns showed 23,503 visitors, bringing the total to date to 889,509. To-day’s attractions, which include the finals for the chopping and sawing championships, a well-chosen programme of competition items, the Argyll and Sutherland Band, the orchestra, the treasure hunt, and the numerous outdoor “stunts” should draw a big Saturday «rmvd.

at the end. Aliss Ayers had a very sweet and flexible voice. The daintiness in many of the phrases was most pleasing. The rendering was very good and artistic. The recititivo part was slightly wanting in some of the words. The song was well suited to the singer’s voice. Miss Flamank’s voice was one of good and useful quality, 'with plenty of power, and the tono did not suffer on the loud passages. Enunciation mid articulation good. Ending might have been a little slower. Aliss Sumner had a sweet, loud voice, with plenty of power in the high notes. She sang with feeling and good taste, procuring a beautiful piano. Words clear and musically satisfactory. Very good interpretation. TENOR SOLO (Secular).

Mr A. Walmsley (Alosgiel), ‘Ah, Aioon of ALy Delight,’ S 4 marks 1 Mr Les. Dailey (Christchurch), ‘All, Moon of Delight,’ 83 marks 2 Air G. Proctor, ‘ Tbo Sands of Dec,’ 75 marks 3

-These, were the only competitors. The judge said that Mr Walmsley had a pleasing tenor voice, containing some nice ofiects. He rendered the song very wol!, though the prologuqe was too loud at first. Pianissimo was neatly and thoroughly well done. Tho andante was rather too slow. The sustained note at tho end was of beautiful tone. Mr Dailey had a pleasing voice, but some parts were rather mechanically done. His intonation suffered at times in the high notes. Tho last note was not sustained sufficiently. Tho notes of Mr Proctor were not steady enough. Tho voice wanted permanence. Tho tremulo used too much became very tiresome. Jt could bo put in for effect sometimes, but must not bo kept there always. SOPRANO SOLO (Secular). Miss Lucy; Cleveland (Auckland), 'A Spirit Flower,’ 88 marks ... 1 Mrs Stanley Foote, ‘ A Summer Night,’ 86 marks S Mrs C. Samson (Highcliff)jJ ‘A Request,’ 84 marks <1 Miss Rhona Deo (Nelson) 63 was also while Misses Jean Gillies (Geraldine) 77, Ella Skurr (Christchurch) 78, Bessie Williams (Mosgiel) 75, Gwendoline Goldsmid 81, and Olive Bennett (Palmerston) 73, were the other competitors. The judge said that Miss Cleveland was a very acceptable singer, having a capable and clear voice. Her interpretation of the song was very creditable. The second verse was daintily sung. The words and notes were clear, the latter in the higher register ringing out thoroughly well. The ending was most effective. Mrs Foote gave a very nice rendering. Although the song was hackneyed, the singer made it an acceptable one. Such songs had been already admirably sung by the groat singers, though it was much better to choose something that people did not know so well. The singer showed plenty of power, and had a very sweet tone in the softer parts. Mrs Samson rendered her song very well, but tho voice seemed tired. It was sweet in the soft parts—altogether a very good performance. Miss Dee sang a very difficult song, hut attacked it bravely. The intonation was not always true. The high notes rang out clearly. Tho emotional element was wo!) done, and the softer parts were pleasing. The ending was very nicely performed, especially tho last note.

THIS MORNING'S SESSION MUSICAL MONOLOGUE. THREE DUNEDIN RECALLS. There were eighteen for the musical monologue (own selection) contest, held at the Festival Hall this morning,, but of these six did not put in an appearance. , Professor Maxwell Walker, of Auckland, acted as judge, and there were four recalls, three ot them being of Dunedin competitors. The recalls were: Miss Jenny_ Griffiths (Dunedin), ‘ The Pigtail of Li Fang Fu ’; Mr B. Goodland (Christchurch). ‘ Christnjps Bells’; Miss Anita Winkel (Dunedin), ‘ The Road of Ten Thousand Crosses ’; and Miss Nellie Osborn (Dunedin), ‘A Gentleman of France.’ The marks, out of a possible 120, secured by the other contestants were as under: —Miss Rona D. Scott (Dunedin), ‘ By the Yukon Trail,’ 103; Miss Elspeth Mackenzie Forbes (Wanganui), ‘The Pipes o’ Troon,’ 99; Miss Sheila Ncilsou (Dunedin), ‘ The Road of the Ten Thousand Crosses/ 98; Miss Frances Frye (Dunedin), ‘Blind,’ 92; Miss Sara L. Aitken (Invercargill) ,* 1 Lorraine Lorree/ 89; Miss M. B. Cowie (Invercargill), ‘Lorraine -Lorree,’ 88; M F. C. K. Foster (Dunedin), ‘Not Understood,’ 83; and Mr W. 11. Moses (Christchurch), ‘The Eigtail of Li Fang Fu.’

AXEMEN'S CARNIVAL WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP CHOP WON BY WEST COAST BUSHMAN Rad weather did not appreciably affect public interest In tho big events staged for tho third meeting of the Axemen's Carnival last evening. Most interest attached to the world’s championship underhand chop. Earlier in tho afternoon a. IBin underhand chop event was held at T’ortohello, tho‘medals presented by Mr W. M'Lnehlan being won by Geo. Hinnies and G. .Richards, Blanks’s time being ff'Jsoc. Tito Hon. I?. Boyd, M.L.0.. Fijian Commissioner at the Exhibition, and Mr E. Watson gave further prizes of £2 10s, £l. 10$, and £1 for a further 16in underhand chop. This was won by Gibbs, who at the carnival in tho evening proved to be the winner of t lio world’s; championship event. Tho result of this was;— B. A. Gibbs (West Coast) 1 W. Rone (Southland) 2 W. Johnston (Southland) 3 Also competed: A. .Duffroll (King Country), J. Font (Southland), J. E. Riehardson (Auckland), and B. Koeti (.West Coast). Time, It! 1-osee. In tho 18in double-handed sawing championship, for which tho prizes were £2d and gold medal (first), £lO (second), and £o (third), good entries were attracted. There was a fine exhibition of craftsmanship, and the times recorded were fair.

The first heat resulted in a win for 11 ichardson ami Duffrell (King Conn* try), user, with Andrews and Johnston second, the winners’ time being l,7scc. Newman and Neilson (King Country) from scratch won the second heat in 17 2-s.sec, Pollard and Gill (Southland) , on Ssec. proving a good second. A good race hi the third heat resulted in a dead heat, the successful quartet being Strakcr and Seymour (Alarlbormigh) and Laurie and Sprqulo (Southland), both on a 3sec handicap. Their time was 17scc.

The big under-hand chop handicap, of £llO and an axe, and additional prizes of £45, £ls, £6, and £2 10s, was advanced a further stage by the completion of the second heat of the semifinal, in which seven of the qualified entrants faced the starter.

Following the protest regarding J. Showry (Taranaki), the committee decided that J'. To An (Southland) —the competitor affected by Shewry’s handi-cap-—and Shewry should ciiop for a place in the heat. The chop came off in the morning, 'To An winning by ono blow. He was nob placed in the heat, which resulted

J. H. Dobson (King Country), 20scc 1 C. Bono (Southland), 15seo 2 J. Spinks (Gatlins), 18soo 3 Dobson is a young chopper, and his performance marked him as a promising axeman, with any amount of grit. For a light man his performance was most creditable. Time, Imin 27 1-osoc. Two heats of the 13in single-handed sawing handicap, of £l6 and medal, and other prizes of £8 and £4 respectively, were also decided. ]n"the first heat J). Johnston (Southland) Msec, won, with AY. Jacobsen (Southland), Usoc, and G. Blanks (Southland), scr, second and third respectively. 'Time, 51 sec. AV. Johnston (Southland) won the second heat from Ssec, with A. Oliver (Taranaki), nsec, and D. Strakey (Marlborough), 16sec, second and thud lewas set down for this afternoon. £2OO CHALLENGE. No one has so far accepted the challenge of J. Alurrell, ot Now South Wales, to compete with anyone in a loin under-hand chop for £2OO a side.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION WORK OF SECTION IN EDUCATION COURT As the schools of our dominion are out of session during tho Christmas and Now Year season, tho religious education section in tho Education Court is being utilised during tho weeks immediately preceding and following, to offer in the various departments non and varied suggestions centring about these ideas. The work presented has tho advantage that it represents the seasonal programmes given m and about the city. ’The cradle roll department (Congregational) was the scene the other day of a mothers’ meeting, _at which a missionary address was given. graphs of pioneer missionaries with a lanm picture of the Rev. John Mil* liaiiis, adorned the walls. Round about wero articles made by tho natives, the Christmas session took the form of a partv for tho cradle roll children (Anglican), with a decorated ' Christmas tree in tho centre. The two aspects of tho Christmas story shown in the beginners’ department, wero the visit of tho Throe \)i»o Men (Baptist) and tho flight into Egypt (Presbyterian). Each was represented on the sand table, iho children’s impressions wero in drawings. The words “ Peace on Earth were capitalised in letters of gold- “ Gifts at Christmas Time _ m the primary department (Methodist) _ followed tho story of the Nativity (Church of Christ). A vanetv of gifts for father and mother told ot the happy moments following story. Tho posters and folders enclosing the story wero of no little interest. Some were addressed to the home missionaries. “Glory to God in the Highest, surrounded the junior department. (Salvation Army). The true spirit oi Christmas was seen in tho cards prepared for the parents. It would be difficult lo describe the many Christmas posters that were everywhere displayed, all appropriate to the period for which they were intended, The Congregational junior bad the lesson, ‘Teach Us to Pray.’ The Bible Class Court is in the bands of the Young Men’s Bible Class Fnion till January 6. when they will make room for the Y.W.B.C. sports exhibit. The most striking feature of the court at present, is the life-size photograph of Mr George Troup, of Wellington, the Bible class pioneer. There are many interesting photographs of groups and camp scones showing where and with whom, the movement originated. In a prominent place is tho photograph of Rev. Herbert Davies, himself a. Bible class member, and now tho Presbyterian Y.M.B.C. missionary in Canton.