HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 4 May 1945, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

fOur Own Correspondent! HOKITIKA, May 3. Mr D. Nolan, of Okuru, is visiting Hokitika. Mr A. H. Lawn is at present a patient in St. George’s Hospital, Christchurch, where he underwent an operation last week. He is reported > to be making an excellent recovery. The m.v. Gael sailed for Wellington at 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon with a cargo of timber. The vessel had been held up at Hokitika since Monday. night owing to the bar. Residents of South Hokitika are becoming alarmed at the serious erosion on the southern bank of the Hokitika River fronting the aerodrome. Representations are being made to the Hon. j'. O’Brien and Hon. R. Semple to have protective measures out .in hand at once. The well-known taxi business in Hokitika, the Gold Band, has changed hands, the proprietors, Chinn Brothers, having sold out to Messrs Haywood and Steele. The new proprietors are both returned soldiers, and took over the business to-day. At the inter-Catholic Schools’ competitions . recently held at Christchurch, Mr T. Cloher was awarded the diploma for the best speaker. The Hokitika team secured third! place in th e debate, gaining 92 marks, while Miss F. Mulrennan gained third place in the impromptu speech. The Westland Racing Club has notified the Racing Conference that the tenative dates for racing in Westland W'ould be January 3, and February, 23 and 25.

The Mayor (Mr A. R. Elcock) presided over a large attendance of citizens in the Soldiers’ Hall on Wednesday evening to make arrangements for celebrating peace. It was agreed that the public should assemble at the Cenotaph at any time from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Peace would be signalled by the ringing of bells, and it was suggested that the people should assemble two hours afterwards. The proceedings would last half an hour. It was decided to hold a sports meeting on Cass Square on the second day, and to arrange a capital programme of events. Mr Stevens (Rector of the High School) was appointed chairman, and a strong committee was elected, with Mr E. Rankin as secretary.. In the event of wet weather it was decided to entertain the children at both theatres, and provide adequate refreshments. Mr J. Preston was empowered to endeavour to arrange a procession, and to secure the help of the Fire Brigade. The children are to bring their own drinking cups. The committee will announce the special programme of events for the sports day. Mr Stevens said the children would be told the significance of the occasion at the school. On Wednesday night the Hokitika Revue Company opened its season with the revue, "Happy, Daze”. The scenery, painted by Mr Jim Rhodes, enhanced the show throughout, and the lighting effects • were excellent. The orchestra, with Rene Jacobs at. the piano, and Percy Crough as conductor, carried the show through successfully. The opening items by the orchestra, Light of Foot, and Baby 800, received a well-merited ovation. The opening chorus was Ti'j Li Tulip Time, with soloists Winnie Preston and Connie Isherwood. With Flo Chapman as Little Pink Pettie from Peter, supported by a ballet of beautiful dancers, and with excellent scenery, the Dutch item was very pretty. The choruses, Zuider Zee and Sleepy Canal, were pleasing. The sketch with Miss N. Guthrie and Bill Dini, found interest with the audience and won well-merited applause. Syd Davern and Colin Henderson supplied plenty of comedy with their sketch. The scene, Harvest Time, was made attractive with the Scarecrow Ballet, the soloists in this scene being Winnie Preston, Massey Reid, and Kitty Crough. The scene ended with the chorus, When Day is Done. A new soloist to Hokitika audiences, Miss Letty, Clausen, made her debut in a sketch with Bill Shivas. They sang A Boy in Khaki and a Girl in Lace. A pleasing background was the supporting ballet. Miss Clausen has a pleasing voice, and when she becomes accustomed to audiences will be a very welcome menlber of the revue. Kitty Crough and Lydia Patterson, in their humorous sketch, House Hunting, brought the house down. They are both favourites with Hokitika audiences. A special ballet. Russian Revels, earned well-merited applause. The song and tap of Shirley Andrews and Mary Rowe, Yankee Doodle Dandy, was a very pleasing number. Mountain Maid, depicting a Mexican scene, gave the producer of the revue, Ron Guthrie, an opportunity as a soloist. Connie Isherwood as Marcheta, gave a very sweet interpretation of My Life is Love. Arch Neil as Toni gave a fine rendering of I’m Falling in Love with Someone. The final scene, Changing the Guard, was a fitting finale to a successful show, the soloist being Ron Guthrie. You’re a Grand Old Flag, played by the orchestra, fitted in well with the present war-time conditions. The ballet was enchanting in this scene, and the whole chorus in Victory Polka, and You’re a Grand Old Flag were very well received. The stage management, the scenery, and lighting effects added greatly to the show, while the singing, especially in the choruses, was excellent. Many new faces' were to be seen in the company, and the revue is bound to draw pack- [ ed houses for the remainder of the season. The efforts of the company are to be commended. The Society, is going from one success to another, and is certainly proving- that Hokitika has the talent.