EMPIRE WEEK.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 2 July 1926, Page 4

EMPIRE WEEK.

ENTERTAINING VISITORS. AN ENJOYABLE FUNCTION. The arrangements made by the Empire Week Committee to entertain the visiting farmers from Waikato and all others who cared to be present were thoroughly successful. Assisted oy several local singers, a detachment oi the Operatic Society under Air t • y iier enshaw and the Hawcra Municipal Band, a most interesting programme was put on at short notice and was much enjoyed by several hundred people who were present. The evening’s entertainment opened with several capital selections by the baud outside the hull, and the combination later added -two fine numbers— Overture, “Poet and Peasant” and cornet due by Bandsmen Cook and Corporal Swan, with full band prelude and postlude. The playing was much enjoyed and had to be repeated. Short speeches of welcome were given by the Mayor (Mr E. A- Pacey), Messrs Ji R. Corrigan, J. B. Murdoch, W. M. Singleton, Dynes Fulton, Simpson, Welsh and Wells-ted. The local speakers all expressed the very cordial appreciation of the people of the town and district at the inauguration of the farmers’ train and the presence in Hawcra of so many from the Waikato, and regretted that more had not come to sec the district and to meet the people of South Taranaki. Mr Murdoch, in his remarks, also stressed the value of an Empire Week movement and the need for spreading the gospel of inter-Empire trading. Air Dynes Fulton congratulated the executive of the sliow on the fine exhibition, and said he was specially struck with the lay-out of the show, the staging being the best he had seen in any show in the Dominion. He said he was pleased that the train had been run, but was sorry more had not availed themselves of the opportunity to visit Taranaki because it was a great opportunity to cultivate goodwill between the people of the two provinces, which was the most important aspect of the visit. He urged the furthering of a co-operative spirit between the farming community and the Railway Department.

Afr Welsh and Mr Wellsted expressed their appreciation of the way the Hawera people had responded to the appeal for accommodation and their disappointment that more excursionists had not come, and hoped that when the train was run next year to the Waikato, the South Taranaki people would reciprocate and send a large number to the Waikato Show. Mr Welsh added that the comparatively small number travelling was not to be taken as an indication of their opinion of the innovation, but that there were other conditions which operated to prevent a larger number from participating. Several “community sings,” led by the Operatic Society and conducted by Mr Ollerenshaw, were heartily taken up by the company. Songs were given in excellent style by Mrs Sunderland, Messrs Fraser, Powell, Mr Beth and N. West, and all were encored. The accompaniments wore excellently played by Mrs R. A. Graham, Airs Mcßeth and' Mr J. Renwielc.

At the close of the programme a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the performers for their ready assistance, which had largely contributed in making the function so successful. The thanks of the Waikato visitors was cordially expresesd by Ah* Dynes Fulton. Hearty cheers wore exchanged by Taranaki and Waikato people., and the singing of the National Anthem concluded a pleasant evening. Afterwards the whole company wore the guests of the Winter Show at supper, an attention which was much appreciated.