ELTHAM COMPETITIONS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 June 1928, Page 6

ELTHAM COMPETITIONS.

INAUGURAL FESTIVAL

At the Town Hall, Eilithani, yesterday afternoon tiie opening session of tin first competitions Festival drew a gratifying attendance, both the circle and body of the hail toeing well filled. The Mayor (Mr i. J. Bridger), in officdlally opening the proceedings, commended the action of those -responsible for fiha festival. Jt was pleasing, he said, to find that such competitions had been started in Eltham and lie trusted that in the near future the committee would widen the scope of the programme to- include elocutionary and other itemis which it liad been found inexpedient to list fcliis year. He wished Dr. Saunders and the committee of management every success.

Dnnng the afternoon tlie programme went wrtilr a swing, reflecting credit upon the officials in charge. The officers of the society are: President, Dr. D. H. Saunders; vice-president, Mr 1. J. Bridger; committee, Mesdames H. H. March ant, R. L. Garden, Misses A. Wilson, S. Cainotoiss, Messrs W. J. A. Fan tell, L. A. Per ciival, C. V. Smith, A. V. Stamp, F. Silver, R. E. Thomas,• A. Hargreaves, G. H. Percy, R. Fairbrother, H. H. Miarchant; honorary treasurer, Mr A. A. Stewart; honorary secretary, Mr R. L. Garden. The adjudicators Were: Music.— Air E. Douglas Tayler, A.R.C.M., F.R.C.0., supervisor of musical. education; Dancing. —Miss H. W. Blackie, physical instructress to the Taranaki Education Board, and Mns' Rl. L. Garden, L.R.A.M., Eltham, was the o ffibilail acooimp-a-n i-ste. Tine following classes were judged and recalls announced:

Physical Drill (girls). —Recalls: Matt aia School, Fraser Road School. Also competed: Eltham School No. I, Elthani School No. 2.

School Chairs 1 Unison Singing, (a) test piece “God Save the King,” (b) own selection. Recalls : Stratford School, Manaia School, Cardiff School. Also competed : Fltliam School, Elthiam Convent School, Fraser Road School. Ballad (ladies), own selection. —Recalls : Miss Katherine Cotton (Ffla.ser Road), Miiste Ngahinla Ashbury (Eltliam), Miss Mary Blames (Haiweira). Also competed: Miss Goble (Stratford), M iss Mary Cocker (Elthami). Plano Sob' (over 16 years), “Papillous.”—Recalls : Mi®s Vera Beech (Eltham), Miss Patty Taylor (Elthami). Also competed : Misses Constance Edwards. Doris Nodder, Ruth Mills. National Song (men), oiwn selection. —Recalls: Messrs A. V. Stamp l (E - tiham), J. D l . Duncan (Stratford), F. EL Silver (Rawhitiroa). Also competed : Messrs L. Higgimson (New Plymouth), L. T. Haycock (Elthlam), W. H. Reynolds (/Elthiam), G. Diver (Eltham). THE! EVENING SESSION.

There was agaiin a splendid attendance at -the evening session, when the following recalls were finally judged: Physical Drill (girls) —Manaia School (41 marks) l; F raster Rbad School (39), 2. School Choir Unison Singing.—[Manaia. School, “John Peel” (172), lj Stratford School, “The Fairy Fleet,' (168) 2; Cardiff School, “The Weba,” (162) 3. . Ladies’ Ballad.—Miss Katherine Catton, “Robiim Adair,” (S 6) 1; Miss Many Barnes, “Salaam,” (84), 2; Miss Nigaliina Aishbxiry, “My Dear Soul,” (83) 3. Piano Solo (over 16 years).—(Miss Vera Beech (SO) 1; Miss Patty Taylor (79) 2. , National Songs (mem), own selection. —Mr F. El. Silver, “Father O’Flynn,” (89) 1; Mr J. D. Duncan, “WP A Hundred Pipers and A’,” and Mr A. V. Stamp,. “All Through the Night,V. tied 'with 82 for second.

The following competitions were judged outright: Sacred Solo Radies), own selection. — Miss Mary Barnes (Hawera), “Abide with Me”- (85), 1; Miss Ngahina Astburv, “He Shall Feed His Flock” (79),o. -

Vocal Duet (own selection). —Mesdames H. H. Marcliant and R. L. Garden, “Sainted Mother,” (8), 1; Messrs H. Lamibie (Mangatoki) and F. El. S.ilver, “'Watchman, What of the Night,” (SO), 2; Mrs J. Tyack and Miss Evans (Kaponga), “Down tlie Vale,” (77), 3. Also competed: Miss K. Opt-ton ana W. J. Metcalf (Eraser Road), “Down the Vale,” (63); Miss Mary Cocker and G. Diver (Eltham), “The Garden of Your Heart,” (65). National ■ Dancing (own selection). —• ELtli'am Convent School (Irish Jig), 1. The only competitors. Operatic Solq (men), own selection.Mr J. D. Duncan, “Vulcan’s Song,” (83), 1; Mr A. V. Stamp, “O, Pure and Tender Star of Eve,” (82), 2; Mr F. E. Silver . “Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind,” (80), 3. Church Choirs, anthem, own selection. —The Stratford Methodist, .Eltham All Saints and, Elthaan Presbyterian Choirs competed, and a special arrangement was made to permit of the Hawera Methodist Choir singing its anthem to-night. _ . Led by a selected choir Olid-accom-panied hy the adjudicator (Mr Tayler), the entire audience indulged, iii community singing during ah.interval, the selected, numbers being “Vito T Amour” and “Billy Bov.” . . , . An interesting programme of twenty competitions, including recalls, vrill be su,bruited during this afferiioon and evening, concluding with a rendition of the combined church choirs under the baton of Mr E. Douglas . Tayler. A, very great deal of the success and attractiveness of the initial- effort of the Competitions: Society is due to the painstaking work of the official acoompaniste and honorary secretary, - Mrs and Mr R. L. Garden. ..., v ..