AWATUNA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 23 August 1928, Page 2

AWATUNA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) GENERAL TOPICS. Pessimists predict a dry summer, with low rivers and creeks, hut last week’s almost continuous rain has certainlv provided enough water ior present' purposes. Fortunately. Saturday was a glorious day, providing opportunity for local football jfans - to witness the big match at New Plymouth. . The annual, meeting of the Awatuna Dairy 00. is to he held at Te Kiri today, whilst at the Awatuna Hall the Tennis Club also holds a meeting. The school broke up on Friday last for its spring holidays, reopening on Tuesday,- September 4. Next Friday should witness a large gathering- at the hall .for the final euchre party and dance, when the winners of ‘the .points prize® will he announced.

SCHOOL CONCERT. t The numerous cars, the cycles, and otner vetncies tnao -lined, born sides oi 1 tne road outside tne Awatuna Hail I last Friday gave only a partial idea or the record audience that packed in to witness the Awatuna sonool concert. It was a sdiooi concert in every ’ sense, the performers consisting of school children only. A marked fea- - ture, and one whicn. did much, to produce the great success of the evening, was the attentive and responsive i audience. The performers, the majority of whom had never previously graced a. stage, considerably exceeded the expectations of their teachers in th way they rose to the occasion, making tne prompter’s job a sinecure. It is gratifying to know that the School Committee’s coffers will benefit by probably more than £lO. Lindsay M.urphy, a senior pupil, set the ball merrily- rolling with a happy opening speech, to be followed by ten sandwich men,, whose placards when ranged in line spelt “.Welcome Ail.” A full chorus in “God Bless New Zealand” was followed by “Boys versus Girls,” wherein the weaknesses Of both sexes were expressively sung, the , hatchet being ultimately buried in tuneful refrain. “The Pioneer” (Joan Arthur), well recited and much applauded, was followed by “Old Alan Care,” a lilting melody that vastly pleased the audience. The days, of the week, represented by seven girls appropriately dressed, gave individual recitals of/ forms of daily housework, eventually piling up their domestic apparatus on a special “Altar of- Work.” Phyllis Parkes, in Sunday garb and bearing an open Bible, conveyed an excellent idea of the Sabbath. The audience vociferously . expressed Approval of the next item, when ten or more seniors sang the “British Flag,’.’ giving expression and colour to their youthful voices by rhythmic waving of New Zealand flags and Union Jacks. Nina Farquhar’s rendering of “Grandma Says,” a recitation which was highly appreciated, preceded a character song where Ruth Corbett, a, winsome Cinderella and Robbie Alty, nu attractive Prince, appealed id all. The ugly sisters, Phyllis Hutchings and Alvina Bettridge, us well as Thelma Bankhead, a fetching fairy, filled their parts most admirably. “The Raw Recruits” (Josie and Pat Bourke, Alary Alty, Jack Niccolls, and Jimmy Lind) captivated the audience . with their recitations, pleasingly delivered without a hitch. “I don’t want to play in your yard,” charmingly sung py Nina Farquhar and Joan Arthur, which was enthusiastically received, gave place to a bevy of “Rosebuds” supporting an arcii .of loses (admirably executed by Miss Wilford), pre--1 seating a pretty picture still further enhanced by the liting voices of the little ones. Following a short interval was a playette entitled “Topsy,” where a pert hut attractive little housemaid (Nina Farquhar) convulsed " the audience, while Florrie Bailey as ! Airs. Flint, the sorely tried mistress, [ acted the part to perfection. “In a Canoe,” sung by the whole of the children with Maori mats suspended ■ in the foreground," received a warm reception. Carrying small-sized milk pails, half a dozen senior girls attractively dressed as milkmaids in white caps, rod aprons and stockings, sang i with gay abandon that drew unstinted, j applause. Grey Lind’s humorous reci--1 tation, “The Twins,” received wellmerited approval. Deserving special mention were Alother Goose’s goslings (Dora Niccolls, Pat Bourke, Bessie . Niccolls, Alary Walker, Ramsay' Boyd, L Eveline and Jimmy Lind, Joe Parkes . and Molly Davison), -who, dressed most originally to represent well- \ known nursery rhymes, went straight to the hearts of all, to be finally mar--1 stalled off by a bespectacled and maternal Mother Goose (Joan Arthur). ' “Phil’s Secret,’? a recitataion by Rob--1 hie Alty, proved a particularly popu--1 lar item. Following this the voices of r Nina Farquhar and Joan. Arthur i blended most delightfully in a song “When I’m a grown-up lady.” The curtain then rose on a charming scene , depicting the flowers (Alolly and Alargy Davison, Mary Walker, Alary 1 Alty, Josie Bourke and Eveline Lind), : a bewitching butterfly with gauzy wings (Bessie Niccolls), and a resplendent bee (Thelma Bankhead), support- ; ed by a full chorus in the back- . ground.. To a catchy refrain entitled 1 “Bedtime,” the flowers closed their 3 petals, the insects their wings, heads nodded sleepily, and the recumbent ’ forms of 40 children snuggled down - into slumber, drowsily chanting the L chorus, whilst a. fascinating little t fairy (Dora Niccolls) tripped lightly - amongst the sleepers bestowing peacefiul dreams and freedom from all evil. A farewell speech by Lindsay Morphy j and the reappearance of the sandwich men, forming a 10-foot poster of r “Good Night,” brought a much appreciated programme to an end. ’ The chairman of the School Commit- - tee (Air. L. Corbett), in an appro- ' priate speech, gave thanks to the 3 audience" for its support and pleasing ■ reception of the evening’s entertain- !, mnt, as well as to the producers of - the concert. Mr. and Airs. Arthur and Miss AlcVicar. He referred to' the

valuable help given behind the stage duriuo- the evening by Airs. Bourke, Airs. Lind, and Airs. Hughes, and in addition to the several others who had shared in bringing about such a successful result. Numerous waiters and waitresses then carried round supper, which, as usual, was bountifully .supplied by the ladies. Dancing then and continued till the small hours, Al'essrs. Castles and Hodge acting as M’s.O., the music -being kindlv supplied by Miss Agnes Collins, of Te Kiri.