NGATEA CONCERT

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3151, 3 August 1942, Page 5

NGATEA CONCERT

PATRIOTIC FUNDS AIDED AN ENJOYABLE EVENING WOMENS INSTITUTE FUNCTION As a result of the Ngatea Women’s Institute function, a concert and dance organised by their president, Miss T. Paul, and held in the public hall on Thursday night, the Ngatea .Soldiers’ Farewell committee funds will benefit to the extent of well over £2O.

After the National Anthem had been sung, Mr J. W. Neate, who was an able IM.C., expressed the heartfelt sympathy of the district to the relatives of three men known locally, who are reported this week to have paid the supreme sacrifice. Whatever the final result of these grievous days, our boys and their comrades have not died in vain. They have given the enemy and the world, exemplary proof of Anzac devotion and skill. They leave with us who mourn their loss so deeply, the inspiration of their fighting spirit and of the sacrifice it freely accepted. The men are Staff-Sergt. Gerald Mahoney, Gunner D. Elliott and Pte. Ivan Dale.

As a gesture to their memory and not forgetting the earlier casualties of the district, everybody present stood in silence.

The evening’s programme commenced with an appealing item by two “tinies,” Beverley Miller and Allison Christie of Kopuarahi, who gave the Scotch sword dance and an Irish jig.

Other items, all of which pleased an appreciative audience were:— Vocal solos, “Sing Joyous Bird,” and “Wait My Dearest,” by ’ Mrs Longmuir-Smith (Thames) 1 ; monologue, “On 'Strike,” and “The Scotch v. Irish Way,” Mr Dickson (Waitakaruru)'; tap dance and encore, Miss Paton (Waitakaruru); solos, “ ’Neath the Shanty Town Moon,” andJ'Lights of Home,” Miss Mcllvride (Thames); playette, “Current Topics,” Mrs Long-muir-Smith and Mrs Claxton; Irish jig, Colleen Pierce; banjo solos, Mr B. Duncan; solos, “My Ain Fireside,”' and “Until,” Mis Donaldson (Thames).

A sketch in three parts introduced by Mr A. McClean and (Mr Wallace (Waitakaruru Home Guard)' caused much amusement. The scene opened in the local quartermaster’s store, where during “routine,” several district doings were humorised. Scene 11. “Sick Parade,” in which Homeguardsmen D. Williamson, J. Waite, R. Williams, H. Morrow, B. Mason, G. Bond (Ngatea), and' Dickson (as M. 0.), assisted, drew many a laugh.

The final scene was in court, where some quite clever charges were brought and fines demanded. If this* is the Home. Guard’s first stage appearance, residents can look forward with anticipation to the next.

A gymnastic display by Mr Palmer’s Turua class was loudly applauded and after a plenteous supper an hour’s dancing was enjoyed, excellent music being supplied by a combination which included Mrs M. Bush (piano), Messrs IF. Bartley (violin), F. Pierce (violin), B. Duncan (banjo), and Sgt. L. Stewart (drums). Mrs Bush played the accompaniments throughout the evening.

After thanking Miss Paul and the ladies for the splendid effort they had put into making the function such a happy one, Mr Neate expressed the appreciation of all to the visiting and Ngatea artists for their very entertaining programme. He added that the local band could claim second to none in the district and congratulated .them on the dance music rendered.