THE COMPETITIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 138, 10 May 1930, Page 6

THE COMPETITIONS

MANAWATU FESTIVAL OPENS. YVELCOME TO JUDGES. With all judges commenting on a high standard of work, there was much to interest audiences at tho opening sessions of the Manawatu Competitions Society’s ninth festival yesterday. There wero good attendances at both afternoon and evening sessions and tho varied programme provided by talented competitors was greatly enjoyed. The entries this year are a little below what they wero last year, which was a record one, but they are nevertheless very satisfactory. There has been no recession in tho standard. Immediately before last evening’s session tho judges were welcomed to Palmerston. North. In his introductory remarks, tho president, Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., pointed out that a groat deal of the success of the society depended on the work of tho committee. As citizens they owed a great deal to Mr M. 11. Oram, the chairman, and the ladies and gentlemen associated with him. With tho energy they put into their work they could look forward to the society becoming a very large one. In conclusion Mr Nash thanked those present for their patronage. A welcome to the four judges, three of whom had not adjudicated in Palmerston North previously, was extended by the Mayor, Mr A. J. Graham, who mentioned that the four main cities of Now Zealand wero represented. To Miss Daisy McLennan, of Wellington (national dancing), who judged at Palmerston North last year, ho extended an assurance that her return was appreciated. Ho was pleased to welcome Mr J. Crossley (Jlitheroe (vocal and instrumental), as ho occupied the important position in Mr Graham’s home town, Dunedin, of professor of music at the Training College where ho was doing good work. The Mayor also welcomed Mr W. Russell Wood, of Auckland (elocution) and Miss Iris Montgomery, of Christchurch (fancy dancing; and assured them that their stay in Palmerston North would bo a pleasant one. Mr Graham expressed the belief that awards would be received in the right spirit both by losers and winners, all of whom would derive valuable information from tho criticisms given. Mr Clithoroo paid a tribute to the hospitality of Palmerston North and returned thanks for tho welcome :e----ceivcd on behalf of himself and the lady judges. He was pleased to note tho flourishing condition of tho Manawatu competitions, which he contrasted with the state of things in Dunedin and in other South Island towns, where they had been discontinued. Mr Wood, in returning thanks, stated that judges' criticism was intended to be constructive, and ho hoped that all competitors would take it in tho right spirit. Ho did not like to see competitors drawing out of sections just* because they had been unplaced in earlier classes. Circumstances might contribute to their non-success. He wished the society tho great siiccess it deserved. Auckland’s competitions had been most unsuccessful last year, so that lie did not suppose they would bo continued this year. Yesterday’s results were as follow. VOCAL. LADIES, New Zealand Composer (Own selection.) Miss M. Hamerton (Patea), “Tangi,” 167 marks 1 Mrs F. McLachlan (Palmerston North), “Waiata Poi,” 163 ... 2 Also competed.—Miss K. Montpert (Napier), Mrs H. W. Hulme (Wanganui), “Ma Curly-lieaded Babby.” FOLK OR TRADITIONAL SONG Gentlemen (own selection). Mr W. H. Gregg (Palmerston North), “Be Kind to Auld Grannie,” ICO, 1 Also competed.—Messrs P. E. .Tapp (Palmerston. North) and B. Ziegler (Te Poliue). SOPRANO SOLO (“Sing, Break Into Song.”) Mrs F. Cunningham ( YVanganui) 165, 1 Also competed.—Mrs G. Plumm’er (Palmerston North), Mrs H. W. Hulme (Wanganui). VOCAL SOLO. —Girls 11 and under 14 (“Big Lady Moon.”) Doris Gilmore (Hawera), 170 ... 1 Joyce Knightbridge (Hawera), 169 2 Also competed.—Betty Inglis, Betty Jamieson, Y. Daroux, M. Waterhouse, Edna Bourke (all Palmerston North), Joan Bartlett (Dannevirke). UNISON SONG. All Saints’ B, 180 1 All Saints’ C., 176 ... 2 Also competed.—All Saints’ A. and D. INSTRUMENTAL. PIANO DUET, over 18 (own selection). Misses M. Forbes and M. Ingley (Palmerston North), “Polonaise” (Chopin), 132, 1 Also competed. —Misses N. YVhito and A. Burgess (Kongotea), “Hungarian Rhapsody,” Misses A. Trenkner and A. Burgess (Rongotea), “Marche Hongroise.” PIANO SOLO, Under 10 (“Homage to Bach.”) Joyce Ramsay (Palmerston North), 172, 1 Joan Bolger (Eltlram). 171, ... ... 2 Also competed. —Edward Christmas, Betty Perrin, Helen Tosswill (all Palmerston North), Colin Horsley (YVanganui). VIOLIN SOLO, over 16 (“Serenade”) Drdla-Auer.) Mr L. Findlay (Palmerston North), 180 1 Miss A. V. ' Briasco (Napier), v.li.c. Also competed. —Miss M. Bennett (Palmerston North). ELOCUTION. RECITATION, Boy Scouts (“A Patrol Song.”) Ralph Holmes (Palmerston North), 82, 1 Ewan Davidson (Palmerston North) and Robert Clieyne (YVeliington), 81, v.h.c. RECITATION, girls 12 to 16 (“A Discouraging Model.))

Lorrai.no Cooksley (Longburn), 81, 1 Doris Gilmore (Hawera), 80, ... 2 Vivien Jones (Hawera), Peggy Newlands (Palmerston North) and Jill Dower (Kongotea) were highly commended. Also competed.—Dorothy Parker (Wellington), Barbara Fisher (Wanganui), Poppy 'l’eaz (ltongotea), Muriel Hancox (Palmerston .North). TEST RECITATION, Gentlemen (“The Empire Builders.”) Mr J. W. Davidson (Palmerston North), 82, 1 Mr A. J. Bising (Palmerston North), 81, 2 Mr M. J. lvrivan (Awapuni), 80, v.h.c. Mr A. Pederson (Ohakea) and Mr W. J. Mountjoy (Wellington) were highly commended. Also competed.—G. T. Bettle (Palmerston North). RECITATION, boys under 9, restricted (“Porridge.”) J. Krivan (Awapuni), 73 ... ... 1 Donald New (Awapuni), 72 2 Russell Jackson (Bunnytliorpe), 70, was highly commended. Also competed. —John McN&illy (Palmerston North).

NATIONAL DANCING. HIGHLAND FLING (9 and under 12) June Scott (Palmerston North), 80 marks, 1 Vera Oliver (Palmerston North), 77 2 Juno Goodwin (Hawera), 76, was highly commended. Also competed.—Dell Adsett (Colyton), Keitlia Seales, Clarice Sapweil, Etline Hemingscn, Venice Hemingsen (all Palmerston North), Kathleen Hopping (Feilding), Constance Stuart (Feilding), Flossie Pierson (.Colyton), Jane McLeod (Feilding), Tlieima Pratt (Rotorua), Norma Nixon (Hawera), Dorothy Ramsay (Napier). FANCY DANCING. GRECIAN DANCE. Patricia Burgess (Palmerston N.) 84, 1 Ora Jones (YYMnganui), 83, 2 Jean Scott (Palmerston North), 82, 3 Also competed.—JojVie Hayward (Feilding), Eileen Curtis (Gisborne), Judy Christian, Isabel Brown, Phyllis YVaugh, Betty Muir, Margarotte Oram (all Palmerston North), Trevor Hunter (YY r anganui), Doris Shapleski (Feilding), Ruby Busliby (Wellington). Shirley Cramond (YVanganui). OPERATIC DANCE (9 and under 12.) Marjorie Penman (YVelungton) 83, ... 1 Valerie Oram (Palmerston North), 78, ... ... 2 Joyce Burns (YVanganui), 77, was highly commended. .Also competed.—Edna Christensen (Feilding), Vera Oliver, Clarice Sapweil, J uno Scott, Elva Denson, Joyce YVenson, (all Palmerston North), Peggy Smyth (Wellington), Molly Peterson (YVanganui), Louise Tomsett (Wanganui), Juno Goodwin (Hawera). STEP DANCE, under 12. Marjorie Penman (Wellington),79, 1 Errol YVood (YY’ellington), 78, ... 2 Also competed.—Marjorie Lee (Wellington), Clarice Sapweil (Palmerston North). JUDGE’S COMMENTS. Some flattering remarks were made by tho judges when announcing their awards. Miss Montgomery commented on the improved standard of fancy dancing, which was higher than anywhere else where she had judged. Tho younger children were undeniably clever. A general criticism that applied to all classes was that the competitors’ faces had too set an expression. Also the co-ordina-tion of arms and legs could be improved. Referring to the gentlemen’s test recitation, Mr YVood said that this was a Splendid class and everyone did well. The lioy Scouts' piece was one he was very familiar with, but he had never heard it better delivered. Mr Clitheroe considered that the most interesting class of the day was the pianoforte solo for children under 10. It was a long while since he had heard such talent. The judge commented on the distorted pronunciation used for speech should be used for singing, not a variation. Hearing people sing in New Zealand had sometimes felt that they wero losing tho traditional pronunciation or were getting it imperfectly like foreigners. Mr F. S. C. Hubbard is again stage manager and Mrs YY r . H. K. Gilmour official accompaniste.