St. Andrews Night At Whangarei, Waipu

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1948, Page 7

St. Andrews Night At Whangarei, Waipu

ALTHOUGH the attendance at’ the Whangarei Scottish Society’s first Scots national concert last night in the Whangarei Town Hall was disappointing, those people who were present were treated to a splendid programme along traditional lines. Artists from Auckland, Waipu, Dargaville and Whangarei entertained an audience among whom tartan ties and an occasional tarn o! shanter were apparent.

Scotland’s history is enriched by many a story and legend which have' come down through many generations, said Mr Douglas Ross in his opening remarks. One of the oldest traditions was the story of St Andrew. WHANGAREI PIPE BAND After pointing out the significance of St Andrew’s Day Mr Ross said that they were gathered to strengthen and make taut, the ties which bound Scotsmen together.

The Whangarei and County Pipe Band y under the leadership of DrumMajor J. McLeish and Pipe-Major M. Young opened the programme with a selection which included the slow march, “Loch Leven Castle,” the march, “Major Norman Orr Ewing,” the strathspey, “Munlochy Brig,” and the reel, “Sleepy Maggie”. Mrs G. E Davey and Glen Anstice, of Waipu, drew applause with a duet, “Will Ye No Come Back Again”, and both pleased with solos. Mrs Davey received a fine reception for “Lassie O’ Mine” and, as a recall, sang “Arise O Sun”. Mr Anstice was convincing in his rendering of “iKrkonnel Lea” and “Up From Somerset”. The sweet-voiced soprano, Miss Flo White, df Auckland, drew more than a tear or two with “My Ain Folk” and “Smilin’ Through”, and received a tumultuous reception for her secondhalf bracket of “Ye Banks And Braes”, “A Little Love, A Little Kiss”, and the sacred song “The Holy City”. AUCKLAND ARTISTS Solos from Mr Frederick Cox, of Auckland,, proved that he is a tenor of quality. His numbers in the first Half of the programme wex-e “Annie Laurie” and “For You Alone”. j Comedian “Snow” Beacham, from Auckland, was a firm favourite with his songs, droll stoi’ies and impersona- I tions. “Sei-geant Jock McPhee” and “The Boss O’ The House” were his first contributions while in the second half he “Sailed Up The Clyde” and “Bunged ’Enx In and Blew ’Em Out” to the accompaniment of rousing applause. Margaret Mason, Ann Finlayson, Valai’ie Ti’egida, Jill Mclnnes, Colleen Pierce, Beimadette Munro, Pat Rowan, Mai'aget Wilson and Lois Montgomei’y, lassies from Dargaville, were dainty and light-footed in Highpajl,, am papnput qotqAx ‘saouep puef O’ Tulloch,” double swords and a Highland reel. Mr Ross thanked the performers on behalf of the Whangarei Scottish Society and, after the pipe band had played the quickstep “Scottish Hoi'se”, the evening was closed with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne”. Mr Ray Goodison was official accompanist.