Palmerston Doings.

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 802, 12 November 1915, Page 16

Palmerston Doings.

Dear Christ a but., — A TEMPESTUOUS week culminated in a tropical thunderstorm on Sunday morning, disturbing the rest of many weary souls, who, after a strenuous week's labour, were looking Serward to a long sleep on Sunday Morning, postponing .their Sabbath devotions until later in the day. However, the lightning flashed, the thunder boomed, and. the wind-lashed hail beat en the roofs with a deafening clatter, breaking the Sabbath calm in a most ■anseemly manner. * * * * During the three Show days we enjoyed some queer climatic samples. The first day was fine until early evening, Yrhen torrential rain fell. The second jiay was wild and wet and windy, and ihe third was very threatening, with odd sunshine and showers to make you uncertain whether to wear your gaberdine and goloshes or summer frock and a sunshade'. The magnificent optimism ®f the country maids was never more apparent than when train after train, trap after trap, not to mention the motor cars., unloaded ireights of muslins and white shoes under leaden skies or drenching rain. * *■ * * The big event of the second day was the opening of the new cattle pavilion By the Prime Minister, . Mr. Massey. This pavilion is erected on similar lines to the one which Mr. E. Short, the A. and P. president, saw in Buenos Ayres, and is a most up-to-date affair, covering nearly an acre of ground. Several thousands were gathered round for the ceremony, and, when it was over, Mr. McLaren took advantage of the moihent to make a direct recruiting appeal to the many bronzed young faces off the rich pasture lands of hereabout. * * * * ' On Friday, His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by Lady Liverpool, was present at the Show. They watched an exhibition of ambulance drill by the men from Awapuni camp. This was followed b TT a grand parade of all "the prizes cattle, horses, traps, etc., exhibited at the Show. * * * *. During this parade a serious accident was narrowly averted. A stallion which was being led by ■ a young man, got restive and bolted, and the young fellow, who, unfortunately, had the leading rein twisted around his wrist, was unable to let go, and was dragged, around at the heels of the powerful animal. For a few tragic moments _it seemed that he would have his brains dashed out by the flying heels, and the thousands waited in breathless suspense, powerless to help. Fortunately, the rein became loose, and the young man was released badly shaken and bruised, but otherwise unhurt, but not before four ladies on the stand had fainted.

Alley did • a great business, particularly when a sudden shower came up from apparently nowhere, and people crowded into the nearest tent, as much, for shelter as amusement. An eight-foot Highland giant, and some trick cyclists were among the most popular of these exhibits.

The Spinning Jinney, which was run in order to dispose of tickets in the McHardy Gift Section, did a roaring trade. " They were running anything from Is sweeps to £5 sweeps, the winner getting his money's worth of tickets, andi something like £800 was taken during the three days. In connection with this, during the interval at "Paul Jones," over £250 worth of chances were disposed of to the' audience.

The All Nations' Fair, which was being conducted in the big Exhibition Hall during Show days, realised about £1600. The Mayoress topped. the poll with well over £200 from her Jumble Stall, the Irish Stall, run by Mesdames Devine and Ley don, being runner-up. The Flower Stall was quite the most picturesque of its kind I have seen. It was built like a large summer-house of latticed willow boughs, the roof being hung with ivy and other foliage. Here .Mrs. Loughnan sold the most gorgeous roses and other early summer flowers, which looked their best arranged in this rustic setting.

Mesdames Trask and Chaytor had the Italian Sweet Stall, which was carried out in red, white and green, and the Russian cooked food stall was presided over by girls in Russian costume. There was also a stall for men with all sorts of requisites for soldiers as well as nonmilitant males, where Mrs. A. A. Martin and her assistants were kept busy.

Mrs. R. S. Abraham had a stall for fancy bags, Mrs. Monrad was selling fruit, and there were several other stalls, with an alluring array of goods for sale, but perhaps the best patronised of all was the ice-cream and straw-

berry and cream stall, where the liberal helping of the first fruits of the season offered sufficient inducement for a return visit. * # * * Lady Liverpool, who, by the way, wore a grey costume and a hat of stone blue with dull pink roses, visited the various stalls at the Fair, making several purchases. Altogether the Show and the Fair should materially assist the funds for the wounded soldiers. Among the nurses drowned when the transport Marquette was torpedoed were two nurses who had received their training in the Palmerston North Hospital, Nurses Brown and Jamieson. * * * # Three Palmerston bank clerks were among the members of the Ambulance Corps rescued from the torpedoed boat. These were Mr. Melville Mirfin, who first went to Samoa, prior to which he was teller in the Bank of New South Wales, and Mr. Saffia, also of the same institution, and Mr. Harry Raine, of the Bank of New Zealand staff. * * # * Private Clarence Perrin, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Perrin, of Palmerston, was also on board the ill-fated transport, and is reported among the missing. He also served with the Samoan contingent. * ■ * * itAfter a run of five nights, the "Paul Jones" season closed on Saturday night amidst a shower of bouquets, chocolates and cheers. The audience was most enthusiastic, and it was unanimously declared to be the best opera the society has yet staged. Many people regard the first night of an amateur performance as a sort of glorified dress rehearsal, and the attendance on the first night was not very large, but after that the Opera House was packed nearly every night, on some occasions seats not being available, people had to stand. * # * * Small perhaps, but neat and shapely, Miss Ellen Millar made an admirable Paul Jones. Her voice is rich and full, and was heard at its best in the music of "Paul Jones," and her acting was most convincing throughout. Miss Archer was a very sweet Yvonne, acting the part in a simple graceful manner. Mrs. Broad, who' sang her music well, was perhaps rather too pretty and dainty for the part of the shrewish Chopinette, but she showed she is a charming little actress. * ■» * * The one to whom most praise must go is the Insfect, Petit Pierre. This diminutive youngster. Roy Pratt, made a tremendous success of the part, and his acting in conjunction with Mr. Bert Jacob's, who, as Bouillibaisse, the old smuggler, supplies most of the humour of the play, was truly excellent. They were recalled again and again, and the childish imitation of the older man was quite remarkable. . The boy is a splendid mimic, has wonderful facial expression and a most retentive memory, together with much self-possession, and no untoward incident on the stage, disconcerts him. To mark their appreciation of his good work, the Insect was presented with a gold watch by some of his admirers, at the close of the season.

Mr. Bowater, of the humorous face and capery legs, gave a great burlesque of a Spanish don. The whole opera went brightly from start to finish; there were no hitches and no blunders of any magnitude, so far as the audience could see. The several principals were good, and showed that there is much good material still in the chorus to take the place of some of the principals who will not be with us next year, as the war and the marriage market will rob us of some of them.

After the conductor, Mr. Cohen, had been "cheered, and Mr. Warden, stage manager, and Mrs,. Harry Palmer, Mistress of Wardrobes, had been called before the curtain and cheered, the members were entertained at supper by the president, Mr. Charlie jLouisson.

The Rev. W. F. Grove and Mrs. Grove were visitors to Palmerston last week, and were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. T. It. Moore.

Besides the performing members, there were present at the supper several members of the Wellington Society who had come up for the final performance, including Messrs. Alex. Newton, Meredith and Bridge. There were also present Mrs. Louisson, wife of the president, who wore a squirrel coat over her evening frock, Mr. and Mrs. R. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Alan Stralig, the latter wearing a beautiful frock! of black ninon, Dr. and Mrs. A. A. Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Cooper, and Mrs. Cooper's cousin from Sydney, who is staying with her at present. Toasts were drunk and speeches made, and praise was scattered broadcast from the

principals down to the humble chorus, until the arrival of Sunday morning dispersed the gathering. * * * * A returned trooper from Wariganui district, Private Tennant, was riding a motor bike past the railway station on the third, show day, when the traffic was very considerable, and he collided with a motor car, fracturing his leg, which necessitated his removal to the hospital. / * * •* * Among those who have just been awarded the distinction of Companions of the Distinguished Service Order is Major J. H. Whyte, who was for several years stationed in Palmerston as brigade-major for the Wellington Mounted Rifles District. Major Whyte was also granted D.S.O. for services in South Africa. Your friend, o Awapttni.