LADY’S LETTER FROM DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1756, 1 November 1905, Page 25

LADY’S LETTER FROM DUNEDIN.

(By “Norma.”)

There seems to have been a complete dearth of social functions during the past week, consequently as this is a true and authentic letter and not an imaginary one, I have nothing of that sort to chronicle. The most interesting event of the past week, has been the final of the Competitions Society. This is the fourth year that this Society has held meetings in Dunedin, and has done much to foster and preserve -the talents o<f our population. There were competitions for music, elocution, readings, stories, speeches, poems etc., and two grand choir contests, and there was £285 given in prizes. A committee of gentlemen composed of the following—• Mr Whitson, Mr Solomon, Mr Stilling, Mr Ciew, Mr Hanlon, the Rev. Mr Curzon-Siggers, Mr Park, Dr. Davies and others look after the arrangements for these meetings, and great credit is due to them for the manner in which these duties were discharged, and for the almost unanimous satisfaction, produced by the decisions of the judges. Mr Arthur Towsey V.ras judge for all the musical items and Mr Baeyertz for the literary. . One of the most, interesting items from the public’s point of view was the “Impromptu Speeches.” The competitors for this turn, were kept in a room behind the stage, so that they could hear nothing that was going on. They were called one by one to the front and after they were told the subject, they were given one. minute to collect their thoughts, then five minutes to talk and one minute to wind up. It is a trying ordeal, especially for a young man, who is unaccustomed to public speaking. This year the subject chosen was, “The Domestic Servant Problem” and some very amusing ideas werd the result, Mr Burnand was the winner of the first prize and he certainly spoke remarkably well. I liked Mr John Allan’s ideas very much for he was almost the only one who seemed to have a good word to say for the servants, showing that part of the blame any way lay with the mistres ;e.s. Other amusing items were “Illustrated Songs” and “Stories without Words” both of which were thoroughly appreciated by a very large audience. In the first of these Mr J. White got the first prize and most deservedly so, for none of the others were wortt )j even of comparison with his. The song was Mel. B. Spurr’s well-known “Tin Gee-Gee.” Mr White had photos of al\ the toy .hrown on a sheet

on the stage by magic lantern, each picture being a thorough work of art. The “Lady of High Degree,” being represented by a most charming “Gibson Girl.” The photos were all taken by Mr White himself, which enhances the value of the performance in no small degree. The other songs, ‘Laddie,” “At the Fountain,” “The Holy Shrine,” and “The Death of Nelson,” were all illustrated with the same style of art and I am thankful to say it is not a Style we often see nowadays, and what struck one most when looking at them was wonder where such awlful things could he obtained. The prizes were presented last Saturday evening and! a programme gone through of all the prize) performances. The takings for the season have exeeded expectations, so that the Society start their next year with a good credit balance in the hank. Trafalgar Day was most disappointing, for it rained without ceasing the whole day. The sports which the Navy League had arranged to be held at Forbury Park had to be abandoned, and the school children's floral exhibits judged in tbe Garrison Hall. In the evening a great demonstration was held in the Garrison Hall,, the stage was decorated to represent the deck of a ship, and speeches and songs suitable for the day were delivered, a very large audience attended, who all seemed embued with a fitly loyal and patriotic spirit. Mrs Cameron, Anderson’s Bay, left last Tuesday for Auckland, where she will join her husband, the Rev. Mr Cameron, on his return from England. Mrs Hosking has gone for a trip to Queenstown. Mr and Mrs Eardley Reynolds have gone to Wellington for a few weeks.. Mr and Mrs Chisholm and Miss Chisholm returned to Dunedin last Thursday from an extensive tour in England and the Continent. Mr and Mrs Mondy returned to Dunedin last Tuesday from Melbourne, after spending a few months in Japan.