"LADYS' NIGHT” AT THE SAVAGE CLUB

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1847, 31 July 1907, Page 23

"LADYS' NIGHT” AT THE SAVAGE CLUB

The Wellington Savage Club disparted itself-.’at. the Town Hall on Saturday evening for the edification and entertainment of the ladies m particular arid a very brilliant assemblage in general. For the nonce the cold plaster walls of both halls and the great corridors and grand staircase were obscured by decorations both quaint and magnificent, and the equally cold tiled floors were warmly carpeted wherever it was conceived the throng might wander, for practically the whole of the building was given over to the club. With truly savage upsidedownness, the large hall was set apart for the supper, and when one imagines the whole of the floor space transformed into a verdant grove with daintily spread tables set under or around great tree ferns and palms, the whole illumined by festoons of vari-coloured electric light sweeping up through the foliage to a ceritral point in the ceiling, some idea of the prettiness of the. scene may be gathered. The entrance and stairway were carpeted in. crimson, and were flanked .with trophies from the bush. The business of./the evening was enacted in the Concert Hall, hung with elaborate friezes, on which the principal members of the hapu were cleverly depicted in characteristic pose. At a few min utes after 8 his Excellency the Governor, accompanied by Mr H. C. Water field (private secretary) and Mrs Waterfickl, and Lieutenant Lyon, A.D.C., arrived, and were shown to their seats imined - ately behind the totem table of the Chief Savage (the Hon. Dr Findlay). With the Governor’s party were also the Right Hon. the Premier (Sir Joseph Ward), his Worship the Mayor (Hon. T. W. Hislop), Miss Eileen Ward and Miss Rubi Seddon. If anybody imagined that this array conduced to anything like "stiffness,” that, notion would have been promptly dispelled on seeing and bearing the sweet singers of the tribe march through the packed hall to the swing of “The Pale Pink Savage Band,” headed by the Savage Attorney-General, docked in his "chain of office.” The eveningdressed warrior's took the places n the stage, and Savage Harcus Plimmer welcomed the Savage Chief in a smart adaptation of the captain’s song in "H.M S. Pinafore.” It is on record that the Chief’s part in the opening recitative is the first occasion on which the AttorneyGeneral has sung in public, and must be taken as further proof that elevation to the Ministry is as effective as a course of vocal instruction under Sant ley. Mr Ernest Parkes sang • ' When Briton Really Ruled the Waves” in ringing style, and was, of course, encored, and Mr Alec. Newton sang some topical verses to the tune of "A Policeman's Life is not a Happy One,” substituting the word Premier for that of the man in blue. Then followed a witty discourse by the Chief on "Savages in Politics.” in which the speaker drew an analogy between the politician of pre-historic times and the species of to-day. He related that away back in the stone age the great question of the day was land for settlement, and more trouble arose over the compulsory acquirement of private estates than be knew of. Even in those days a division took place after a stone-wall,- in which some went for the "eyes.” some for the "nose” and othm-s for different parts of the anatomy, but even as to-day the State was really ruled by the "axe” of Parliament. In similar phraseology the Attorney-General referred with humorous optimism to the day when the ladies ! have a voice in the conduct of Parliamentary affairs, or, as the poet has

When the hand that rocks the cradle Leaves the baby on the shore. After the Chief had subsided into a dignified silence, Mr James Dykes chanted some topical verses to the ladies, in the vocal manner of Ichabod Bronson in “The Belle of New York.” His lugubrious humour found favour, and lie had to sing Mel. B. Spurr’s “The World Went ery well Then.” Later Mr Dykes sang another original song, explaining before ne did so, that Savage Killick had been guilty of most of the original words of the songs that had been sung. The last item before the supper adjournment was “When the Night Wind Howls,” from “Ruddigore,” sung by Savage Arthur Ballance, a weird com position, that deals in ghosts’ holidays spent in churchyards, yawning graves and bogie notions, set in wonderful rhythm. After supper the entertainment was pursued by Messrs a hen, Tombs and Barrett in a graceful trio for ’cello, violin and piano. Then followed the inspiriting drinking song from “The Rose of Persia,” vigorously declaimed by Mr E. J. Hill, supported yy a fine chorus, appropriately provided with “cold steins.” The encore was undeniable. Mr Leslie Hill’s fine tenor voice was heard to advantage in the ballad, “Only You” (from the Italian) and Allitzen’s. “Song of Thanksgiving.” Then followed a short sketch, in which \e characters were played by Messrs Killick, Bastin, H. Plimmer, Brown and Dykes, introducing a dance by the two-first-mentioned. The dancing of Mr _>astin as a comic policeman was a feature of this effort, Another fresh number was a double quartet—four (pseudo) ladies and gentlemen—who sang and danced with much verve and grace, the get up” of the ladies being quite the thing. The performers were “Misses” Ballance, Holmwood, Best and Killick, and Messrs Watts, Queree and Nelson. Perhaps the best laughing success was achieved by Mr Dave Kenney, who utterly wrecked the dignity of the audience with, his “Irish Orchestra” and “"Amelia.” His face alone is a wealth of comedy, which does not interfere in the least with his able performance as pianist of the hapu. Incidental to the entertainment was a weird individual, whose identity could not be discovered, who lounged on and off the stage in a variety of costumes, executing a variety of antics that raised i good deal .of laughter. The Savage Orchestra, under Mr T. Herd, was a feiture should not be forgotten. ; 'The Savage Club committee deserves great praise for the bright and quite unique function it fathered on Saturday evening.