PORT CHALMERS OLD IDENTITIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20701, 26 April 1929, Page 12

PORT CHALMERS OLD IDENTITIES.

HISTORICAL PAGEANT STAGED. GABRIEL’S GULLY DAYS • RECALLED. The Port Chalmers Old Identities’ Association provided an unusual but very popular entertainment for the members at the quarterly meeting on Wednesday evening. The :association endeavours to recall pioneering .incidents realistically.Last year a pageant was produced depicting a sailing ship leaving Glasgow with pioneer immigrants for New Zealand. That proved to .be so popular that another portrayal wks decided on, and this time it -was connected with the historical discovery of gold at Gabriel's Gully. Mr J. harqubarson, president of the associa-tion,-has been the prime mover and he has had the capable assistance of Mrs J. Morgan, whose productions in the way of entertainment have often delighted the residents of Port Chalmers. The entertainment given on Wednesday J-venmg was a little musical play called ihe Dawn of Sixty-one.” It was rushed by an eager audience, the doors having to be closed at the time of commencing because there was no standing room then left in the Town Hall, in which the entertainment was given. Admission was by member s ticket, but some of the members were evidently accompanied bv mends,.for the seats were‘quickly filled when the doors were opened, and later, when no more standing room was left, a number of the other members failed to get in. The play opened in front of Tom Crane’s store at the foot of the Dunstan track. It is evening and a hurricane lamp lights lue opening scene in which Mr Crane, the storekeeper, is sitting smoking a.churcli.warden pipe and reading the latest newspaper to arrive by the coach. Mrs Crane is seated knitting near her husband, and 1 1S * a . .bomeiy scene. They are talking , men ' vho are out prospecting for gold when they see a light approaching ( in the distance. Presently they hear a cooee, which sounds familiar, and babnel, attirea in red shirt, .moLskin trousers, and grey felt hat, arrives carrying his swag. This is Gabriel Read, the discoverer of gold on the Dunstan, and lie announces that he “ has ' struck the colour rich _on the Dunstan and is on ''Y , to Dunedin to claim the ofiieial rewaid for such discovery. He and his discovery are hailed with delight, and Gabnei proceeds to pay off a “ score ” ot £a with a six-eunce nugget of gold. Rof /, V 6„ struck it rich,” announces Mr + u nch w tian a Californy sunset. Bring the slate out, mother, and I* will iw lth i ? u £Eets as big as your heart. Ring that old bell of yours, Tom,” continued Mr Read, turning to the storekeeper, and get the boys and girls up troni township. This is my night and l m going to make it a real thousandaollar Sacramento sing-song.” The boys and girls arrive from the township m pioneer apparel varying from the runaway sailor’s mixed suit to the Widow M’Bride’s old-time bonnet. Pine irec Joe, the crack driver, was wearing his cape and had his whip with him. MKenzie, a bushy-whiskered miner, was dressed in a tartan skirt, and his moleskins were kept in place by a red sash in place of braces. One of the girls from the township has taken time to don a dream” of an old world hat before answering the rail of the storekeeper’s be i‘ ..Everybody was happy at the store, and the sing-song” had just commenced when Wing-Wing, a Chinese prospector, arrives from the Shotover. He is welcomed with- hearty handshakes, and is prevailed on to sing a song about the little gold miggetee welly good’.” The programme of dancing, and playing was very good. The songs included the following:— "Killarncy,” “ Drink to Me Only,” “ Kentucky Home,” “Swing Low” “0 Sing to Me, ,r "Eileen , Allanah,” There is a Tavern,” Standard on the Braes,” ‘Shenandoah,” .“Come where My Love,” “ Silver Threads,” “ The Last Rose,” " Home, Boys, Home,” and “Auld Lang Syne.”' The performers were Mrs Morgan (Margaret Crane), Mr A. Johnson [Tom Crane), Messrs G. Gray, M. Howden, L. Booth, Morgan (two.), M. Stevenson, E. Docherty, D. Campbell, H, Wilson, Mrs J. W. Johnston, F. H. Hudson, H. Finch, Messrs G. Groves, J. Sinclair, T. Kettle (Gabriel Read), R.-MilneSj A. Throp, A. Chisholm, W. Walkinshaw, S. Jack, L. Jack, K. Roy, B. Allan, and W. Matson. Mr Paterson, of the Otago Early Settlers’ Association, on behalf of visitors from the city, congratulated the company, stating that every minute had been enjoyed. He hoped to see it given in Dunedin.