FEILDING FANCIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2882, 16 June 1909, Page 69

FEILDING FANCIES.

By Old 'Un.

Although all trains, including the North Island Main Trunk expresses, stop here, Feilding is passed by the big shows. That is not the fault of the b.s., I understand, for J. C. W.s managers have assured me that if Feilding had a theatre or a decent hall where justice could be done to the staging, and there was accommodation for the actors, they woulc 1 ' come like a shot. For, as one remarked to me, "we know there is plenty of money in Feilding and its district. Get an Opera- House, and we vvill come." Meanwhile, we have to §0 to Palmer6ton to see the good things that are touring the Dominion. The mistake made by the majority of the managers of passing- shows is that they do not "tap" the Feilddng folk by billing Hie town and ad'ertising in it when they have a big show in the P.N. Opera House. Friend MuJler knows the value of this tip ; so do friends Royls .md Smith. "The Merry Widow" was boomed in this way, and as a result some 200 patrons from Feilding went across by motor car, bicycle, motor waggon, and every other kind of vehicle. Meanwhile, the Feildino- Borough Council and the Chamber of Commerce have set up committees to consider whether an Opera House or a Town Hall should be erected. The trouble is, as you know, -money is tight, and the snteirprise is not moving. Tha tendency is in favour of tho erection of Municipal Buildings, with a Town Hall included. We are not being- riotously entertained. Next Monday we are to have a visit from Di* Bora.noff, the man who escaped from Sberia, and the following Monday o<nd Tuesday West's Pictures will be with us. Picture shows are very exciting nourishment -for us o' nights, and consequently popular. The local Amateur Operatic Society is busily engaged putting- the finishing touches on "The Gondolers." The Feildu'ng' Comedy Comipaaiy, which gave a successful production of "Jane' r a short time ago, is just putting into rehearsal the comedy-drama. "All for Gold." The staffe manager is Mr J. R. Goodall, and he and his wife, who were with Bland Holt some years ago, a.re the prime movers in the F.C.C. Two Foilding men, Mr Thos. Watson (poet and novelist) and Mr H. Temple VVhite (musician), have iust composed a fine patriotic song, " Z<-,alandia's Call " It was suncr at Mr M'Nab's defence meet--ngs at Feilding and Palmerston Korth a few nights asro. The song was offered to « m Williamson for interpolation in ' lhe Englishman's Home." In acknowledging the offer the eply received was that unoier the terms on which th& drama is being- produced no interpolation or *T? a "^?r, ls . allovved - Regret to expressed tnat Zealandia's call" could not be used.