ORIENTAL CARNIVAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3672, 29 July 1924, Page 24

ORIENTAL CARNIVAL.

AIDING ST. JOHN AMBULANCE. The beneficent and essential work of the Bt. John Ambulance Association in caring for the sick and suffering and training in the knowledge of nursing is one that naturally has a very wide claim on the Sympathy and support of the community. Where that support is not forthcoming the reason in nine cases out of ten must be that the needs of the association have not been definitely realised or thought about. The work of the association, nursing the *k free of charge, transporting the vie-

t.ims of accidents and other patients, befriending the suffering in hospital, training thousands of men and women in the elements of first aid and home nursing, goes on so smoothly and persistently year in and •ear out, that the majority, if they think of it at all, accept it as a matter of course 'with no thought of their own personal •esponsibility for the support of this community service. Once in a while, however, it becomes necessary that the whole work of the association should be forced upon the attention of the community in such a way that the responsibility for carrying it on may be very widely recognised and accepted. Such a specal effort has been organised at the present time by the friends

of the association. It takes the form of a spectacular Oriental Carnival, which was opened in His Majesty’s Theatre and adjoining halls on Saturday evening. The association requires at the present time to have its finances placed on a better footing and in particular it is essential that it should add to its equipment a new and up-to-date amublance van. As the need has boon made known a large number of individuals and organisations have joined together in one comprehensive organised effort. The carnival .which will be carried on all this week, is the result of that effort, and the enthusiasm with which the public responded on Saturday evening is a convincing guarantee that the labours of the organisers will be crowned with success. The whole scheme originated largely with Mrs G. M. Baker, who is carrying a very large share of the responsibility for seeing it through. The plan which has been adopted for the carnival certainly offers to the public very varied and generous entertainment for its money. In His Majesty’s Theatre itself aie being produced under the direction of those skilled and experienced theatrical organisers —Messrs F. R. and W. S. Wauchop—the spectacular revue “Japonette,” and another medley of songs, choruses, dances, and scena under the title of “Divertissement* ” The downstairs annexe to the theatre has been transformed into a gay and brilliantly coloured “Eastern Market Place,” in which stalls and side shows vie with one another in claiming the attention and the money of the -visitor. Fullers’ Hall upstairs is equally gaily and brightly adorned and here are arranged the tea rooms and various other bazaar stalls, stalls. In Victoria Hall an Oriental Dance Cabaret is carried on all the evening. All these halls communicate with each other, and the programme each evening opens with the half-hour entertainment, “Japonette,” in the theat.ro from 8 p.m. till 8.30. This is followed by an interval of an hour and a-quarter in which patrons are free to wander about among the other carnival attractions and to defend themselves with what success they may from the beguilements of fair maidens bearing articles to sell or to raffle. At a quarter to 10 tbe second half-hour entertainment, ‘‘Divertissements,” opens in the theatre and at its close there still remains three-quarters of an hour for business before the carnival concludes for the night at 11 p.m. At a-quarter to 8 on Saturday evening the Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley) appeared on the stage to open the carnival. lie was accompanied by the president of the Dunedin Centre of the association. Mr J. J. Clark, and the chairman, the Rev. V. G. Bryan King. The theatre was crowded in every part,. The Mayor expressed his pleasure at the opportunity afforded him. At certain functions the ceremony of declaring them open always seemed to him superfluous, but he thought it only fitting that the representative of the citizens should take the opportunity on an occasion like that of saying all he could in praise of the St. John Ambulance Association. Ho was glad fo acknowledge the splendid work this institution had been doing in our cily for so many years past. Yet, like manv other good institutions, it had been languishing for funds, and if the people of Dunedin wanted it to carry on its work in a satisfactory way they must provide it with adequate funds,. The great object of the carnival was to raise funds primarily to provide another ambulance which would cost £IOOO and also to enable the association to extend its operations. He felt sure that people did not realise the enormous value of the association to the city, but the large audience present that night showed that a spirit of interest had been awakened recently in this matter. Mr Clark expressed * to the Mayor the gratitude of the gathering at his presence, and a vote of thanks to him was carried by acclamation. “Japonette,” which was commenced immediately after the official opening, has a very pretty stage setting and a charmingly effective opening. The curtain rises on a Tokio market place before dawn, with dainty Japanese figures flitting about from place to place and some lying asleep at i-heir stalls awaiting the coming day. Gradually the light increases till dawn breaks. Chinese lanterns aid the beauty and re atmosphere of the scene. The opening item is a fan song (‘‘Merry Little Maidens”) and chorus by a group of dainty little girls who had evidently been very carefully trained in their work. The tourists-who enter next rejoice in a very brisrht but most pleasing and harmonious array of costumes, as, led by (Miss Molly Andrews, they sing “Ain’t Got a Minute” and the seductive “Nesting Time.” In r Noel Smith’s song and chorus, “Cherry Blossom Time in Japan,” an exceedingly pretty effect was obtained by each member of the chorus of 30 girls carrying and waving a branch of her native cherry blossom. A group of young ladies executed a hornpipe, and “The Dance of the Rickshaw Boys,” all out of time and step with one another, was one of the most humorous things of the kind that could well be imagined. The love song, “Remembering,” given a,', a duet by Miss M. Andrews and Mr N. Smith, was very greatly enjoyed. This first entertainment concluded with the brisk and breezv chorus, “You’ve Got to Get Busy.” in which Mr Reg. Tapley, as the soloist, had the support of a strong chorus Tbe second entertainment, “Divertissements,” began punctually, and it also was enjoyed by a crowded audience. Mr Pom Watson and his grotesque chorus scored a big hit with their song “Roast Beef of Old England,” which opened the programme. The appearance of the chorus formed an irresistibly ludicrous comment on the song. The Hawaiian song by Mr Charles Reid and the native costume ciance that followed were very pretty. The Hawaiian dance had evidently been very closely studied and was executed with much skill and confidence. The voices of Misses Graynor Paape and Noeiine Robinson blended sweetly in their song “I Never Had a Mummy.” and the anpearance of a number of tiny tots in the chorus was much enjoyed. The entertainment concluded with an Eastern scena divided into four parts —“The Arabian Moon.” by Mr Reg. Tapley and the chorus blended Wonderfully well with the scene and costumes prepared to accompany it. A torch dance and cymbal dance wero executed with vigour and grace. The song “A Persian Garden,” composed hv Mr 11. J. Finlay, of Otago University, was very sympathetically rendered bv Mr Eddie Butler and chorus. Both entertainments are notable for their wealth and harmony of Eastern colouring and for their happy Mending of song and dance and chorus. The work of the orchestra, with Miss

Hawke as pianist, is an important factor in the Measure of the evening. A Kill list of those who have prepared to take part is as follows: — Children.—Misses Alexis. Leslie Comer, Winnie Comer, Ngara Coghlan, Betty Dingnall, Betty Donnelly, M.aura Donnelly, Veronica Gant,ley, Brenda Hastie, Doris Haymes, Kay, Goynor Paape, Francis Patton, Mabel Patton, Eileen Pay, Nooline Robinson, Dorothy Rogers, Anetta Sandys, Molly Sandys, Joyce Smith. Eva Sutherland, Francis Sutherland, and Rua Sutherland. Cymbal Dance. —Mrs Leslie Mills, Misses Josephine O’Neill, F. M'George, Service, Y i!)a 11 . and Petty Williams. Persian Maids. —Misses Molly Burt, Cecil Stock. Helen Watson, and Kathleen Watson. Rickshaw Bovs. —Messrs J. Bradley, L. Clutterbuck, C. Cull. P. Egan. R. Hulands, F. Mehati. C. W. Robinson, L. Stokes, and W. Walker. Geishas, Marketers. Etc. —Misses D. Blair. K. Cuban. Dinnie. R. Drumm. Faulknor. E. ITinklev. N. Johnson. M. Kirby. R. Meiklejohn, Robinson, Russell, E. Simons, Stenhcuse, and W ilson. Tourists —Mesdames O. Black and E. Calder, Misses L. Anderson, D. Andrews, M Andrews, F. Barnett, G. Bates, D. Debenham. G. Debenham, C. Emerson. D. Jevons, N. Moloney, M. Osten. and M. Welch. Sailors. —Misses Cooke, Coug’alan, Frazer, Gillesrio. MTntyre, Rittenberg, I. Simons, and Smith. To those who know the barren ugliness of the scenery annexe and the extreme plainness of Fullers’ Hall, the bowers of beauty that have been arranged there will come as a distinct surprise. The arches that form an artistic feature of the decorations are the work of students of the School of Art, and the adornment of the tearooms upstairs has been carried out by Mr M Gin Brown. Egyptian figures done in coloured paper are prominent in the scheme of decoration of the stalls, for which the Messrs Wauchop are responsible, Downfairs are to be found a stall for surprise packets, dolls, etc., a kitchen stall, a Chinese stall laden with market produce given by the generous section of the community, Mr Long Lee, of Kaikorai, contributing the first night’s sup- 1 - a company novelty stall, and a coffee and pie stall. Upstairs are sweet stall, jumble stall, produce stall, art stall flower stall, ices and soft drinks, cakes, and dainties, and tea rooms. In addition, there are numerous novel side shows offering, and the pushing of raffles is active.y carried on. So many are the good things offered on the stall and so pleasing is the effect of the whole scheme of colour decoration that it was not surprising to find both halls thronged with visitors, who often had real difficult- in reaching the stall at which they desired to make a purchase. A handsome banner, presented by C. P. M. Butterworth is placed in front of the stall showing the best results for the previous night and will become the property of that with the highest takings during the carnival. The performers’ stall, in charge of Mrs A. Barnett, is the present holder. The following are the stalls and helpers: Sweets Stall. —Mesdames J. J. Clark. Charles Speight, and Keast. Misses King, Sedgwick, Torrance, D. Rosevear, M. Anderson, Bardsley, Elliott. Gilchrist, Hunt, M'Auley, M’Kinnon, K. Salmond, Stringer, Thomas, Thomson, Twigg. and Wood ; also Columba College and Domestic Science students. , _ T t i Soft Drinks and Ices.—Mesdames R. Hudsen and G. and Ladies Hockey Association. ~ , Surprise Packets and Dolls.—Mesdames G M Baker. R. W. Glendining. G. Moreton, .T H. Hade. E. lies, F. Paape and P. Wood. Misses Davies, Gordon. Hope. Lindsay, Freeman, M'Donald. M Farlane, M‘Gregor, Sutherland, Thornicroft, Tyrell. and Quinn , _ , _ Jumble. St V invent de Paul Society: Heads— Mesdames J B. Callan, A. Shiel, and TT Poppelw ell : assistants—Mesdames Clark Drake. A. Hall. Hussey. O'Neill, Van Payne. W. Shiel. C. Todd. Tylee. and Wilson Misses Cantwell. N. Dunne, Fennesy, ’ Harley, Hastings, Higgins (2). Holden. Knott, Metcalf. M'Quillan (2), O’Farrell. Smith |2), Taylor. M Taylor, Thomas (4), Thomson, Todd (2), Tylee, ix. Welsh. Cakes and Dainties. —Mesdames Marshall Macdonald and S. M Park. Misses Baird, Betty Budge, Clarlq Davis. Elvidge, Greensi ade, Hart M. Hart, Iggo, H. O’Neill. Phelan. Stark, and Watson. Produce Stall. —Mesdames Bennett and T. Ferguson, Miss M'Kinnon, and Ladies’ Labour League. Performers’ Stall (Novelties).—Mesdames Arthur Barnett., Leslie Mills, Smeatou, Noel Smith, Watt, Wilson, and Allan Young, Misses Brvant, Cormack. Donovan, Pope, Reid, Saxon Stokes, and the perfrmers. Chinese Stall (Stocked by the Chinese Residents of Dunedin).—ln charge of the Anglican Harriers. Flower Stall (Women’s Club). —Mesdames V/. Edmond. J. Begg, Bennet. Bluen, Brewer. Duthie. Easton, Greenslade. T.e Cren, T ouden. Macassev, M‘Kibbon. Oldham.' O’Neill. Ramsay, Ritchie. Sleigh. I.ee Smith, Williams, Misses Martin and Hegarty. Art Stall. —Mesdames A. 11. Fisher, J. A. Roberts. E. C. Reynolds. Misses Joachim, F. Allen, J. Allen, D. de Beer, Burton. O. Burton, A Halsted. Macassev, M. Smith, D. M. Theomin, G. Webster, and Wilson. Kitchen Stall. —The Trampers’ Club. Misses Balk, f* Howden. and G. P»rlrer, Messrs Balk. Knox. Mackie. gnd Ritchie. Coffee Stall.—Messrs Frank Drake. Noel Smith, and Allan Young. Tea Rooms —Misses M'Nab and Healv. and Indies of the Nursing Division of tbe St John Ambulance Association. Also Assisting with Surmise Pa-Vets. Sweets Stall Etc—-Misses And-rson. Archer Ashton, Bain. Mrs Bain bridge. Misses B-nlt. Bateman, Bird. Brooks. Butt. Cameron, Campbell, Carroll, Coppell. Ooppin Cox. Crawford, Davis. Davidson. Dow, fdwnrds Fleming, Airs Gilchrist. Messrs Green, Guy, Haig, Havward. Holt, Kitt, Kirkpatrick, Lm'eg (2), haw. T.i«d'ay. M‘Connoobie, M‘Kay. M'Rohie. Mlfler. Monro. Perriam. Robson Salmon Simmons, Slemint. Snillane, Snnness, Thompson. Turnbull Walker, Watt, Williams, Wilson, and Wilkinson. The opportunity afforded by turning the Victoria Hall into dance cabaret was eagerly availed of by crowds of young people and hv those not just so young A charge of 6d a dance was made, and the hall cleared after each dance. So popular was this form of amusement that with more accommodation double the money might have been taken.

The bazaar, which has thus been opened with such great success will be continued every night this week.