NORTH OTAGO

Otago Witness, Issue 3775, 20 July 1926, Page 23

NORTH OTAGO

NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT. OAMARU COMPETITIONS. The third annual festival of the Oainarq Competitions Society was opened on Saturday, the attendance at all sessions being good. The number of entries received was 760, and was a considerable increase over last year’s figures. Visitors are present from all parts of the South Island, Dunedin especially being strongly represented. The festival was officially opened by the Mayor (Mr J. M’Dfnrmid) on Saturday evening. Mr E. D. Watts is stage man-, ager, and iftrs Gordon Donaldson accompanist. The secretary, Mr R. Malcolm, has made complete arrangements. The following are the results:— VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL ITEMS. Judge: Mr Edwin Dennis (Wellington). Song for Girls (12 and under 14). “A Brown Bird Singing”.—Nancy Harper (Oamaru) 73 1, Fay Harney (Oamaru) 70 2, I’iano Solo (boys or girls under 12). Annie Brown (Oamaru) 78 1, Teddy Pheloung 75 2, Kenneth Cairns (Oamaru) ami Norma Slater (Oamaru) highly commended. In this section the judge remarked that a common fault was evident in the alternate movements. The first was easy, the second difficult, and the third easy. As a result the competitors hurried the easy parts and played too slowly in the more difficult movements. Song for Girls (under 12). Own selection. —Vincente Brown (Pukeuri) 79 points 1, Gwen Thompson (Dunedin) 74 2, Zeta Gunn (Pukeuri) aud Melba Ashton (Oamaru) 71 (equal) 3. Vocal Solo, accompanied by self (open). Own selection.—Doris Taylor (Oamaru) 97 points 1, E. May Ritchie (Oamaru) 93 points 2, Reta Oliver (Oamaru) 92 points 3. Sacred Solo, contralto (open). Own selection.—Mrs L. R. Templeton 73 points 1. Janet Denholm 68 points 2. Story Without Words (over 16).—Hazel Shier 100 points 1. Alice Meredith 95 points 2, Sylva Kyle and Maude E. Farrant 90 points 3. Operatic Solo (gentlemen). Open. Own selection. —Johnston Mayfield 77 points 1. Vocal Duet (lady and gentleman). Own selection.—Eva Marshall and Johnston Mayfield (only competitors) 78 points 1. Soprano Solo (open). Own selection.— Sylva Kyle 74 points 2, Olive Bennett 73 points 3. No first prize was awarded. Song for Girls (16 and under IS). “The Fairy Laundry.”—Nellie M’Laren 1, Phyllis Ashton 2. The Judge remarked that this section was weak numerically. The winner gave an outstanding performance. She sang with refinement. Vocal Quartet (any voices). Own selection.—ldlers’ Quartet 76 points 1. ELOCUTION. Judge: Mr A. Stanley Warwick (Wellington.) Recitation (girls 9 and under 12). “An Eastern Legend”.—Berta Boreham (Dunedin) 70 points 1, Gwen Thompson (Dunedin) 69 points 2, Joyce Tait (Oamaru) 67 points 3, Dorothy Crawshaw highly com-, mended. Recitation (boys 9 and under 12). “Going Down Hill on a Bicycle.”—John Ward (Oamaru) 77 points 1, Tom Bourke (Oamaru) 71 points 2. Recitation (boys 12 and under 16). “The Farmer’s Boy.”—Lawrence Nathan 72 points 1, Sydney Ashton 70 points 2. The Judge said that iu this section the second competitor could not pronounce certain vowels correctly. Mispronunciation was very noticeable in New Zealand, though not to gush an extent as in AusRecitation (under 21 ladies or gentlemen, own selection). —• Doris Aikenhead, 75 points. 1; Alice Mason, 65 points, 2; Foss Shanahan, 64 points, 3. The judge was disappointed in the few entries in this section. He said that in Greymouth as many as 36 youths entered in this section. He suggested that a school championship be instituted next year. The choice of pieces by competitors was not good. One competitor gave an old man’s speech in a young voice. There were several ladies* pieces written ffy Shakespeare, and a more careful selection should be made. FANCY DANCING. Judge: Madame Eugenie Dennis v Wellington). Operatic Duo (open).—Margaret Beck and May Thompson, 84 points, 1; Anzac Patton and Eileen Tattersfield, 78 points, 2. The senior couple were more advanced than the younger sompetitors, and gave a pleasing performance. The judge deprecated the use of the same shoes for national and operatic dancing. It was a great mistake. She expressed the hope that competitors in future would use the correct shoes. NATIONAL DANCING. Judge: Miss May Thorn (Mataura). Highland Fling (under 12; open to children in North Otago).—Nancy Liddel (Oamaru), 87 points, 1; Hazel Doran (Oamaru), 85 points, 2; Margaret J. Bishop (Hampden), 83 points, 3; Pat. Shanahan (Oamaru), 80 points, highly commended. The dancing was very interesting and the standard high. The stressed the need for naturalness and freedom of arm movements. The second placed competitor was well ahead of the others on the morning’s performance, but in the evening lost confidence and thus had to take eecond place. Irish Jig (under 12). —Jessie Jardine (Oamaru), 79 points, 1; Pat Shanahan, 78 points, 2; Lilian Richardson (Timaru), 76 points, 3; Tui Cairns, 75 points, highly commended. The Judge said a fault was made in the triple, which should be distinct and even. Sean Truibhais (12 and under 16).—• Rita Miller (Oamaru), 79 points, 1; Violet G. Cameron (Herbert), 78 points, 2; Lottie Staniford, 77 points, 3. JOCKEY CLUB. Mr John Fraser has withdrawn his nomination for the committee of the Oamaru Jockey Club in order to avoid an election. The retiring members of the committee, with Mr Theo Russell to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr H. 8. Orbell, have, therefore, been declared elected.