MORMON CONFERENCE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17436, 7 April 1931, Page 12

MORMON CONFERENCE

2000 AT NUHAKA FINE MAORI SINGING A big Maori hui incorporating a conference' of Latter Day Saints concluded in Nuliaka yesterday. The attendance totalled about 2000 people, most of whom were Maoris, who had come from ull pans of New Zealand, from north of Auckland to as far south as Invercargill The programme for the gathering included music and singing competitions nui sports events, while dances were ieid on appropriate evenings. Some very fine dance orchestras were present, including Mr. Wi Duncan's from Danne,'ii'Ke, Air. Walter Smith's from Auckland, ami the M.A.C. orchestra from the Maori Agricultural College in Hastings. The musical portion of the competitions, and a portion of the singing, were judged by Mr. George Chrisp, of Gisiiorne, wfiile Mr. South, of Nuhaka, was the judge of the part singing. Commenting on the standard of the performances, Mr. Chrisp said he was most pleasantly surprised with the remarkably high standard of the part singing. He was disappointed that none of tho efforts were in the real Maori Myie; all were English tunes rendered in English style, but they were sung in a professional manner, which did the performers great credit. The choruses were very good, the men's choruses being particularly so, while the conductors dismayed the utmost ability. The Dannevirke conductor Cu'splayed unusual capaI ilities, and incidentally the Dannevirko vocalists annexed most of the prizes, i'he instrumental items, however, did not approach the snmo high standard as those in the vocal section. The winners of the main events were* as follow:—-Ohoir contest: Nuhaka. Men's chorus: Daunevirke. Men's quartet: Hastings. Ladies' trio: Dannevirko. Girls' chorus: Daunevirke.