TUATAPERE NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 20633, 3 November 1928, Page 5

TUATAPERE NOTES

(From Our Correspondent.) On Friday, October 26, a children’s cantata entitled, “The Rose of Joy” was staged in Font’s Hall. There was a large audience which showed appreciation of the children’s choruses and solos, and the cantata as a whole. The proceeds were for the Presbyterian Sunday School. Over 40 children took part the chief characters being: Queen Cynthia, Miss Alice Clearwater; Magician, Rex Cassey; Jester, Norman Young; Pages, Gilbert Henderson, Allan Higgins and Raymond Stoneman; leaders of the Sunbeams, Misses A. Hart and M. McCulloch; Sir White, Oswald Phillips; Dragon, George Higgins. The second part of the programme consisted of items by adults as follows: Violin solo, Mr E. Guthrie, solos, Mrs Lindsay and Miss Clearwater, Messrs D. Ross, A. Cook and F. Tilley; trio, Messrs Ross, Cook and Nicholas; duets, Mrs Stoneman and Miss Clearwater; Mrs Stoneman and Mr Ross. At the conclusion of the programme Mr C. J. Nicholas thanked all who had contributed and those who had trained the children. After the final chorus of the cantata two of the fairies presented the Queen with a large box of chocolates, and later the Sunday School teachers presented Mrs Stoneman with a manicure set in recognition of her work in training the children for the cantata. W.C.T.U. Branch Formed. On Monday afternoon Miss McLay, organizer of the W.C.T.U., addressed a meeting in the Presbyterian Hall. Miss McLay explained the aims and objects of the union and urged those present to reorganize and carry on the work which a few years ago had been commenced in the district. Later a branch of the W.C.T.U. was formed and 12 members initiated. The following officers were elected pro tern: President, Mrs A. A. C. Lion; vice-president, Mrs F. Harrison ; secretary, Mrs T. Ballantyne; treasurer, Mrs R. Winter. Mrs F. Harrison thanked Miss McLay for her helpful and interesting address and expressed the hope that the new branch formed would be successful in the district. It was decided to hold a further meeting on November 29. Animal Day. The celebration of the third annual Animal Day took place at the Tuatapere School on October 26. The Pets’ Parade was held at 2 o’clock after which Miss Kennedy, Mrs McCulloch, and Messrs Lion and Higgins addressed the children. The prizes for best essay, given by Mrs Me Vicar and Mr Lion, were won by Gordon McLeod and Agnes Muldrew respectively. Keen interest was taken by the children of the school which has the honour of being the first school in Southland to observe Animal Day.