STEWART ISLAND NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 21580, 18 December 1931, Page 9

STEWART ISLAND NOTES

SCHOOL CONCERT.

(From Our Correspondent.)

A large and enthusiastic audience gathered in the public hall on Friday evening, the occasion being the annual school concert. The efficient manner in which the children carried out their parts reflected great credit on their teachers, Miss Finnis and Mr Farrant. A splendid performance of the playette “The old woman who lived in the shoe” proved most popular and provided much amusement. The characters in the play suitably dressed in their special costumes, the work of Miss Finnis, received hearty applause. Miss Winnie Topi made a perfect “old woman.” “The man in the moon” (Hector Dawson) was perched on the top of a ladder. Other characters were “Willie Winkie,” “Boy Blue,” “Tom Tucker,” the cat, dog and spider acted by Athol Watson, Martin Hamilton, Billy Oswald, Cam Hamilton, Lance McCrystall and Harold Thomson. The brownies were Hazel Hicks, Kora Bragg, Elva Wast, Trena Dawson, Bety Bragg and Dolly Walscott who played quite a prominent part. The parts of Miss Moffett, Marjorie Daw and Polly Flinders were taken by Dulcie Young, Betty Hamilton and Marjorie Traill. Witches were Doris Keillor, Dorothy McCrystall and Irene McCrystall. Other playettes and action songs included “Rock Cakes,” “The King’s Breakfast,” and. “The Invitation” and were performed in a splendid manner as was also the sketch “Friday afternoon” by the senior scholars. Rona Woodley made a good teacher, her pupils being Colin Topi, George Hicks, Cyril Hicks, Nola Woodley, Leslie Traill, Dempsey Bragg and Fred Watson. Songs by the choir included “God defend New Zealand,” “Buckingham Palace," “Rising of the lark,” “Little bit of garden,” “Daisy Nurses,” “Summer is coming,” “Cobbler’s Song” and “Kookoorookoo,” while recitations were give« 4 by gona Woodley, Leslie Traill,

Ronnie Hanning, Garnett Hamilton and Walter Harrison. The announcer of the items was Leslie Traill. Mr James Watson, chairman of the School Committee, moved a vote of thanks to the children and teachers for providing such a splendid entertainment, also to Mrs S. Smith, accompanist, and to the friends who extended the stage and provided the curtains and wings. General. The local branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association decided at a meeting on Monday night to hold its first annual reunion at the beginning of February, tho arrangements to be left in the hands of the committee appointed. Arrangements are being made by the Nurse’s Committee to hold a street day on December 30 in aid of the guarantee fund. Work has now commenced on the nurse’s cottage home the timber and material arrived with the Waterlily at the beginning of the week. At a meeting of the Stewart Island Yacht Club on Thursday, December 10, the matter of selecting a challenger for the Sanders Cup contest to take place in Wellington in January was fully discussed. It was unanimously decided that the club, which until a Yacht, and Motor Boat Association for Southland was formed was the challenging body for Southland, allow the Invercargill Boating Club the privilege of this year sending a boat and crew to the contest. In regard to the Dominion conference held annually in conjunction with the contest, it was decided that the Invercargill Boating Club be also given the privilege of sending a delegate, this delegate to act in conjunction with Mr A. E. Farrant, who is the island club's selection for this year. The matter of holding a regatta this year was also considered and it was decided to hold a regatta of 12 events, including rowing, sculling, sailing and motor boat events. The tourist men have given their assurance of hearty co-

operation and it only remains for fine weather to make the fixture, to be held on December 28, a successful one. No fewer than five inspectors have visited Stewart Island within the last four weeks. The first of these was the inspector of machinery, Mr Mclntyre, then followed Mr R. Maclean, the Government audit inspector. The inspector of health, Mr Sinclair, then made his annual visit and on Wednesday Mr G. Palmer, the school inspector and Mr Robb, inspector of Public Works, arrived with the Hinemoa. A party of sixteen Girl Guides from Invercargill were passengers by the Hinemoa and will be camping for ten days in the recreation reserve.

Mr James A. McDougall and Mr T. Pride, secretary of the Southland Hospital Board, paid a hurried visit to the island on Wednesday on business in connection with the erection of the nurse’s cottage and other matters.