BLUFF NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 21722, 7 June 1932, Page 2

BLUFF NOTES

BAND CARNIVAL. (From Our Correspondent.) Mr and Mrs W. Hinks, Balclutha, are visiting the latter’s parents, Mr and Mrs M. E. Wiig, Parrett street. Mrs N. C. Nicholas, Temuka, is spending a holiday with her daughter, Mrs C. Durham, Ann street. Mr R. J. Davidson, Greenhills, is at present visiting relatives in Dunedin. Messrs J. Bagrie and A. Greaney, Awarua, are holidaying in Dunedin. The last two nights of the Bluff Watersiders’ Band carnival were well patronized by the public and the organizers have every reason to be pleased with the result of their efforts. On both evenings the stall-holders were kept busy, while the entertainment offered by capable performers on each occasion made the evenings very pleasant for patrons. On Wednesday evening the Caledonian Pipe Band provided the concert and this popular company’s programme of pipe music, dancing, instrumental and vocal solos and humorous items was relished by an appreciative audience. Besides the pipe selections and dances, other contributions were given by Messrs H. Crawford and P. Barlow while humorous songs were rendered by Messrs Wilson and Lister. A novelty dance, cleverly executed by little Miss A. Calder was one of the hits of the evening. The marching and piping of the band in the street before the concert started was a bright feature of the evening.

On Thursday, the final evening, Mr R. J. Pettitt's string band furnished the entertainment, additional items being given by Mrs T. Stewart’s local revue party. From first to last the performers had the large audience with them, the numbers played by the visiting artists making a great appeal. The violin solos of Mr Pettitt himself showed that his popularity in Bluff is firmly established, the insistent demand for an extra number being due recognition of a fine piece of violin artistry. The programme given by the visitors was as follows: Selections, “E Pari Ra” (soloist, Miss E. Jenks), “Hawaiian Nightingale” (soloist, Miss J. Teviotdale), “Lead Kindly Light,” “River of Golden Dreams” (soloist, Mr J. Pollock), “Love’s Old Sweet Song,” “Night-time,” the band; mandolin solo, “Scotch Airs,” Miss M. Teviotdale; violin solo, “Serenata,” Mr R. J. Pettitt. The accompanists were Mr Pettitt and Miss J. Teviotdale. Items given by the revue pally were: Duet, Miss E. Preston and Mr G. Hicks; dance, “Jack in the Box,” Miss M. Fowler; song, Mr G. Mitchell; choruses, “Kinkajou” and “Jolly Good Company,” Revue Party. Before the concert commenced a capital programme was played by the Battalion Band (Invercargill) under the conductorship of Mr H. Berryman, the band being in excellent form and its efforts meeting with the warm approval of listeners. Before the evening concluded, Mr W. T. Walker, on behalf of the committee, announced that it could be definitely stated that the carnival had proved a financial success. The speaker warmly thanked the Civic and Battalion Bands, Mr Pettitt’s party and Mrs Stewart’s revue company for their assistance, mentioning that the cost of their entertainments had in each case been borne by the helpers themselves. Mr Walker also thanked the Bluff ladies who had charge of the various stalls, and without whose untiring work the carnival would have been impossible. At the monthly meeting of Court “Southern Star” A.0.F., which was held in the Willard Hall, Bluff, on Thursday evening a very comprehensive report of the annual meeting of the United Otago District of the Ancient Order of Foresters was presented by the court’s delegate, P.C.R. Bro. G. V. Edge. It was interesting to note that in spite of the depression the funds of the district had increased by £6514 5/4 for the year and now stand at £143,836 19/4.' The district has for some time been endeavouring to persuade the Registrar of Friendly Societies to allow a more liberal use of the surplus funds for the benefit of its members. An amount of some £ll,OOO was allowed to be set aside two years ago to assist aged members by paying a portion of their contributions and the revenue from this fund is so much more than the demands that it is continuing to grow like the proverbial snowball. The sick pay for the year was much greater than usual and the speaker urged all members to keep themselves financial and stick to the order for their own sakes because the benefits in sight promised to be much better than those available in the past. Many details of special interest to the members were dealt with and the activity of the court during the past year was instanced by the winning of the James Macfie Memorial Shield for the greatest percentage of increase in membership of any court in the district and the James Macfie Memorial scholarship prize won by Master Russell Roderique, son of P.C.R. Bro, Thomas Roderique, of Bluff. At the conclusion of the business dancing was engaged in and supper served. At a suitable interval a presentation was made on behalf of the court members to the Immediate Past Chief Ranger Bro. E. A. Bigwood, who had recently married. In presenting the gift, a beautiful hearthrug, P.C.R. Bro. G. V. Edge expressed the hope it would grace a hearth which would be ever bright and happy and that it would serve to remind the recipients of the hearty good wishes accompanying it from the members of Court “Southern Star.” Bro. Bigwood suitably replied on behalf of his wife and himself. There was a large attendance at last week’s meeting of the Greenhills W.E.A. class when members gathered to hear an address on drama and opera given by Mr J. J. W. Pollard. Mr A. P. McDonald, chairman, in introducing the lecturer for the evening, said that the latter’s knowledge of his subject made him a recognized authority on all things relating to the stage and the address must, therefore be of great educational value to the class. Mr Pollard first defined the various classes of drama—tragedy, comedy and the comic. In explaining the difference between tragedy and comedy, he stressed the fact that in both cases man is fighting against man in desires, morals or some other force. In tragedy, man must meet inevitable defeat, but in comedy he has a chance of victory, though it may be a very small one. In the broadly comic the author’s endeavour is to provide laughable situations, wherein the characters or customs are made to appear ridiculous. The lecturer then dealt with plays in general, tracing the art of playwriting from its origin and noting the change from the old to the modern forms, at the same time outlining the methods of various authors. Turning to opera, Mr Pollard said that music was undeniably the strongest medium in which emotion could be shown. In it love, hate, joy and sorrow—all found their most forcible expression in music. This truth found universal acceptance and opera was justly regarded as the highest form of vocal and instrumental art, the

greatest legends of the world being therefore immortalized in the works of the greatest composers. At the conclusion of the lecture, Mr McDonald expressed the thanks of the class to Mr Pollard for an instructive and enlightening address and proposed a vote of thanks which was carried by acclamation. The fortnightly meeting of the Bluff R.A.0.8. on Thursday evening was well attended, Priqio W. K. Cameron presiding over a satisfactory gathering of members. After the business of the evening was concluded a social hour was spent, when items were contributed by the following: Bros. C. Dixon, A. Giles, F. Belsham, T. Fowler and G. Giles. Bro. C. Dixon played the accompaniments.