THE SAVAGE CLUB.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1924, Page 5

THE SAVAGE CLUB.

VICE-REGAL PARTY AS GUEST< A NOTABLE FUNCTION. Two ftuiU will cause the 1924 “VTI bines’ Ahiahi” of the New Plymtutl Savage Club to be remembered* in th hapu—the presence of the Govei*o| General, Viscount Jellico*, as *hi« rangitira of New Zealand savages, an the striking success of the evening it self. The Workers’ Social Hall la« night, with its wealth of gay decora tions and the display of the emblem* o savagery, provided « fitting background in which the savages and their present in force, gave a warm wetaomi to their chief rangitira, his “wahine,* Lady Jellicoe, and the “tamahiaa,” tIM Hon. Lucy Jellicoe. Red and black paper streamers ofl varying lengths, each finished with 4 “pom” and suspended from the roofl stanchions in lines and circles, gave 4 very pretty atmosphere to the hall, thA effect being heightened by a lavish usA of electric lights concealed In ChinesA lanterns, and also by a number ofl coloured lights. Comic-looking momkey4 playing in suspended rings A primeval note, which was strengthanedl by the wall decorations, compritinJ black and white sketches of savage* ©I prehistoric times stalking the gum* otf the period. The stage was done in bladA ' with a skull and crossbones prami*«DV in the background, while about the seal of the rangitira o te korero were di*> played the fearsome badgvs of his office* Their Excellencies, the Hon. Lucy Jel* I licoe and suite, who were accompanied bv the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) an<| Mayoress and Miss V. Wribater, w«r4 i received by thief Rangitira W. J. Penn t with Mrs- Penn and the tribal officer** to whom they were introduced, lady

Jellicoe and the Hon. Lucy being pre* sorted W’ith pretty bouquets by Mrs* Penn. Led by Savage C. H. Wyatt, Td Waka greeting of the savages made ths i echoes ring. Rangitira Penn then briefly • welcomed the vice-regal visitors, refer* ring to the great popularity of V’itcming and Lady Jellicoe and to the way they* had joined in the lives end sport* of the people of New Zealand, in leaving New Zealand. Rangitira Penn said, Tlieir Excellencies would carry with them the best wishes of the people fof tlieir future happiness. * Upon being invested with the badad of a chief rangitira and the chain of office, His Excellency acknowledged thd w < home with story and anecdote, re* furring humorously to Lady Jellicoe ad his “wahine” and to the Hon. Lucy al ' his “tamahina,” and to (ho wiedon) o(J ravages in having wahincs’ nights, s 0 that the wahincs could how inpo- 1 cent was their fun. That the wahinet sometime* had their doubts hr himselj 'n ew, His Excellency said amidst greatj inughter. In more serious vein, th«» Governor-General expressed very* deep appreciation of the kind remark! that had been made concerning l>dy Jellicoe and himself, and of the wishes that bad been extended to him. His Excellency thereupon invested Rangitira Penn as rangitira o te kor*ro« Rnngitira Penn later in the evening transferring his authority to Chiel Rangitira A. L. Moore. Another bright note in the early 1 stages of the evening was the happy reply made by Miss Dora Bedford t<M i the welcome extended to the wahines. Miss Bedford succeeded with humorong quips and salleys at the expense of th! braves of the tribe, and also, on behalfl of the wahines, joined in the goodt wishes extended to Their Excellencies--1 The programme for the evening wa< provided iby the best talent of the tribal and was worthy of the occasion. Th! orchestra, under the baton of Savage F« W. G. McLeod, opened the programm! with the intermezzo “Portia” and| “Doge’s March.” from the music inci* dental to the “Merchant of Venice.” and later played Weber’s “Prectosa.* Song! were given by Savages A. B. MacDonald and Don Grant, and the Melody Four (Savages F. A. Hooker. W. P. Okeyg B. P. Bellringer and A. B. MacDonald), while Savage Hale Spencer gave a musical monologue. “The Pigtail of Lf Fang Fu ” In a different key were th! stirring hakas of a team under th! leadership of Savage, Atua, and Savage W. G. Holder’* imitation of a wireles! set receiving a broadcasted farewell ad-r dress bv His Excellency. Also highly , diverting were the farmyard and_ in«i strumental mimicries of Savage Keith! Forth. The programme was concluded! with the rendering of » new provincial “hymn” entitled, "We come from Tara* naki where the cows come from.” by Savages Holder, A. E. Brooker, H. BuH lin and R. B. MacDonald. Savage H. R. Morey was accompanist. Supper was provided on a truly* lavish savage scale, and when thetables had been cleared away dancingwas indulged in for a few hours to the music of Messrs. George Bros.’ orchestra- The vice-regal party remained forsome time, and on their departure were given enthusiastic cheers, followed by musical honours. Chief Rangitira Wyatt and Mrs, Wvatt and Miss Marjorie Wyatt, ofr Auckland, were responsible for th® decorative scheme, and Savage A. M. Purser for the wall sketches, and to them the thanks of the club were ex* tended by the “hekeretari” (Savage L» Etherington) during the evening