OMATA SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1924, Page 7

OMATA SCHOOL.

FANCY DRESS DISPLAY. , :(I }PpiZE MONEY FOR LIBRARY. large number of parents and friendt assembled in the Omata Hall last night to witness a picturesque display of dancing an<Lother items given by the pupils of the Omata School on the eve of their .Christmas holidays. In contrast to the mood of the elements outside the natural gaiety of youtli banished all care within, and children and adults alike spent a thorc-iighly enjoyable evening. The. programme was arranged in lieu of a prize-giving ceremony, the pupils having previously unanimously decided to devote their prize money to purchasing books for the school library. Jhe feature of the evening was the variety and originality of the fancy di esses, in the making of whieh mothers ■jand sisters must have spent a ixroat deal of labour and ingenuity. All manner of graceful dances were interspersed with songs and concerted disexrellence. of whieh reflected creriit on the headmaster (Air. L. A. McHardie). and his staff. •'he programme provided by the children was as follows:—Grand March, Lancers; "The Fairy Wedding” (Carrol Stanton and Bonnie Haine, bride and bridegroom; Madge Haine and Joyce McHardie, singers); Polka; “He Was a Lovely Princess” (song dance by the iniants, with Erie Sanger as the prince and Ina Grey as the princess); onestep; “Our Farm,” (song by Jack Baylv, George Duke and Wa’.rer Hanover); “The Cow.’’ (recitation, by Jean McHardie); drill item (girls); “In a Canoe” (sung by the infants); Berlin polka; ’lhe Three Bears” (Jean McHardie and Jed Ansford. the bears, and Joyce Buchanan, Goldilocks) ;■- song, “My Task” (Ruth Lnxton),; one-step; "The Farming Life” (recitation by G. Duke); "Jack Tar’ (song by the seniors); "The Dream Man ’ (song by the infants in nightgowns).

Prior to the commencement of the programme, the chairman of the school committee (Mr. A. Cox) briefly addressed the gathering, and explained th< reason for the absence of prizes. A guessing competition, the prize being a large cake, was held during the evening,- the profits of which are to be donated to the library fund. At the conclusion of the children’s performance supper was served and tho adults engaged in dancing.