HAWERA ON THE AIR

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1929, Page 6

HAWERA ON THE AIR

SUCCESSFUL CONCERT BROADCAST CONGRATULATIONS RECEIVED. Hawera was “on the air” from 2YA Wellington, on Monday night, when a splendid programme was broadcast from the Opera House. That the opportunity was readily seized and the programme appreciated was made manifest by the number of congratulatory telegrams and telephone messages received from many parts of the Dominion. : The committee responsible for the orr ganisation of the concert, Dr. J. McGhie, Messrs. H. N. Lester, W. S. Gibson, S. Harrison and H. E. Robinson, must feel proud of the. success that attended their efforts. Dr. McGhie showed Hawera’s appreciation when he thanked the artist, the Radio Broadcasting Company, Messrs. A. R. Harris, J. Ball, and Workman, the company’s managing director, editor-announcer and mechanician respectively, and the audience. Mr. Ball specially visited Hawera and conducted the broadcast. It was a novelty for most people to hear his familiar voice booming through their Opera House and announcing to the world, “This is Station 2YA, Wellington.” Mr. Ball expressed himself as more than satisfied with the broadcast and with the standard of the programme. He congratulated also those responsible for the very fine installation nt the public hospital, which he had that day inspected,,.;? During the interval Mr. H. G. Dickie, M.P., referred to the novelty of the event and the excellence of the purpose —the installation of a microphone at the Opera House jfor the entertainment of hospital patients. Dr. , McGhie and those associated with him peemed never to tire of well-doing and deserved the commendation of everyone. He appealed to those listening-in to “take round the hat” and assist a deserving cause. As a result a number of offers of donations came over the telephone during the progress of the concert. . Prior to the concert programme the Hawera Municipal Band, under Bandmaster Gould, enlivened the vicinity of the Opera House with a number of fine selections. Each section of the programme was opened by the Hawera Amateur Orchestral Society’s members, under the baton of Mr. Herbert Webb, playing “Martial Moments” and the “Jolly Robbers” overture. Both selections were well treated, and it is reported that their wireless reception was splendid. Another combined instrumental number that called forth well deserved applause and- the insistent demand for an encore was “Petit Duo Symphonique,” nicely rendered by Mr. and Mrs. Bonetti, Miss Doris Hawkins and Mr. Norman Lester. The encore number, Neidor’s “Serenade,” was ever more enthusiastically received. Miss Betty Sturrock’s fine violin rendering of the eyer-popular “Londonderry Air” pavhd'i the way for her second entry on ike jpifbgjramme, when she gave “Danse Espagnble,” and, as an encore, “Chanson de Matin.” The recitative work of Miss Maisie Instone was particularly pleasing. Especially happy was her choice of “The Soliloquy of a Safety Pin,” following which she gave “You always have to pay more.” Her first item, “Christmas at Sea,” was of a different class, revealing the possession of a well developed dramatic power. As an item of interest the three hakas realistically given by the Hawera Savage Club haka team, led by Mr. M. R. Jones, created considerable interest. Concerted >vpcal items were contributed by tliij" 1 New Plymouth Male Quartet (Messrs,McDonald, Bellringer, Okey and Hooker), and aJadies’ choir of 25 voices, undeptthe baton of Miss Daisy Reilly, yritli , Misses Constance Reilly (soprano), arid.l Olive Grindrod and Mrs. Sunderland (contraltos) as soloists. The Male QuartetW'Contributions were “Old Black Joe,” .“Request,” “Come, be my H—um,” and/'as an ' encore, “MulliganMusketeers,” ..whilstthe ladies’ choir gave “O Sing to God.” All these items .were delightfully,rendered. In excellent 'voice Mrs. J. A. Rankin gave the beautiful “Softly Awakes My Heart,” and at her second entry Gounod’s “Flower Song,”'with “Within a Mile of Edinboro’ Toon” as an encore. Miss Mary Barnes fine contralto voice was heard in “Oh! My Heart is Weary,” and later “Stri-de-la-vampa,'” her encore number being “When Love .is-Kind,” whilst Miss C. Reilly pleased the audience with “La Pastorella Delle Alpi,” with “Spreading the News” as an encore. Of the male voices Mr. Baird was heard to advantage'in “Anne Laurie,” “Farewell in the Desert,” and “MacGregor’s Gathering.” The tenor work of Mr. B. Bellringer was very pleasing, the popular Toselli’s “Serenade” earning well deserved applause. “Even Bravest Heart,” “Largo Al Factotum” and “The Miller oh Winchester,” were chosen by Mr. Harold Ackroyd, and all three songs were splendidly treated. The accompanists, who carried out their work excellently, were Mesdames Doris McQuin and Quin, Miss Reilly and Mr. Harold Morey, the bulk of the work falling into the hands of Mrs. McQuin.