THE TOKO SCHOOL

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1930, Page 10

THE TOKO SCHOOL

* fine annual concert. DISTRIBUTION OF GIFTS With bevies of merry children on the stage and the body of the hall packed with parents and friends, the annual concert and distribution of gifts in connection with the Toko School was again one of the features of the districts year. It was indeed a pleasant evening for all concerned, the children entering into the spirit of the occasion with wholehearted zeal and with unqualified success. Considerable talent was shown among the principals in the operetta which formed the bulk of the pio.rramme, while the chorus numbers were stronger and more tuneful than might have been expected. From every point of view the concert proved decidedly popular and reflected great credit upon the headmaster, Mr. W- Abraham, and his assistant, Miss M. Curd. The latter, in fact, worked assiduously in the. preparation of the concert and in addition to playing the piano accompaniments devoted a lot of time to costuming the children. , 1 The first half opened with an action “Merry Little Children,” by the infants and juniors, followed by the folk dances, “Cochin China,” .“Mountain March,” and “Butterfly Dance,” by the senior girls. . Then came the big event, which had thrilled dozens of small hearts for weeks, which had created excitement and diversion, and no doubt caused confusion to many a mother already fully occupied with Christmas baking. inc operetta “Jan of Windmill Land;’ is of origin and a distinct flavoui othe Netherlands was maintained in costume, song and accent. The story tff woven around the ill-begbttcn pranx or two small Dutch boy-S, who, bewitched bv eating enchanted sweets, cause the clever little son of Widow Martendylk to be suspected of theft. How this comes .about, how St. Nicholas, the Santa Claus of Holland, and his black servant, Knaclit Ruprecht, arrive in all their majesty and prove' the charge unfounded, and how the spell is finally removed is told in delightful songs and rccita- ' The principals wore: FrAu Martendyk, Maud Worthington; Jan, her son, Hector Milne; Max, his friend, William Lister; Piet and Mathis, .the two bad boys under the magic spell, Lauric Hilsby and Bert..Garlick; Myrin .and Gertrunn, schoolgirls, Jean, Murphy and Brenda Malmarichc; Burgomaster Mynheer Van Oost, Sam Major; retainers, Philip Gaffaiioy, Robert Needham and John Lister; St. Nicholas, Harold Gpldup; Knacht Ruprecht, Charles Rowe; Mrs. John Bull, 'travelling in, Holland, Margaret Murray/ Alice and Beatrice, her daughters, Dorothy Needham and Joan Milne; gollywogs accompanying Ruprecht, Trevor Rowe, Ken Petch, William Murphy, John Gaflaney and Brian Wilson. , . In such an operetta . there were, oi course, numerous daiiitily .garbed fairies led by Fairy Queen Margaret Miehalick. Children so engaged were Ivy Major, Rene Martin, Tawny -Rowe, Mary Butler, Jean Clemow, Kath Milne, Joan Lawrence, -Elinor Kilsby and Joan Berin. There were also the flower fairies, Marfan ' Abraliam, Connie Worthington, Giwenda Death, Zelda Lawrence, Irone Thompson, Etliel Needham, Monica Milne and Mary Roguski. Dutch boys and girls made lip ;thei chorus. These were Annie Lister; MAvis Tuck, Rene Pete®, Evelyn Ferguson, Patricia/Mackay, Stella Lawrence; Dorothy Jones, John Roguski, Frank Byrne, Ron Death, Horace Berin, Tom Gaffaney, Jim Thompson, Len Angus, Ci'is Martin, Lionel Garlick, Douglas Harris, Birdwood Rowe, William Needham, Ted Caskey and Edward Abraham. The two black fays were. Gwen Aiicell and Kath Lawrence.

Subsequently gifts of books were presented to every child at the school. Then Father Christmas in rill his regalia distributed toys and other seasonable presents to all the primer and standard I children, together with younger people not yet old enough to attend school. A certificate of exceptional record of attendance signed by. the chairman rind secretary of the Taranaki Education Board was presented to Joan Milne, ' for ilhbroken attendance during the past seven years. The chairman, Mr. T. T. Murray, mentioned that the school Toll was 87 and.it was the endeavour of the staff to build it to 89 to qualify for the third assistant. The matter had already been placed before the board and as a recommendation had already gone, forward to the department the committee expected to have the additional teacher on resuming . after . the ■ holidays. He thanked parents for attending in such large numbers and expressed appreciation Of the manner in which the preparing of the children’s costumes had been so willingly and artistically done. Mr. W. J. Polson, MJ?., distributed the prizes. TOKO HOTEL CHANGES HANDS. The Toko Hotel has changed hands and is now under the management of Mr. J. Kerin, formerly of Auckland. The house is in the hands of renovators and decorators and will be conducted on modern lines to make a special appeal to the travelling public. In this connection a moderate tariff has been selected.' “CHARMING SINNERS” GOOD. ’ \ ELTHAM THEATRE PROGRAMME. “Charming Sinners,”- a delightful comedy drama, will bo shown at the Eltham Theatre to-night. A. sparkling, intimate story of married life, beautifully acted by a group of outstanding cinema stars, makes “Charming Sinners” a. particularly lively and entertaining show. Ruth Chatterton as the wise wife tired of her husband’s philandering decides to punish him once and for all. She chooses the dignified method of repaying him in his own coin by pretending to give her affections to an old admirer, William Powell. She fools her husband in clever fashion, re-awakes some of the romance which appeared dead to her forever and brings about a re-adjust-ment in her home which no amount of ranting or scandal could have accomplished. Clive Brook as the husband reveals new talents in a . splendid characterisation. Mary Nolan as the "other” woman is delightful.