SUCCESSFUL YEAR

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1935, Page 8

SUCCESSFUL YEAR

HAWERA BADMINTON CLUB. INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP. A growth in membership and a successful year generally are commented on in the second annual report of the Hawera Badminton Club, presented at the annual meeting last night. The season closed with a membership of 46, compared with 40 at the end of the previous season, the report says. This number is very satisfactory and closely approaches the maximum membership that can conveniently be accommodated on the three courts available for play. There were particularly good entries for the club championship events, and keen competition resulted. The winners were: Women’s championship singles, Miss E. Buist; men’s championship singles, G. Kemp; women’s championship doubles, Miss E. Buist and Mrs. .W. B. Farquharson; men’s championship doubles, H. W. Jones and A. Paterson; women’s B grade championship singles, Miss J. Hunter; men’s B grade championship singles, C. Nicholson. The institution of ladders for both women and men for singles play created a great deal of enthusiasm and many challenge matches were played. This assisted in the selection of teams to represent the club. Home and home matches were arranged with the New Plymouth club and, though beaten at New Plymouth, in the return games at Hawera both Hawera A and B teams were victorious. The club combined with Glenholm and St. Mary’s clubs in sending a men’s team to New Plymouth and the women defeated the Glenholm women’s club.

The club was represented at the New Zealand championship arid handicap tournament at Wanganui, where Miss M. Bright reached the final of the handicap singles, and at the first Taranaki tournament held at New Plymouth. Mondays and Wednesdays were retained as club nights for the season, which extended from May till midSeptember. The increased membership led the committee to arrange for an extension of the hours of play. The equipment, consisting of eight rackets and presses and one net, was kept in good order, but the replacement of some of the rackets will be a matter for the next committee.

The club continued its affiliation with the Western Districts Badminton Federation, on which body Mr. R. Syme was elected to the position of vice-president. The club’s association with, the federation has been happy, and it is with regret that it will be forced to sever the connection as a result of Hawera no longer being included in the territory. At the same time, the club is pleased to see the extension of the game in North Taranaki, and extends its congratulations to those responsible for the formation of new clubs. The thanks of the club are due to the winter show management, which has given ready help at all times and to the alpine club for the use of its facilities. The services of Mr. G. Madgwick as secretary to the club since its inception have been lost as the result of his removal to Wanganui. The committee records its appreciation of the splendid work done by/.Mr. Madgwick. Mr. L. Brathwaite has acted as secretary in the interim.

Officers elected were: President, Mr. R. Syme; club captain, Mr. M. G. Meuli; secretary, Mr. L. Brathwaite; auditor, Mr. G. Laurence; committee, Misses M. Bright and E. Buist and Messrs. G. Kemp and T. McLean.

Opening night was fixed for April 29. Eleven new members were elected The maximum membership is 50. PATEA BAND’S CONCERT. FINE NIGGER MINSTREL SHOW. Proof thaj; the old time minstrel show still has its appeal was made apparent at the Patea Municipal Band’s concert in trie town hall at Patea on Monday, when a talented minstrel party entertained a crowded house. Composed largely of bandsmen, the minstrels presented a variety programme of an unusually high standard, reflecting credit both on the organiser, Mrs. F. W. Hamel, and the players.

Acknowledgment of Mrs. Hamel’s efforts for the band was made during the evening by the Mayor, Mr. F. Ramsbottom, president of the band, when he made a presentation to her. The curtain rose on a scene in a cotton plantation with the negroes, under the supervision of a white overseer, Mr. J. Cunnison, gathering ‘the cotton, while plantation airs were played by the band. From thence the programme moved swiftly forward, the quick succession of members alternating vzith cross talk between Bones and Sambo.

Special mention of the clever dances presented by Mr. Alf. Smith must be made, his tap dancing and Volga boatman numbers earning' him well merited applause. “Carry me Back to Old Virginny,” a quartette item with Mr. McGlusky as soloist was outstanding among the musical arrangements and the work of Mr. Irwin Jones in the chorus numbers was splendid. The yodelling choruses led by Mr. McGlusky, the dance duo by Messrs. Smith and Reid, the vocal and instrumental duet by the Reid brothers, Mr. R. Willis with the bones, and Mr. Alf Gilmore, whose brilliant pianoforte work contributed largely to the success of the show, were but a few of the clever items in an exceptional programme. Support from Hawera was given and included a comet solo by Mr. R. Swan, the musical saw by Mr. Kelsen and songs by Mr. G. Hardenberg. Mr. Frank Naismith also sang. The band’s funds will be augmented as a result of the effort. A dance followed the concert.

GENERAL ITEMS. Manaia Social Club. Members of the Manaia Social Club met last Friday night to arrange a series of fortnightly gatherings during the winter. Mr. T. Black was elected secretary and Mr. H. Wills was re-elected president. A series of evenings was arranged. Profit on Jarvis-Hawes Fight. As a result of a satisfactory balance from the Jarvis-Hawes fight at Hawera, the committee of the Hawera Boxing Association has decided to make arrangements for another professional bout, with Frank Hutchens (Eltham) as one of the principals. Johnny McKay, Gisborne, or Mudgway, Waikato, may be the other. A grant of £1 12s was made to the Wanganui Boxing Association to defray travelling expenses. Mr. A. H. Gqy was in the chair.