LYTTELTON MUSICAL COMPETITIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10535, 9 August 1912, Page 3

LYTTELTON MUSICAL COMPETITIONS.

FIRST NIGHT

The second annual festival under the auspices of the Lyttelton Literary and Debating Society was held last evening in the Oddfellows' Hall, which was crowded. The president, Mr H. W. Laing, in opening the session, briefly described the starting of the competitions in a modest way with a pr<~ gramme initiated by the Lyttelton Literary and .Debating Society last winter purely as a means of entertainment and attraction to members. The response was such that St John's Sunday schoolroom proved inadequate to contain those who desired admission. The committee therefore engaged the Oddfellows' Hall this winter and planned two evenings, one for adults and another for children. The entries proved so overwhelming, however, that four evening sessions, two each for adults and children, and two preliminary afternoon sessions for the children's recitations, were made necessary. On behalf of the Society he thanked the judges, Mrs Newell, Mr Davis Hunt and Mr W. A. Stout, for kindly consenting to officiate and to the public for the manner in which they had extended their patronage "that evening. The items of the evening were judged by Mr Davis Hunt (music) and Mrs Newell (elocution). In announcing his awards Mr Davis Hunt invited the competitors to come to him for criticisms and advice on their performances during the evenings he is to be in Lyttelton, and Mrs Newell extended a similar invitation to the reciters.

At the close of the evening the Mayor, Mr M. J. Miller, presented the winners with their trophies as follows :

Tenor Solo.—Own Choice: Mr W. F. Robertson, "An Evening Song," 85 points, 1; Mr A. A. Cowan,, " Doreen," 78 points, 2. Mr A. E. Shadbolt and Mr W. Radcliffo also competed. Soprano Solo.—Own Choice: Miss M. D. Harris, "The Flower Song" ("Faust"), 79 points, 1; Miss M. Clark, "Roses," and Mrs Alfred Smith "There's a Land of Roses," equal, 78 points, 2. Pianoloto Solo.—" Deuxieme Mazurk," Op. 54 (Godard)-—Trophy metronome, kindly presented by the Dresden Piano Company: Miss (i. E. Pago, 77 points, 1; Miss D. S. L. Webb and Miss E. Childs, equal, 68 points, 2. Tho other competitors were Misses J. Webb and J. E. Barbour. Recitation.—Own Choice: Miss A. Carter, "Marguerite," 1; Miss M. I>. Harris, " Which Shall It Be?" 2. Miss A. M'Auliffe and Messrs E. Olsen and J. Heppelthwaito also competed. Alto Solo. —Own Choice: Miss C. E. Benjamin, " Good-bye" (Tosti), 88 points, 1; Mrs Gilinour, *' My Aiu Folk,' 86 points, 2. Mrs Shadbolt also competed. Impromptu Speech.—Senior: "How would you spend £sooo?"—Mr W. G. Stewart I,_ Mr T. C. Hatton 2. Mr C. Benjamin also competed. Impromptu Speech.—Junior: "What is your ideal of a month's holiday in New Zealand?" —Mr E. H. Lewin 1, Mr D. Rutherford 2. Messrs E. Olsen and J. Heppelthwaito also competed.

Men and women to-day are so busy keeping the wolf from the door that they have 110 time to let iu, the uns/ds. —Rev 'l\ Phillips.