BIDEFORD.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8528, 5 September 1907, Page 3

BIDEFORD.

, (From Our Own Correspondent)

A concert and dance was held in the Bideford Hall, on Friday last, in connection with the opening of a stage and supper room, and was a great success. The Hall Fund will benefit to the extent of £lO. For some time past Mr Bennett, our popular schoolmaster, has been training the children for a debate, dialogues, and recitations, and the result was a great surprise to the parents, and a triumph for Mr Bennett. The children all acquitted themselves in a way which left little to be desired, and reflected the greatest credit on their instructor. A prize was given to the best speaker (judged by tha audience) in the debate on "Total Abstinence," which, by the way, was capitally written and arranged by Mr Bennett. The prize was awarded to Master Richard Chapman. The rest of the programme was contributed by local singers, with the exception of Mr W. Iggulden, who kindly came out from Masterton to sing. Mr Carswell, Chairman of the Hall Trustees, in a neat speech, declared the supper room and stage open. He also thanked the ladies and all workers who gave their time and labuur to such a deserving cause, under disadvantages of bad roads., etc. The programme then opened with an overture by Miss G. Miller (piano), and Mr F. J. Mille* (violin), which was well received. Miss G. Hoar sang, "Apai't" in a pleasing manner, and in response to an encore sang "Would You Care." Mr Parks sang "Banks of Allen Water." Miss G. Miller rendered "Auld Scotch Songs" in her usual pleasing manner. Master Jack A. Laing's recitation, "How I Got to Morrow," was received with great applause and he was encored. Miss A. McGovern and Master Hugh Carsvvell sang pleasingly "Belle Mahone." Messrs R. M. Oliver and W. G. Laing gained an encore for their diailogue, and respond?d with a humorous piece, entitled, "No Chickens." Master Clarence Percy's recitation, "Dirty Jim," caused roars of laughter. Mr W. Iggulden sang during the concert "Smuggler Bill," "Little Jap Horner," "The Gallants of England," and "Father O'Flynn," to the delight of the audience, and it is needless to say his songs were most vociferously applauded and on each occasion he was encored. Mrs Madden song sweetly "On the Banks of Loch Lomond." Miss A. McGovern sang "Please Give Me a Penny Sir" very nicely, and was rewarded with a shower of coppers amounting to 7s 2%d, which she presented to the Building Fund. Mr Parks rendered "Genevive," and was encjred. He responded with "Stop Your Tickling Jock," for which he was loudly applauded. The accompaniments were played by Misses G. A. Miller and Iggulden. The concert was followed by a most enjoyable dance, which was kept up till "the wee sma' hours." Mr C. H. Percy was an efficient M.C. The dance muric (piano and violin) was kindly supplied by two residents from Wangaehu, which was much appreciated by the dancers. Extras were played by Misses G. A. Miller, Iggulden, and Hoar (piano). The refreshments were provided by the ladies of the district. A drag load of, visitors from Masterton attended the concert and dancs and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. A rather amusing incident happened on the homeward journey, one of the passengers who was standing on the step wandered off into the land of dreams and suddenly awoke to find himself in a watertable, much tu the amusement of the onlookers.