OTOROHANGA NEWS

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1688, 19 November 1925, Page 5

OTOROHANGA NEWS

« QUALITY STREET." A MOST SUCCESSFULLY-STAGED COMEDY. (Resident Representative.) There was a large and appreciative audience at the Town Hall last night j to witness the performance of Barrie's ! four-act comedy, "Quality 'Street," by I members of S. John's Girls' Club of j Te Awamutu. The Rev. T. P. Weatherhog is to be congratulated on the result of his 'efforts in successfully stag- M ing the play, but of course his efforts would have been futile if he had not had the material wherewith to operate. That he had the proper material goes without saying, for one and all acquitted themslves well. The play, which depicts the days of the beginning of last century, was something new to the present-day people of Otorohanga, and there were many who did not indicate appreciation of the ways of our grandparents. As to the cast, Miss N. Willis as Susan Throssel and Miss L. Bray as 'Phoebe Throssel were dominant, portraying their characters truthfully and well. Miss. M. Griffith as Sally the maid was also most successful, and well deserved the encomiums she received. The other lady characters were taken by Misses E. Montefibre, M. Ahier, L. Storey, E. Savill, N. Thomas, E. Bowden, E. Peake, and V. Gould, who proved themselves most worthy supporters of the two leading char-caters. Mr Weatherhog as Valentine Brown interpreted a difficult .part well, and Mr E. A. Stevens as the re-, oruiting sergeant also gave a good account of himself. Ensign Blades was in the hands of Miss B. Monte'fiore, and too much praise cannot be besowed upon her impersonation of a very difficult part. 'Mr M. Winter took the part of Lieutenant Spicer. The stage manager, Miss Z. Thomas, is to be complimented upon her work, as is also Miss A. Ahier, mistress of the wardrobe. The scenery was well conceived, it being a scheme of curtains, iwhich proved a great improvement on •the usual badly-painted canvas background generally in vogue. The costumes were au fait, and the ringlet hairdressing of the ladies proved so attractive that it is thought the fashion may supersede that of the bobbed and shingled style now in vogue throughout the district. The " school children " provided a strong feature in the programme by their minuet dance, and the ballromm scene, with the dancing of the old-time "'.Sir Roger de Coverley," was also much enjoyed. During the evening an orchestra under the direction of Mr A. E. Stevens performed selections which also were an enhancement to the programme. ,y 'Miss E. Savill gave a song (being accompanied by her sister), and received an enthusiastic encore. • At the close of the performance bouquets, etc., were presented to the principals, and the National Anthem brought the entertainment to a close. GENERAL ITEMS. THE WEEK'S DOINGS. The railway authorities might see to the local trains being so comps.ed that there are lavatories to, say. each double car, so as to preclude the necessity of both men and women having to parade through from one end of the train to the other in order to reach these conveniences. Eight passengers went aboard the south-bound express last night at Otorohanga ; but the train was not, apparently, carrying so many passengers as usual. It may be suggested here that the lighting of the station platform should be improved, and that the waiting room ought to be lighted also. A motor cyclist doing the usual triangle stunt at a sharp bend on the main road came to grief owing to coming into contact with a motor car. The cycle was badly smashed, and had to be left on the roadside, and its rider was lucky in not meeting with a fatality. Two motor cars came into collision on the main road at Kio Kio last Tuesday. One was going north from Te Kuiti and the other coining south, and the two met at a corner and collided, but fortunately nobody was hurt. The one coming to Otorohanga had several lady passengers. The case of Lurman versus the Otorohanga County Council, a claim for* compensation in respect to land taken for a road, will be beard at Hamilton, the case being set down first on the civil list at the Hamilton sessions. A sharp double shock of earthquake ■was experienced here last night at about 10.20 o'clock. It came .from the usual north-east direction, and appeared to be travelling to the southwest. Some new chums appeared a little scared, but the older ones took the occurrence as a matter of course. After the performance of " Quality Street" last night light supper was provided by members of St. Bride's Ladies' Guild for the visitors from Te Awamutu. Occasion was taken by Mr 'S. A. Einpson to present Mrs Weatherhog with a beautiful bouquet of flowers on behalf of the members of St. John's 'Girls' Club, to show ther appreciation of the lady's assistance in the dressing of the play. Mr Weatherhog 'was also presented with a token of appreciation in the form of a fountain pen, for his work as producer of the comedy. Both Mr and Mrs (Weatherhog suitably acknowledged the gifts, the latter stating that his success must be put down to the fact that he had been fortunate in having good and proper material to work upon. Without the natural ability of the young ladies of 'St. John's Club he could not have been as successful. Mr Oudaille then expressed the thanks of the Anglican community to the members of St. John's Girls' Club .for coming down and giving the performance for the enhancement of the church fund.

The final count of the Waitomo election returns increases Mr J. C. Rolleston's majority to 1435, over Mr W. J. Broadfoot. The licensing poll gives a preponderance of 2175 votes for continuance and State control over prohibition. Of the total (8489) voters on the roll, only 803 failed to vote.