ORPHANS CLUB

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1787, 27 July 1926, Page 4

ORPHANS CLUB

MEMBERS' NIGHT VERT SUCCESSFUL. A DELIGHTFUL PROGRAMME. Ever since the Orphans' Club was established in Te Awamutu, in 1923, the organisation has been popular, and the executive has worked well -~ ~~- sure a continuance of that popularity. Special evenings by which ladies can be entertained have been a factor, and the members' wives night last Saturday was not one whit inferior to the best previously. The executive had secured the services of the New Zealand Four, a talented party from Auckland, to provide the bulk of the programme. The Town Hall was well filled with members and their ladies, a total of well over 250, and the club president (Bro. S. Clark) was in the chair. Progeedings opened with an overture by the Orphans Orchestra (under Bro. J. T. North as conductor), a very strong and well-balanced organisation, and then followed, the delightful programme of well-varied items, including:—Vocal quartettes, ."Love's Old Sweet Song," "All on a Sunday Morning," "Because I've Nothing Else to Do," "Stuck Up." "Lucky .Jim,' "Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes," and "So Do I." Several items by the Orphans' Jazz Band also provided ' variety and entertainment, one of their best numbers being "Show Me the Way to Go Home." Mr Roy Dormer the tenor of the quartette party quickly won golden enconiums with his contributions, some of which were "If I Might Come to You,' "Waiata Poi," "Take a Pair of Sparklig Eyes," and "My Garden," in each of which he was heard to splendid advantage. Mr Taylor, the basso of the party, contributed with delightful effect such gems as "King Charles," "Good King Wencelas," "Tom o' Devon," "The Merry Monk," and others. Mr Mannel also delighted with such items as "The Company Sergeant-Major," "Mountains of Mourne," etc. Mr Astbury did not contribute solos, as he (and also Mr Mannell) were just recovered from an atack of influenza. The Orphans' Orchestra also contributed several items from their extensive repertoire, and while these were enjoyed to the full, there was no doubt the vocal por- . tion of the programme was the most popular, particularly as the entertainers were in good' voice and their selection of songs admirable. B!r. A. J. Sinclair, .as accompanist, had a very busy time, and he acquitted himself well, especially when It is remembered that many of the scores he had not previously seen. In his chairman's remarks, Br. Clark welcomed visitors from Hamilton, Arapuni, Cambridge, Auckland and Devonpor't Orphans' Clubs, and the ladies. He said it gave the Club joy to have the opportunity of, sharing with the ladies such a splendid evening's entertainment, but added. that as the club membership has grown so appreciably each year the executive may in future have to restrict the attendances. On ladies' night, at the close of the present session, the rule may be that each member may only bring one lady; otherwise he was afraid the hall capacity would not be sufficient for the demand. By the way. chief steward, Bro. C. A. Reilly, and his voluntary staff experienced a very busy evening, serving a very fasty and typical orphans' supper, which was enjoyed by all. A feature of the evening was the passing round of the "orphans' appeal penny box," each member being expected to contribute a penny each evening, the aggregate fund at the end of the season being donated to some orphanage. It may be mentioned in this connection that last season the fund was over £6, and this money was sent to the Salvation Army Home at Hamilton for the provision of Christmas: cheer for the little inmates.