TAIHAPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 5

TAIHAPE

HOCKEY NOTES Thursday’s games resulted as follows: Ladies.—Whit-Tama L Pakeha 0. Men— Pakeha 8, Athletic 1 (Athletic had only six- men). Championship points scored by eaqji team to date are as follow: Ladies.—Whiti-Taina 3, Huimai 3 Pakeha 0. Mon.— Pakeha 5, Colts 5, Athletic 2, Rangers 0. A match between Possibles and Probables will be played during the week-end in order to aid the selector to pick the team to play King Country on 2Sth inst. The teams are as follow: Possibles.—Goal: E- Taylor. Fullbacks: H. Easton, R. Kilkolly. Halves: C. Walker, K. Atkins, E. Robinson. Forwards: P. Williams, J. Guilliard, E. Wilkins, J. Johnson, T. Smith. Reserves: G. Guilliard, G. Atorgan. Probables.—Goal: J. Bailey. Fullbacks: G. Taylor, F. Gregory. Halves: W. Robinson, J. Lelievre, ID. Austin. Forwards: D. Treadwell, H. Robinson, E. Braebant, J. Wham, C. Keats. Reserves: G. Robinson, H. Wham. Possibles are to play in Colts’ colours- and Probables in the Pakeha colours. GENERAL NEWS The Town Hall was taxed to its utmost capacity on Thursday evening on the occasion of the presentation of the bright, breezy comedy “Fresh Fields,” by the J. C. William'.on theatrical company headed by Miss Elaine Hamill and Aliss Ethel Aforrison. Miss Hamill had a difficult part to play but she acted with the charm, grace and skill of a born artiste. The huge audience enjoyed the show immensely and frequently applauded. After watching Aliss Hamill’s performance on Thursday evening one can easily understand how she has achieved such fame on the Australian stage. She is undoubtedly an actress of outstanding ability and there is no saying to what heights she will eventually rise. Good luck to her. Aliss AForrison also gave a polished performance and she and Elaine were presented with bouquets and boxes of chocolates at the conclusion of the play. In fact, Elaine had so many tokens of esteem and appreciation presented to her that she could hardly hold them all in her arms. THE MAJESTIC “CHINA SEAS” Between dangerous thrills and dangerous romance, there is something doing every minute in ‘‘China Seas,” tho new AFetro-Goldwyn-.Mayer drama which screens at the Majestic Theatre to-day (Saturday). The stars are Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, and Wallace Beery. It is a picture in which interest never slackens, and action never lags. It takes its place among the finest entertainment vehicles of the new screen season. Part of the story is played in the howling fury of a tropical hurricane on the last frontier, the wild south-eastern coast of Asia. It is one of the most spectacular sequences ever filmed. “China Seas deals with the odd love story of the hard-bitten young skipper of a coast wise liner, played by Gable, and “China Doll,” a lovely wanderer in the Asiatic ports, played by Miss Harlow. Involved with them is a mysterious trader, Wallace Beery, who is suspected of being the master mind of a piracy plot. CIVIC RECEPTION AFISS ELAINE HA Al ILL There was no mistaking the warmth of the welcome accorded Aliss Elaine Hamill at the civic reception held in her honour at the Town Hall, Taihape, on Thursday afternoon. Aliss Hamill is the talented daughter of Air. and Mrs. J. E. Hamill, wdio has gone from triumph to triumph on the Australian stage and is at present touring NewZealand as a principal of bhe J. C. Williamson Theatrical Company, which played at Taihape on Thursday evening. In warmly welcoming Miss Hamill to her home town, the Mayor (Mr. L. B. H. de Lautour) said that the people of Taihape felt proud of Elaine and wished to convey to her their best wishes and congratulations on her success. They hoped that she would clim > further and further up the ladder of fame. (Loud applause.) She ha. natural ability, will power, stamina and determination, otherwise she coulg not have achieved the success that has come her way. Taihape claimed her as one of its daughters and wished her the very best of luck in her future career, which would be watched with the greatest of interest by the residents of her home town. Mr. A. O. P. Batley welcomed the ouest of honour on behalf of the country districts and added that the country people also claimed Miss Hamill as" a daughter. She had followed the nursing profession before going on to the stage and so had received rnluable training for the calling which she was now following with such outstanding success at present. “ I ’ 7 « aI 7J y A S a lot of time for nurses,’ added Mr. Batley, who added that the Press Australia had been loud in its praise of Miss Hamill and he felt assured that such praise would not have been given unless it was well warranted. (Applause.) He was vary pleased to congratulate Elaine on her success. He had great faith in her and felt convinced that she would climb to the top of the ladder. (Applause.) Once again he wished to compliment Miss Hamill on her achievements and at the same time to extend his congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Hamill on the success of their talented daughter. (Applause.) At this stage the Mayor announced that he had a pleasing duty to perform in making Miss Hamill a presentation of a handsome silver toilet set suitably' engraved. “This presentation is being made with a view to giving Elaine all the encouragement we can in her field of work and I ask her to accept it with the best, wishes and congratulations of well-wishers in the town and district,” concluded the Mayor, who handed Miss Hamill the gift amidst deafening applause. The Mayoress presented Miss Hamil, with a beautiful bouquet and expressed the hope tlhat she w’ould go on from triumph to triumph till she meets her heart’s desire. Mrs. de Lautour also presented Mrs. Hamill with a bouquet and stated that the mople of Taihape and district would share the pride and pleasure of Mr. and Mrs. Hamill in their daughter’s success and wished to congratulate them on the fame that Elaine bad already achieved. (Ap|plause.) The speaker concluded by saying that she knew Elaine would al-

ways remember her home town. Tumultuous applause greeted the guest of honour when she rose to respond. “I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be in Taihape again. I have looked forward to this visit for months. When Air. Tait told me that the company was gorag to tour New Zealand I told him that I wouldn’t go unless they played at my home town. It is marvellous to bo here again and to see my mother and father and old faces and friends. I thank you, Air. Mayor, and all others for this wonderful reception and presentation. I will always treasure most highly the gift you have given me and I will take it wherever I go. I will always be proud of Taihape and will never forget the wonderful welcome that has been extended to me to-day. No words of mine can adequately express my thanks and appreciation,” remarked Aliss Hamill. Mr. Hamill said that it was a great pleasure to Airs. Hamill and himself to observe the warmth of the welcome extended to Elaine. Success, like absence, made the heart groxv fonder and he and Airs. Hamill were delighted to have their dear daughter with them again. It had always been Elaine’s wish to play before a Taihape audience. Air. Hamill xvent on to trace the history of his daughter’s rise to fame, which began with the winning of a personality contest against hundreds of the most beautiful and talented girls in Australia. The speaker said there was a belief in some circles that a Now Zealand actress would not receive a fair deal in Australia, but such an assertion was absolutely contrary to fact. Australia had received Elaine with enthusiasm and had given her every encouragement and opportunity to make good. It was a slur on Australians to say that they would not give a girl from New Zealand a fair chance. Air. Hamill added that his daughter had only been on the stage four times when she was called upon to play the lead in “The Shining Hour.” (Applause.) In conclusion, he

said that he wished to thank the Mayor for his kind remarks regarding Elaine. There was a tone of sincerity about such remarks that pleased the speaker very much. His daughter appreciated to the full the good wishes that had been expressed for her future happiness and success. The proceedings closed with the singing o>f the National Au them. The ,

! music was played by the Taihape Municipal Band, which had previously rendered a selection outside the Town Hall as Miss Hamill and her parents arrived for the civic reception, which was largely attended. The Mayor and Mayoress and members of the Borough Council and their wives aud Mr. and Mrs. P. Batley were accommodated on the stage with Miss Elaine Hamill and]

her parents. After the civic reception Mr. and Mrs. Hamill and their daughter were entertained at afternoon tea by the Mayor and Mayoress and the Borough Councillors and their wives. Others prominently associated with the organisation of the civic reception were also present and a very enjoyable 11 time was aoeuL