THE COMPETITIONS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17113, 7 April 1921, Page 8

THE COMPETITIONS.

ELEVENTH ANNUAL FESTIVAL. The eleventh annual festival of the Christchurch Literary and Musical Competitions Society was opened yesterday, the elocutionary events being held in the Choral Hall and the musical events in the Theatre Boyal. Mr H. Sweney is the stage manager and ills J. H. Cocks the accompaniste. The official opening took place in tho Theatre Eoyal hat night.

Mr D. Hanson, the president qf tho Executive Council, expressed pleasure in eeeingi such a large attendance. He was sorry, however, it was necessary for the festival to be held again iu the Theatre, this being l duo to the lack of a town hall. He hoped that the Miyor, in his next term of office—(laughter)—would push the town hall proposal ahead.

Tho Mayor said that ho felt complimented at having been asked to open the competitions once more. With regard to the town hall proposal, he would like to state that lack of enthusiasm was the cause of there being no building at the present time. It had been, left, to the speaker to stir up tho proposal, and very soon the people would have an opportunity of voting at a poll on a proposal to raise a loan to enable a hall to be built oi a site near Victoria square. The speaker was himself anxious for the city to have a hall so that the competitions' could be held iu it next year. A city was, however, what its citizens were; if all audiences were asi live as the present one, no doubt matters would bo different with regard to the town hall. He "was glad to see such interest an<T pride taken in the achievements of Christchurch performers, and in this connexion he referred to the recent win of the Woolstonl Band at the Nelson contest. Going a little further afield, he praised Lieutenant Osborne who had made the Aehburton the premier B grade brass band in the Dominion. The Mayor said that he was quite prepared to! carry out a promise he bad given previously tn present a gold medal to the champion allround competitor at the festival.

Mr B. C. Bishop, patron of the Society, introduced the judges, Mr W. AspTey (Sydney), vocal and instrumental, and Mr A. Stanley Warwick (late of Sydney), elocution. Mr Warwick accepted the latter capacity in place of Mr Claude Hill, who was unable! to be present. Demonstration concerts will be given in the Theatre Boyal each evening. The following are yesterday's Tesults:—

PIANO SOLO, under 10, "Fairy Dance" (Essipoff). Miss Dorothy Dixon (St. Albans), 89 marks .. .. .. .. ..II Kiss Margaret Ncill-Bainton (Beckenham), 87 marks .. .. .. ..2 Miss Eleanor© Price (Riccarton), 85 marks .. .. .. ..8 Also competed—Sheila Houston (Merivale), Chrissie Dixon (Linwood), Addie O'Neil (Richmond), Kathleen Pohl (Christchurch), Freda Calvert (Spreydon), Stewart Wilson (Cashmere), Lula Roberts (New Brighton), jean Hore (Spreydon), Thelma Grant (Spreydon), Thelma Thompson (St. Albans), Alice Chapman (Sydenham), and Mavis Oftborn (Spreydon). VOCAL SOLO, Lady or Gentleman, without music and accompanied by self. Miss Cicely Audibert (Christchurch), "You Are All that is Lovely," 84 marks .. .. .. .. 1 Miss Elaine Moody (New Brighton), '"My Task," 81 marks 2 Miss Hilda Jones (Christchurch), "The Wind," and Miss Lucy Mann (Templeton), "I Was Barred by a Fairy," 76 marks (equal) .. .. .. 3 Also competed—Miss Margaret Naismith, (Springfield), "Rose in the Bud." VIOLIN SOLO (under 16). Own selection. Master Colin Taylor (St. Albans), "Serenade" (Herbert), 84 marks .. .. 1 Master, Russell Cordery' (Christchurch), "To Spring," 82 marks .. ;. 2 Master Jack Wagner (Linwood), "Liebesfrond" (F. Kruester), 77 marks .. 8 Also competed—Miss Ivy Pentecost (Richmond), Miss Lola Martin (Richmond), Miss Madeleine Hardie (St. Albans). # RECITATION, "The Dream." Miss Myra Edmonds (St. Albans), 81

marks .. .. ■• •• X Miss Dorothy Wicks (Christchurch), 80 marks .. ... •• ..2 Miss E. Miriam (St. Albans), 79 marks 3 Also competed—Miss N. Le Lieyro (Akaroa), Miss Rosie Jones (Sumner), Miss Olive Young (St. Albans), Miss Clarice Ritchie (Merivale), Miss Dolly Carter (Christchurch), Miss Nellie Bryan (Linwood*, Miss Irene Round (Heathcote), Miss Nina Chamberlain (Amberley), Miss Nan Clements (Spreydon). Miss Olivia Messina (Dallington), Miss "Gladys Hayward (New Brighton), Miss Dorothy Naumann (St. Albans), Miss Jean Darragh (Sydenham). RECITATION (boys under 12)— "Be » Thorough." Master Alex. McDonald (Christchurch), 88

marks , ... ... •• .. 1 Master Hugh Findlay (Linwood). 82 marks 2 Master Jim Wioka (Christchurch), 81 marks .. •• •• •• 8 Also competed—Master Norman Daly (Christchurch), Master Reynolds Herbert (Dunedin), Master Jaok Watts (St. Albans), Master Bert Goodland (New Brighton), Master Ronald Foßter (Woolston), Master Roby Watts (St. Albans), Master Archie M«Aulay (Sumner), Master Nelson Turner (St. Albans). VOCAL SOLO (Ladies). New Zealand! composer. Own selection. Miss P. Massey (Wellington). "Waiata Poi, 95 marks .. .. ... 1 Miss Cicely Audibert (Christchurch), "Waiata Poi," 91 marks .. ..2 Miss Elspeth Denholm (Oamaru), "TheVoice of the Dove," 90 marks .. • 8 Also competed—Miss Hilda Jones (Christchurch), Mrs S. Jowett (St. Albans), Miss Margaret Naismith (Springfield), Miss Alioe Hooper. (Woolston). HUMOROUS. RECITATION (boys under 16). Master Keith Wiison (Akaroa), "How Mosey Counted the Eggs," 75 marks. 1 Master H. Findlay (Linwood), "Pat and the Mayor,"-74 marks .. ..2 Master Albert Harper (Rangiora), "Courting under Difficulties" and Master Nelson Turner (St. Albans), "George's First Sweetheart," equal .. .. S Also competed—Master Percy Bedwell (St. Albanß), Maßtcr Bert Goodland (New Brighton). Master Jack Watts (St. Albans), Master Archie Hemingway (Akaroa), Master Jack Mounsev (Riccarton), .Master Norman Daly (Christchurch). IMPROMPTU SPEECH (humorous), Gentlemen—"Should Single Women have a Latchkey?" •' Mr lan McLaren .. :.. '•■ 1. Mr J. Zekull .. ... ... >•• 2 There weie four "competitors.