FIRE BRIGADE CARNIVAL

Chronicle (Levin), 16 April 1947, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADE CARNIVAL

FINAL WEEK COMMENCES The Shannon Fire Brigade Carnlval has commtnced „ its fourth and final week and there is still no indication as to the flnancial positions of the queens. Next Monday evening will see the completion of the carnival, which has kept the town alive ior almost a month, and by all indications the public will have to wait until that night before the treasurers of the three committees will disclose their finances. As the result of the ga-la day held on Easter Saturday the sum of £31 9s ld has been handed to each committee. This leaves each committee to raise about £175 to e'nable the fire engine to be purchased. A brief review of the various activities over the past week are as follows; — Town Committee ' On Saturday afternoon and evening . this committee held a Paddy's Market in the Druids' Hall. Although the weather was not very favourable, there was quite a good gathering. The afternoon attractions included a baby show and the winner was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Barber, Moutoa, with • the son of Mr. and Mrs. N. Bryson in second place. The evening attraction was the presence of visiting tug-o-war teams from Wellington and Marton. The former team proved too strong for the Marton boys in a two-minute pull. As there were only two visiting teams, the remainder of the; evening was taken up with competitions between various local teams, the highlight being a contest between local ladies' teams. Competitions held during the day were . wcn by Mr. L. Andrew, Mrs. Nelson Batt and Mr. M. Sunnex. On Sunday evening the committee was responsible for staging one of the fi'nest concerts ever to be held in this town, when the Levin Silver Band and visiting artists presented a sacred concert in the Druids' Hall. It was indeed unfortunate that the public did not respond in large numbers as the programme was excellent. Apart from the number of items rendered by the band, items were provided by Mrs. Hesp, the popular Levin singer. Her items were very popular and greatly : appreciated by those present. Mr. J. D. Campbell also rendered vocal solos, Miss Joan Swindlehurst entertained with piano solos, Mr. Roy Lester saxaphone solos, Mr., G. R. Lester cornet solos and Mr. Penny violin solos. At the cdmpletion of. the programme Mr. C. Wishart' expressed the sincere thanks of ;the town committee and the fire brigade to the band and those artists who had given so freely of their time to assist Shannon in providing a new fire engine. - The -• visitors, were later entertained at supper by the ladies of the committee. This committee will be holding a hard-up dance in the Druids' Hall this evening. The function should be a very popular and novel one, especially the • supper arrangements. This will take the form of a hot supper and patrons attending are requested to bring their own knife and fork. Maori Committee The Maori commlttee's activities over the past week have been confined to the staging of a Maori concert in the Druids' Hall on Thursday evening, when the hall was filled almost to capacity. The programme was excellent and visiting and local Maoris provided good entertainment with their hakas, poi dances and action songs. The programme will be presented at Tokomaru tomorrow evening, when, in conjunction with the Tokomaru Parents and School Association, the concert will be to raise funds to be divided between the two committees. The- main Maori attraction of the carnival will be staged at the local domain on Saturday afternoon. Provided the weather holds, a very good programme will be presented. Among the attractions -will be the Horowhenua and Manawatu haka championships, the trophy for the event being a • handsome silver cup. Demonstrations of Maori cooking and mat making will also be given. The Horowhenua Highland Pipe Band will be in attenda'nce and the local marching teains and possiblj one from Levin will present displays. On Monday evening the women * section of the R.S.A. held theh usual card evening and donatec the proceeds to the Maori committee. The prize-winner for th( evening was Mrs. Tremewan Senr. . Farmers' Committee On the entertainment sid this committee has not been ver] active over the past week. However, this is not to say that th

coffers of the committee nave nor benefited. A successful street day was held last Friday and it was noted that a number of head of stock 'was headed towards the : saleyards on behalf of the committee at last Momday's sale. The popular girl contest still continues to bring - forth results and on Thursday evening a dance will be held in the Moutoa Hall in aid of the two Moutoa girls, Misses J. Woodmass and V. San- : son. Although the proceeds of this function will go to the voting 1

boxes of these girls, the ultimate destination will be to swell the farmers' queen funds. In summoning up the carnival over the past three weeks, it must be indeed heartening to the various committees and to the fire brigade in the manner in which the public has responded to the appeal, not only financially, but with assistance and donations of various types for the street , days, Also, thanks must be • -extended to those outside of the ■ town for their valued help, the ; highland Pipe Band, the Levin : Silver Band, the Horowhenua 1. Marching Association, the Pahia5 tua Inter-house Association and 7 individual artists from Levin ■ Otaki, Foxton and Palmerston North have all rendered assist5 ance to Shannon at this, theii ■ time of need, and their services 1 will be ■ long remembere'd in this - town. To them all, the Shannor 3 Volunteer Fire Brigade and tht , three queens, ' Misses Dalla Ropoama, Ngaire Peach and Heler Gardner and their committee* 3 join in extending a very sincere j "Thank You" for everything thal - has been done.