ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 245, 9 July 1908, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MAORI ENTERTAINMENT AT THE .town ha 11.,:,,: There must have been three thousand people packed in the Town Hall last evening when ail entertainment w,as' given under tho auspices of tho Maori Association in aid of a fund to provide nursing and nursing instruction for the Maori women of the West Coast (North Island). Thn't the entertainment, or tho cause, or! both, appealed strongly to tho public could not be .doubted, for the great hall was filled half,an'hour after the doors were opened, and upwards of a thousand must have been turned away, for lack accommodation. -The object of the, entertainment . was briefly- explained by a ®J. aor ' c hief, whose remarks, interpreted by c i C. Parata,_were to the. following effect: Long life to thoss who are here present this - evening. We- are pleased to get this great greeting. The entertainment is to be provided for-nursing among the ?w r i S i' P art icularly among the women, so that they may know tho right tiling to do. Ilia Oral This speech was only audible to a fow near the platform, owing to a clamour ■ among tho dense pack of people under the , gallery at the rear of the hall. Half-way through the programme, however, Mr. Ngata, M.P., came forward arid explained that the entertainment was being given, under the auspices of the Maori Association, which was holding meetings in Wellington at the present time. Mr. Paratawas the organiser'of the Association, and it was he who had arranged tho i entertainment. (Applause.). If they followed', j.iip the papers .they would. see tho progress that was being' mado by tho Maori Association. The committee of the Young Women's Methodist Bible Class had been at work assisting the nursing movement, among the women; of the West Coast, and tho proceeds of-the entertainment were tp bo devoted to that object, so that, besides witnessing a really unique performance, they were assisting in achieving an object as dear to every European woman,'as it was to-'their Maori sisters learning to bring up their "young as they should be brought up...' (Applause.) They only hoped that' in the future they would assist still further the.Maori- peoplo who lived amongst them, in bringing them into 'lino with our civilisation by teaching them how to bring up their children ana afterwards-in training them in the schools. (Loud applause.) .- As Mr. Ngata said the entertainment was unique. The programme opened with a danco and song of welcome by fourteen .warriors, j bare-skinned abovo the waistband, and barefooted. 'They sang in Maori— > :

' 1 Oh haul up the canoe!.. Draw hither the canoe, T9 'the resting place', . J, To tho sleeping place, ■- ■That canoe I ■■ . To tho place where shall rest ■. This canoe. . . Welcome, oh Wehome I' Draw the canoe 1 to the.shore! This was accompanied, by : a tiaka that set the nerves' tingling and tho feet tapping to the rhythm of the dance. The . bright particular stars of 'the, evening were, however, a troupe of Maori poi dancers 'from' Otaki, from fifteen- to ; twenty , girls and .young, women 111 white, dresses and . red ties, arid the piu piu as a rominder of the'fashion of-a by-gone time. -If they are losing the simple attire of • their forebears,, they retain the cunning wrists- and supple, fingers of the old-time dancers. . To a waiata (chant) not unpleasantly sung-by four or five- young fellows,: these •girls of the Raukawa'tribe'exhibited a grace of motion,' deftne'ss' of action, and a fine perception of tempo quite alluring,; and seeing; .one icould realise, the significance of Alfred Hill's quaint "Poi Waiata"—

" See the subtle wrist, '. ' And the poi' twirl and twist; ! Hear the 'gentle : tapping Of the raupo rapping ; ... 'Tis .a fascinating..thingl" The - audience thought. so; .'and ~encored: the performance with' wild enthusiasm! ' - But there wero poi .dances in plenty; One was executed by, a double .row, of,ngi^ls,.using one poi each, who formed fours, ■ arid- executed other manoeuvres •whilst .keeping' the. pois twirling . and twisting in wonderful unison. In another case a troupo' of • six w'oirienj including two young maiden's, did some intricate poi-worlc which aroused enthusiasm. A lino of girls also" did) a and- singing at the samo.timo a jolly song evidently, of a humorous nature. The men dida peru peru (war dance) and-a haka ■ toa- (with- patus), but they were.not nearly so well drilled as the girls. -"Songs of' the. Urewera" and "Tuhoe Songs" ;(by Rua's.,people) .were": vocal efforts distinctly; interesting and,. tedious, and "if Hinemoa (of. the legend)' was attracted to swim'across th'e'lake atinigHt sound of,tho flute, her lover. Tiitanekai. must have been.. ari infinitely better .player 'than - the: gentleman who made such, .weird sounds oil the Maori flute last evening. But the flautist did riot .take himself. very seriously, for, he paused half way through a cadenza and said: ."Something te matter—l.,-can't; play ,'iin!": and' then, went .on for another . forty • bars..

'< s A.t: tho -conclusion, Mr. Parata. 'again thanked the audience for' their- attendance, and'announced to the crowd ;that'was edging tram wards as- fast as it could that;the-patus (Maori axes) used in.the dan,ce could be purchased for half a guinea each, the money to go towards the fund. . ' ' ' ! : MACMAEON'S PICTURES TO-NIGHT. 1 ; At : the Town Hair this evening Messrs. MacMahon will inaugurate what promises to prove a popular and season of. the latest living picture ■ The selection. of subjects -in '.the various, depart inents • of pictured .. comedy,' dramatic,' story, and spectacular scenes of .real life _is said to be- unique;;, and- each; individual picture will be of a .very. unusual and distinctive _ character. Among, those included in to-night's programme, and which are at the present moment among the star attractions in Europe and. America May be mentioned " The' Flower, of Youth," the complete Parisian pantomime "Harlequin and the Magic Toy Shop," " His Daughter's Voice," "Fiddle and Ij" "Pierrot's Tragedy of Love, and ■ Jealousy," "'Will he overtake them?" Scenes in Durban, Natal, and its Native Indian colony, life iij .Japan, etc. The latest beautifully-illustrated : songs will be rendered by. Miss Lorraine Tansley.. Tho doors' will be open'ed at 7.15,; the performance commencing at B'and terminating at 10.20.

"THE PRINCE' CHAP." , ' Delightful freshness, simple, charm,; easy naturalness, and a-, sparkle .ohcomedy—these are the distinguishing ■ characteristics of Mr. E. H. Peple's fine play, "The Prince Chap,", another performance of which -was given'at tho Opera House before a large and appreciative audience last evening. .'lt'is much more difficult to.be "just natural"' on, the .stage tbaji melodramatically' heroic or, villainous, but Mr. H. It. Roberts, in' liis. impersonation of William Peyton,' the sculptor, conveys the impression. that it is the easiest .thing in the world. _ In this he was cleverly supported by Miss Mary Keoglv as Phoebe Puckers, and the other members .of tho Company. The performance will be repeated this evoning, and on Saturday the final performance in tho evening will bo preceded by a special children's matineo performance, when juveniles will be admitted to all parts of tho house at half-price. THEATRE ROYAL. Messrs. Fuller have a _ really fine, programme to present to their patrons during the current week. Quite a number of old and deservedly popular friends appear during the evening with fresh additions-to their ■ repertoires. Miss .Maud l'orham and Mr. Charles Moody are, tho. 1 latest reinforcements to this oxcellent little band of entertainers, and have been well received. The Swift Comedy Three, Mr. Tod Calloway, Miss Blancho Carelli (soprano), .Miss Nellie Power (soubrettc), and the remainder of tho company woro in capital form, and received a hearty reception. • Notwithstanding tho unfavourable weather, there was a good attendance at. the Olympia Rink yesterday. To-night a polo tournament match takes place,, and among other attractions at tho Rink is Miss Maude Lowis, of Christchnrch, who is regarded as beiiig the best lady skater of the Citv of" the Plains, and who will give an exhibition of Iwr jikil] on Saturday ni^ht.