SAVAGE CLUB.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1498, 22 July 1912, Page 3

SAVAGE CLUB.

LADIES' NIGHT AT TOWN HALL. It was a very brilliant gathering that assembled at tho Town Halt on Saturday evening, when the AVellington Savage Club gave its annual korero in honour of the ladies. Tho function has been growing in size, but never was there such a crowd as on Saturday, when there must liavo been fully 2000 present. Not only was the whole of tho main floor occupied, but members and their guests overflowed, ami almost filled the large gallon-, and to accommodate them the flowing pink and white drapery which tented in the hall had to be removed at tho last moment. His Excellency tho Governor and Lady Islington, accompanied by Captains Estconrt and MaeDougall, A.D.C.'s, wci'C conducted to their seats by Chief-Savagi Major-General Godley. This was the signal for the revels to begin. A woird Maori crv, tho prelude to the haka. cf welcome/burst from the lips of Savage Te Eaugilviroa (Dr. Buck), who pranced into the hall from the main entrance, leading a band of tattooed warriors, formidable with war-paint and frenzied witli tho excitement born of "ladies' night." Led by the intrepid chieftain, they hakaed in "great style up the aislo and on to tho platform, and were accorded an ovation for their agility. After a selection by the orchestra, which sounded rather thin in the large hall, what was described on the programme, as "the real thing" beean. This was an interlude entitled by the wits of the club "Prehistorietts, a motley modern medley of mummers, mostly minstrels," to quote the programme. A person, who announced himself as "Everybody" (costumed os Kobody in the play "Everywoman"), announced that it was commimlv accepted that nothing was new under the sun, and I hat those who would follow him would show that in the dark ages when the world was young overylhim: we

did nowadays had its counterpart then. Suddenly the world was tin-own back 2000 years,' and, sure enough, tliere wore two prehistoric monsters clad in skins and extremely hirsute, discovered at golf, wi'h th" slnill of a deceased encniy as tlic ball. After a heated controversy—golfers arc p. talkative lot—the tee was not considered qnilc satisfactory, and as tho "prehistoric;," just then entered with the. remaint of a nice fat-referee, who had succumbed' as'thc result of' an argument' <>a the football ground, it was resolved to rostnone the "game until after dinner. While the referee was jent.lv Mmmorins in an immense cauldron, one Twistus proposed harmony, which suggestion was received with a 'clamour of preconcerted approval. After an opening chorus-a *.rt. of exolanatorv incautation—the- sisters •\mbone (Savages Tsaacs and "Kelly), dcmonstvati.d with simner, and shrug that tli» double song o»d dance of Ihe v.imUv ville sfago was well known to the giddilyinclined in the stone ago, and that the dances tliev do now were not even new then. "Blubirdns" was summoned from the svlvan prove, and proved to bo Ravage Borneo Gardiner, who looked very earlv-worldish a« a shepherd swain. As he charmed his flocks (which were presumably browsing in the organ-loft}, so did his' melodious whistling cbavm the audience. "L'ctc" (Chaminade) was his best number. "Shamrocus" proved to be quite a modern "broth of a bhoy" in Ravage ']''. Charlton, who raised a tuneful, hnri'oue voice in "Mavourneen," for which effort, ho was encored. Ravage .las. Dykes, in conventional evening dress.- sang "Follow tlm Tram Tracks," and Rentcvalli (Sa.vnge A. W. Xcwtonl juggled with airy grace and a comical .regard for the laws of irravitalion. Savage Dick, a prehistoric 'cellist, mado excellent music; Savage 0. Parsons sung an adaptation from tho solo "When the Night Winds Howl." from ibo opera "Ruddigore"; Savage Zanlo Wood rented the somewhat hackneyed sketch "On Strike," attired as a typical park spouter; and Savage Parker contributed a cornet solo. Humorous quartets we.ro sung by Ravage? Kenny. Mfivton. Twiss, and Parsons, and a hearty-voiced chorus broke into vocal ecstasies over "Peter Finer." . _

Guests accompanying the V'ee-B«srnl mrty were Mr. and Mis.= Vavasiur, Ah', and Mrs. Noel Adorns, Mrs. A. Roberts (Invereargill), and Miss Goring (London). The large audience also in-, eluded Mrs. Godley, Colonel Heard and Mrs. Heard. Commander Stopfor and Mrs. Stopford, Mrs. Herdman, Mr. and Mrs. M. Myers, Mr. and Mrs. H. Gore, Dr. and Mrs Collins, Mrs. A. M. Johnston, Mrs. Biidge, Airs. Fulton, Mrs. Williamson (Palmerstoni North). Miss Payne, the Misses Drummond (2). Airs. Dykes. Airs. A. Mvers, Mr. and Airs Shirtcliffo andMiss Shirtclill'e, Mr. and Mrs. Meek and the Afisses Meek, Mis Didsbury, Dr. and Miss Pollen. During the evening Chief-Savage Godley was culled upon to make a speech, which he did briefly, remarking that the making of the New Zealand army was nothing to what he was doing at that moment—so difficult and alarming was it. Savage D. J. Kenny had his hands full as accomnanist and musical director; Mr.

A. W. Newton was master of ceremonies; and Mr. Jas. Dykes was actively übiquitous as Hie club secretary.