NAPIER COMPETITIONS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 49, 13 March 1937, Page 6

NAPIER COMPETITIONS

Variety to be Given to .Programmes IHE ENTRIES FOR EASTER Variety in the evening programmes at the Easter Eestival of the Napier Competitions Society has been obtained by a system of recalls, which will save audiences from listening to long series of similar items. This was decided on at the annual meeting of the Napier Competitions Society held on Thurgday evening, and by this means it is hoped that the hight ' programmes will be more attractive than ever. Programmes during the day will be divided between three places. It was reported that in place of a loss of £66 in 1935, the 1936" festival showed a profit of £3 1/9- Pleasing fea^ tures of last Easter's competition were m.uch better houses at Napier, and increased attendances at tbe usual demonstration of prize winners in Hastings. .

Entfies for the coming festival total 950, which is only 30 less than last year's tatai". Performers entering numher 275,* made up as-' follow: — Hastings 39, Napier 145, Wellington 21, Marton 11, Taradale 10, Gisborne 5, Masterton 3. Palmerston North 2, Auckland 2, Waipawa 2, Norsewood 1, Takapau 1, Waipukurau 1, Pahiatua 1 and Bay Yiew 1. Onee more a splendid entry has been received from Hastings, which has always supported the festival well, while Wellington entrics are also well up 'td standard. An encouraging feature is the "two entries from Auckland, but Gisborne has not entered as fully as on previous occasionsVoc&J entries have improved, but instead of the usual five or six entries in the men's elocution section, there was one only. and ihe seetion had to be deleted. Judges in. the various sections are Choirs, vocal music, Mr Hamilton Dick-, son, Wellington ; , instrumental music, Mr Hamilton Dickson; elocution. Mr J. R. Lester, Christchurch; daucing, Miss Audrey Hughes- Johnston, Wanganui. The election of ofiicers resulted : 1'atron, Mr T. Parker ; viee-patrons, Hon. W .E, Barnard, M.P., and Messrs C. O. Morse and John Mason ; president, Mr R. C. Wright; vice-president, Mr W. Harvey. executive, Messrs W. lreland, H- C. Thompson, H. L. Harston, C, H. Wilkie, J. I). Briasco. T. B. Lockyer, A. W. Paeey, I. L. Prime, •C. E. Pfeifer, G. Madigan and J. Baker; honorary solicitor, Mr O H. Bisson; honorary treasurer, Mr L- T. Bisson. Tho meeting passed a vote of sympathy with tbe prosident, Mr R. C. Wright, who is ill. Mr Wright has been associated with the society since its inception, and a hope was expressed for his speedy recovery, ft was decided that the Napier demonstration be held on April 1, and that at Hastings on April 2.