CHAUTAUQUA

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1922, Page 1

CHAUTAUQUA

>—«z> • THE THIRD DAY.

Two very entertaining programmes were given at Chautauqua, yesterday, and two very satisfied audiences passed out of the Opera House, all praising Chautauqua. The Winifred Winders trio is a very happy combination. They ar e generous performers, too, giving of their talents nnstintfngly and readily. The performers were applauded to the echo, and the audience never had enough of the capable artists.

Miss Winders is an interpreter of plays. It is a somewhat novel Jorm of entertainment here of late, but it is a very pleasing form always. Miss Winders has an excellent delivery and her every number was enjoyed. Her most important item was J. M. Barrie’s playlet “The twelve Pound Look,” with the moral all against sel-. fishness. The play was splendidly interpreted. and the four characters lived on the stage. Mi- J. Alexander Browne with a very pleasing baritone voice took the audience by storm with his lifting songs of the troubador class. He was very much to the taste of the audience ,and rapturous applause attended his every effort. Mr Guy Mnrriner, the Auckland solo pianist, won the affections of his auditors. His accompaniments were both artistic and compelling. His humorous songs a.t the piano were irresistnble. A first-class artist in a firstclass trio was the general note of approval among the audience. Colonel Leader was down for a lecture: "Tlie Lighter Side of Reconstruction.” This retired British soldier does not- lecture. He talks. He has no flights of oratory. There are no flowing periods. There are no tricks in elocutionary delivery. He is crammed full of experiences in his soldier’s life of 23 years .in many parts of tho world, and these he tells in a straight, direct way. His talk is a long one, hut not too long) for the audience. Iti s crammed full with incident, 1 and a vein of wit and humor which' is so spontaneous as to takje the audience always by surprie. Mr Leader’s address last night was one of the gems of the season. ” The title to the address was hardly appropriate, for there was but little about reconstruction, hut his stories of China, Japan, India, France Ireland, Germany and elsewhere, were awnys topical and always instructive because they were first-hand facts. Mr Leader knows his China and Japan. He was there in the Boxer Rising and the Russo-Japanese war. He spoke of the Shantung difficulty. This was commenced hv Germany in 1002 seizing what was the main entry to China, and later in the Boxer rising taking possession of the hinterland. When the Great War came, Japan attacked the German possession and won it. Later came peace time, and China who had been on the side of the Allies asked Japan for her country hack. Japan has demurred, hut both Britain and the United States wish Shantung to go hack to China., and events appear to be trending that way. Mr Leader is not fearful of the yellow peril He believes even though to-day Japan is over-crowded, relief can he given by extending the sphere of influence of Japan to Manchuria, where at present there is a- decadent race, sparcely populating a country of great, potentialities.

In regard to India. Col. Lender explained how the country was situated and the ill-division of the native wealth. Ho gave a graphic account of what is known as the Armritsnr massacre and the trial of General Dwyer, who held that by his prompt action ho had saved India for the Empire. Certain it was that in that region the native population were now more settled and prosperous, and no locality in Tndin had given a heartier reception to the Prince of Wales. Colonel Leader told many war stories centred in France in an inimitable style. He has great respect and admiration for the New Zealand soldier, whom he praised to the highest. His first encounter with the New Zealanders was in the Boer war, and he told how his company had been extricated from a very difficult position by New Zealanders who lent prompt succour Tu France, the Dominion troops won a great name. They were regarded by General Lndendc (whose papers were raptured near the end of the war) as one of the three best shock-division troops on the westtern front.

Tho speaker has great love for the Motherland, and a very bright thought for distressful Ireland. At one period .also, he commanded a regiment of northern Irishmen He claimed to speak for Ireland in an unbiassed way. He recognised the loyalty to Ireland evinced alike by Southerners and Northenrers, and he pleaded that, such being so, for the common good, they should sink all differences of opinion, and think only for the welfare of their country m the future. He handled the subject admirably and the applause which attended his' remarks indicated the responsive chord struck among the audience. Colonel Trader has a fine Irish wit. His remarks sparkle with this happy aid to effective speaking. He was very apt about the war and the peace which followed —'the peace for the Juure. He longed for the time w en war would be no more, and all the nations would agree to peace eternal peace. The betterment of intercourse was going to help the coming of that period. New Zealand had not as yet iaken much interest in commercial aviation, hut it was a great factoialready in Europe, and America, Wonderful advance was being made, an assured safety was being established The economic value of this greatest development, out of the war period was beyond comprehension yet. He

ventured to sajy that within four years’ time it would be possible to travel from New Zealand to England in four or five days for a fare of £8 or £lO ,so rapid and sure were the advances now being made with aerial transport. The sojourn of the speaker in New Zealand had been a very enjoyable and he loved the country, so mneli more like the Motherland than any other country on the face of the earth. He liked the people, too, for be remembered the prowess of the boys in the Great War ; but he did not like the railways! A touching tribute to tho sacrifices New' Zealand made in the war, brought to a close an address which had a magnetic effect. so charming was the pleasing manner of the speaker. The singing of “The King” was specially apropos in the atmosphere created by n. really remarkable address.

GOODBYE TO-NIGHT. This is the last day of Chautauqua. There was community singing this afternoon and all went merrily. Tonight the proceedings open with the Junior pageant, followed by a Concert arranged by the Arcadian Quartette. Miss Orr is the soprano, Miss Cocks, the mezzo-soprano, Mr Buckley the tenor, and Mr Mee the bass. The quartette is well trained and. well balanced and will delight the auditors. To-night comes a very fine lecture “Corner Stones of Character ’ by Mr J. C. Herbsman, who is a remarkably fine speaker, and will enthrall his auditors with the force of his eloquence. It will be a great finish to a great season to-night.