PAEROA ORPHANS’ CLUB.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5046, 1 November 1926, Page 2

PAEROA ORPHANS’ CLUB.

SUCCESSFUL LADIES’ NIGHT.

EXCELLENT MUS-CAL PROGRAMME

Ail event that will live long and pleasurably in the minds, of the Paeroa and Auckland Orphans' Chibs eventuated on Saturday. The. occasion was Ladies’ Night, when the wive,and friends of memberjs of the local club were entertained.

Seldom have the decorations df the Gaiety Theatre looked prettier or daintier. The stage watf transformed into a fern bower, while .the walls were tastefully decorated with native ferns and greenery. Probably the most striking of the decorations was a huge saucer-shaped centrepiece df drange. and gold suspended from the ceiling. Into this was lowered foul' high-powered electric lights, the illuminations accentuating the richness of the colour and scheme.

In order that the night should be a memorable one, the Auckland Oi Phans’ Club was invited to supply the programme. That the invitation was readily accepted w.as shown by the fact that 60 Auckland brethren, including an orchestra of 27 members, made the trip per medium of two large char-a-bancs.

The proceedings opened in the customary manner, with the president of the local club (Bro. P. A. Williams') in the chair. Seated on his left was the club’s Guardian, Bro. H. Poland. At 8.15 p.m. the 300 people assembled were up-standipg to receive the past presidents and members of the Auckland club. Bro. Maxwell-Walker, who was. chosen to preside, was then duly installed by the local president, after which the. gathering whs 1 subjected to one pf the most delightful programmes of musical and vocal items heard in Paeroa for a long time. The greatest enthusiasm and goodwill existed, and keep appreciation of. the efforts of the ar.tists was manifested by the fact that each w.as “gonged,” and in some instances thUee or four times.

It was a happy selection that Bro. Maxwell-Walkqr should preside, as his capabilities as a chairman at such gatherings are too well known td require elucidation.

The programme opened with an orchestral selection, “A life on the ocean wave,” followed by a song, “The Call of the Wild,” contributed by Bro. R. Denton, after which several amusing stories were told by the chairman. Bro. “Ned.” Forte, brought the house down with his rendering of “Murphy shall not sing to-night,” the actions, and description of an Trish wake and its sequel being as clever as it was humorous'. Bro. H. Kayes delighted the gathering with his tenor voice, and his contribution, “My bride is in the Highlands,” was deservedly encored. Bro. Maxwell Walker contributed “ The Hell-gate of Soissons ” by special request. The story of a dauntless detachment of the Royal Engineers' in blowing up a bridge in France during the great war w.as as realistic as it was thrilling. Bro. Harvey, the possessor of a rich light baritone, was he,ard to advantage in “The Yeoman of England,” and he was twice recalled. The old favourite, Bro. Duncan Black, sang “ The Blacksmith ” and as an encore gave a pleasing rendering of “ Youth.” Bro. Maxwell Walkqr kept the ball rolling with his unlimited yarns and sketches, his toast to women being full of clever satire and humour. In addition to the pleasure afforded by the. orchestra under the baton of Bro. Cater, the accompanying by Bro. Cyril Towsey was in itself a rare musical 1 trqat. After supper had been served, included in which several novelties' were introduced, the chairman called upon the local club’s guardian to address the gathering. THE GUARDIAN’S ADDRESS.

Prefacing his remarks by reading a telegram from Bro. Gqo. Baildon (Mayor of Auckland) for his unavoidable absence, Bro. H. Poland said that it was his pleasure and privilege on behalf of the Paeroa Orphans to welcome the ladies. He said that he was convinced that the idea of holding a ladies’ night was a good one. It wa.s desirable that the ladies should know how an orphans’ club session was, conducted, because he, believed that there was a lurking suspicion among the ladies that the members were a mysterious' body of men (laughter). The proceedings that night were a fair sample of a usual session, except that perhaps there was a little more latitude allowed. He hoped .the ladies would enjoy the evening, and that they would go away feeling assured that the Orphans were a fine, body of men. Hearty appreciation an da big debt of gratitude was due to the Auckland brethren. It was recognised that the visitors had not only journeyed a long distance to assist Paeroa, but had made sacrifices in order to honour the local club. Great credit and thanks were due W the local club’s president, Bro. Percy Williams, on whom the responsibility of arranging the evening had been placed. It was doubtlessly his popularity and enthusiasm that had imbued the visitors with a keen desire to visit Paeroa that night. (Applause.) The entertainment provided would be difficult to surpass’. The gathering was not; there for joviality or pleasure without a, bond of fraternal friendship existing. The ideal of orphandom should be to help others, and to provide pleasure for others, and be a force in the social and fraternal life of a community. It was a pleasure to think that the local club was comprised of 140 members', who because of their decency and uprightness had been deemed fit and proper persons to become orphans. Orphans should aim at helping those in need of help. There would be 999 men who did not require help, but the thousandth man did. The mail who was right did not need help, but the man who wais wrong did, a,nd it was then that brothers should stand together and see their friend through. Life was not all pleasure, -and each sholuTd strive for an ideal and work for the, good of the common weal. A special tribute was due to Bro. Maxwell-Walker, who, as chairman, was unexcelled in that office. (Applause.) He was a living force not I

only in lOrphandotm, but in his* public life. Heayty thanks were also due to Bro. Geo. Cater and his large orchestra, and also to Bros. “Jim.” Lovett and McTavish, organisers of the party, J. Crawford, secretary of the Auckland club, Cyril Towsey, and other artists'.

Bro. P. Williams, on behalf Of the local club, added a further quota of thanks and appreciation to the Auckland brethren, and at his call the gathering was not slow to shokv its gratitude by prolonged applause. THE CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS. On behalf pf the visitors Bho. Max-well-Walke.r acknowledged the eulogistic references and applause. He said that thp kind remarks were deeply appreciated, but lie could assuiie the local club that the visiting brethren had not made a t ny sacrifices by coming to Paeroa. Rather, they took it as. a compliment to be asked to visit on such an auspicious occasion. Many of the brethren felt quite at home among the local members, and felt proud and privileged to' be invited to again become associa,ted with the splendid body of men as the. Paeroa orphans. He wished to congratulate) Bro. Williams and his committee on the excellence of the arrangements’. The gathering and the general atmosphere of the session ha,d been a revelation to the Auckland brethren. The beautiful decorations and complete det. ils showed that Trpjan work had been enthusiastically performed by the local members, to whom the great - est praise was due. The chairman said that it had been his privilege to have known Bro. P. Williams for a long time, and he realised that it was through Bro. Williams’ efforts and integrity that Orphandom had been built on such solid foundations, and was prospering so at Paeroa. The right spirit had been infused into the movement by the president, and it was hoped that it would Icing continue. The function that night did credit t<* a much larger a,nd older club. The Auckland brethren would take away with them pleasurable recollections of the hospitality and sincerity of the Paeroa brethren. It was gratifying to know that the musical programme had been enjoyed, and he could assure the gathering tha,t it had been a real pleasure to' perform before such a.n enthusiastic and august audience. Rounds of cheers, followed by the singing of “For They are Jolly Good Fellows” in English and Maori, and the National Anthem coincluded a' memorable night in the history of the Paeroa Orphans’ Club.