DISTRICT NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5101, 16 March 1927, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

ngatea. WEDDING. A wedding was- solemnised by the Rec. Charteris in the Ngatea Church on Saturday morning, the contracting parties being Miss Harriet Clifton Allan, niece of Mr T. A. McClean, of Ngatea, and Mr Ernest William Muggeridge of Ngatea. The bride, who was given away by her uncle, wore a lovely frock of apricot crepe-de-chine trimmed with knife pleatings and Brussels lace and a large picture hat. Mrs McClean was maid of honour. After a quiet wedding breakfast at Mr McClean’s the happy couple left by car in the direction of Auckland. TENNIS. The Ngatea Tennis Club is conducting a local handicap tournament for valuable prizes donated by Messrs W. and V. Montgomery and the club captain Mr A. E. Ludlow. Following are the results to date : — C. Bertelsen (12) beat E. A. Mahoney, 70^—38; R. Phillips (15) beat T. Blake (20), 70—51 ; McKay (owe 17) beat L. Cotter (owe 20), 70 —44 ; A. E. Ludlow won by default, from D. Hutchihson; J. McPherson (10) .beat A. E. Ludlow (owe 12), 70—68 ; R. Phillips (15) beat H. Hayward, 72 —70 ; McKay (owe 17) beat K. Clare (owe 5), 70—43. Mrs Bertelsen (owe 15) beat Miss Luks (scr), 50 —34. TURUA. ■— / ■ AMATEUR THEATRICALS. The initial appearance ojf the Turua Concert Party was made at the Town Hall, Turua. last Thursday evening before an audience which, considering the wet weather, was of encouraging proportions. A long programme was presented, the entertainment commencing at 8.45 o’clock and concluding at. 11.35, and it embraced a typi-. cal nigger minstral show with its innumerable conundrums and topical hits, a number of really good vocal items and some farces.

After the opening chorus, “Swanny River,” the lights were switched on and the curtain raised, showing the nigger minstrel troupe. The cornermen, Sambo, Rastus, Moses, and J«e, were Messrs Owens, McElroy, Walker, and Mullins ; the interlocutor .was the Rev. W. W. Averill, and the others were Mesdames Walker, Averill, McElroy, and Tynan, Misses Langdon and Truelove, and Messrs Sutton and Norris. They were introduced in a song by Mr McElroy. Conundrums, solos, and duets then followed in quick succession until the interval. Very effective was the rendering of the song “Dream Boat” by Mrs Averill while a small boat containing three children was slowly drawn across the stage as though floating in the river of the drop-scene. Coloured spotlights heightened the effect. A duet by Miss Langdon and Mr Mullins caught the popular “fancy, and in the solo “The Sheik” the Rev. Averill was much appreciated. The second part of the programme opened with a very enjoyable vocal item by Mrs F. C. Robinson', followed by Mr Owens in “Burlington Bertie.” Songs by Messrs Sutton and Mueller were deservedly encored, as also were Messrs Owens, McElroy, and Walker in t’he farce “The Three Black Crows.” The final item was the farce “Ginger’s Day Out,” featuring Messrs Owens, Averill, Walker, and Mueller, and Mrs McElroy.

The whole performance went without a hitch. The rendering throughout was good, though many o’f the jokes and conundrums were old. The scenery, for which Mr A. P. Gardiner was largely responsible, was very creditable.