ORPHANS’ CLUB.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5183, 26 September 1927, Page 2

ORPHANS’ CLUB.

MEETING OF PAEROA BRETHREN;

PROGRAMME BY MORRINSVILLE.

The sixth session of the Paeroa Orphans’ Club was held on Thursday eveping, and there was a good attendance of brethren. At 8.30 o’clock the members were upstanding to receive the president, Bro. P. . Williams, who, on taking his seat, called on the brethren to receive the president and sixteen members of the Morrinsville club. The vice-president, chosen to preside over the session was Bro. L. E. Cassrels, who was duly invested by the president and placed in the chairman’s position on the dais.

After the singing of the National Anthem the Hauraki Orchestra opened the proceedings with a couple of appropriate selections, and from then onward the visitors took charge of the evening’s amusement and presented a varied and most enjoyable programme of music, song, and story. The visitors proved themselves entertainers of no mean order, and it was smal wonder that their efforts met with a hearty reception and were deservedly encored. WELCOME TO VISITORS. During the evening Bro. W. E. Ward, on behalf of the club, extended a hearty welcome to the Morrinsville brethren, and expressed pleasure at •meeting such a large gathering of visitors. The local members were honoured by their presence, and it was his privilege to extend a hearty welcome to them all. The visitors were deserving of congratulations on the talent possessed by them, and the programme submitted was greatly enjoyed. At the call of Bro. Ward the local members demonstrated their appreciation in no uncertain manner.

On behalf, of the Morrinsville brethren the president. Bro. G. F. Oates, said that it had given his club considerable pleasure in coming to Paeroa, and he desired to voice his appreciation of the cordial welcome that had been accorded. His club made a point of visiting sister clubs throughout the Waikato, and even Rotorua, and it had been found that such visits went a long way towards creating pew and cementing old friendships. The exchange of ideas, talent, and friendship was as desirable as it was beneficial. He extended a hearty invitation to the Paeroa brethren to attend the Ladies’ Night at Morrinsville on October 25. At the conclusion of the president s remarks the visitors delighted the gathering with their contribution of the club’s dirge. After the supper adjournment the chairman added to the remarks of Bro. Ward, and said that the local brethren were envious of the talent possessed by the Mprrinsville brethren. Although it was customary for the chairman to deliver a ten minutes’ speech at that stage, with all due deference to former chairmep he did not think it Was desirable that the presiding brother should occupy so much time on the programme when there was good talent available. In his opinion more encouragement should be given to brethren to come forward and assist with a programme. Undoubtedly the Paeroa club possessed plenty of talent, but he thought the members, who were naturally of a retiring disposition, should be encouraged to assist with the harmony of the session.

In lighter vein Bro. Cassrels dealt reminiscently with some of the humorous, and in some instances unenviable, experiences met with during his travels in America and California. The incidents were well told, and were frequently punctuated with pathos and satire, and the speaker was warmly applauded on resuming his seat.

In addition to many amusing stories related by the chairman, the following visiting brethren contributed to the harmony of the evening: Bros. L. Echlin (song), L. Buchan (cornet solo), R. A. Jones (song), R. G. Fawkner (humorous anecdotes), the Orphans’ Quartette, comprising Bros. Jones, Fawkner, N. Springfield, and Echlin ; Buchan and E. Gummer (cornet and trumpet duet), F. Williams (song), Gummer (cornet solo), and JA. Kempthorne (song). The strenuous duties of accompanists were ably carried out by Bros. O. Gifford, Morrinsville, and Reg. Cooke, Hamilton. The session closed with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,’ the National Anthem, and an exchange of cheers.