PAEROA ORPHANS’ CLUB.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5354, 21 November 1928, Page 2

PAEROA ORPHANS’ CLUB.

ANNUAL LADIES’ NIGHT. VERY PLEASANT FUNCTION. In the list of successful functions held by the Orphans’ Club the fourth annual ladies’ night, which eventuated last Saturday evening, must be given an honoured place. The high standard attained in previous years has qar.ned such a reputation for the club’s ladies’ night that this annual function has come to be regarded as the social treat of the season. Thus there is little wonder that early on Saturday evening the; Gaiety Theatre was filled by members and their lady friends, and that there were over, fifty vtsitqrs from sister clubs eve,n as far distant as Auckland. The theatre was tastefully decorated. the walls being clothed in nikau palms, apd suspended from the ceiling were clusters of coloured lights and lines of bright-c.oloured paper streamers.

Shortly after. 8 o’clock the assemblage was called to order fqr the entrance of the; president, Bra P. Williams, and the visitors, who included twenty brethren from the Birkenhead and Northeote Orphans’ Clubs, twenty from Thames, and a number, from Te Aroha. The chairman chosen for 'the evening was Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., whq was duly invested) and installed! in the regular manner. Seated on his left was Bro. W. Bongard, of Thames, and on his right was the Iqcal president, Bro. P. Williams. Bro. Samuel thanked the club for the honour conferred on him in asking him to preside op ladies’ night. It was the night of nig;hts of the yepr. when wives, mothers, and sweethearts were admitted to be shown exactly what was done at every session. He wanted the ladies to know that every session was conducted alike, so that they would nqt have bbjectioins if t'heir menfolk joined up again, next year. In welcoming the ladies the chairman expressed the; hope .that they would enjoy themselves and help the brethren to enjoy themselvqs. An overture by Mr J. Buchan’s Melody Boys’ Orchestra, Thames, then commenced one; qf the finest musical programmes heard in Paeroa for many a long day. The efforts of the visiting artists were keenly appreciated, and every i.tqm was gonged. The first sor/g was by Bro. Moffttt, of the Birkenhead Orphans’ Club, who Contributed “MCjir.a, My Girl,” and then “For You Alone.” After a fine yarn by Bro. Samuel, who proved a capable raconteur, with a fund of good stories, Bro. Hintz, of Birkenhead, was called upon, and his musical monologues on sundry matrimonial topics drew unstinted applause. Bro. E. Watson, Thames, was heard to advantage in “If I might only come to you” and “Brave Eyes.” As a change from musical fare the wine stewards were callqd to do their, part, and with the wine c,Packers were distributed. When these crackers had been pullqd and the hats or masks donned, the chairman, after another yarn, call upon Brq. r. Reeve, of Birkenhead, for some humour, and his caricatures of types of singers were; very amusing. The next singer was Mr. A. Mcllvride, of Thames, who contributed “The Trumpeter” and “Where the Mountains of Mc<rn Sweep Down to the Sea.” Bro. Graham Holder, the editor of “Sav-orph,” the journal of the; Savage and Orphans’ Clubs, and who is regarded by the Auckland brethren as their most natural humoijst, then delighted with a number of yarns and recitations which, are bound to be retold round 1 Paeroa for many a day. He was followed by Bro. E. McDonald, of Birkenhead, who gave an exhibition of queer step-dancing. After, supper had been served Bro. Sa.muql proposed a toast to the visiting Orphans, particularly mentioning the brethren of the Birkenhead and Northeote Clubs, who were supplying the major part of the musical programme. It .was such inter-c,hanges of visits, he said, that made much of the success of the fraternity. He also mentioned the Thames artists, who were always ready and: glad to send a team along to help. There was no set of Brethren the Paeroa Club so like;d to meet as thqse of Thames and Te Aroha. They always came along when wanted, and a, call was never made in vain.

The toast was dluly honoured, with typical Orphan music. After an orchestral item by the Thames orchestra, Bro. D. Dunlop returned thanks on behajf of the Auckland Club. He stated that his club made many visits each year, but theye was no club that members and the orchestra so liked to visit as that at Paeroa. They were always inquiring when the next visit to Paeppa would eventuate, for they remembered the splendid time given them on previous visits.

Brq Heath, vice-presidtent of the Birkenhead Club, returned thanks and expressed regret at the unavoidable absence of the president, Dr. Craig, and the orchestra, which had been disbanded for the season.

Bro. Bongard, on behalf of the, Thames brethren, remarked that he had responded to this toas.t sq often that he did not feel sincere. Thames and Paeroa. so often visited eac.h other that they were more like one club. It was functions of this kind that rngde life really worth while. New friends were made and old- acquaintances were renewed.

Bro, Nicholls responded on behalf of the Te Aroh a club, mentioning that the warm welcome otf the Paeroa Club was as well known in Te Aroha as in Auckland or Thames. His club, unfortunately, was short of .musical tali ent, but it had always found that when the call for assistance went qut the sister clubs rallied round. THE CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. (Observing that it was customary for the chairman tq give; a shoi;t address on some topic of interest, Bro. A. >M. Samuel explained that he understood that the bugbear was to find a subject suitable to disequrse on. Having been very busy lately, he had been unable to give the matter much attention until the previous evening, when after reading an old copy of the “Gazette” he had fallen

asleep in front of the fire. In his sleep he had had a dream, and on awaking he had' concluded that it would be a suitable subject to deal with at the Orphans’ Club. In his dream he had heard Bro, P. Williams arguing with Mephistopiheles while having a spot in the Paeroa Club, and during the course of the argument a challenge had) been thrown out and accepted for a football match between the shades of the underworld and the members of the Paeroa Orphans’ Club. The borough workmen had been set to work to clear up Percy Vuglar’s paddock for a playing field, and His Worship the Mayor had provided dressing-sheds. Bro. Samuel described the arrival of the teams and an argument thft had ensued among the team from the nether regions Concerning the wisdom of leaving their clothes in the dressing room for fear that their valuables would be stolen. Later there had been an argument concerning a referee, as the shades wanted Horatiq Nelson, but the Paeroa team protested that he was one-eyed. Solomon had declined the office, as the local custom demanded that ladies should be charged for admission, and he- had forty wives. Finally it was agreed that Percy Vuglar should officiate. On the teams lining out it- was seen that Marshall and Phil Brenan .were hooking for Paeroa, as usual, with Fred Flatt in the background). The half was Reg Medhurst, who had replaced Norman Beatty, as it was said that he starved his backs and kept everything for himself.- .The shades team was led by Napoleon, and conspicuous figures were Samson and Sir Walter Raleigh. The first five-eighths was Bill Sykes, who was renowned for taking advantage of any opening. The chairman went on to describe the match and the players in a typical John Kendrick Bangs style, and introduced many local names, concluding when he saw Jim Silcock waiting at the Puke bridge in case Charon de-; sired it opened when he ferried the shades back over, the Sltyx. In continuation of the musical programme Brq c. Massey, of Birkenhead, contributed “A Lancashire Party” and other humorous numbers, and was followed by Bro. C. Huntey, a very fine singer who gave “I Did Not Know,” “WP an Hundred Pipers” and “Vale.” Bro. Beech, the wellknown Thames singer of humorqus songs, was gonged twice, giving “When I Stood for Parliament,” “How Doe.s the Little Liver Pill,” and “Henry’s Made a Lady out of Lizzie.” “D. Flower of all t'he World 1 ” and “Miniature.” sung by Bro. Moffitt, and more humorous stories and) recitations by Bro. Graham Holder concluded the very enjoyable programme, a .nd the: singing of “Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem brought the evening to a close.