CONCERT IN PAEROA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5442, 1 July 1929, Page 2

CONCERT IN PAEROA.

FUNDS FOR HOSPITAL. SUCCESSUL AFFAIR. A crowded attendance appreciated to the full the concert given by the Auckland Commercial Travellers’ Entertainers, in aid of the Paeroa Hospital funds, at the Aurora Theatre on Friday night. An excellent and varied programme was given, each artist being so well received that it was quite hard to tell the favourite of the audience, although, judging by the applause, perhaps without making undue comparisons the 6ft. 2in. “baby” and comedian of the company, Mr Rex Yates, held premier place. His little burlesque of a classical dance in the “Zoologicality” was a sheer joy to behold. Mr Arthur Alien’s rendering of the “Volga Boat Song,” a most difficult piece, and one only to be attempted by a master, was greatly appreciated. Mr H. Maxwell’s whistling solos held his listeners as quiet as the proverbial church mice, “A Brown Bird Singing” being especially noteworthy. In such an excellent and well-balanced company it was difficult to criticise individually, as each member made a necessary complement of the whole. Mr Dudley Wrathall, and the Misses Martha Williamson and Dorothy Youd gained in applause the appreciation of the gathering. Miss Nina Scott gave two clever litle acts. Mr George Tollerton’s character studies brought roars of laughter, while his study of “Mind over Matter,” with Mrs Tollerton as medium, kept the audience spell-bound by its cleverness. Mrs Tollerton, covered with a sheet, and with her back to the footlights, unerringly and uncanningly read playing cards in the hands of people in various parts of the theatre. Shortly after the interval His Worship the. Mayor, Mr W. Marshall, introduced Mr Gordon McMillan, assisted by Mr K. Page, who proceeded to auction a number of pigs, turkeys, geese, and barnyard fowls in aid of the funds. The porkers were not present to make their bow to the audience, but the feathered offerings were, and very much alive, with the exception of the turkeys, which had resignedly given up the ghost before coming near the auctioneer’s hammer. Under Mr McMillan’s direction bidding started in a brisk manner, and as the birds were offered they were sold many times over, as purchasers threw them in again, until Mr McMillan, against time, had to call a halt. A satisfactory sum of money was thus realised.

Mr Marshall, on behalf of Paeroa, thanked all the company for the wonderful evening’s entertainment, and spoke of the great good the Commercial Travellers have done for charity, also, continued Mr Marshall, the community were under a debt to the artists’ firms for granting them absence to enable them to prosecute their work of good. Mr C. Bach, the president of the Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association, in returning thanks, said it was their great pleasure and duty to do anything for charity. During the last 15 years they had raised £120,000 for that purpose. As a result of the evening £97 clear was raised for the hospital funds.