CHILDREN’S COMPETITIONS.

Otaki Mail, 1 August 1923, Page 3

CHILDREN’S COMPETITIONS.

i AN INTERESTING EVENING. f The Otaki Literary and Debuting - Club is to be warmly congratulated for • its action in promoting children's comi j petitions, and the large gathering at I the theatre last night proved that the i j public are in lieartv accord. The object . wax to encourage children of various ■ ages to come forward and do hi* or her 1 hit with a view to discovering and developing latent talent. The entries in nearly all classes were large and competition keen, in fact in several contests the judges had by no means an easy task. During the afternoon, under the able guidance of the Rev. G-. F. T’ovrie, M.A., many competition* were got oil’ and re-calls arranged for the evening". The judges were as follows: — Dancing, Miss Thrope; singing. Miss J Be r rill: piano playing, Mrs. Mosley, A. : reciting, M. A tin ore. LL.TS: spelling, Mr. Lee; essays, Mr. Wills, B. .: drawing. Mr. TWinchester. Following are tin* results: T cital *ii funder S years): Molly FicM. S* ,arks. ! ; Merle Fogi!**'.i, 7*J :l; H'oii ioh Ha- »• 71. • Xornm Carmoei, 7n t t. "dr. Aimnie, in nnnouw*ing tiic results, said all wuulil agree j that the standard was high and a great improvement on last year. He had no difficulty in placing the first child, but the others were very even. He also considered Mollie Thompson very good for one so young, and he asked that a special prize be given for her effort. Pianol'ore (under 12 years): Patricia i Rikihana. 1: Audrey Noble. 2; Norman Walker (special). Singing (under S.t: James Pritchard, ( 1; Norma (.'annum, 2: Brian Petrie (4 years 7 months) a special. Spelling (12 and over): Anthony Harper. 1; Birnio Ferric. 2. Under 12: 1 | Gladys Smith, 1; Doia Harper and Thelma Pogden (equal) 2. Mr. Lee (judge) said he was surprised at the result of the spelling competitions: he had chosen difficult words but all had negotiated their hurdle splendidly. Master Harper, he said, was very good, not having a single mistake. * Drawing (12 and over): James Rikiliatta. J: Ranald Watts, 2. Under 12: George Humphrey,l: Willie Roach,2. Dancing (under S): Coral Twist, 1: Marjory Irvine (-1 years and in months) 2. Fader 12: Ruse Goody. 1 ; Patty ' Rikiliana,2. These were splendid items 1 and tlie judge had a difficult task, and iu consequence special prizes were , awarded to Bonnie Walsh, and Patty 1 Rikihana. both of' whom danced splen- '* didlv. All danced gracefully and ' V •- £ livurty applause greeted each one. Recitation (under 12): Minn slaek. * SI marks. 1: Enid Fogdon and Do la 1 Harper. 70 (equal); Gladys Smith and '* Betty Sa rgi sson (equal). Singing (under 12): NoJeen Cnrmont, 1; Gladys Smith, 2; Molly Thompson, 5. The performers possess splendid J voices and sang sweetly, but were inclined to be nervous. Pianoforte solo lover 12): Fred Davies, 1; James Rikihana. 2: Joan 1 Pringle. 3. AU acquitted themselves splendidly, the manipulation being ' Y i very good. Essay (senior): Hazel Moffat t. 1; 1 Desmond Hopkins, 2. Junior: Gladys ' buutli. 1: Henrietta Hurtling, 2. Recitation (12 and over;: -loan Percival, 1: Mollie Muir,2. Both did well, : but the thinner was in a class by her- ! .-ell, and has the making of a line 1 elocutionist. ' Singing (12 and over): Jean Smith, 1. ! At the conclusion the Rev. Petrie, 1 ou than king all for their attendance J ! and help, said il was to be regretted that there were only two performer? : from outside Otaki. and he hoped next - : year that this number would be considerably increased. He invited suggestions for next year, and took the op- 1 portuaity of thanking the judges who had officiated so capably. To the Editor. Siv, —1. wish to extend my sincere thanks to all who helped to make this function such a splendid success. That the public appreciate and are anxious to further and encourage the movement was clearly evidenced by their attend- j ing last night it) such large numbers, j by the warm welcome they gave each I lit tin performer, and the quiet and at- j ientiye bearing they accorded one and < jt'll, right tp the very end of a long i recital, during a very cold night. These j competitions are promoted by our local Literary and Debating Club, and were ; started five or six years ago in the t Druids’ Hall. Pear by year their popu- ' laritv has grown, and yesterday even- . i me tliw TTC-re listened to by au audij onco that quite filled the body of the | theatre. We feel confident that next j year the full seating capacity of the j hall will be taxed to its utmost to ae- ! r.-il',modate all who desire to attend. I-or , there is nothing that appeals to us so I much as the brightening of the lives of i the little children, whether our son or those of otheis. There is something J wrong with the man or woman who i purposely absents himself from Mica a gathering as we had last night, or who leave* it feeling that he has spent a “rotten” evening. Eike old Scrooge, whom “no children ever asked him what it was o'clock.” and "no man or woman ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place; and even tlw blind man’s dogs appeared to know him; and when they; saw him coming on. would tug their owners into doorways ami up courts; ami then would wag their tails as though they said, '‘no eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master!” —such an one like poor old squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous tri rooge j s so3l} in need t of a visit from the spirit.-. There <u'“ ntanv* directions in which these competitions can be profitably improved, and the promoters are fully aware of this, and will gratefully receive suggestions , and, wherever practicable, gladly embody them in future competitions. I tfcsreibMj -while

fresh in people minds, suggested improvements will be forwarded to myself or the secretary (Mr. Brooker) of the Literary and Debating Club. I desire to thank most cordially the various judges who helped us. the donors of prizes, “the lady behind the scene” who assisted the little performers on to the stage; our self-sacrificing doorkeeper. Mr. Norgrove, and particularly Mr. Morse, the theatre proprietor, who did everything in his power to help to make the gathering a success. —I am, etc., The Rev G. F. PETRIE. President of the Otaki Literary and