School Entertainment.

Patea Mail, 5 December 1881, Page 3

School Entertainment.

One of the pleasantest of juvenile entertainments, assisted by adult friends, was given on Friday evening, in the Patea Harmonic Hall. The large audience was in excellent humor, and not too critical ; and the object of the entertainment was to raise funds for prizes to be given to successful scholars at the High School examination. The gross receipts were £29 3s 6d, leaving probably over £24 available for book-prizes, which are to be obtained rtt once.

The Volunteer Brass Brand, recently formed, was a novel attraction, and helped materially to fill the hall and to enliven the programme. The new band plays with a firmness and precision that are surprising for so short a period of practice together. Several members are skilled instrumentalists, especially Mr Curreen, the latest addition from Wanganui: the novices render good help, under the tuition of Mr Sparks. A brass band requires a rather subdued harmony in a room ; whereas in the open there may be vigorous blow without harshness. The band played wit'n immense success at the door, before entering ; and the execution inside was commendable.

The young people were seated or arrayed on the stage, and seemed to realise the greatness of the occasion. How envious are those feelings of blithesome youth, at an ago when every new thing is wonderful, and even common things are pleasing novelties ! The girls feel a shy consequentialness on a public stage, and are impatient for the higher dignity of womanhood. And the boys—the eager confident boys—want to be men all at once. So it seemed on Friday ; and many parents were for the moment young again) by recalling their own school triumphs of lang sync. Singing in chorus is a public triumph for juveniles, and these young people sang nicely the opening chorus called “Vacation,” Recitations were given by Miss Davis, Master O. Wray, and Master W. Hirst. A little dramatic scene was enacted by several scholars with considerable confidence and expression, the plot being the good old story of King Alfred in the peasant’s hut minding the dame’s cakes and allowing them to burn. Master 0. Wray shows dramatic talent which ought to be encouraged. His recital of a local story in rhyme, about three Pateans setting out to climb Mount Egrnont and getting pretty near lost, was confident and clever in delivery, and evoked much laughter. He had to give an encore. Miss May Black sang very nicely “ Violets under the snow,” and was encored. A successful dialogue was recited by Master B. Wray and Master Howitt, about Peter the Great as a carpenter. All the young folk may well be proud of these performances, in the drilling of which Mr Flood had a hand. A duet on the piano was neatly played by the Misses Hawken ; and a piano duet was well played by Miss Harden and Miss Black. It is hard to say whether, on the whole, the girls did not carry off the palm for their several parts. Miss Gowland had bestowed pains in their training.

Vocal friends gave effective aid of a desirable kind. Mrs Haywood sang with warbling sweetness the exquisite Irish air, “ Dear little Shamrock,” with its deliciously plaintive refrain. Bouquets were thrown in a bewildering shower. Mr Herbert gave another successful song in public, “ The Cuckoo’s notes,” and was encored. Mr E. C. Horner sang in his best style, “ Four jolly smiths,” and his full round basso notes sounded to advantage. Miss Gowland and Mr Taplin achieved a success in a vocal duett “ The gipsy Countess,” both voices sounding well. Mr Kendall sang “ The Midshipmite ” with success. Mr Dixon was in demand for comic songs, and gave two which created much fun. Mr Weiss gave a romantic reading, apparently from Scott, and would have achieved a better success if reciting it from memory. Mr Gordon Bose (bank N.Z.) made a pleasing debut as a vocalist, and sang with feeling and marked success ; the cornet obligato being an excellent aid to the tuneful chorus. The Chairman of the School Committee (Mr Sherwood) expressed in neat phrases the general thanks to the various performers, and to the excellent band ; also a proper compliment to the public for attending so largely.

A dance followed, about. 20 couples gyrating till daylight.

Egmont Election. NOMINATION AT HAWERA

(from our correspondent.) Hawera, Saturday,

The nominations for one member to represent the Egmont electorate took place at the Court House, Hawera, at noon yesterday. The room was crowded, although it was raining hard at the time. Mr Livingstone proposed and Mr Pinches seconded Mr Hutchison.

Mr Furlong proposed Major Atkinson, Mr J. Milroy (Patea) seconded the Major, and asked : Can any one who opposes him at this juncture have the good feeling of the district at heart ? (Voices, yes and no.) He hoped the Major would be returned by a majority large enough to be proud of. Mr Hutchison spoke briefly, alleging that the Major had misquoted his remarks as to treachery, not to Mr Bryce, but deserting a certain line of native policy. It was a common but not a creditable thing to misquote an opponent’s words. Major Atkinson made a speech of some length refuting statements that had been made by Mr Hutchison. He pointed out that Mr Hutchison' bad no particular creed or party, and asked the electors could Mr Hutchison expect to get anything done for the district without joining some party ? Upon the native question the Major spoke strongly, stating that there had never been any disagreement in the Cabinet as to the course to pursue ; that the only difference of opinion was as to the time for action. He also pointed out that Mr Hutchison in opposing him was trying to unseat one of the Ministers who had settled the Native difficulty. Referring to Mr Hutchison’s attempted contradiction as to local expenditure, he reaffirmed that his figures could be proved from official returns, which he would leave for information at Mr Davidson’s store. Referring to the condition of the district, he asked if it could have advanced as it had under a terrible native difficulty, unless he had been doing his duty as member. He also challenged any one to show that he had violated a single promise. He had never been unfaithful to the native policy which Government set forth.

Mr Livingstone asked : Did you not dismiss the Constabulary ? Major Atkinson said only those were dismissed who wished to leave. The Government’s main difficulty had been that their vigorous policy was not supported by Parliament; and Mr Hutchison’s father was a member of that party who opposed it. Which party would the son join? He was trjing to turn out the present Government. Mr Hutchison : I never said so.

Major Atkinson : You are trying to put me, a Minister, out of the House altogether.

Mr Hutchison : That is another matter

Major Atkinson went on to say the missing links in the North Island railways should be completed, and he hoped during the present summer that a satisfactory arrangement would bo made with the Maori King. He appealed to the electors to return a member on broad grounds. Mr Hutchison said that as a local member his aim would be to take care of the ponce and the pounds would take care of themselves. He also said, in answer to Mr King, that he would join a middle party against the present Government, but would support the same native policy. A show of hands was called for, resulting in 21 being held up for Mr Hutchison, and some 70 or 80 for the Major ; upon which there were three cheers given. Of course a poll was demanded. There was a good deal of chaff indulged in, the whole affair going off well. OPINION ON THE CONTEST. (From our Correspondent.) Hawera, Saturday. A statement was made at Mr Hutchison’s Opunaki meeting, which I think should be pointed out clearly, and that was to the effect that if the present Ministry were turned out Mr Bryce could be induced to join another Ministry as Native Minister, Now all who know Mr Bryce know that this would be the last thing he would do. He is too to colleagues to practice any Ballance tricks. So it follows that if the electors turn out Major Atkinson, it undoubtedly means turning out the Ministry, and losing Mr Bryce as Native Minister. Mr Hutchison yesterday said that he did not aspire to the position of a colonial politician, but he wished to be a local member. Now could any statement be more damaging to a man ? If every man

went in as a local politician, God help the colony I Where would they get the money to make all those bridges and roads that they promise so lavishly ? The thing itself is absurd ; and although it might catch one or two votes, all thinking men, I am sure, will see the thorough hollowness of this political doctrine.

Now that the Native trouble is considered settled, Hawera is making long strides. Mr M. D. King has finished his large two-storey shop Messrs Duffill being contractors. Mr Pethevick will finish Mr Wright’s handsome shop next week, and Mr Tourner is pushing on with Mr Ecclesfield’s new store. The Union Bank have their blocks laid, and the Bank of Australasia are about calling for tenders. Besides these business premises, about six new dwelling-houses have gone up during the last month or so, some being very handsome erections.