GIRL SCOUTS' ENTERTAINMENT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 199, 11 August 1916, Page 2

GIRL SCOUTS' ENTERTAINMENT.

Uniquely Successful

In their endeavour to »s»ist the Navy League Fund the Pukekoh* Girl Scouts provided st tbe Premier Halt on Tuesday evening lan one of th' nr st successful amateur entertainments ever held in Pukekohe. The larg» audjttacc -wot onlf was delighted the intrinsic iii-nts of the but enj ived to the I'jll some clever and humorous side-play of the "artistes" taking part in a comedy sketch with the result that the tnuse literally rocked with laughter, and the merriment created was such that all cares and troubles were forgotten and at least fur tbe time being the brighter Fide ot life alone held swav.

To Miss N. Williams, Scontn.iatress, and Miss E. Thompson, Scout hon. secretary, the credit it due for puch a masterly and brilliant performance as was given by their young clarjr.es in the hrst oortion of the programme, this efficient training tbey had imparted being tie secret of the success achieved. The rise of the curtain transferred the or looker into a veritable fairyland. "Britannia," Miss C. Thompson, was seated on a pedestal surrounded by Girl and Buy Scants attired :n the respective colours of the -Allied Nations and tbe ainging of "Kule, Britannia," followed by the "Red, White and Bine," a irred up one's patriotic feelings. Tbe stage effects, which w«re de igned and carried out by Mr C. Boadley, added tn the brilliancy of the scene, being of the elaborate order generally restricted to pantomimes. In the foreground Lord Nelson's historic message to his fleet, " England expects that every man this day will (To his duty," stood out prominently in code flags, as well as in wording, whilst bannerettes, flags, Chineee lanterns and paper bells were suspended in clusters over the stage in peculiarly attractive style, the range of Mr Boadley's artistic abilities beonce again testified to thereby. Following on the opening tableau already alluded to, Masters G. Maxwell and N. Moe cleverly executed a Sailor's Hornpipe, end then the Scouts performed the mustcal inarch " Motherland." The next item was an action song " Daisies and Breezes " rendered by several small children. The tableau "The Children's Home" followed, the characters -

being sustained by the Misses N. Perkins (Angel), Molly Asher ; High-born Child) and Marjory Perkins (Beggar-maid), the soloist being Miss N. Williams, who responded to an encore. For the appeal song " Please Give Me a Penny n Master* Jock Rogers and Cyril Maxwell were again and again recalled and a shower of coins thrown on to the stage resulted in a sunv of £1 Ids being added to the funds. Mr Jackson next gave a patriotic recitation, and ' 'Sons of the Sea" sung by the Scouts closed the Urst portion of the proceedings. The second pait of the programme opened with a Highlaad dance, performed by Misses H. Blake and A. Woods, and was succeeded by the comic drama entitled "Mrs Willis' Will" which, as already stated, was most mirth provoking, the " artistes " being the Misses E. Adams, N. Williams, £. Thompson and L. Perkins and Mrs Kendall Other items were a chorus by the Scouts, a song by Mr Jack Brown, a violin solo by Master Nelson Mee, and a •' Five Minutes Comedy " by the Scouts.

Miss Ivy Brown acted as accompanist throughout the evening. __ Home-made lollies, donated on behalf of the funds, met with a ready sale under the charge of Miss Winnie Sears, a sum of £l 8s 6d accruing thereby.

Prior to the start of the programme the Mayor'Mr H. G. R. Masoir) made a few remarks on hehalf of the Navy Fund, pointing out that the effort of the Girl Sc3uta to help the dependents of the brave sailors who lost their lives in the North Sea engagement was most commendable. During the evening Mr C. K. Lawrie also spoke of the great deeds of the British Navy.and in congratulating the Scouts on the excellence of the programme submitted he alluded to • the fact that Miss Williams (the Scoutmistressj had always been to the fore in promoting patriotic movements. Mr Lawrie also took the opportunity of welcoming back to Pukekohe Trooper Brookes and on the gallant soldier appearing on the stage he met with a most enthusiastic reception. The nett profits of the entertainment amount to £l2 6s 6d, which sum has boen handed over by the Scouts President (Mrs Dell) to Mr J, F. Deane, the Treasurer of the local Navy Fund.