THE MAORI CONCERT.

Shannon News, 18 September 1923, Page 3

THE MAORI CONCERT.

A GREAT SUCCESS. '

As was anticipated, the organisers of the Maori concert in the Maoriland Theatre on Thursday night, were rewarded with a bumper house, and as a result the funds of the. Soldiers’ Memorial will benefit to the - extent of about £3O net. A first-class programme had been promised and the natives were, true to their word, the concert being voted by all as one of the best yet staged in Shannon. From start to finish there was not a dull moment; every item being well received and encores being frequently demanded. The muisical items by the members of the popular Maori String Band were a feature of the evening, while the hakas and poi dances, which are always appreciated, were excellently carried out. Those who contributed to the vocal part of the programme showed they were singers of no mean ability and, would do credit to any concert platform. /Thlere was plenty of comedy, the telephone sketch and- chorus “Hello, My Baby;” bringing forth roars of laughter, while Mr Poneke, as a singer of comic songs, made a great hit. The performers are to be complimented on the excellence of the performance they gave and it must have been very gratifying to them for the appreciative reception they received. At! the performance the Maori Queen, Miss L. Kohika was presented to the public by Mr J.. T. Bovis, who made a most appropriate speech. Following is the programmeOverture, “Tikitiaha” ; “Maoris at Home,” company, tableau; haka, T. Nepia, .1. Turoa, M. Ropoama, T. Ropoama, J. Kirihona, T. Koihika, ,T. Nepia, S. Koperu, W. Rauhihi; quartette. “Annie Laurie.” T. Mahima, .T. Utilui, H. Hakaraia, T. Ellis; comic duet, “Bull Frogs’ Isle,” B. Poneke and T. Hartley; steel guitar trio, T. Kohika, J. Utiku, .T. Turoa; 'duet, “Hawaiian Lullaby,” T. Tetomo, Miss K. Wehipeihana; quartette, “Chicken Pie,”' .T. Turoa, J. Utiku, H. Hakaraia, T. Ellis; double short .string poi, R. RoDoama, L. Kohika. L. Mahima,, M. Tetoma, K. Aperahama, T. Rauhihi, K. Wehipeihana, B. Ransfield, P. Tarniaho, K. Downes; comic duet. ‘‘Million Dollar Doll,” B. 'Poneke. T. Hartley; selection by Maori string band, “Aloha-aua”; comic song, B. Poneke. “Girls, Wives and Kids”; solo. T. Mahimiai, “Come, Sing to Me”; overture, Tikitiaha; hakas, company, as above; 'duet, “Nocturne,” T. Mahima and' H. Hakaraia; comic song, B. Poneke, “Nobody Knows How to Kiss Me”; “Combination Canoe Poi, “Hoetftewaka,” R. Ropoama, Li. Kohika, L. Mahima, M. Tetomo, K. Aperahama, T. Hauhihi, K. Wehipeihana, B. Ransfield, L. Aperahama, H. Arapere, H. Downes. K. Downes, L. Rauhihi, J. Ransfield-, P. Tamiaho, L. Utiku; plantation trio, H. Hakaraia, T. Mahima, J. Utiku ; duet, “Killarney and You,” B. Poneke and T. Tetonio; solo, H. Hakaraia, “Home Little Maori, Home,” accompanied by chorus; instrumental trio. J. Utiku (stee.l guitar), J. Keriona (banjo), .1. Kerehoma (ukulele) ; ladies’ long poi; “Ragtime Jockey” (tableau), H. Hakaraia and T. Ellis; comic song, B. Poneke. “Robinson Grusoe”; company song. ‘Laughing Nigger”; telephone sketch and “Hullo, Mr Baby,” chorus, T. Ellis. P. Robinson, Hakaraia and Utiku.

THE MAYOR’S APPRECIATION

, (To the Editor.) Sir,—With your kind permission 1 would like, to express the thanks oi the Soldiers’ Memorial 'Committee to members of the Maori String Band and! the other natives for the splendid effort they made in their concert in aid of the Shannon Soldiers’ Memorial Fund. The handsome sum of £3l has been handed to me as the net ■result of the concert, 'all expenses being paid. This is certainly the be s t. effort made on behalf of the fund. I would also add that during the number of years I have held the office of Mayor, of this town I never experienced so much pleasure in anything as I have in connection with the Maori concert-. The cheerful willingness of the natives, their ready response, their unfailing good nature and courtesy was without limit. The pockets of the citizens have been much overhauled lately, but I hope that, in a few weeks’ time when the natives give an entertainment in aid of th,g sports ground improvement carnival, the public will give them the support they deserve. The money raised will- go to further the candidature of the graceful lady the natives have put forward for the Queen of the Carnival.—l am', etc.,

WM. MURDOCH