POPULAR SHOWMEN FAREWELLED.

Shannon News, 29 October 1926, Page 4

POPULAR SHOWMEN FAREWELLED.

CORDIAL GATHEEING IN THEIE HONOUE. The Century Hall, despite the unpleasant weather conditions, was comfortably filled on Tuesday night, when Messrs Scott and Sullivan, whose personal popularity and practical sympathy have earned them wide esteem in Levin and the surrounding countryside, were the guests of honour at a farewell gath-, ering of Levin people, amongst those present, being the Mayor, representatives of the Levin District High School, various sportng bodies, the Boys' Training Farm, and the Convent School. There was a set programme of entertainment, the various contributors to which assisted, in a very large measure, to make the evening pass very pleasantly,. The "committee desires to express its gratitude to all those ladies and gentlemen who gave of their services, particularly those coming from a distance —Miss Aim, of . Shannon, and Madame Eugenie Dennis, from Wellington. Each number rendered by the artists mentioned below Avas greatly .appreciated by the audience, who encouraged each contributor to give an encore in almost every instance. Amongst the items on the programme were the following: Violin solo, Mrs Powell, "Humoresque"; pianoforte solo, Miss Thelma Shaw, "Shadow Dance"; songs, Miss A. Aim, ''The Stars -that Light my Garden" and "The Fairy Pipers";, song, Mr How-ard Andrew,. "The Bosun's Lament"; vocal quartette, Messrs H. Denton, A. Mottershead, fo. Taylor, and H. J. Jones, "The Soldier's Farewell" and "Oft in the Stilly Night"; Mr G. Lester, cornet solo, "Neath Austral Skies"; song, Mr J. B. Brown, "For the Green"; elocutionary numbers by Madame Eugenie Dennis, "One Month's Notice," Mrs A. Hinde, "Catching a Mouse," and a brass instrumental quartette by Bandsmen Hinkley, Burt, Pickering and Fox. Miss Thelma Shaw and Mr 11. 1,. Jenkins played the accompaniments for the various numbers rendered.

At the interval, the guests of the evening were invited on to the stage, and Mr J. McLeavey said that, on behalf of the Catholic community of the town and district, he desired publicly to "thank their two benaefactors, Messrs Scott and Sullivan (applause) for what they had done to assist in every movement, especially in the interests of education. Their departure would constitute a great loss to the district, and. he assured them that they had the good wishes of the district wherever they might go, and that they would' be successful in all their ventures. Personally, the speaker was/ very sorry to lose either of them—Mr Scott who could cross-cut through a woman, and to think that he was leaving the district when he might be needed at any t'ime. (Loud laughter). Mr J. O'Donohue, manager of the Boys' Training Farm, Wcraroa, said he bad to thank Messrs Scott and Sullivan <sn behalf of the lads at the Training Farm for the many kindnesses of the past ns well' as invitations given the boys to attend the pictures free of charge, while in February last Messrs Scott and Sullivan had provided entertainment for the subnormal children staying at the Central Development Farm. The speaker thanked them very heartily for what they-had done and he wished them every success iu the future. (Applause). The Eev. J. D. McArthur, chairman of the Levin District High School, said that during the last year or two; as a result of the benefits arranged by the gutets of the evening, the grounds improvement and picnic funds in connection with the Levin District High School had benefitted to the extent' of £l5O. (Applause). \What had appealed to the speaker in regard to these benefits had been the spontaneous way in which the guests had fallen into line with any suggestions made, and it had not been so much "Will you do this or that" as the fact of all arrangements having, in many instances, been carried out by Messrs Scott and Sullivan. Money had come in very freely and the committee were greatly appreciative of the benefits conferred upon the children of the Levin district, in this particular way. Had the weather been at all propitious the hall would have been packed to capacity, as during the week he had heard from a largo number of people how sorry they were that the guests of the evening were going away, especially in view of the generous manner in which they had supported various movements and the way in which they had so freely given "For the cause that lacks assistance and the good that they can do." The speaker extended to them the cordial good Avishes of the Levin people for their future success, and if they came back to Levin there would be many people to welcome them. (Applause).

The Mayor said: '*'! have to bring up the rear, as it were -(laughter) and .1 must endorse all -that has been said. I feel that this is a moment when one appreciates the opportunity of expressing our''gratitude to these two gentlemen who have done yeoman service to this town. You have heard the testimony of the churches and the public, and Messrs Scott and Sullivan will go away from this district with the goodwill of us all. Mr Sullivan has a quiet unobtrusive manner, but he has penetrated into the feelings of many of the people of this district, he will be greatly missed, and we hope, the time will arrive when he will come back again. Mr Scott has always ben to the fore, not only in regard to the institutions spoken of but also the Band, which is greatly indebted to him and his part-

ucr (applause) for there were a number Of occasions when the Band had no home, and they wanted a room in which to practice, so Messrs Scott and Sullivan came forward and gave thsm the free use of the Cosmos Theatre. Entertainments were given for the raising of funds in order to purchase new instruments and uniforms'for the bandsmen." The Mayor also referred to the help given the A. and P. Association and sports bodies. Whenever anyone was wanted to eome along and help they could always rely upon Messrs Scott and Sullivan. to rise to the occasion, at any time.

The Mayor then turned to Mr Sullivan and presented Mm with a travelling rug while to Mr Scott M handed ,-a cheque, and to both a letter of appreciation, reading as follows: "Messrs Scott ans Sullivan. —We, the undersigned, representing the citizens, educational institutions, and various sports bodies of this district, desire to exteiid to' you on the eve of your departure from Levin, our warmest appreciation of. the many 'benefits' arranged on our behalf by you. We regret exceedingly that you have decided to move to' 'fresh fields ana 1 pastures new/ but wish you every happiness and prosperity in your new sphere. We feel that you have ever had in mind in a very practical fashion 'the cause that lacks assistance, and the good that you could do.'—(Signed) T. 'Hobson, Mayor of Levin, James McLeavey,. John O'Donohue, F. G. Roe, J. D. MeArthur, chairman Levin D.H. School, H. 0. Whitehouse, Levin Amateur Athletic and Cycling Clu 1 ?. Those assembled then rose to their feet and sang, "For They are Jolly j Good Fellows," following this up with three rousing cheers. Mr Scott made a characteristic reply on behalf of himself and his partner. He would sooner do a few eonjuring tricks than make a speech, ho said, and when it came to boosting a picture he ■ ! was full of "hot air" (laughter) but I was no good on an occasion like the 'present, especially as his partner had | told him he was going to put his spirits ; through him and let him do the lot. i (Renewed laughter). It was hard for them to leave Levin, which they had come to regard as their home, and so far as the speaker was concerned he had never stayed so long in any one he had been travelling all the world over since he was nine years of age. They might be certain he never V would have stayed so long had he not I liked it. It had always been the am-1 bition of the partnership to help the schools, the children, or anyone else, and if people would only help one another everybody would get along a good deal better together. (Hear, hear). They were sincerely pleased that this farewell function had taken place, and deeply grateful, for it. They were leaving the Levin people but not, he hoped for ever, and were going to what, in the theatrical world was known as "back to the bush." They were going on tour, before settling down again. He hoped eventually to do so, so that his children might finish their' schooling. He and Mr Sullivan had always endeavoured to give the people of Levin the cleanest entertainment, and as cheap as they possibly could. (Applause). Fin-

ally, he thanked them all for their kindness, and the many fine things said, on his own and his partner's behalf.