CARNIVAL NOTES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 329, 6 November 1915, Page 4

CARNIVAL NOTES.

C-BY THE 0.5.)

Bullion-collecting during the last da.As has been particularly brisk m? , S Rood hauls are reported. a ° lght or ninc thousand pounds vull be raised is practically certain and this amount, solid and substantial as it is, may be materially increased before the numbers go up. The committees of the various candidates are displaying an astonishing amount of enthusiasm, and please don’t forget that enthusiasm is a very valuablte commodity in these prosaic days. It was the virus of enthusiasm in the blood of Napoleon’s soldiers that Avas responsible for the Little Corporal’s many victories. In the Italian campaign so great was their patriotic fervour that they swam icy-cold rii'ers . Nothing stopped or daunted them. “I wonder Avhat the Little Corporal is up to today’?” one would remark to another as they prepared to storm a position. General Foy says in his ‘ltalian Campaigns” of the Republican soldiers of Napoleon that on many occasions the men ran, marching was too slow! Now for the Carnival Although there is a fair amount of riA'alry, it is of a healthy nature. It is generally recognised that it doesn’t matter a button Avhich of the fair contestants is successful, in heading the poll on Saturday next, so long as we raise a substantial sum for the gallant boys avJio are fighting our battles. As has been pointed out in these columns before: the Carnival is only a means to an end; nothing more.

A pair of socks, knitted by Lady Liverpool, fetched L'2o r>r the Ruanui garden fete and sports, held on Thursday last.

Preparations are practically complete for the big “Guy Fawkes” and fancy dress ball to be held in tlm Town Hall on Wednesday eevning next, and the function promises to bo the success of the CainivaS season. .So Mr. Dunbar informs me and ht should known

Everyone is looking forward to the garden fete to be held at Mr. and Mrs. Spooner’s residence, Hihitahi, on Thursday next, the 11th inst. There will be all sorts of games and competitions, and a really good rime is promised. The pigeon match is attracting a large number of entries, especially from outside districts.

Despite the atmospheric conditions, the garden fete and sports meeting held at Ruanni on Thursday last was a huge success. The flag auctioned by Mr. Stanley Peyton realised the magnificent sum of £BSO, and the revenue from other sources brought the total receipts to over £I,OOO, A great achievement and one to be proud of. Hearty congratulations, Ruanui!

A reminder is given of the concert and dance to be held at Utiku on Monday evening next in favour or Mrs. J. Gilchrist’s candidature. I can honestly say that the concert programme is an excellent one, and for variety of entertainment,- combined with high-grade performers, the concert will take a lot of beating. It promises to be a grand musical treat |||d no one should miss being present.

“Paddy’s Market” will be in evidence again this evening at O’Connor’s Hall, ‘and the fun and frivolity will, I understand, be greater than ever. I can recommend the entertainment as one, to dissipate worry and care and cause laughter in spite of yourself. There are no weary waits or intervals and the proceedings will go with a merry swing from start to finish. Those two well-known dispensers of hilarity and merriment, Messrs. “Sandy” Walker and “Darkle” Shout will appear in new roles.

During the last few days the Palmerston Show was visited by canvassers of several of the Queen’s Committees, and in each and every instance good business was reported. Mrs. Smith’s supporters were particularly zealous and they carried out their bulliongathering operations in an organised and systematic manner that won for them unstinted praise. Levin, Damievirke, Woodville, and Pahiatua were bombarded to some considerable extent, and there were numerous capitulations. The trains from the various centres were also attacked, and much bullion lifted by the fair canvassers. One young lady who was very successful in distributing art union tickets generally commenced her appeal saying: “We’ve come all the way from Taihape to help the wounded soldiers —now,” and here there was r melting tenderness in her voio, “won’t you buy a ticket?” She hardly met with a refusal. One commercial traveller remarked to her: “You ought to be on the road.” At Pahiatua the fair collectors did remarkably good business, and they left behind a reputation for being pastmasters in the art of boodle-gathering. The town was literally stormed by them, and the booty collected was weighty. It was a good advertisement for Taihape,

The pupils’ concert organised last by the staff of the Taihape District High School in support of combined candidates proved quite as successful as previous efforts and testified to the energy and zeal both of pupils and

teachers. Tlhe hail was well filled and although over three hundred children took part the programme was run through with but little delay, so that notwithstanding its length, the entertainment was over at a reasonable jhour.

Part one, consisting of five items,.

was the part alleged to the •and under the training of Misses McD.mneP and Broughton, the little dots won every heart. The three massed songs “Putter Cups and Daisies,” “The Flag,” and “Little Soldiers” were models of tasty arrangement combined wiln delightful musical effect. Little' Bessie Miller, tjhe favourite of last

year, made another great impression in her reciting of “An Annoying Mistake,” and the audience could not get enough of Don. McLennan and his song, “What will You Take for Me.” Part 2 was the work of the Juniors under the direction of Misses Hall and Little. The first item, Empire Day verses was arranged wit(h striking effect while the two items by a girls’ and boys’ squad, namely. Little Waiters and Six Sailors won rounds of applause and proved the most pleasing items of the enetrtainraent. The chorus, “The Chinamen,” was a delightful change in vocal effect, and the final item of part 2. The dialogue, “Three Wishes,” wag a model of skilful training and youthful enthusiasm. Part 3 was carried out successfully by the Senior Scholars. The two most appreciative* items were the exhibitions of Swedis[h Drill. Both boys and girls went through; the various movements with a precision that proved that the individual pupils |had resolved that nothing but the best would satisfy, and undoubtedly they wer,e successful in their efforts to attain the best.

In the recitation, “England is Watching,” Doreen Bray showed that, the Taihape School was quite capable of producing elocutionists, and thethree boys. M. Alexander, C. Higgins and R- Treadwell were very successful’ in their rendering of “Goblins.” A strong appeal was made by the chorus in “Your King and Country Need You,”' the solo being taken by Iris Evans and the ether patriotic choruses, “La Mar--s ellaise,” and “Empire is Calling,” were rendered with that promptness and precision that the Seniors are always capable of. Toney Smith, an ex-school boy, sang “Up From Somerset,” in such fine style that the audience insisted on a recall, wdien he sang “Mother Macree.”

The concert was brought to a close by the juniors singing good-night, and the curtain was rung down on an entertainment that reflected the greatest credit on both pupils and tachers. During the interval a flag presented by the staff of the school was auctioned. This flag was a unique souvenir for on it was the school roll of honour. The bidding was very spirited and after a been contest the ensign was finally knocked down for £4B, the total sum realised being £l2l. Mr A. Janies, at the conclusion of the sale, announced that the purchase had been made on behalf of the Taihape citizens with the intention of handing the flag to the school, to be a permanent record of our boys’ response to the Empire’s call. The flolowing is the list of bidders: J. Bartosh £lO, R. W. Smith £5, A. J. Joblin £2O, R. Cleaver £5, .1. McEWan ’£l, Mrs Arrowsmitth £l, Mrs McAuliffe £l, W. F. Stephen £3 3/, R. Siddle £2 2/, McLennan Bros., £5. Miss Bear £1 1/, Mrs Lyndon £1 1/, W. H. J. McCormack £1 1/, Mrs Gasson £1 1/, A. W. Bicknell £2, H. Keating £1 1/, j. Banks £1 1/, W. Mercer £1 1/, Mrs 'Xicholls £1 1/, A. James £2 2/, Mrs Studholme £3, J. R. Banks 10/, H. Stoddart £1 l/, Morrison 10/, V. Bartosh: 10/, Miss Peyton 10/, Master Peyton 10/, Reicharlc 10/, Mrs Bagley 10/.