CENTRAL SCHOOL CONCERT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 207, 22 August 1908, Page 2

CENTRAL SCHOOL CONCERT

A SUCCESSFUL AFFAIR. A "liolkky house" greeted the Centra] School pupils last night at their annual entertainment of their fellow-pupils, parents, and friends. The Theatre Royal was packed, the dress circle being practically tilled within fifteen minutes of the time fixed for opening the doors, whilst downstairs the crowd was equally early. "Standing-room only" was .tins announcement- to patrons before the

curtain rose. It was an expectant throng, for were not hundreds of them already proud of the inclusion of their Wn little sons and daughters, brothers tad sisters, and playmates in the ranks of the performers'! "There's Willie; I sec him," cried one little mite in the early stages of the concert, and it was this that made the people glad. Apart from that sentimental side, the audience was*getting full value for their j money. Every item on the programme was capitally given. The marching and drill were particularly good, absolute precision being the rule in most of them. The wee mites' illustration of the methods of the cobbler, given in song and action, was delightful. Probably the item that "took" to the greatest extent was the final "Taranaki March," which Mr. C'ockroft made so popular at last year's entertainment. The businesslike appearance of the cadets and the neatly-attired schoolgirls with their many-colored ribands, as they went through the mazes and formed the different figures in perfect line, made a pretty picture. There was a little drug noticeable, particularly towards the last, but then it is not easy to marshil seventy-two children and have them

ready to take the places of thirty or forty others who are leaving the stage. A more noticeable and tedious drag that set the youngsters on the fidget was the twenty minutes' interval devoted to speech-making in connection with the presentation of the prizes won in the essay competition arising out of "Local Industries Week." The two items oy the New Plymouth Orchestra were capitally played, "American Home Songs" hitting the popular fancy. Master Stanley Millington spoke up manfully in lii-j recitation, "A Gentleman," which both old and young of his hearers could take to heart. Another recitation was entitled "Greater Xew Plymouth," composed by one of our own spring poets, depicting the city of Xew Plymouth in I'Jlll, with harbor complete, ironworks

in full swing, and unceasing flow of oil. Tlu' lines were capitally spoken, ami every word distinct as could well bo, making a fine performance. A recitation in character, "The Band of tlie Red, White, and Blue," was well given by four pupils. .Misses Ivy Davison, Mona Corkill, and Mabel and Nellie Coombe danced a Highland fling very correctly. "Sailing," "The Rider," and ''The Cobbler," by seventy-two of the little' tots, frocked in white and wearing colored hair-ribbons, were pleasing items, and lliu "Fairy Frolics" march by thirty-six junior girls, followed by a line chorus, "The Empire Flag," was also loudly applauded. Thirty-two junior girls in white gave an exhibition of hoop drill, and a similar number of the seniors, with white lanterns, made a fairy scene on the darkened stage. Flag drill by twenty-four senior boys was notable for the alertness, correctness, and smack that told of an interest in their work

and good coaching. Adult items that contributed to the pleasure of the evening were the quartette "Basso Profundi)," by Mrs. Schnackenberg, Miss Taylor, and Messrs. Schnackenberg and Muldoon; a quartette, "Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Winds,'' by Misses Baker and Messrs. Bannister and Baker; and "Under de Old Umbrella," by Mr. T. Woodard and his twenty-one "cullu.l" picaninnics. The accompaniments were nicely played by Misses Freda Fontou and C. Brewer. The complete success of the entertainment was a tribute to the training given by the Central School teachers, who deserve hearty congratulations. The piano was kindly lent by the Dresden Piano Company. The prizes in the essay competitions were presented by Messrs. T. C. Schnackenberg (president of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce) and A. Ooodacre (president of the Employers' Association) as follow:—Town Schools, senior—Claude Jury (West End), 1; Alice Cocker (West End) and Dorothy Whitaker (Fitzroy), equal, 2, Country Schools, senior—lrene K. Wyllic (Waits rn), 1: Margaret ,1. Bollinger (Omata!, 2; Albert Richard Bayly (Omata), :i. Town Schools, junior—Edith Cook (Central), 1; Joyce Wilson (West End), 2; Charlie Crone (West End), 3. Country Schools, junior—Jvy Earp (Egnionl Village)', I;'A. Evans (Omata), 2. Uiorns Manilcr. who was announced as the third prize winner in the town school juniors, was found to be over age, and the prize was awarded to Charlie Crone, of the same school.