CONCERT AT OKATO.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1916, Page 3

CONCERT AT OKATO.

A SUCCESSFUL AFFAIR. The concert held on Thursday night ?t Okato in aid of a fund for helping the wounded members of the Legion of Frontiersmen proved an unqualified success. There was a crowded attendance.

The hall and the stage had been beautifully decorated with greenery and flags by the committee, the lighting of the stage being a pleasing feature. The programme wi>s a lengthy one, but every iteir was enjoyed, it comprised: Piano solo, ".Second Mazurka," Aliss Smith; songs, "King of the Road" and "Chip of the Old Block." Mi. Macdonald; songs, "My Dear Soul" and "If No One Ever Marries me," Miss V. Gilbert; musical monologues, "Devil-may-care" and "Bunch of Roses" Mr. Goldsworthy; songs, "For the Green" and "Po-Lcl-Lam." Mrs. Macdonald; song, "Because," "Slimmer Rain" and "Little Mary Fawcctt." Mr. X. Day; songs, "Coming Home," and "It's Just Hei Way," Mrs. Wilkes; piano solo, "Air de Ballet," Miss Smith; duets, "The Battle Eve" am) "Come, Sing to Me," Mr. and iMrs. Macdonald; songs, "Invitation to the Dance" and "You'd Better Ask .Me," Miss V. Gilbert; musical monologues, "Not Understood" and "His First Long Trousers," Mi'. Goldsworthy; songs, 'The Little Damosel" and "The Blackbird," Mrs. Wilkes: songs, "Song of the How" and "The Bird- of Morn," Mr. 2J. Day: songs, "Happy Songs" and "You'll (let 'Heaps of Lickings," Mrs. Macdonald; songs, "Invictus," "The Mountains of Mourne" and "Little Irish Girl," Mr. i Macdonald. Miss Smith contributed ] to the success of the concert by the sympathetic way in which she played all the accompaniments. During the interval, Air. H. J. Okey, M.P., in a short speech, remarked that it was to the credit of the Egmont troop of the Legion that the first concert was given ir a good cause. lie dealt at some length with the assistance that its members had given during the war. The League had offered to supply a complete unit of 1000 men and to equip % transport from captain to cruiser. This offer the Government could not accept, as it was unable to accept a single unit. The members, to their honor, had placed their country first, and iii the first year 120!) men left 'Sew Zealand. In the House this year the League had offered to supply and equip 500 men, and probably WOO men, and to reinforce them according to scale. Mr. Okey said that of s total membership of 14,000 throughout the Empire, over 10,000 had enlisted—a great percentage. No one would have thought that tho Dominion would send 60,000 men to the war in two years. These men from the Dominion and the Commonwealth were having a telling effect on the war, as one saw from the cables that the Kaiser had not expected the different parts of the Empire to respond so well . The spirit of the country was with Mr. Asquith when he said that Britain would never sheath the sword that Jhe had not lightly drawn until Belgium had received full measure and more for all that she had sacrificed.

Mr. Fraser-Jones, secretary of the Egmont troop, said the Legion was slowly and quietly but surely moving towards its goal, 'Which, when attained, would have far-reaching effectf on the safety of our Empire. The Legion was a great 'brotherhood, 'having one thought in common—the spirit of Empire. He outlined the growth of the movement, and concluded by calling for cheers for the performers, who had given such a treat, the ladies who provided the supper, and the audience foi providing the funds. These were heartily given by the members present, many of whom wore the picturesque uniform. By special request Mr. Goldsworthy recited "Lasca.'' A bountiful supper was tlien dispensed, the ladies in charge of this department being Mesdames FraserJones, J. Ducker, A. Muir, Burgess and Misses Cassie (2). Mrs. Street and Miss Sterry made a~number of button-holes, which, with sweets, were sold by little Misses Dorothy and Lois Fox, Phyllis and Olive Street, Eleanor Ducker, Ruth Harding, Betty Hawkins, Olga Area, Masters Fred ' Hill and Pat Hawkins, realising ovei £3. The Hikings at the door were £lB 10s, and to this must be added the proceeds of tickets sold and of the dance -which followed the concert, so that the fund should benefit to the extent of about £3O, a highly creditable result.