COMFORTS' WEEK CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1916, Page 4

COMFORTS' WEEK CAMPAIGN.

WAITARA MAORIS' CONCERT. PREVIOUS SUCCESSES ECLIPSED. _ The success which has. attended the Coyii'ortf' Week Committee during its campaign for funds was eclipsed last I'vc-ivnpf. when a troupe of Maoris from Wnitsra contributed a capital entertainment in the Coronation I-lall. There ivi'.s insufficient seating room in the spacious hall to accommodate the large ir.;<iieueo. and many had to stand. The noor iceeipt-g amounted to over £7O. The programme comprised concerted and ?o!o items, rendered in Maori and in English, The remarkable manner in which the Maori vocalists adapted their voices- to suit well-known English songs greatly pleased the audience, who warmly applauded the performers. Among the ?010 items were "Sons of New Zealand," "Laddie in Khaki," "Who's JTuur Lady Friend?" "Tui Rooney's at the Fighting," "Good Old New Zealand," 'I am Growing Old, Jenny," "Come, Sing to Me"-"As n Mother Loves her fc'cn," ''Backblocks Bill," "Irish Eyes are fiimßng," "Harrigan" and "Sing' Me to Sleep." The most popular vocal efforts woie the concerted Maori items, and in these the melodious voices of the performers blended admirably and were heard to fine advantage.- A splendid hit was scored by the company of six poi dancers, whose performance found great fuwir. The hakas were also highly appreciated. Throughout, the concert was ir..ist enjoyable. Mr. T. Buchanan, under ivhose guidance the troupe travelled from Yv'nitara. thanked the audience for its attendance and appreciation. The total takings were .C 77 10s 2d, which amount included £0 4s 8d which was collected (luring the singing of "Please give me a penny, sir," by a little Maori maid. TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION*. There was an immense concourse of people at the railway station last evening to witness the torchlight procession that was arranged to welcome the Wang:tnv.i visitors, who arrived in uniform. They "'ore warmly cheered, and the band played the National Anthem. After a little diversion by the Darktawn Fire Brigade in quenching a conflagration in "Tigcrtown," the procession was formed up by Marshal Bcllringer and marched through Devon street to the Coronation lull. The order of procession was:— Clown's Band. "Tigcrtown'' and Darktown Brigade, Fire Brigade. Boy Scouts (70 strong), motor-ear containing Mock Corr! judge and counsel and mayor of the Pierrots, this being escorted by the Court policemen, Pierrots, returned soldiers, and Charlie Chaplin's caravan—a most grotesque turn-out. "ONE WHO KNOWS THEM."

Writes: J The advance parly of tho Commercial ftwars, consisting of -'Sir Walter" Scott "Jumbo" Williams and .''Plain Hii!" Wilson, wc?e reinforced last evening by the arrival by mail train of a rheery band of veterans who played a prominent part in the capture of Hill 000 at Wanganni recently. The reinfi.r! emeiits included such battle-scarred Veu-rans ns: ."First Barrel 1" Tabart. "!taf-s Meldrum, "Massa" Johnson, ."Surpiife Packet" Uridge, "Perfection" Car,n ron, "Dad" Pike, "Shorty" Abram. :ii\i ''Huster'' Brown. Mr. Tom Slipper (judge) and Mr. Alan Hogg (prosecutor) arrived by the same train, anil will "fry" ail and sundry at to-day's Mock Court.

TO-DAY—HUSSARS AND MOCK COURT.

A feast of fun is promised for to-day, the closing day -of Comforts Week, and it if not likely that the public; will bo disappointed. From I<o a.m. till 10 p.m. the Wanganni Hussars and Swankers' Pane 1 , (who arrived last night), the Pierrot', and other combinations will take ilutrge of tlie town for the purpose of extracting as much current coin as possible from the public. Thousands of part el? of goods, all of full face value, will lie sold in the streets, and there will he raffles and auctions galore. Merry music wi:i predominate throughout the day, arid the whole affair is sv.ro to prove most entertaining. The Mock Court will open in the Empire theatre at lO.lif). Already the sentences of hundreds of prisoners have been arranged, and it is guaranteed that tho public will secure more fun out of the proa cdinps than they ever had before. Admission to the Court will be by silver coir.. THE ORDER FOR TO-DAY. 9 a.m.—Pierrots in costume meet at depot and load lorries. 10 a.m.—Procession leaves White Hart, in following order: Lord High Chancellor in r.iotor ear, escorted by police; donkeys, ridden by Hussars; Swankers' Rani;: Pierrots; Hussars; goods lorries. March to the Red House and hack to EmpTie Theatre, where policemen and Mock Court staff fall out. 10.30 a.m.—Mock Court opens. 10.10 a.m. —Pierrots and Hussars commence selling at Currie street corner. Ji.3o a.m. —Move to Ambiiry's corner. 12.1—Adjournment. 1.!!) p.m. —Assemble at Post Office and inarch to Currie street for business, i.45 a.m. to 2 p.m.—Musical items from F.mpirt Theatre balcony by Sv,-an-kers and Pierrots. 2 p.m.—Mock Court re-opens. 2 p.m.—Selling recommences and cont'.mi's till 6.15 p.m., tea adjournment. 7. "> p.m.-—Re-form at Red House, An.t march into town, headed by Citizens Band. 7.30 p.m. till 10 p.m.—Sales and musical items. Tho company of Wanganui Hussars, who are to assist in the Comforts' Week campaign, were welcomed to New Plymonth last evening by the Mayor (Mr. 0, H. Burgess) at. the concert given in tho Coronation Hall. Mr. ,T. R. Hill, officer in charge of the New Plymouth Pierrots, in a facetious speech presented Mi. Doig Scott, Colonel of the Hussars, with a gigantic key and a charter conferring on the Hussars the freedom of the town with the privilege of collecting us much mone/ as they were able for tho Soldiers' Comforts Fund. Mr. T. Slipper, Chief Justice of the Mock Court, and Mr. A. Hogg, Crown Prosecutor, both ot Wanganui, were also on the platform. Mr. Doig Scott thanked the Mayor and Mr Hill for the hospitality shown to the Hussars, aiuT assured the company they would do their best for the welfare of the hoys at the front. Mr. W. Chancy, treasurer of the Patriotic Funds, reported yesterday that he had paid into the credit of Soldiers' Comforts Week the sum of £470 14s lid. Tuere are several sums yet to be handed in, and he estimated that so far the approximate total for the week was £BOO. Mr. F. W. G. M'Leod, secretary for Comforts Week, has received a communication from the management of the People's Pictures, intimating that the company will give a benefit night in aid of the funds on Wednesday evening next, November 1. The whole of the proceeds will be handed over, no deductions whatever being mada,