CHAUTAUQUA.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1921, Page 6

CHAUTAUQUA.

YESTERDAY’S SESSIONS. The second day of the Chautauqua season in New Plymouth yesterday introduced a new party, and at both the afternoon and evening ’sessions there were good audiences to enjoy the varied programme submitted. 'The afternoon’s entertainment was good, but it was robbed of much interest by tne absence of Captain Imrie, who was unable to give his promised lecture. However, a small concert party, The lonians, gave several pleasing musical items, while Miss Hutchinson entertained the audience with several cleVP’r readings’and recitations. Miss Dorothy Baker, the well-known New Zealand violinist, was the “star” of the lonians, and she gave several selections in an artistic .manner. Mr. Geoffrey Cowley revealed .a fine baritone voice, and his songs were well received, while the accompaniments were played by Miss Enid Heywood. A concerted number by the three members of the party concluded a brief but wholly entertaining performance. The rest of the afternoon was taken up by Miss Hutchinson, who is an elocutionist of distinct ability. Her art was varied, humor, and pathos alternating, and she kept the audience well pleased throughout. The evening session was attended by a large audience, who enjoyed the programme presented, the musical items which the lonians gave being of excellent quality, and encores were frequent. Captain Norman A. Imrie, of Canada, who discourses on British-American relations and political problems, proved an entertaining and instructive speaker. With that racy style characteristic of Canadian speakers he was able to carry the interest of his audience right through. 'He reviewed history from 1492, when Columbus discovered Arne-

tracing the great dispersal of the English-speaking peoples over the Earth till in 1771 the stream was split up into two great tributaries, by the formation of the American republic. "With the aid of a map he then reviewed the progress of the history of the two peoples, and the spread of English and American colonisation. Enlarging upon the problems of alien immigration, government of dependencies, and history of the Irish trouble, the lecturer directed attention to the difficult matters confronting the statesmen of Britain and America, and drew an analogy between the positions of the two nations. His remarks were freely interspersed with pointed illustrations, and Captain Imrie was able to drive home many arguments in a forceful manner.