RIRORIROS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9541, 13 July 1909, Page 5

RIRORIROS.

A SUCCESSFUL ENTERTAINMENT. The entertainment given by the Riroriros, a troupe of children from the Wellington Salvation Army Children's Home, in the Town Hall, last evening, was a great success from every point of view. Prior to the entertainment a torchlight procession, consisting of the Masterton Municipal Band, and the Fire Police, marched from Renall Street to the Hall, the Band rendering a number of stirring selections during the march, and also at the end of the journey. The attendance was a large one, in spite of the unsettled weather conditions. The Mayor . (Mr P. L. Hollings) occupied the chair, and in making a few remarks referred to the noble work that was daily being accomplished by the Salvation Army, which he considered was a demonstration of. practical Christianity. That branch of their work embracing the care of children was one of the most praiseworthy. He also touched on Jthe operations of the Rescue Home in London in connection with the relief of the homeless and destitute. The- children then treated the audience to a performance lasting for [ over two hours, and every item on the programme was most keenly appreciated. The troupe consists of virls ranging in age from about 5 to 12, and they are assisted by tw* of Brigadier Holdaway's boys. The children are a bright party, brimful of health and spirits, and they appear to enjoy the entertainment as much as the audience. Stage fright does not trouble them, and the easy manner in which thay rendered the 1 various parts indicates careful and j clever training. Two little toddlers of some five nr six summers ap» peared to be quite oblivious of the audience, and they skipped about the stage as unconcernedly as If they were in the playground, to the keen delight of those present. The programme was a particularly varied one, and every item by the company was accompanied. by action parts appropriate to the piece rendered. In the first half the character song, "I Want to Join the Army," was one of the best, the solo being taken by the two boys, whosa voices blend • beautifully. Several of. the children ; then performed on the hand-bells, : playing very sweetly "Scenes that j are Brightest." Brigadier Holdaway | and Cadet Holdaway gave a clever j exhibition on the fairy glasses, giv- I ing a number of popular melodies clearly and sweetly, and with almost j perfect harmony. In the character song, "Merry Little Milkmaids," j the children, arranged in the costume of milkmaids, and carrying milk pails and stools, come tripping gaily on to the stage, their voices blending merrily. The fan drill is also a pretty item, each of the children gcing through graceful evolutions with Japanese fans. "The Coach and Four," a character song, in the second half of the programme, was exceptionally well pourtrayed, causing the audience much amusement. "The Singing Competition" and "Dolly's Bedtime," were two acceptable items. The programme concluded with a medley descriptive of "A Day at the Children's Home, | South Wellington." Over twenty-one items were rendered during the evenI ing in a manner that reflects great ' credit on Brigadier Holdaway and Adjutant Crawford, as well as the children.

in a street assult case in Wellington recently. No. 2 left England in company with his wife's sister. He came to New Zealand and joined the force. Hia deserted wife made inquiries, and it was discovered that he was living with her sister, and by him she had two children. He was found at Lower Hutt. No. 3 came from England, joined the force and went to Auckland. He was transferred for lighting, and then cleared out with a married woman. He had been boarding with a certain person, and although the poiice did not know, others did know that things were not as they should have been. No. 4 was a man wlio had been working in the tram service. Ho was dismissed from the tram service in one of the cities for making immoral suggestions to lady passengers, and he joined the force. No. 5 had been In the Glasgow Police Force, and was dismissed for assault on a sergeant. He came to New Zealand and joined the force. No. 6 was represented to him as a most extraordinary case. He .was an Australian, and a notorious thief. His photo and his finger prints were in possession of the police Department in New Zealand. Commissioner Dinnie: No. Mr Arnold: Well, so much the better. In any case he was a notorious thief and he joined the force. Whether bis photo and finger prints iwere in the office.... wii en hte joined I .they were afterwards. * Commissioner Dinnie: His photo was. Mr Arnold continuing: No. Hs came from Austrilia. While an assault was being committed on other members of the force in Wellington, this constable (in plain clothes) was amongst the crowd urging on civilians as against the force. r Arnold also referred to the case if a constable stationed up North. He was charged by another constat, e of robbing a drunken man. An jr> quiry was held, and whatever the Commissioner thought, the constables believed the case proved up to the hilt, but the person supposed to committed the robbery was promoted and transferred to a more important post down South. He pre-, ferred not to come South, and he was sent further North, while the Constable who had made the charge was sent into the back blocks on the Main Trunk Line, and, protesting, was severely fined. The system of promotions caused as much feelings in the force as perhaps anything else. It was such that clerks in the Police Department having ten years* service might be promoted to be sergeants on application, Mr Arnold handed to Mr Bishop a list giving the names and particulars of the cases in which men had been promoted over the heads of seniors. "A" was promoted to be sergeant on March Ist, 1905. He had been transferred on account of being,m.-xed up in a drunken row, in which a young man, a draper, lost his life. He was transferred to Auckland, and since then had been promoted to sergeant over 116 senior constables. "B" joined the force on July Ist, 1898, and was promoted on October Ist, 1906, when there were 273 men senior to him. "C" joined on April Ist, 1903, and was promoted on April Ist, 1909, to be Sergeant. Another man, who joined the year before "C" had been passed, although he had done extraordinary good work. "D" joined in 1897, and was promote on April Ist, 1906, over 182 seniors. "E" joined on September 19th, 1898, and was promoted m 1908 over 221 seniors. "F" ioined on January 16th, 1896, and waa promoted on April Ist, 1909, over 140 seniors. "G" joined on June 15th, 1896, was promoted on March 16 th. 1909, over 139 seniors. "H" joined on September 13th, 1890, and was promoted on February 15th. 1909, over 100 seniors. "I" joined on November 14th, 1895, and was prprrotfd on February 15th, 1908, over 136 seniors. "J" joined on October 10th, 1891, and was promoted on July Ist, 1908, over 108 .seniors. "K" joined on April 18th, 1896, and was promoted on June ,10th, 1908, over 154 seniors. "L" joined in December, 1899, and was promoted in December, 1907, over more than 200 seniors. Mr Arnold suggested that the men were insufficiently paid, and that the standard of education was too high. He did not think there was any political influence either in regard to appointments or promotions. While this matter was under discussion Mr Bishop said that he had found on his file three letters written by a member of Parliament to the Minister forwarding complaints by constituents with regard to individual constables. Chief Detective Herbert said that he considered hi 3 had a grievance with regard to past promotions, and the present system as regards claims , of detectives compared with those of uniform police. The Commissioner adjourned till to-morrow.

This year two football teams of Wellington Schoolboys will journey to Wairarapa to play the annual fixture with Wairarapa boyg. One of the teams will be a representative one of the High Schools, and tbe other of the Primary Schools. Dalefield Juniors defeated Greytown Juniors, on Saturday last by 15 points to nil, and Liberal Juniors beat Lower Valley by 11 points to nil.