A HUMOROUS SPEECH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10285, 13 July 1911, Page 5

A HUMOROUS SPEECH.

AT THE MASTERTON COMPETITIONS.

In a charactistic speech delivered during an interval in the proceedings in the Mastorton Town Hall last evening, Mr C..N. Baeyertz, the judge of elocution, said: — ' „

"Ladies and gentlemen,—lt,is many J years since last I was in Masterton, and the Masterton of to-day is not the. Masterton.of my forlorn and fevered past. Masterton has now become decidedly metropolitan in its intentions. I hear that you do still occasionally go to Wellington—or Paris, for changa and recreation, but you will remember the story of the mule that swam a river—to get a drink. I see to-day a Masterton secure of its dignity; resolute, masterful/ glad. The citizens no longer borrow a newspaper surreptitiously from the milkman. lam assured that there a newspaper in every home —even the happy one. Ladies and gentlemen, I hope that' these competitions will continue and increase, until the name of Masterton shall become known throughout the length and breadth of. Australasia, and, perhaps (who knows) even in Pahiatua. I know all that the gibers . say about competitions of this} kind. I'know thei stc-ry of that precious child, who answered an affrighted examiner that criminals in America arc now destroyed—by elocution. But I still persist in my opinion that these competitions are excellent in their effect. • They tend ~to preserve the gradually vanishing beauty,., of the noble English tongue, and they make young people, during their most impressionable years, take a special and redeeming interest in the sister arts .of -literature ; and music. I am very ;glad'to be here,- glad because of the good friends I. meet and make—l am . • always inordinately popular—with the first prize winners, and glad because I realise to the full the splendid,stimulus of these'occasions. After all we; " help ourselves best when we help' each other. - Your competitions have been patronize i much better, than were the first year's competitions in either Dimedih or Christchurch, and (I speak judicially, and with no intention of .flattering you) many., of the performanoss here were on a much • higher plane of artistic excellence. Your Committee and the Press have displayed a magnificent public spirit. The Committee are prepared to put their hands in their pockets (or in any one's else pockets) for the good of your city. It is now, at the inception of this great movement, that the Society wants your sympathy, your patronage, and your cash. "For the*cause that 'needs', assist- #'- '..; ance,. _ . ~■■ ■■, , ''•- ''For'the future hi the,distaice, v ! ',.* . "And the. good'that they can do!" "