WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 July 1941, Page 7

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

BUSH FEDERATION DRAMA AND SINGING. FESTIVAL AT EKETAHUNA. (“Times-Age” Special.) The Bush District Federation of Women’s Institutes held a highly successful Drama and Glee Singing Festival in the Eketahuna Public Hall yesterday afternoon and evening, there being a large attendance. The afternoon was taken up with plays presented by the Mangatainoka, Woodville and Eketahuna Institutes, all of which were particularly well done. The judge, Mrs E. J. Rich, of Masterton, in announcing her decisions, congratulated all the teams on their work. Mrs Rich also made useful comments on dramatic art, after which she announced the results as follows: — ; C Class. Woodville, “World Without Men” (Millet, the maid. Mrs V/. McCarthy; Miss Wisper, Miss J. Stevenson; Madame Pavel, Miss Kirkpatrick; Mrs Smith, Mrs F. Smith; Mrs Jones, Mrs W. Galbraith; Mrs Robinson, Mrs E. Orr; Mrs Brown, Mrs E. Nicholson), 1. Mangatainoka, “Can The Leopard” (Georgina, Mrs N. Hughes; Minnie Farr, Mrs A. McPherson; Charlotte Farr, Miss D. Kerrison; Joan, Miss C. Tapp; Eva. the maid, Mrs A, Rusden; Miss Flip, the cook, Mrs J. Gaskill), 2. D Class. Eketahuna, “Red Wax” (Ann, Mrs McAlister; Dodo, Miss Ashby; Jessie, Mrs G. Olivant; Penelope, Mrs R. Duncan; Isoldo, Mrs J. Tolley; the maid. Ada, Miss Aileen Williams), 1. Woodville, “Slow Curtain” (Malvina Hathaway, Mrs W. Galbraith; Sloper, Mrs T. Nicholson: Mrs Hall, Mrs W. McCarthy; Dorothy Trew, Mrs E. Orr; Delia, Miss L. Whiteman; Freda, Mrs Thomasen). 2. Eketahuna, “Mary’s Dismissal” (Miss Janet, Mrs N. Richardson; Mary, Mrs J. Tolley; Phyllis, Mrs .J. Robinson; Winnie, Mrs A. Gray; Ethel, Mrs B. McAlister; Pamela, Mrs D. Fraser), 3. The evening’s programme consisted of the glee singing contest, the judge for which was Mrs Miller Hope, of Masterton, who was unable to separate the Woodville and Pahiatua ladies, each gaining 87 points, Eketahuna was placed third. In announcing the result, Mrs Miller Hope congratulated the ladies on their splendid efforts. She provided a very interesting explanation of her judging, giving helpful advice to the competing teams. The Woodville team was conducted by Mrs McCormick, the Pahiatua team-by Mr J. J. Boagey, and Eketahuna by Miss M. Wilson.

The first prize-winning plays were then presented by Woodville (“World Without Men”), and Eketahuna (“Red. Wax”), and these were thoroughly enjoyed.

Mrs Burnett, of Woodville, president of the Bush Federation, before presenting the trophies, congratulated all the competitors on the excellent showing made. She thanked all the helpers for their efforts in making the festival the success it undoubtedly had been. It was the aim of the Federation to hold a similar festival next year, for, Mrs Burnett concluded, such competitions were bright spots in the dark days through which we wore passing. The singing of “God Defend New Zealand” and The National Anthem brought the gathering to a close.