EKETAHUNA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 December 1942, Page 5

EKETAHUNA

— ■■+ — SCHOOL CONCERT EXCELLENT PROGRAMME BY CHILDREN. (“Times-Age” Special.) The Eketahuna District High School marked the end of the year with a concert, which proved very successful. The curtain rose to reveal the infants whose unison songs and individual items delighted the audience. The children’s voices were clearly heard, and the action parts well performed. Miss Ross wak the accompaniste for the songs. The next scene displayed a huge shoe, the residence of the “old woman,” whose children emerged one by one to entertain the audience. A Maori canoe song, in costume, was well carried out by four small boys. “The King’s High Drummer” was given by a verse-speaking group. Miss Parker accompanied the songs. A short play “Goblin Gifts 71 was daintily carried out by three girls. “The Happy Man,” a play, was very well performed in costume, the happy man himself, John Brown, acting particularly well. “Our Farm”’was depicted by a row of little girls in sunbonnets, who sang sweetly. A cowboy item, in costume, included a selection of modern songs: “Texas,” “Silver” and “The Old Rocking Chair,” in which boy soloists were heard to advantage, being several times accompanied by a mouth-organ. The upper group of boys appeared as niggers, rendering “Alabama,” “Polly-wolly-doodle,” “Chattanooga ChooChoo” as solos, and with full chorus and action. Miss M. Wilson was accompaniste for these groups. A play, “The Dyspeptic Ogre,” was very realistically performed by the senior pupils, the Ogre being Bill Stewart and his cook Beth Davie. The junior girls performed, in costume, a Dutch dance of outstanding merit. The actions of the children were precise and in brisk time. Miss Calwell was the accompaniste. The senior pupils then portrayed the United Nations. After some effective part singing in Maori, they sang “U.S.A. Marines” and “The Empire is Marching.” 'Britannia was present, also representatives of China, Russia, Fighting France and U.S.A. As the children sang “Go to it,” the audience was delighted to see “Mr Churchill” enter, shake hands with Uncle Sam and wave his hat to the crowd before departing. An amusing play, “Snuff,” in Russian costumes, was performed in three acts. The appearance of the bear (Bob Davie) and its pursuit of a Russian traveller round a tree proved most exciting. The second■ary pupils’ opening item was a song “Amapola,” by Jill Hart, with a chorus of girls dressed as pink and red poppies, performing a ballet, then singing the refrain. Mrs Hart was accompaniste. “The Raw Recruit” was very well portrayed by Brian Goggin (recruit) and Pat Stewart (captain). The Maori item opened with a song by Constance McAlister. As she retired, a yelling group of “warriors” entered, soon commencing the rhythmic beat of a haka. Led by E. Curtis, and encouraged by B. Goggin, the haka became very spirited. The “Maori” girls then advanced, performed an actron song, the leader being B. Carseldine, and then gave a poi dance involving many variations of the poi swing. Miss Parker was accompaniste..

Master Bob McAlister announced the items. Mr A. B. Fordyce, headmaster, thanked the parents for their patronage and their assistance with the concert. Mr S. Daniel, secretary, in the absence of Mr Greathead, chairman of the school committee, expressed his pleasure at the effort that had been put into the concert, and with the excellent result achieved. The school staff wishes to thank Mr Bouzaid for the use of the hall for practices, and for his assistance during the concert. They also gratefully acknowledge the loan of Maori piu-pius from Mrs Ngatuere, of Hastwell, and of a Maori cloak from Mrs Nielsen.

The Tiritahi prize donated by the late Mr W. B. Maheson for an essay on “Citizenship” was won this year by Margaret McManus, with Brian Goggin second and Gerald Harris third.