MILITARY SOCIAL AT TINIROTO.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2109, 18 June 1907, Page 4

MILITARY SOCIAL AT TINIROTO.

On Saturday evening, June Btli, a social was held in the Tiniroto school room by tho members of the To Iteinga troop of the Hurimua Mounted Rifles There was an exceptionally large attendance, over fifty "persons being present. . A somewhat lengthy-programme was gone through, when refreshments were partaken of, being supplied by the ladies of the district. . On opening the ■ entertainment Mr. Small, acting Lieutenant to the troop, read . a telegram from Capt. Bax, apologising for the non-attend-anco of himself and other Wairoa visitors. In tlieir abfsen<le t-liey would strive to do their best and make tho social a success, and to please, if possible, everyone pretent. The programme was then started with an overture played by Miss Richardson. A recitation was then given by Trooper Netfc'a, “Lord Ul- - daughter,” and.was carried out with a very true sense of meaning, which is always the success of reciting poetry. Trooper Sutherland then gave “The Anchor’s Weighed,’ -and received goodly applause. Another Tecitation followed, given by Miss Davis, who, as a reciter, has the happy art of carrying her hearers with her, and such proved to be very strongly shown in her recital ot “Only a Joclcy Boy,” In this recital Miss Davis had again to respond with that, well-known poem. “Curfew shall not ring to-night. This poem brought one back to the time of school days and further back to the time when Old England was under the sway of Cromwell. The poem speaks its meaning tor itself, and in correct accord did Miss Davis express it in reciting. Afton Water was sung by Mrs. W. Sutlierlan , who received good applause, and this was followed by a piano duet by the Misses Sutherland and Richardson. During the evening Mr. D- Howell danced a Highland Fling, for which an encore was demanded. Later in the evening a song of a somewhat military nature and one that could be applied to many of our past times was that entitled “Pardon came too late,” which was given by Mr: Howell. A very amusing reading; was given by Mr.. Sutherland—a piece in which the typical. Jack Tar was getting into trouble and found himself standing before the magistrate of the town. When Jack was ordered to “sit down” he firmly contended that through all the years he had been at sea he never yet received such a command, and was certainly not going to do oil land that which lie had never done at sea. Jack, like all sailor boys, won the day. A duet was then given by Mesdames Sutherland and Kay, and received warm applause, this being the first time that the latter lady had appeared before a Tiniroto audience, and probably before any social gathering in the colony, as Mrs. Kay only arrived from the Old Country last February, and we hope that in the near future she will again allow herself to come before the public. A very striking feature of tho entertainment was a Cake Walk, given by Mrs. J. Power, and was well received. Her masterly manner proved her to bo somewhat professional in the art. During tlio supper interval several of the native members gave a war-dance, t-lie time being kept to the .tunc of an English song. This was certainly an excellent performance, none of the old ancestral yelling, luring out of oyes, tongues, etc., being indulged in—merely a beating of time with tlieir feet and hands.

After the supper interval, Lieutenant Small made a few remarks in regard to the Hide Club in Tiniroto. > He said he had to congratulate them and also return thanks for allowing the use of the range that afternoon to the troopers'. Although the match between the Club and troop proved a loss to tho latter by a scoro of 36 points, he thought the wing had done very well considering the- circumstances. He had to congratulate the Club on tho steady increase, of their scores, which proved that tho marksmanship of the Club was improving, and hoped tho Club would accept congratulations on behalf of the troop and himself. Capt. Sutherland, in the absence of the President, Mr. H. Lysnar, returned thanks on behalf of the Rifle Club, and said ho could not but praise the' wing in regard to the shooting at the match held that day. Shooting, ho pointed out, was more important than drill, and it behoved every young person to become a member of some club or troop. Ho believed that, with training there would be found in the ranks of the wing some promising shots, and he hoped that they would ere long be asked to fire matches against each other. He would ask those present, to give three cheers for the Te Reinga troop, which was well responded te. Before closing, Lieutenant Small said they had come to the last item of the programme, and he would take tho liberty of thanking, on behalf of tho troop and himself, the ladies for oomihg forward so readily in providing refreshments; to tho School Committee for the use of the school; Miss Richardson for presiding at the piano; and to Mr. Kent for.allowing a. range to be put on his propertv. After the singing of the last item -—' Dolly Gray”—of Trooper Sutheri -r.L the audience roso and sang opening verse of the National Anthem, three cheers being then '”ven for the ladies, Tiniroto Defence Rifle Club, Mr. Kent, and the Te I Reinga troop of the Hurimua Mouut- | ed Rifles,