THE COMPETITIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 204, 29 July 1937, Page 10

THE COMPETITIONS

LARGE ENTRIES FOR FESTIVAL. At a meeting of the executive of the Manawatu Competitions Society held last evening, the chairman (Mr J..A. Nash) expressed gratification at the excellent entries which had been received for the society’s festival. In spite of the fact that the festival had bc-en postponed from May to August on account of the infantile paralysis epfdemic, the entries wore considerably in excess of last year, the total being approximately 1100 with a number of late entries still to come. Of particular interest was the large proportion of outside entries that had been received from candidates coming from Napier, Hastings, Wanganui, Taranaki, Feilding, Marton, Wellington, and Wairarapa districts, which would mean that including competitors and their relatives, teachers and friends, there would be possibly three hundred vistors in Palmerston North for the festival week, which was an excellent thing for the city. The society was also to be congratulated on the high standard of the adjudicators who had been engaged for this year, these being as follow: —Instrumental music, Mr Gordon McBeth, Wanganui; vocal music, Madame L. Spillane, Wanganui; elocution, Mrs W. J. Forsyth, Dannevirke; dancing. Miss Cecil Hall, Auckland; nationS dancing, Mrs lan Cameron, Masterton.

It was anounced at last evening’s meeting that silver cups to be awarded to championship winners in the various sections had already been generously donated by Messrs E. G. Spraggon, R. Bailey, J. A. Nash, Miss Gwen Gibbs, and Messrs Barry and Freeman. Regret was expressed by members at the resignation from the executive of Mrs Tarrant, who had rendered valuable service to the society in past years. The secretary also announced a generous offer from Mrs F. W.‘ Gowing to again assist with the festival organisation, which with other offers of help received from supporters of the society is very much appreciated.