This popular event took place on Suturday evening at the Town Hall. In years gone by a room of the size of the Masonic Hall was amply sufficient to hold the children and their friends. Then the theatre had to he called into re quisition, and when even that proved too small, the newly-built Dril Hall became the scene of the annual gathering, and judyin the attendance on Saturday it will not be long before even its ample proportions are outrun. Had the audience contented itself with sitting comfortably in their seats the vast oer space together with the gallery could have been fully covered. As it was they crowded to the front along the walls and wherever there was standing room.
The musical attractions were two songs by the children of the kindergarten, some of whom wore well under four years of age apparently, and san operetta entitled "Red Riding-Hood's Reception." Needless to say everybody was del numbers for which the babies wei sible, is on their success. The operetta had nothing of the story of Red Riding Hood in it, but occupied itself with the reception of her friends after her miraculous escape. And very cosmopolitan indeed these friends were. Spanish dancers, gypsies, pedlars, a live mandarin, feather and' all, and one of his wives, a real Shanghai poli man, ay well as a highly select gathering of the hupper suckles."
The fun was continuous. Miss Florrie" Rogers made an excellent Red Riding Hood and sang admirably. So did they all; some of the choruses being exceptionally well rendered. Master Carroll Lunt, who represented H. M. Navy asa midshipmite, looked the character to the life, while the song of the mandarin as given by Master Kenneth McKelvie fairly brought down the house.
In short the performance was a distinct success. Miss Baldamus must have devoted many a long hour to its preparation, and thor ughly deserved the ap; which greeted her when her admiring troupe called her on the stage and presented her with " handsome bouquet.
The presentation of the long list of prizes was got through with business-like precision. Mrs. Morrison, who had kindly consented to make the presentation, was escorted to the stage by the Chairman of the Educational Committee, Dr. J. R. Hykes, who returned. thanks te the
year make these pleasant reunions pos Masonic Bodies, and others who year bs ble.
junning read out the list of honours, y one the recipients of the prize to revolve them from Mrs. risen's hands. As usual some of the senior prizes were handsome and valuable.
The following is the full list:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.