Rarotongan Social

Whirl Jitterbug Comes to the Islands

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Oct. 8

AROTONGA residents no longer suffer from lack of entertainment. Mr W P. Browne’s new “Royal Hall ” 01 ,!cted on the site of the former building in the hurricane of 18 °, pen P ractil ' al ly every amusement We f °‘' SOme form of The projectors and sound equipment which were buried under the wreckage in for several days, have been overhauled and re-built by the operator. ‘ bcott ’ ar *d good programmes—in cluding news reels not more than three years old-are screened twice weekly. «J^ nC a S are two or three nights a new e .^ a of dancing has opened , Ra f ofoHgsi w ith the introduction of the jitterbug. The Maori version of the “ura S la ! as rt learned, from the Europeans, Sl °u C S ISt Principally of a mono tonous shuffling round with set faces and little appearance of real enjoyment, and it is refreshing to «ee the boys and girls break away and “go to town” in real style.

There are some people, of course, who deplore the infiltration of this energetic American bug which has spread over wnriH °L h L clvllis £d and semi- civilised world, but those who like to see young folk enjoy themselves welcome the inno vation.

There have been a number of jitterbug competitions, and some of the younl couples present a really clever exhibition of tapping and twirling.

There has been also a series of Fridav evening concerts in aid of various local organisations. The Child Welfare, Girl S p *des, r?°Z s ’ ® ri g ade ’ Boxing Club and T^?u ls 1 Clubs have each had their turn.

The latest entertainment was a splendid programme of Polynesian dances and songs presented by the Taputapuatea party arranged and led by the para mount chieftainess, Mrs. Takau Rio-Love and the young chieftainess, Miss Terito Pa Anki. This was the first of a monthly series of similar entertainments to be given by the Ariki Nui’s party to raise funds for the repair of the Makea Palace.

Taputapuatea, which was damaged in the 1943 blow.

MOST exciting of all was the recent exhibition of drum dancing by Manihiki Islanders to collect money for the completion of the new meeting house which is being built in the Raro tonga Manihikian settlement.

The natives of the far northern atolls of Manihiki and Rakahanga are the only Cook Islanders to fully retain the dying art of interpreting history and legends, the ways of the birds, fish and the ele ments, by vigorous gymnastics, to the traditional rhythms of an orchestra by various types of drums.

The “Royal Hall” trembled to the rattle and boom of the hollow-log and shark-skin drums, while the Manihikians performed their high-speed evolutions, leaving the spectators feeling breathless and shaky at the knees.

The Rev. O. Theile, of the Lutheran Church, recently visited Queensland to confer with Missionary A. P. H. Freund and Mr. V. Neumann, of the New Guinea Mission Staff, concerning the possibilities of an early resumption of work on the Rooke-Siassi Islands. The Rev. Thiele is secretary of the New Guinea Mission Society.