ENTERTAINMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 201, 27 August 1886, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

The performance of tho Silver Star Minstrels in the schoolroom, Scurboro' Torrace, was well attended last evening, in spite of the unpleasant, downpour of rain. Tho entertainment was under the patronage of tho Roy. G. fl. S. SValpolo, Captain O'ivo, and tho members of the Parish Club. Mr E. P. Hudson acted as conductor, Miss M. Fairburn, accompanist ; Mr Crozier, bones; Mr G. 11. Nixon, tambo ; and Mr Fowlor officiated as interlocu tor. Tho following amusing and interesting programmo was gono through ; - Introductory overture and chorus, " Wh n all Nature Smiles," company ; song " Littlo Empty Cradlo," Mr VV. Perry; song, "Is my Darling True to Me," Mr W. Brook; song (comic), " Only Eighteen Ponce," Mr F. H. Nixon; sonir, "Dreaming of Homo and Mother," Mr F. G. Fowler ; eong, " The Littlo Ono that Died," Mr F. Worthington; song (comic),

"Over the (harden Wall," Mr D. Crozier ; t-ong, "The Spanish Cavalier," Mr R. Croker. Tho second part was an olla podrida of singing and dancing, and the well-known " Mulligan Guards" finale. Mr Worthington gavo an amusingstumpspeecb, "The Talkiphono," and Mr Perry played eovi ral fluto selections. The whole concluded with a very amusing farce, "Tho Defrauding Talent," Messrs Worthington, Nixon, and Crozier taking the leading characters During tho programme the esual jokes and witticisms oventuated.

St. Matthew's winter entertainments were continued last evening, when a very interesting dramatic performance woe given in (he school room. In compliance with numorous requests " Tho Jacobite,'' a comic drama in two acts, by Piuncue, which was previously performed with a large moa-uro of success, was repeated, and was followed by a petit conceit, including thu song.-, " Kuby " and " Tho Union Jack," and the duet, " When Birds are Kinging." Tho la«t item of the evening's entertainment was a new furco entitled " Dreadfully Alarming," in which the characters wero creditably pourtrayed, and the audience, which was a largo one, evinced their pleasure by repeated applause.

One of tho monthly "socials" in connection with tho Alexandra-street, Chuich was held in tlie school-room lust evening, when a goodly number (considering the ine'em ency of the night) sat down to an excellent tea gratuitously provided by tho members of.the congregation. After ten tho entertainment commenced, v, hich consisted of musical selections by the Band of Hope Choir and soloists, assisted by sevoral instrumentalists; also recitations, followed by the lecture by Rev. .). Clover (from the Thames), "England a Hundred Years Ago." Tho lecturer, titter touching upon what has been nnd muy bo comprehended in co long ,-i period as a hundred years, noticed several things in regard to the Hoverign reigning a hundred yoars ago. Tho dcclara'ion of the independence of tho United States of America and the terrible war preceding it, was dealt with. Tho work of William Wilbcrforce, John Howard, K. Raikee, and others was passed under review. Tho severity of tho criminal code, the frequency of public executions, tho difficulties and dangers connected with travelling, tho low staUof education and religion, the costumes of tho peoplo, the wonders achieved by the utilisation of steam power and electricity, the spread of the English peoplo and tbo increase of English torritory, tho power of tho I'roi-s and tho history of newspapers in England -thoeo wore the principal points in tho lecture. Tho lecturer, in closing, said that Romanism and drunkenness were the chief sources of danger and mischief to the unity of the people in the United Kingdom. Ho said that tho purpose of God to use England in the evangelisation of tho world seemed to run through the history of tho later centuries like a golden vein. His prayer was that England might over rise to tho grandeur of such a noble destiny, and so lead the vau in ushering in tho millennial glory.