CHORAL HALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 183, 5 August 1890, Page 5

CHORAL HALL.

PRESENTATION TO MR G. C. MILN.

Ph n ?T?n ar ? treatwaß provided at the Choral Hall last evening by Mr G. C. Miln, and various membere of his company. Interspereed in the programme were musical selections contributed by well-known local amateur vocalists. There wae an excellenb attendance, all the available sitting accommodation being occupied. Ihe chief infceresb naturally centred VJ-i lbems contributed by Mr Miln. Each time he appeared he was listened to with breathless interest and invariably recalled to bow his acknowledgments Mr Miln first delivered " Bob Lratchita Dinner" (Dickens), after which he rendered favourite passage* from various plays. The firsb was Hamlet's soliloquy upon the hereafter. Mr Miln nexb delivered Koraeos address to Juliet in the balcony scene, after which he passed on to Richard ILL s soliloquy, commencing "Now is the winter of our discontent," and concluded with thab touching paseage where Macbeth is apprised of the death of hie wife—which begins " She should have died hereafter." All these items were excellently rendered ?? » he audi ence applauded vociferouely. Mr Miln nexb came forward to read selections from the Bible. Before doing so, however, ho said he wished to thank Mr •. • "«bbe for playing the accompaniments during the evenieg, and the gentlemen who contributed musical items. Hβ also thanked the people of Auckland for attending , in such large numbers to assist in what appeared to have been a forlorn hope. Mr Miln then took up the Bible and said that many seemed to think thab ib was becoming almost absolete, bub there was no danger of that when it was 60 full of beautiful poetry, and its ethics were up to, nay in advance of, those of the present day. Mr Miln then read the 23rd Psalm, "The Lord is my Shepherd," and Paul's apostrophe to Charity, I. Corinthians, xiii. The, reader said that he would not read Solomon's Love Song, as some sensitive person bad written asking him not to do so. In response to a request from Mr Miln, no applause followed the readings from the Bible, bub the death-liko silence, broken only by deep eigha, showed how keenly the audience had enjoyed Mr Milne rendition of sacred writ. Later in the evening Mr Miln further displayed his ability as a Shaksperian delineator by rendering Marc Antony's oration in costume. Mr W. J. Montgomery delivered in fine style the oration of Brutus from Julius Caesar, for which he was recalled, and Mr ColletDobßon{recitedJ"Flynn of Virginia," and another humorous item, having been deservedly encored. Mise Kate Douglas displayed considerable ability ac an elocutionist. She first recited " Shamus O'Brien," and being encored delivered "The Charge of the Light Brigade." Miss Douglas also recited " Ivry," and received several bouquets when recalled. Mr A. L. Edwards sang " Mona " (S. Adams) admirably, and was, as usual, recalled. In company with Mr T. Charter be also took part in the pleasing dueb "Love and War." The latter also sang " Captain Dando." Mr J. H. Parrish rendered " True to the Last," and Mr Worrall gave "The Wolf" (Shield). A comic parody on "Queen of My Heart" was also sung by Mr J. H. Cqsgrrove, in costume, caueiog infinite merriment. The third act of " Othello" terminated one of the most pleasing programmes presented to an Auckland audience.

During the interval Mr W. C. Dennes appeared on the platform in the uniform of Christ's Hospital, otherwise known as the Blue Coat School. On behalf of the representatives of that school now in Auckland jie presented Mr Miln, who is B*Bo*-«- 'IShJri&r , Coatr boy, -with a ' handsomely • framed shield containing the photographs of ,ihe Old Blues resident here, with Mr Miln in the centre. The shield was the work of Mr C. Hemus, photographer. Mr Dennes briefly sketched the past history of the Bluecoab School, and concluded by asking Mr Miln to accept the shield as a souvenir of hie sojourn m this

city. ■* Mr Miln.in replying, thanked the donors, and also the public of Auckland. He remarked that during the early parb of his stay here he had to play to a beggarly array of empty benchee, and they had, in fact, lost something like £150. That night, however, gave him hope, and he had decided to give three more performances in the city. The present occupant of the Opera House had generously consented to let him have the House on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, a doncession for which he wae deeply grateful. Hβ would therefore appear in Julius Caesar on Thursday, as lago in Othello on Friday, and as Cardinal Richelieu nexb Saturday, which would positively be his last appearance in Auckland.