AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 308, 30 December 1891, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

The concert given in the Public Hall, Dovonporb, on Dec. 9, in aid of the North Shore "Rowing Club's funds, was an unqualified success. Those who took part were: Misses A. Rimmer, H. Burgess, Harper (2), Messrs Jackson, Reid, P. Dufaur, H. L. Brett. Mr Montague gave a reading, And Mr J. Patorson a recitation. Mr Alf. Bartley accompanied the vocalists on the piano. %

A Christmas tree opened on December 11th in Waifce's Hall, in connection with the Church of St. * ( Barnabas. The room was tastefully decorated, and on the tables and Christmas tree were arranged various articles, the work of the Ladiey' Sewing Guild. Mesdamee Heather, Green, Jourdain, Trevitheck and Sprott, Misses Green, Russell, Gibbs, Puckey and other friends attended the tables.

The Wflsb End Musical Union performed Waxfield's. Christmas cantata "Star of the East" ab the Ponsonby Hall on Doc. 2o before a audience. The choir piece 3 were very well rendered, and showed a marked Improvement on their performance ab a previous concerb ; and the orchestra, ied by Mr J. Hemus, with Mr W. J. Rees at the piano, discharged their duty in a praiseworthy manner. The soloiata were Miss V. Plummer (soprano), 'Miss Laing {contralto), Mr L. Daweon (tenor), and Mr 8.. Eagleton (bass). The solos were all weil rendered,

At the Choral Hall on Dec. 23 the Auckland Choral Society gave " The Messiah" before a packed and appreciative audience. On the whole, the rendition of Handel "a great oratorio w&g satisfactory —efficient and easy, bub scarcely impressive. "The Moesiah" has probably been both more and less ably performed, but the audience thoroughly enjoyed it, and, contrary to custom, duiing the performance of this sacred oratorio testified thoir appreciation by applause. The choruses were for the first time for a long season entitled to only second honours, Mr Percy Dufaur, as bass soloist, undoubtedly achieving the honours of the evening.

On December 4bh the scholars of the Chapel-atreet school gave an entertainment •which wae very well patronised, the Temperance Hall being nearly filled. The children in the lower division, under Mrs Skoen, sang several soags very nicely, and an action song took well.. The upper division, conducted by Miss Cleveland, e.ave several pieces with much acceptance the time being remarkably good. The recitations were very well rendered, and thedumbell exercise, under Mr Brown a direction, elicited so much applause that it was gone over again. The music was played by Mrs Parkinson. The concert given by Mr S. Adams and pupils, assisted by several friends, ab the Poneonby Hall on December 4 was a pronounced euccess. The audience was very large, the hall being overcrowded, and the performers throughout met with very marked evidences of approval. Ihe orchestral items, contributed by some thirty ins rumentalists, led by Miss Ne lie Edmieton, and Mr Adams wielding the baton were played very correctly, and reflected great credit on all concerned. Other items lere:-Violin duo, Misses Ruth Dudley and Gertrude Davidson ; piano solo, Miss F. E. Holland; song, Mr A. b. . Keid; violin solo. Mies F. Dewar; piano solo Mr S Adams violin solo, Miss NeUie Edmiaton; string quartette, Misses E. U hitelaw and F Dewar, Messrs W. Joll and A. Finer; song, Mies Lizzie Warren ; piano Bolo! Miss Ada Wright; violin solo, Mws Edith Whitelaw.

The first orchestral concert of the season by the Auckland Choral Society eventuated on December 4th. Tbose members who were instrumental in ioaueuratinf? Ibis Tories of orchestral concerts have achieved a notable success, and must have hadTfnl reward for the labour such work Her' TuJchska, and all and each of the orchestra must likewise be warmly commended The orchestral pieces went n ost ScenenW; and everyone wished there had been mow purely orchestral items on the Sesare Tutechka, Kent), Macfarlane, Beale, and Brown ; sons, Mr J. Fernday ; song Mr W Simms; violin solo, with orchestral accompaniment, Mias Freda Mareden ; song, Mr C. Hudson. An enjoyable entertainment was provided by St. James's Literary Society on the 16'h Twmnber The gathering took place.in St. December. xi h Entrican occupied James s Hall, n by Mre tne chair. »™K a Q . and Ree d, and sdmOadHnS5 dmOad HnS McGibbon and Edgar Meßflre Hug wcu { b delivared

and Mr James Ramsey first for gentlemen, sight-reading, Mr T. Hutchison, Ist. The two prizes won by the Society at the recent competition in the V.M.C.A."were also presented. A cookery competition was held last nighb in connection with the social, the prize -winners being: Sponee cake Miss Ratcliffe ; Swiss roll, Miss Thomson ; cakes and scones, Miss Crombie ; oat cake,' Miss Crawford ; and jellies, Miss L." ihomson.