MEETINGS, ENTERTAINMENTS. ETC.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1898, Page 2

MEETINGS, ENTERTAINMENTS. ETC.

The programme of the Dampier Benefit Concert, which takes place on Monday next, appears in this issue. There are 26 items, the whole making a programme of interesting variety. To the long list of patrons already published is to be added the Hibernian "Society. Trams and 'buses will run from Ponsonby and Parnell, and will meet steamers from Devonport at 7 and 7.20 p.m. The concert promises to be a great siieeess.

St. James' Hall was crowded last even^ ing to witness Mr Charles Cooper's exhibition of Edison's latest marvels, the kinematograph and phonograph. Some line pictures were shown, including incidents in the life of Sir George Grey. Miss Lester presided at the piano, and the following friends assisted in the musical programme :--Misses Smyth, Bolland and Gash, and Messrs J. Re.d, R- Reid and Watts.

The entertainment given last evening by the members of St. Mark's Gymnastic Club, Remuera, passed off very pleasantly. The antics of Professor B. Tuck, premier attitudinist, lent variety to the proceedings. Exercises on rings, horizontal and parallel bars, and with the vaulting horse, showed that the Club has made good progress in its first season. Mr J. M. Moss astonished the- spectators performing with ponderous dumb-bells, harebells, etc. Vocal items by Misses Tilly and Crowther, recitations by the Rev. W. Beatty and Mr Montague, and a pianoforte solo by Mrs Petrie were valuable aide to the enjoyment of those present.

The quarterly meeting of Hope of Auckland Tent LO. Rechabites was held in the Foresters' Hall on Thursday evening. The balance-sheet read showed a large increase in all fnnds, total funds £4,369. Four members were initiated and six nominated for next meeting. It was resolved to provide a cot in Children's Hospital, £10 10s being voted for thatpurpose; £10 was also voted to W.C.T.U. towards expenses of stall in Exhibition. The following brethren were elected as representatives to District Council, J. W. Foster, W. J. Macdermott, E. J. Carr, W. Taylor, and F.J. H. Ellisdon. Thehalancesheet of Juvenile Tent in connection with above was read by Bro. J. W. Foster, superintendent, showing a membership of 98 and funds £57. After usual routine business, passing accounts, etc., the tent was closed by Bro. F. J. H. Ellisdon, CR.

The report of the Committee of the Parnell Sailing Club, the annual meeting of which was held in the Oddfellows' Hall. Parnell, on Tuesday, states that the Club has novv a membership of over 100, and that about 45 yachts will be on the register. The Patiki class is likely to be a strong one, as ten boats are being built, and several other members have expressed their intention of building. The Committee have good hopes that the racing in this class will be close and interesting. For a youn<,' Club not started mote than eight months ago, the progress *a,de is very satisfactory. Mr Morrisby'- has been elected Chairman, and about 45 gentlemen have been elected Vice-presidents. The Club colours are the white ensign with a black St. George's cross, the pennant white with- black cross, and commodores' Hags black and white burgees with distinguishing stars for the commodore, vice and rear commodores. A concert will be held shortly in aid of the Club funds, and the Club should start on a sound financial basis.

The Press of the chief American cities are unanimous in describing Professor Dante, who opens at the Opera House on Monday evening, as a king among prestidigitateurs, and our Christchurch and Dunedin contemporaries are equally emphatic in his praise. The Press of the former city says:—"We have had, from time to time, some of the cleverest sleight-of-hand performers, but it was left to our latest visitor, Professor Dante, to excel anything yet seen in Christchurch. The professor came here most modestly, unheralded by the usual flourish of trumpets which accompanies tho visit of stars from America, but it was at once to be seen, after a trick or two had been clone last night, that he was a past master in the science of prestidigitation. Taken throughout the performance is a most interesting and clever one, all the items on the programme are done so deftly and easily, and there ia a spirit of refinement about the entertainment which cannot fail to please." Tho box plan is now on view at the Opera House vestibules, where seats may be booked for any night during the season.

On Thursday evening Mr W. H. Webbo's 83rd open musical evening for visitors eventuated, and a very choice programme provided by his and Miss M. Spooner's pupils, assisted by Miss L, Thomson, Mr A. L. Edwards and Herr C. Naujoks, was skilfully and faithfully performed. The programme was as follows: — Piano quartette, " Egmont?- Misses XV. Lambourne, Garlick, Cole and Mr Walton, with organ accompaniment by Mr Webbe ; song, "Mandolin?," Miss Lily Thomson; piano solo, (a) " Wiejjenlied " (b) " Fruli-ling-lied," Miss F. Garlick ; piano quartette, " Spanish Dance Bolero?' Misses Squire, G. Lambourne, Edwards and Mr Tims ; song, " Twilight is Falling," Mr A. L. Edwards (violin obligato by Herr Naujoks); piano solo, "Sonata in F. mm.," Mr A. Walton ; piano and organ duo, " Lurline," Miss Searchfield and Mr Webb ; selection, " Mazurka Op. 5. No. 3," Misses Mahon, Walker and Kent. Piano quartet, " Zampa," Misses M. V\ ebbe, M. Scott, E. and G. Spooner; song, " One Morning, Oh, so Early," Miss Lily Thomson ; piano duo, " Rondo," Op. 175, Misses Bold and McMaster; piano solo, " Poetic Tone Pictures," Miss E. Spooner; song, "Nobody Else," Mr A. L. Edwards; flute solo, " Concertstuck," Herr C. Naujoks ; piano quartet, " Polonaise," Misses Dawson, Fuller, Russell and Hart.

Referring to the set of pictures on the wreck of the Maine which Mr John Fuller is to exhibit at the Agricultural Hall on Monday next, a southern contemporary said: "Tlie Garrison Hall was quite crowded. Views of Cuba and the destruction of the United States battleship Maine have of course been numerous enough for months past in the pictorial press, but it is perhaps a comparatively small section of the public that has the opportunity of studying the illustrated papers, and upon that section of the community Mr Fuller has conferred a distinct benefit by procuring for the purpose of myrioramic display photographs taken at the very seat of the war in Cuba, together with a series of views bearing directly upon the loss of the Maine. Even, however, to those who have made themselves fairly familiar with the illustrations that have appeared in the papers in connection with the situation in Cuba, the views that Mr Fuller has secured are of interest, for magnified and admirably shown as they are they convey a better idea of tlie devastation wrought'in the island through the insurgent rising and the terrible effect of the explosion on the Maine than any newspaper illustration could do, A song entitled ' The Briton and the Yank ' written by Mr 15. Fuller, and composed by Mr W. Fuller, who has set it to a capital swinging air, was imperatively reclemanded."