FIRE BRIGADE CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 292, 9 December 1899, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADE CONCERT.

The Opera House was well filled last evening, when a benefit concert was tendered to the Auckland Fire Brigade, in aid of the"Sick and Benevolent Fund. The concert was preceded by a torehligiit procession, in which the city and suburban fire brigades, the Salvage Corps, the United Ancient Order of Druids, and the Auckland brass bands took part, A capital programme was presented at the concert, the items being' as under: —"Mont Clair Gallop," Huia Mandolin Club; song-s, "As Your Hair Grows Whiter," and "The Masquerade," Miss Minnie Lye; song', "Britons Brave and True," Mr J. Donovan; scene and prayer, "Der Freischutß" (encored), Mrs .Hamilton Hodges; comic song-, "It Wasn't Mine" (encored), Mr. Wm. Skerrett; mandolin solos, "Killarney" and "Old Madrid" (encored), Mr Wynyard Joss; songs, "Gondola Dreams" and "A City by the Sea," Miss Maud Donovan; descriptive scene, "The Maniac" and song, "The Fireman," Mr M. Hamilton Hodges; comic songs (encored), Mr P. Blackman; recitation, "The Dandy Fifth," Mr Alex. Smith; duet, "The Fisherman," Mr and Mrs Hamilton Hodges. The concert ended with a farce, "The Widow's Mistake," in which the characters were .sustained by Misses Edith Earle, ITetrie H-owarde, and Mr C. Courtney, Mr Chas. Wand acting as accompanist. During the evening Mr (leo. Fowlds, M.H.K., on behalf of the Fire Brigade, presented ex-Supt. Hughes with an honorary life member's certificate, neatly framed. Mr Fowlds said the name of Sirpt. Hughes had for the last twenty-five years at least been a household word amongst the people of Auckland, and his reputation had spread throughout the length and breadth 6f the colony. The relations between him and his mm had always been of the most cordial description. They called him "Dad," and that described very well the feeling with which they had regarded him. ExSti'pt. ling-lies replied briefly, thanking the. Brigade for the honour clone him, and Mr Fowlds for his kindly words.