MEETINGS, ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 148, 24 June 1901, Page 3

MEETINGS, ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

ST. MARY'S PARISH HALL.

The concert given on Friday by the members of the Cathedral choir, under the direction of Mr R. Leslie Hunt, the organist and choirmaster, was both artistically and -financially successful. The audience was a. fairly large one, but the excellence of the programme should have secured a packed hall. The choir selections, consisting of the following- part songs, "Hail, Golden Morn," "Softly Fall the Shades," "Farewell," "Good Night, Beloved," "Sweet and Low" and "Carnovale," were all excellently rendered, "Good Night, Beloved" being the beat number; whilst "Carnovale" showed some signs of hesitation. Owing to the length of the programme encores were disallowed, although in nearly every instanje they -were loudly demanded. Mrs Whitaker sang very sweetly "As Your Hair Grows Whiter," the choir sing-ing the pretty chorus with excellent effect. Mrs Harrop, in "Darby and Joan," Misses E. and F. Pollard, whose voices blended very nicely in the duet "I Was Dreaming," Miss Hallett, in "The Carnival," and Miss Tapper, in "Gates of the West," were all well suited, and fully merited the hearty appla-use accorded. Special mention must be made of Mr Malcolm Fleming's "Plymouth Sound" (though a quicker tempo would hare been an improvement), Mr George Chevis' contribution, "The Deathless Army," a duet, "Halcyon Days," by Messrs Fleming and E. Pountney, and Mr F. Upfill's banjo song. Mr J. Curtis sang the beautiful song "Come., Beloved" with great feeling-. Instrumental items were provided by Mesdames Goss and Fleming, and Mr Vernon Coney, whose number, Fesca's "Barcarolle," as a 'cello solo, was well received. The accompaniments were in the hands of Miss Gertrude Hunt, who played in a very musicinnly manner, Mrs Fleming and Mr Hunt. During the interval Mr Horace H. Hunt, who is on a visit, to Auckland, recited Dicken'a sketch, "The. Tuggaes at Ramsgate," which thoroughly amused the audience and showed he had a keen appreciation of Mr Dickens' works. The platform waa very prettily decorated by Mrs Whitaker, Miss Davies and other lady members of the choir, who had taken great pains to make this addition to the pleasure of the audience. In the course of the evening the Rev. G. Mac Murray, the vicar, addressing the audience, said he was very pleased to see that renewed interest was being taken by the parishioners in choir matters, and to know how cordial were the relations between the choir . and their esteemed choirmaster and organist, and on behalf of the choir he presented to Mr Hunt a veryhandsome gold pencil case suitably inscribed as a memento of the occasion and of their esteem. The very hearty applause which accompanied the presentation showed that this appreciation was thoroughly endorsed by the audience. Mr Hunt, who was evidently taken by surprise, acknowledged the gift in a few feeling and appropriate words. The National Anthem brpught a very excellent concert to a conclusion. The proceeds are to be devoted to the Organ Renovation Fund, towards which Mr Hunt will be very pleased to receive any contributions.