SHEFFIELD CHOIR'S ARRIVAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 149, 24 June 1911, Page 9

SHEFFIELD CHOIR'S ARRIVAL.

TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

£ .jrsE ARRANGEMENTS MADE.

I nje Sheffield .Choir is .due to arrive, t Auckland to-morrow by the s.s. Wimwhich is expected to berth in the' fftemoon prior to 4 p.m. Arrangements t-ve been made to "have part of the vharf reserved for members of rthe .choir, rtp Reception Committee, and the vehirles brought by the latter and the Automobile Association to convey the choir members to their respective homes. The reception at the wharf will be of; n informal character, and Mr. ,H. Brett has been appointed to welcome the visit tors on behalf of the musical community, in official civic welcome will be given, on Monday.

THE CITY'S 'WELCOME. . At n meeting of the Reception Com- ■ "jnittee yesterday afternoon, the matter of fine l arrangements was fixed, and a ■ discussion arose concerning the official welcome and the lack of enthusiasm shown in which Mr. Beddoe spoke warmly. It was generally agreed that the existing arrangement to hold • the reception immediately prior to the 1 first concert would be a mistake, and the Chairman (Mr. H. Brett) undertook to interview the Mayor and have fresh arrangements made. As to the place . of reception, there was a general feel- ' ing that the Municipal Chambers were too small for the purpose, and it was 1 decided to procure the Opera House if possible and to hold the function on Monday afternoon. A suggestion that the Coronation displays should be kept in .place till after the arrival of the choir was quashed .by Mr. H. Brett, who stated that the -sooner the decorations came down the better. He stated, that' he had never seen so poor a demonstration before in Auckland, and he, would he sorry if 'the members of the cioir passed through Auckland at sight and saw the illuminations. ' iCWIQ RECEPTION AT OPERA HOUSE.

I; This morning arrangements were definitely made for the official welcome to take place at 2.30 p.m. on Monday in the Opera House, which the Messrs. Fuller have kindly placed at "the dis- . posy of the Reception Committee for the occasion. The members of the choir will be welcomed by the Mayor (Mr. C.J. Parr), and the Hon. G. Fowlds (Minister ior Education),, and Mr W. S". Mfisaey, M.P. (Leader of the Opposition) hq.ve also been invited to say a few ' words. An advertisement appears in another column, inviting citizens to attend rthe reception. The Reception Committee is also asked to be in attendance at the theatre .at 2 o'clock shorp. THE (FIRST CONCERT. !Ehe .first concert will take place on Monday evening. Holders of reserved; . seat tickets are informed that they "'enter from the main south entrance,' ■where a cloak-room is provided. For .(those .who intend .to purchase 10/ tickets a'fc'the door, a ticket office has -been pro- ' vided in the weigh-house. It is essential •that bH -should toe -punctual, as no seats .pan be .shown during the progress of any puinber, and late-comers will have to lemajn in the vestible behind the chorus •Btand.' Festivale 4on Monday and Tuesaay commence at 8 p.m. sharp, and on " at 7.30. There will be late tehrns, Auckland to Henderson, and the , Jerry steamers will also run late. THE JOUR.

• On arrival at Auckland the choir of 522 will be augmented by 46 members of the New Zealand Festival; iOrch?stra, making, in all 268 travellers. Soon barter ithe choir's arrival to-morrow -( >'SDr. Coward will start rehearsals with rtlie orchestra, which ihas heen collected an New Zealand 'by Mr. Gorlitz, who Satos that it is better than any that •-....ias ever been heard "in -the country, not ' .excepting the Exhibition Orchestra. In (the evening, a .gioa't general rehearsal • .of all the forces, including the Auddand jvimxiliary Festival Choir, will take place an the Festival Hall. On Monday the

, iirst festival will take place. Tueeday swill be partly rehearsing and partly *ight-secing. 'On Wednesday a great 'Coronation matinee will be given in the '.' .afternoon, and .a .gigantic .of "Elijah"" will take place in -the evening. '" At 10-45 .o'clock the same night, ihe. party will leave for Wdllington by special train, consisting of nine coaches, j a ain\ng car, a sleeper, and three ,baggage : cars. Early on Thursday morning the "Government "will -supply -a refreshment car, and the 270 people will have their breakfast -sewed to them within two hours and a-half, so that this car will only remain on fhe train for aWut three: in .order not to impede the pro- . giess of the .train. A : short 'halt for lunch will Ibe made at Palm'erSton North, and the party; will arrive "at Wellington at 5;5D, 'and 1 ! ■ give their first ■ performance there the : same evening. On Friday a visit will f\ fe paid to Palmerston North, where a j; Trerfomranoe- -will =bo given in the afterl;'~iioon.' "The second Wellington festival it; will' take .place in the evening. Visits f; will ;.siil)sequently be paid to Christji church, Bunedin, and other New Zea-. 'j,. land towns. ' -■ . •