MEETINGS, ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10786, 13 October 1900, Page 3

MEETINGS, ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

The repetition last night by the members of the Operatic Section of the Natives' Association of their clever performance ut the Theatre Royal drew a large audience. The order of pieces of the previous evening was reversed, Tom Taylor's comedy, "A Sheep in Woit's Clothjng," being played first. Itwent very well indeed, all the characters filling the parts with considerable success. The sketch, "Positive and Negative," by Miss May Wells and Mr Dundas Walker, was received with great enthusiasm, and the author was called before the curtain. "Why Women Weep" went even better than on the first occasion, there being a briskness and life about it which made it go splendidly throughout. Altogether the ladies and gentlemen taking part in the performance are entitled to a iarge amount of credit for the artistic manner in which the pieces were played. "Standing Room Only" , was the cheerful placard which greeted the eyes of those who failed to go early to the Opera House last night on the occasion of the Abbott benefit tendered by Mr Dix. In the first part, in addition to the members of the company Mr C. Goggin sang "The Lads in Navy Blue,' well- Misses Lulu Zesch, Beatrice Smith, Baby Brady, Reggie Horace, and ±ur Johnny Cowan all helped to make the programme go with a swing. The Staunton Sisters gave an item, as did also Mr Charles Howard, and a tableau closed the first part. >* In the second Rexo, the Delavales, the Staunton Sisters, Miss Brady, Miss Zesch, and Mr Cowan all contributed good items to the very varied programme. To-night the usual change qf. programme will be given, and.Miss.lda Rosslyiriind McKisson and Kearns will re-appear. There was a good attendance last night at the Oddfellows' Hall, when the Puller Bijou Company gave a very successful performance. To-night there will be a- change of programme, and the first appearance of Sivroni is announced. On Monday night Mr Will Stevens will reappear. A concert was given in the Bromley school on Friday, October sth, in aid of the s'<siodi prize and treat fund. Songs were contributed by Misses E. Lake, E. M. Wilkinson. E. Rcdgers, and Messrs D. Towne, Small', W. Thompson, and Wilkinson. Miss Rodgers gave a capital exhibition of crab-swing-ing. It was Mr D. Ryan's own fault that he had to give f< v.r items instead of two.Mv ical selections were given by Miss J. Rouse and Musier.< House and Hopkins! The school children, under the direction of the master, gave several action songs and the scarf drill, in excellent style. Miss Wilkinson acted as accompanist. The anniversary services in connection with the Durham street Wesleyan Sunday School were continued yesterday. After the tea meeting a pufblic meeting washeld in the church.- A report of the year's Sunday school work was raad, addresses were delivered, and some of the sp«:ial hymns were sung by the children. The Christchurch Vegetarian Society mot on Thursday evening, when a paper-was read by Mr Q. Thompson on the best means of promoting the Society's work, and a pap&r on "Some Objections to Vc-getarian-ism" was given by Mr W. H. J<>yce. There was a good attendance on Thursday evening at the Primitive Methodist Church, .Linwood, when the Rev. C. E. Ward gave an interestfryg lecture on "Natural history, with special reference to the ant." Mr A. Schumacher presided. The lecture was interspersed with singing by the choir. Miss M. SneJl was tie organist. A successful jumble sale took place In St. John's schoolroom yesterday afternoon in aid of the New Brighton Church.

At the Lyttelton Oddfellows Hall, on Thursday night, the annual tea meeting and concert in connection with St. John's Presbyterian Church took place. The Rev- A. H. Treadwell

presided.,-'The tables for the tea were provider* by the ladies of the congregation. The.-Concert was a varied entertainment, in which pianoforte selections were played by Itiisses Hilda Arnold and A. Meikle; vocal items w-ere given by Misses C. Meikle, Campbell, Livingstone, Clark, Mesdames Falla and Gilmore, and Messrs C. Flavell, Empson, and G. E. Collins; recitations were rendered by Misses Fodor and Freeman , , B;A. ; banjo

and mandoline selections were played by the Acme Band; a reading was given by Mr Whyte, and an address by Mr George Laurenson, M.H.R. The accompaniments'to most of the songs were played by Mrs Bromley. A vote of thanks to all who had assisted, and "Auld Lang Syne," closed a very pleasant evening. A very large audience assembled in the Kirwee Hall ou. Friday to witness an entertainment in aid of the church funds. Miss Paterson was the promoter, and assisted by a number of ladies and gentlemen. The overtures were played by Mr iielgrave's band. Miss J. Hutchison fang a Japanese song in character, and Miss Bain played a violin solo. Dr. Inglis and Mr Salter gave recitations. Songs vere given by Misses Gilliiig, Hutchison \?.>, Messrs Belgrave, Bain, Moriand, and Spooner.■-• VSoldiers of the Queen" was sung, by twelve ladies in uniform—two nurses, two troopers, and Captain Hutchison, who took the solo. The • tableaux "Wounded," "The Three Graces," "Ora Pro JNiobis'' (with song descriptive), "A Gipsy Encampment"' (Miss X- Hutchison gipsy), singing the "Merry, Merry Zingari," and a character dance were well staged and received. The members of St. Stephen's choir, under the leadership of the Ohon-master, Mr H. A. Gates, with Mrs GLaridge nt the piano, gave a highly appreciated programme of sacred music in the Convalescent Ward at the Ashburton Hospital on Sunday afternoon.