CALEDONIAN CONCERT.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 68, 18 September 1894, Page 2

CALEDONIAN CONCERT.

Tho ninth annual concert of tho Wellington Caledonian Society took place last evening in tbo Opora House, which -.vas comfortably filled. The stage decorations were not so olaborato as at tho society's former concerts, bnt woro very appropriate and tasteful— ovorgreens and pot plants on tho stago, while in the background was the transparency portrait of Robert Burns which Mr. David Wighton presented- to the socioty at its first annual concert. His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by the Countess of Glasgow and suite, arrived punctually at 8 o'olock, and after being received by Messrs. J. Jack (musioal director), J. B. Speed (hon. secretary), and other members of the Committee, were piped to their seats in the dres3 circle by Mr. Campbell. The programme was long, and consequently encores wero very wisely declined. Tho part singing was exceedingly good, and so also was the playing of the orchestra, although there were not sufficient brass and reed instruments to givo full orchestral effecft Decidedly tho best item was the part song and chorus " Annie Laurie," as arrangod by tho late Mr. Magnus Peterson, organist of St. John's Church. This was performed in memory of the composer, and certainly it will koop that memory ever green. The solo vocalists wore Mesdames Moore and Mason, Misses Orr, Zoe Dryden, and F. C. Martin, and Messrs. H. Wright and W. Farquhar Young. Miss Orr has a sweet soprano voice, which was heard to fine effect in " The Land o' tho Leal." Miss Martin, in addition to othor songs, took part in the duot "Hunting Tower" with Mr. Young, both performers acquitting themselves admirably init. Mr. A.S Patersonwas in one of his happiest veins, and his humourous Scotch recitation, " Domestic Mutual Improvement," kept the house in a roar of laughter. The Highland dances in the programme, porformed by soyeral ladies and gentlemen whoso names did not transpire, nnd by Missos M. Murray and M Ross and Masters M'Gregor and W. Piper, wero capitally performed, the youthful quartet receiving unstinted applause for their agilo and graceful movements. The entertainment concluded with the chorus " Auld Lang Sync," in which the audience lustily joined. Mr. J. M'Glashan conduoted the orchestra and the part singing, and the accompaniments were played by Mesdamos Sheath and .Reich and Miss Maud Bishop.