NAVY LEAGUE ENTERTAINMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 147, 19 December 1905, Page 6

NAVY LEAGUE ENTERTAINMENT.

An enjoyable concert was given in tho Town Hall last night under tlio auspices of the Wellington branch of the Navy League as a means of raising a contribution towards the branch's prizo fund. The entertainment was not so well pat-rc-nised as it should have been. Amongst} those present were the Mayor and Mrs* Hislop, the Hon. Colonel Pitt (represent-! ing the Ministry), Captain Wooflcombe, Commander of |i.M.S Prometheus, set* m\ officers, and a number of men of thaf warship. The naval contingent appeared to derive a great deal ofl enjoyment from the concert, displaying much enthusiasm, and towards its close Captain Woolcombo thanked tho League and the citizens oi Wellington for "the magnificent welcomed and entertainment provided that evening, 'I he specially .enjoyable feature of tni concert was the singing of a cycle oi patriotic songs by a chorus of -some 309' boys and girls from the State Schools.' ' These contributions were — "Let the Hillfl Resound," "The Tight Little Island," andt "The British Grenadiers," the conductor being Mr. Frank Oakes, who had a very; capable orchestra under his baton. 'i'Uo youngsters won an encore on each occasion of their singing. The concert wac opened by the Garrison Band, undei) Liout. Heid, the two selections being? played with the band's usual ability. A. male quartet, consisting of Messrs. J. Searle, J. F. Carr, P. Hockley, and D. V. Lillicrap, added very largely to tho plea-sure of the evening by the contribution of a number of items. Messrs. 'Searle and Lillicrap also sang Theo. Bonheur's due|, "The Veterans' Toast," and Mr. Lillicrap sang AHitsen's patriotic song "There's a Land." Miss Amy Hyd* sang twice, and had to respond to an. encore on each occasion (Miss Moloney E laying her accompaniments), and Mr. eslie Hill was encored for his singing of "The Trumpeter." Two squads of seamen and two squads off marines front the Prometheus gave displays of physical drill, general practice with the cutlass, and bayonet exercises, to the huge delight of the schobl children. The pianoforte accompaniments for these exercises and? for most of tie vocalists were played by Mr. Meadows. Great credit is due ta the branch's hon. secretary (Mr. Cecil W. Palmer) for the enthusiasm and energy displayed in organising the entertainment,'