Wesleyan Church Concert.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 306, 17 May 1894, Page 2

Wesleyan Church Concert.

The concert given in the Assembly Rooms last evening, in aid of the funds for a new Wesleyan Church, was not so well attended as it might have been ; both the object for which it was given and the capital programme which was submitted were deserving of a better house, but counter attractions, no doubt, had a good deal to do with this. However, those who were present spent a very enjoyable couple of hours ; all the items on the programme were well received, and in several instances encores were demanded. Mr Meadows, whose name was on the programme, was, unfortunately, unable to take part through having an affection of the throat. The stage had been nicely decorated, and with the aid i-f lounges, easy chairs, curtains, flower pots, etc., it was converted into a cosy drawingroom. At the conclusion of the first item — an overture creditably played by members of the Feilding Brass Band — those who were to take part in the concert appeared and took their seats on the stage, and they certainly looked quite "at home." Following the overture, Mr G. H. Bennett gave a good tendering of the song " Queen of the Earth," and he sang with considerable expression. Miss Grace has a nice contralto voice, and it was heard to advantage in her singing of " The Lost Chord " in the first part of the programmp, and later in a pretty song " Come unto Me." The vocalist sang this very tastefully, and she tully deserved the encore that followed, which was responded to with "The Old Countree." Two very enjoyable items on the programme were the recitations given by the Rev W. H. Judkins — viz., " The Buttonhole-maker's Soliloquy " and " The Last Hymn." The rev. gentleman throws much light into his subjects, and he seems to " feel " them, if the term may be used. " The Mighty Deep " is not an easy song to sing, but Mr A. G. Carty gave it in capital style, and it afforded him ample room for exercising his powerful baritone voice, the lower notes in the song being easily fathomed. Miss Brunette sang " Garden of Sleep " very sweetly, this being followed by a trio, " A little Farm well Tilled," by Messrs Simpson, Eade, and Carty, which caused considerable amusement. Mr G. E. Johnson was encored for his singing of " Close to the Threshold " — with flute obligato by Mr Woollams- - the last verse being repeated. An overture by Mr Haybittle's String Band, played with its usual skill and precision, was followed by a piano soio, " Major v. Minor Mareb," capitally rendered by Miss Thompson. One of the nicest songs of the evening was " The Star of Bethlehem," given by Miss Carty, who has a clear musical voice. As an encore to "My Pretty Jane," which he sang well, Mr Eade sang " Bay of Biscay," for which he received considerable applause. Two glees were happily given by the company during the evening — viz., " Iron Founders" and "O Hush Thee, my Babie," the latter going rather better than the former. The accompani ments were played by Misses Giesen, Thompson, and Carty and Mr Moore.