SOIREE AT GRANVILLE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 5363, 7 December 1885, Page 4

SOIREE AT GRANVILLE.

[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.] l^l*CK Friday evening, 27th instant, one K. <■' -of the most social and well-attended meet- ; ings of the kind took place at Granville, to celebrate the anniversary of the "Victoria Lodge of Good Templars, and which v. proved, through the fortunately fine J weather, a very great success. The enter- '•'•■• Vtainment had been on the tapis for some time, and, chiefly owing to the very energetic ir embers who were appointed as committee men, in their respective spheres, viz.— Musical, Refreshment, and Working J Committees, can be attributed the very , happy result which followed their labors, i The meeting, which was arranged for eight '■„.. .o'clock, saw the hall filled, aB from six ; ja'clock numerous visitors kept arriving Reefton, Ahaura, Nobles, HalfOunce, and jthe surrounding districts. The chair wa3 filled by Julian Blake, Esq. , of Waipuna, one of the Society's most useful members, who briefly named the object for which the entertainment was >f ; provided, namely —not for a source of gain V or profit, but merely to bring together for a social evening's enjoyment the very . numerous and widely-scattered families and;friends of the members of the Lodge, &c., who surround the neighborhood, a result which he highly congratulated all those present on the attainment of. The building was hand omely decorated with ferns and flowers of the most charming variety, which was easily accomplished from the abundance and splendid growth in the neighborhood. Their reflected great credit on &- Allan Hennah and the staff of young 11SPfi" e3 and gentlemen who so willingly " Wsfsted her. Combined with this were a number tables laid out on arrival of guests -with refreshments and toothsomelooking pastry* interspersed with bouquetsof flowers and fancy confections of all hues and colors, skilfully arranged " under the special charge of Mr Samuel "Harvey, of Half-Ounce. The whole had a pleasing effect, and looked quite a treat without partaking of them at all. It was really worth attending if only to see the children's eyes sparkle at such a display of bonbons and all other " goodies," which were so" soon to become a part and parcel of themselves. At nine o'clock precisely the concert commenced with the part song and chorus, "• Wait till the clouds roll by," sang by ■ tV - the members of the 1.0. G.T., brethren and sisters alike being in full regalia. This was afterwards supplemented by solos from Meadaraes Smith, Hennah, Gilmain, and others, and Messrs Nicol, Macfarlane, Smith, Cochrane, Wood, Harvey, Pugh, Anderson, and Gilman, and recitations from Messrs Willing and Jorfjesson. And here again let me remark that very much of the success of the conoert was indebted to Mrs Hufth Smith, of Ahaura, who happened to be m particularly good training and voice for this evening. Her iendition of "The Anchor's weighed," and other songs shows that we have in our midst an artist of high-class merit. Her abaence now from any of our local concerts is regarded as a blank in the programme. Mr Hugh Smith is also a imost worthy addition to his good lady at %11 our entertainments, and for one who iejoices as hailing from a country not celebrated for drollery showed a most unmistakeable exception by the intense applause rendered to him for his comic songs. To Messrs Nichol, Macfarlane, and Gilman who contributed to the instrumental music in a very liberal manner the committee are very much obliged, as their patience never gave way. A second part of vocal music rendered by the before mentioned vocalists, who sang their "sweetest and best" brought the concert part to a close. Dancing then commenced to the strains of really good music, which was uninterruptedly sustained until the grey dawn and the warblings of the birds in the surrounding bush proclaimed that time was on the wing.