OPUNAKE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1534, 25 January 1887, Page 2

OPUNAKE.

(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Tbe concert in aid of the Presbyterian Church took place on Tuesday evenin?, 18th instant, before a good audience. It was almost unanimously conceded that never before has the hall upon one evening resounded with so much good music, and there is no doubt that the attendance of those living at a distance would have been larger had it been known that a musical treat was in store. Tbe success of the evening is in no email degree to be attributed to the presence of some New Plymouth ladies and a gentleman from the same town. Tbe concert was opened with an instrumental duet by Misses B. Humphries and M. Hursthouse, played in capital style, and which gave a forecast of what was to follow. Mr. L. Humphries, who is well known in New Plymouth, was in good voice, and received an encore for the " Queen of the earth," and sang "Vanity" to his own accompaniment. Miss A. Wortley sang very prettily, and gave as an encore " Spanish cavalier." " Naucy Lee," supported by a good chorus, was enyored. Miss Mabel Humphries rendered " Apart" admirably, to which the audience responded for an encore. Mr. Gilbert was very successful with " Sailing," which drew forth expressions of pleasure. " Music and her sister Song," by Mrs Connell and Miss Hall, was given in the best style by those well known singers, and quite carried away the audience. The piano solo " Sultan's grand march," by Miss B. Humphries was exceedingly well executed, and exhibited good musical talent assisted by careful cultivation. The instrumental duet by Mrs Breach and Miss Morgan was very prettily played. Mr. J. Greig, who sang " Jessie's dream," received an encore. " Tell me, my heart," was sung by Mrs Connell in an admirable manner, and being well suited to her sweet voice, received a most vociferous encore. " Children's voices," by Miss B. Humphries, with a very effective chorus, was the gem oi the evening, and it is needless to say received very hearty applause. Mr. S. A. Breach, an old favorite, received a very decided encore for his "lama friar of orders grey," and a like response being accorded to Mr. R. Halse's " Eillen Allanah," assisted by a chorus. The aocompaniments were played by Miss B. Humphries, Mrs. Breach, and Mr. T. Stevenson, but upon the first mentioned the heat and burden of the evening fell, and it was sustained with great animation, and excellence throughout. Trjere is np question that to this musi be attributed, no small portiqn of the success of the evening. Some of the audience manifested their pleasure with various fingers by " showering bouquets, for them upqn thestage. Many of the performers made their debut on this occasion, viz., Miss % Humphries, Miss M. Humphries.l^iiss }s'. Hursthouse, Miss A. Worthy, and Messrs. Halse and Moore. The unanimous wish of the audience if expressed would no doubt be that the time is not long distant, when they can have an opportunity of again hearing the visitors who so greatly assisted on this occasion. [Our corres-

pondent sends us a copy of the programme, bat we regret to say we have not space for it.] At the conclusion the Rev. B. J. Allswortb returned a hearty vote of thanks to all who had contributed to the evening's enjoyment, and especially thanked Captain Capel as the promoter of the concert.