MATAPU.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8143, 15 December 1904, Page 3

MATAPU.

(From a Correspondent.) A ichool concert was neld on the 13th inst. The hall was packed, and a number could, not obtain admittance. On an occasion like this the need of a large hall is greatly felt here. The chair was ably occupied by Mr Robbins. the. Mayor of Hawera, and the stage had been tastefully decorated by the school children. The first part of the programme was supplied by the pupils of the school, who performed their various parts creditably in recitations, songs, and dialogues. The trial^oene from "The Merchant of Venice" was acted by the older, pupils, and they all bore their characters well. Among so many children it is useless to try and rtention any especially, but they all evidently did their best. The second part was opened by a piano duet, well executed by , Muses Robertson and Muir. Mrs tfrahbe made her first appearance on the stage' by singing in a nice manner "The River of Years?' She was followed by Mr Patterson, who gave in his inimitable manner "When father laid the carpet on the stairs." In response to an imperative enoore he sang "Little Willie." Miss Robinson gave a violin solo, "The harp that once, and obtained a purity of tone, especially in the harmonics, which showed great skill. The favorite of Matapu audiehcei, Miss Bremer. gave an expressive rendering of °oh, dry those tears," and Miss Henry sang "Gates of the West" very sweetly. Miss Watkins sang "Bitter Sweet" with a voice that showed much range and power. Mr G. H. Gilling reoited ably "The one-legged goose," and had to come back again, when he gave "People will talk." The last item of the programme was a song by the schoolmaster, who sang in his usual style "Good Company," and in reply to an encore gave "The Bowery," Votes of thanks were passed to the chairman and the perform* era, and the evening was brought to a close by the audience singing the Anthem. The financial result will be a considerable addition to the funds of the ichool committee. .