AMUSEMENTS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 466, 18 May 1912, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

MEDICAL FUND CONCERT. The concert in aid of the Pin Pio Medical Fund held at Te Kuiti on Thursday attracted a very large audience to the Town Hall. The object for which the concert was given no doubt appealed to the public generally, and the fine programme presented was quite sufficient attraction to fill the hall on any occasion. Seldom has such a high clas3 entertainment been produced by amateurs, and the marked appreciation of the audience was thoroughly deserved. Highly varied and aptly combining the grave with the gay; the popular item with the classical, the programme throughout made a strong appeal to all, and there was not a suspicion of slowness to even the most exigent critic. Where all were excellent in their respective parts it would be invidious to criticise. Of the visiting performers the quartette consisting of Mrs Elliott and Miss Butcher, Messrs Pochin and Ward bore a considerable amount of the work and performed with credit throughout. Of the local artists Mrs Cowan, who is rich in the possession of a wonderful voice, was highly appreciated in all her songs and had to respond to vociferous applause at the conclusion of each item Mr Blackman was in good voice and rendered in his usual fine style "Honour and Arms" and "Who Will O'er the Downs." At the piano Miss Ivy Graham and Miss McKay gave finished interpretations of their parts, while Mr B. Clapham appeared to advantage in violin solos. A feature of the evening was the recitations, which imported a welcome variety into the programme and appealed to the large audience which signified an appreciation that must have been highly gratifying to the performers. Mr N. Early gave the dramatic recital, "Rio Grande's Last Race" and "In the Droving Days" in a manner wbish indicated considerable histrionic ability and had to respond to an encore on each occasion. Mr G. Elliott gave Bracken's well-known "Not Understood" as a musical monologue and was particularly happy in his interpretation of "Cricket at Killaloe." It is pleasing to know that the Medical Fund will be considerably augmented by the proceeds of the concert. It is anticipated that a profit of about £ls will result, V.nd this with the assistance of the subsidy will be a welcome addition to the amount already *r. hand for the purpose already outlined. A particularly gratifying feature of the entertainment was the manner in which town and country performers co-operated, and it is certain that if another similar entertainment is projected in future the public will grant it a measure of support befitting the worthiness of the object in view. His Worship the Mayor of Te Kuiti (Mr E. H. Hardy) presided. Following is the pro-gramme-.—Overture, "To the Spring," Miss Iw Graham; quartette, "See our Oars"" Mrs Elliott and Miss Butcher and Mesrss Pochin and Ward; baritone song, "Honour and Arms," Mr A. Blackman; dramatic recital, "Rio Grande's Last Race," Mr N. Early; viulin solu, Mr B. Clapham; quartette, "Sweet and Low," cumpany; muica! monologue "Not Understood'," Mr G. Elliott; tenor song, "Youth," Mr H. Pochin; bass song, "Go to Sea," Mr T. Ward; song, "The Promise of Life," Mrs Cowan; vocal duet, Messrs Pochin and Ward; quartette, "Come Where my Love lies Dreaming," company; pianoforte solo, Miss McKay; cuartette, "0, Who Will O'r the Downs." company; song, "A Tragic Tale," Mr A. Blackman; recital, "In the Droving Days," Mr N. Early; violin solo, Mr B. Clapham; "quartette, "Ring-tailed Coon," company; humorous monologue, "Cricket at Killalloe," Mr G. Elliott; tenor song, "I Hear You Calling Me," Mr P. Pochin; bass song, "Out on the Deep," Mr T. Ward; song, "Ailsa Maine," Mrs Cowan; quartette, "Good Night, Beloved," company.

EMPIRE PICTURE COMPANY. On Monday night the Empire Picture Company will again be to the front with another of those splsndid programmes that have earned for the popular Company an enviable reputation in Te Kuiti. Included in the new series will be at least two of the films pictures, according to the management, that have been seen in Mew Zealand. The first will be "A Tale of the Wilderness," and this picture alone should be sufficient to fill the house. It will introduce some of the most wonderful stage effects ever seen on the screen. Dealing, as it does, with hair-raising adventures with wild animals, daring rescues, and wonderful escapes, and is described as a story of thrilling interest from start to finish. The second will be a magnificently-coloured Pathe masterpiece 2000 feet in length, entitled a "Florentine Drama." Then where will be a very beautiful coloured floral showing the different varieties of the gladiolus and a charming collection a choice blooms; Pathe's Latest Gazette; Little Maicls of Japan; Pull For the Shore Saiior, wili supply topical and scenic subjects; and a Well-Washed House; the One-legged Poacher; Whiffles as Mesengers; and

Bobby and The Gay Old Spark, should H supply laughter for old and young, * The programme is certainly an exceptionally good one, and anocher bumper housa should reward the Management on Monday evening. SKATING EXTRAORDINARY. An extraordinary attraction is promised to patrons of the Alexandra Skating Rink, Te Kuiti, in the near future. The proprietors have engaged the well-known performers, Athcs and Read, who are proclaimed to be I the cleverest exponents of roller skating in the world. The various acts exhibited/by the talented artists are so bewildering to the ordinary person that they' can scarcely be credited. The opportunity of seeing these phenomenal performers should not be missed." The attraction is for one week only, May 27th to June Ist.