THE SCOTTISH VOLUNTEERS' CONCERT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 8819, 14 June 1889, Page 5

THE SCOTTISH VOLUNTEERS' CONCERT.

The fifth annual Scotch concert, in aid of the funds of the Canterbury Scottish Rifle Volunteers, was given last night in the Oddfellows’ Hall, under the patronage ■of Lady Wilson, the Hon John M'Lean, Mr A. M'Lean, Colonel Lean, and other officers of Volunteers who were present. The audience was, as heretofore, very large, and the funds must have benefited considerably. The programme was, with but one or two exceptions, Scotch in its character, and the Committee had been very fortunate in the selection of the several numbers. Mach regret must have been felt, however, at the announcement made at the opening of the entertainment, that Miss F. Martin was, in consequence of a family bereavement, unable to be present. Of course the overtures to the two parts, into which the programme was divided, were played by Pipers Roes, M'Tavish, and Hedley,;and equally of course their performance was loudly applauded. The other instrumental numbers were given by the Spanish Students and Mr Cliff. The Students were loudly encored on both the occasions of their playing, and in each case responded; the last time Senor Gastombide gave his wonderfully clever tambourine dance, which also had to be repeated. Mr Cliff in his violin solo, a selection of Scotch airs, played with considerable power and facility of execution, receiving very deservedly enthusiastic applause. The vocal members were given by Miss Fairhurst, Miss Spensley, Mrs Westmacott and Messrs H. M. Johnson, W. A. Millar, J. Miller, W. Izard, Morrison and Haig. Miss Fairhurst was in excellent voice, and sang with very great expression; Miss Spensley sang with her accustomed sweetness of tone and artistic feeling; Mrs Westmacott displayed her usual aptitude for ballad singing. All three ladies were loudly encored for each song, and the last two kindly favoured the audience with other equally acceptable compositions. Mr Johnson might have accepted an encore, but did not. Mr W. A. Millar favoured the audience with a second song. Mr J. Miller was equally liberal, giving two comic songs with much humour, besides taking part with Messrs Morrison and Haig in a comic trio. Mr W. Izard simply bowed in response to very hearty applause. A Scotch concert without Highland dances would be an anomaly, and accordingly Mr A. M'Kay and members of the Scottish Rifles gave numerous examples of the national dances, all of which " brought down the house.”

“ Auld Lang Syne ” concluded a concert which was quite as successful as any of its predecessors.