Concert at Croydon Siding.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 164, 18 July 1896, Page 2

Concert at Croydon Siding.

The committee managing the affairs of tha recently opened Croydon Siding School haye early realised the responsibilities of their : -* offico, if a desire on their part tp put the' institution in funds goes to show anything., The traditional method — viz.,' a concert and ' danee — of " raising the wind " was adopted 1 , '■ and the results should prove in every way ■ satisfactory. The gathering was held last evening, in one of the large store rooms of lhe Gore Meat Preserving Company, nicely decorated, and comfortably fitted up for the ■ occasion by Mr Inglis, tho manager. Fully . •- seventy Gorb' residents were convoyed. itf tne scone of action by various vehicles provided by Messrs Brower, Trembath and Co., and about twice as many again attending from Croydon and surrounding localities, the temporary concert hall proved all tod small for tho crowd which mustered. ' A programme — which was at the same time lengthy and varitd— of such a quality .. as to meet the approval of all, was submitted, and although encores were strictly pro- ' hibited, the audience in several instances - 5 would not be gainsaid, and at other time's showed a strong desiro to have, items re- "" peatcd. Owing to several of tho performers : not putting in an appearance, Mrs Dolamore ; was the only lady vocalist, aud her numbers, J " Killarney " and " Love's Sweet Song," were fully deserving of tho cordial rcceptiqn . which greeted their rendition. Mr Bowler "-;• gave a couple of solos, "Hero Upon My Vessel's Deck" and "Off to Philadelphia," iv his usually successful and pleasing manner. Tho same remark applies to the careful interpretation by -Mr tK"~Matheson of " The Englishman " and " Maid of Athens." A band of school children, .under the-guid--once of Mrs Inglis, gave a : realistic representation of a confab between the Kingpf the Cannibal Islands, his courtiers and a number of wbite people,; brought -thitbor ■ presumably for culinary purposes. The • youngsters' performance was mo3t creditable', and ranked much-higher than tho usual run.-... of similar efforts."MrEadiewithhisrep'crtoire" of pawky . recitations and anecdotes was..: strongly in evidence, and was encored eaotr?! ■ timo he appeared. Mr Day roused the '*. patriotic instincts of his auditors by a spirited ' rendering of "The Bed, Whito and Blue"' to such an extent that they joined in' the ' ; . < chorus with great fervor and ' enthusiasm. Mr Houston in his song-eum-recitation, "The - Irish. Schoolmaster," was decidedly " funny, v Mr H. Copeland was warmly ■ applauded for. his sporting recitation, " Pardon, the Son of • Beprieve," as also was Mr Blaikie for his • song " The Sleeping Camp." Mr Ayerß gave - • a couple of step dances in I. highly creditable :--.-" fashion. The remaining contributors were " Messrs Clark ("Land o' tho Leal" and •' Maggie Murphy's Home"), Edwards (".The : Arab's Farewell "), - and Hart. The programme closed with a spirited Scotch song - given by Mr Falconer. ' Tho accompaniments were artistically played by Mrs Godby -and Mr Edwards. -. Mr John Falconer, chairman of tho com--mittee, presided, making referenoe to the ' great value of the new school to tho neighborhood at the commencement of the concert, 77 and thanking the performers and the audience .- ' at its termination. A bewildering array of good things was -'" provided in the employes dining-room, and the wants of every one of the large audience Twere ministered to with great^dtspatch by aY tho ladies of the place, who had also provided • •'' the huge supply of excellent refreshments. ' At the subsequent dance there was barely standing room on the floor, but this in- ' : creased, rather than diminished, tho enjoy- '•-' ment of the proceedings, and it was well ohr.". towards gray morning when the last bar of \ -\ Messrs Edwards' (piano) . and McDonald's , '•-.<: (violin) lively music was struck. Pqrtion of the Gore contingent reached "~ borne about 2 a.m., the remainder arriving 7-'---at 4 a.m., all of them being loud in their praises of the manner in which Mr and Mrs - Inglis, the members of the school committee, and residents of Croydon generally, had striven to secure the comfort and enjoyment "' of everyone during the evening.