Successful Choir Effort For Central Relief Funds

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6629, 17 August 1931, Page 7

Successful Choir Effort For Central Relief Funds

FINE PROGRAMME AT SUNDAY CONCERT Despite the rather unpleasant weather conditions prevailing there was a satisfactory attendance at the sacred concert. given by. St. Andrew’s choir and members of St. Andrew’s congregation in the Opera. Htraso last evening. The items were particularly attractive and found much favour with the very appreciative audience. Tho programme was arranged by Mr. A. J. Graham, organist and choirmaster of St. Andrew’s, and encores were demanded right through the evening. The Mayor (Mr. A. E. Mansford), on behalf of tho Central Relief Committee, took the opportunity of thanking Mr. Graham and the members of St. Andrew’s choir and congregation for having arranged the concert. and intimated that the committee would call on them to put on another concert at a later date. The Mayor also stated that funds were urgently needed and that there would be a greater call on tho funds in the future than there had been in the past. Mr. Mansford announced that owing to lack of funds the City Council would not be able to continue to tide the men over the fourth week. To date the council had spent just on £3OOO in the effort to relievo tho position, which had been accentuated by the reduction of relief work from four to three days a week. It meant that tho average weekly wage was £1 8/1, and with rent amounting to about £1 a week, the unemployed must necessarily lean more heavily on the central committee. In this, connection, lie added,.it was already costing the committee £4O per week. But for tho generosity of citizens, the weekly expenditure would be at least £l2O. Concluding his remarks, the Mayor thanked Mr. F. Jackson, managing director of Palmerston Theatres, Ltd., for the use of the Opera house, the R.S.A. .for providing the front door staff and the Opera House staff for giving their services free, of charge. The Programme

The choir contributed the anthems, “Great and Marvellous,” “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” and “() Praise the Lord,” and the hymn, “Fierce Eaged the Tempest.” Songs were contributed by Mrs. J. K. Baton, who sang “There Is a Green Hill”; Mr. W. B. Tcnnent, “The Blind Ploughman” and “Bequiem”; firs. Hcggic, “Star of the Night.” and “Hymns of the Old Church Choir”; Miss L. McDonald, “Not Understood” and “When the House Ja Asleep”; Mrs. D. Niven. “Tho Lord Is My Light” and “Dawn”; Mr. A. H. McEwcn, “Wondrous Cross.” The instrumentalists were Miss Elvira Wycherley, who gave the 'cello solos “Oricntalc” and “Lo Cygne”; and Mrs. B. S. Law (violin), Miss Wood (’cello) an Mrs. J. K. Patou (piano), who wore associated in the trios, “Andante” (Mendelssohn trio, Op. 49), and “Barcarolle.” Tho accompanists were Mesdamcs J. K. Paton and B. F. Barlow, and Miss Mavis Muirhead.