THEATRE ROYAL. – VOCAL COMPETITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6825, 2 October 1883, Page 5

THEATRE ROYAL. - VOCAL COMPETITION.

The first of Mr. Pooley's competitions for amateur rausicianß came off last night. These competitions are supplementary to the aeriesof " Saturday popular concerts." The object appears to be, by giving prices to be awarded by public audiences, to encourage musical and vocal culture. The competition last night was for "basseß" and "baritones." The modus operandi was as follows. One "test " song appears on the programme which eash of the competitors has to sing. Between each sinqer there is a selected song from tho general repertoire of the vocalists and which they sing according to the programme. The "test" Bong last night was "The Old Brigade," and the competitors were Messrs. Arthur Bartley, G. A- Cairns, R. W. Daviea, David Menzies, and — Treraainc, J". F. Robinson and F. Sceats. It was evident that the several competitors had much support from their friends among the andience, for they were all vehemently applauded. The interval-songs, if we may so call thorn, were "We Tars that O'er the Ocean Sail," " Nil Desperandum," " Will o' the Wiijp," "A Father's Love," " The Tar's Farewell," " The Head and Heart," all sung by the competitors. The following is the manner in which the judgment is arrived at. Each auditor is furnished with a coupon upon which is the name of each competitor, and the auditor ia requested to mark the name of the competitor who, in his opinion, has sung best. Three of the audience are invited to the stige to count the votes, which are sent to the newspapers. As there are but three I prizes, there can be but three prize •winners. The winners last night were:—David Menzies, 67 votes; Frank Sceats, 36; and J. H. Robinson (a pupil of Mr. Pooley), 19. Next Monday, the competitions will be for soprano voices,3

FUNERAL OF THE LATE REV. B. T. ASUWELL. r-* The funeral of the late Rev. Benjamin Yates Ashwell took place yesterday afternoon, leaving bis late residence at Remuera for St. Stephen's Cemetery, Parnell, shortly after half-past three o'clock. As might be expected there was a large and influential attendance to testify to the esteem in which this devoted minister of the Church Missionary Society was held by his contemporaries and brother ministers. Two missionaries with whom the Rev. Mr. Ashwell was long associated in mission work followed the remains as chief mourners. These were the Ven. Archdeacon Maunsell and the Rev. Mr. Burrows. Amongst those whom we noticed Dresent were the following Church of England ministers :—The Ven. Archdeacons Pritt and Dudley, the Revs. Drs. Kidd and Kinder, the Revs. Messrs. Walpole, Gould, Kvans, Nelson, Haaeldeao, Tebbs, Hill, Calder, Pnrchaß, and Mulgan. There were also present the Rev. G. B. Munro, minister of St. Luke's Presbyterian Church, the Revs. A. Reid and J. Wollis, Wealeyan ministers ; also, Messrs. G. P. Pierce, V. K. Rice, W. S. Cochrane, J: L. Wilson, Cowie, H. P. ! Baber, F. Larkins, Major Rookes, and a num.- j ber of other leading citizens; also, Mesdamea J. L. Wihson and Tilly. The procession was I brought up by the native children of St. Stephen's native school, conducted by Mr. Davis and Mr. Smith. This was a most suitable demonstration, for the I school WrfS one in which the Rev. Mr. Ashwell took a great interest, and one of the last public institutions which he visited prior to his death, The coffin, which was ' decorated with immortelles, was met at the entrance to the cemetery by the Ven. Archdeacon Pritt, and the Rev. Mr. Walpole, incumbent of St. Mary's, Parnell. The latter commenced the solemn burial service, and conductfd that portion of it which was held in the mortuary church, at the close of which the hymn, "Brief life is'here our portion," was sung. The service at the grave, wherethe deceased minister was laid beside his wife and daughter, was conducted by the Ven, Archdeacon Pritt, and closed with the hymn, " Oh, God, our help in ages past." Thore was no address given at the giave. We are informed that the Bight Rev. Dr. Cowie, Bishop of Auckland, was only prevented from attending the' funeral by illness.