ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11841, 19 December 1901, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

DIX'S GAIETY COMPANY. There was an excellent attendance last night at the City Hall, when the present popular programme was enthusiastically received. The last four nights of the popular comedian, Mr. Charles Faning, and Miss Devoo and Mr. Brinkman are announced. The. Lingard Sisters appear for five more nights only. A grand Christmas concert is announced, in which Messrs. Pope and Savlcs will make their reappearance, and will sing th<- : r famous jubilee refrains. For tho Christmas holidays an almost, complete change of company will be seen, the most important features being the first appearance in New Zealand of tho Lentous, a clever acrobatic hat-spinning team, and Messrs. Murphy and Mack, American comedians. These artists are on tho s.s. Sierra, and were secured by arrangement with Mr. Harry Rickards.

OTAHUHU FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the Otahuhu Fruit growers' Association was held in the Masonic Hall, Otahuhu. on Tuesday evening, December 17. The president (Mr. T. Lippiatt) occupied tho chair. The secretory (Mr. A. Sturges) read a letter received from Mr. S. A. Browne, of Clevedon (secretary of the Auckland Farmers' Co-operative Society), in which it was stated that a meeting of this society will be held in Auckland on Friday morning next. December 20. Among other business to be transacted, will be a proposal to establish a co-operative fruit market in connection with the Auckland Farmers' Cooperative Society. The Otahuhu Fruitgrowers' Association was invited to appoint a representative. Mr. W. E. Lippiatt accepted the appointment. From reports furnished by members present on Tuesday evening, the projects of crops of grapes, tomatoes, plums, peaches, apples, nectarines. lemons, and oranges, growing about Otahuhu are good. The pear crop is likely to Ikbelow the average.—[Own Correspondent.]

MANUKA!' WESLEYAN CIRCUIT. The quarterly meeting of the Manukau Wcelevaii circuit was held at Mangcre yesterday afternoon. The Rev. C. Griffin ■ presided, and representatives were present from Onehunga. Otahuhu, Manger©, ami Wocdsido. The chairman reported the number of members to be 178, and 50 communicants. Mr. W. Westney. senior circuit steward, presented the financial statement, which showed a credit balance- of £12 18s. The chairman reported that £50 had also been subscribed by tho circuit for home missions during the quarter. Permission was given to the trustees of the Onehunga Wesloyan Church to devote one Sunday's collections to their trust fund. Officers were elected for tho ensuing year as follows:—Circuit stewards. Messrs. J. Robins and G. D. Smith, senior and junior respectively; auditors, Messrs. G. 11. Douglass and H. J. Davies; society stewards— Papakura. Mr. F. Evans: East Tamaki, Mr. H. Farnsworth. On the motion of Mr. Godwin Smith, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Westney for his services as senior circuit steward, and a similar vote, moved by Mr. Westney. was accorded to the local preachers for their services. Mr. J. leaking was unanimously elected to represent the Manukau circuit at the annual conference, to be held next February at Dunedin, Mr. H. J. Davies being appointed substitute representative. A cordial invitation was given by Mr. G. D. Smith'to hold the next quarterly meeting at Woodsido. This was accepted. At the close of the meeting tho members sat down to a bountiful tea. Miss S. Wallace and Miss Lamhonrno presided at the tables, and were heartily thanked for then hospitality.

AUCKLAND BANJO AND MANDOLIN CLUE'S CONCERT. , A well-selected vocal and instrumental programme was submitted at the first concert of a series given by the Auckland Banjo, Guitar, and Mandolin Club at the Federal Hall. Wcl-lesley-street West, last night, but the unfavourable weather had a detrimental effect on tho attendance. The opening selection, " Uartaneaux" (Vonnct),' and a patrol. " The Yellow Kids" (Armstrong}, a mazurka. " La Bella" (Paul Eno), and a gallop, "Tho Bohemians" (Heller), rendered by tho club, were well rendered, and Miss Made Kino Knight gave two vocal items, " Daddy" (Behrend) and "Queen of Angels" (Piocolomini). tho vocalist receiving much applause. A banjo solo, " Handicap March" (Rosey). was admirably played by Mr. J. Lawrence, as wa»s rLo the harp solos, "Les Oontles d'Eiu" (Obcrthur). " Santa Lucia" (Chatterton), by Mr. F. Carter. Two solos. " Come Into the Garden, Maud" (Balfe) and "Tho Romany Lass" (Adonis), sung by Mr. Ford, found great favour with the audiences. Madame Cosier'* solo?, "The Swallows" (Cowan) and "My Pot" (Millard), were two of the features of tho concert. Madame and M. Oasier also rendered a duet, '" Miserere et A.h Che La Morte" (Verdi), which elicited the compliment of a hearty recall. Mr. M. Hamilton Hodges was also a contributor to tFte programme. Ho was in excellent voice, and his singing found the utmost favour with the audience. His songs were, "Were I the Streamlet" (Lloyd) and "Wreck of, the Hesperus" (Hatton). An instrumental duet. •'Soldiers in the Park." was well rendered bv Miss Lily Barker (guitarra), and Mr. H. Fountain (banjo), and a trio, "The Ziska Gavotte," bv the two !astnam«l instrumentalists and Mr. J. Lawrence (guitar), were well played. Mr. Ernest Schatz supplied tho comic element, his sowg.s highly amusing the audience. Mr. .T. Lawrence acted as conductor, and Miss Edith Murcott and Mr. A. Bartlev made efficient accompanists. Tomorrow (Friday) evening the club, assisted by well-known vocalists, will give another programme of entirely different instrumental and vocal music, details of which will be duly advertised. . CONCERT AT THE HOSPITAL. The convalescent patients at the Auckland Hospital were afforded a rare musical treat yesterday evening in the form of a concert by prominent musical friends. A strong orchestra, consisting of Misses Tole (2). Etta Martin. F. and E. MeParland, Lilian Dovore, Mrs. S. Adams, Dr. Egan, Messrs. J. H. Hooper, T. Adams, A. Carbines, Give Roberts and S. Adams, and conducted by the Hon. J. A. Tole. played several enjoyable items. A piano duet was well rendered by Misses F. and E. McFarland and Messrs. Chas. Nathan and S. Adams. Appropriate vocal items were contributed in an artistic manner by Mrs. George Roberts and tho Hon. J. A. Tole, and were much appreciated. Violin solos was delightfully played by Misses Margaret and Bay Tole, and the Rev. Dr. Egan gave several musical sketches, which were greatly enjoyed. Miss Tole and Mr. Clive Roberts were efficient accompanists. The promoter of tho concert was Mr. S. Adams, who acted as musical director. At the conclusion Dr. Tnglis", on behalf of the patients, heartily thanked the performers for the admirable entertainment provided.