MR J.M. CLARK’S BENEFIT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 791, 29 April 1887, Page 31

MR J.M. CLARK’S BENEFIT.

| The complimentary benefit tendered to Mr J. M. Clark, who is about to leave Wellington for.i Melbourne, where he intends to reside in future, took place at the Opera House last Friday night, was largely attended, and was a great success. The theatre was well filled in all parts, which bears great testimony of the popularity and esteem in which Mr Clark is held by his numerous friends aud acquaintances iu this city. .Mr Clark during the many years he has resided in Wellington has always taken an active part in amateur dramatic performances, and has invariably been one of the first and moßt willing to give his services for the benefit of any deserving or charitable objeot. He fully deserved the very high compliment paid him last night in the shape of a substantial benefit. Of the concert, nothing but praise, and that of the warmest, can be said. It was, without a doubt, one of the most successful of its kind that has been given in Wellington for some time. A capital programme had been arranged, and nearly all the items were re-demanded. The following was the programme : Barcarole, “ Here upon my Vessel’s Deck,” Mr E. J. Hill ; song, “ Because of Thee” (Berthold Tours), Miss Parkes; reoitatiou, “ Kissing Cup’s Race ” (Gordon), Mr F. W. Haybittle ; song, “It was a Dream ” (Cowan), Miss Trehair Osborne,; song (comic), “I stood just so,” (encore)' “In the Days of Old Lang Syne,” Mr Wi D. Lyon ; selections, waltz, “ Morgonblatte”' (Strauss) orchestra,; song, “ When the Flowing Tide comes in,” (Millard), Mr J. H. Atkinson, who on being encored gave “Alla Stella Confidente; ” cavatina from “Tanoredi” (Rossini), encored, and replaced by “Kathleen Mavourneen,” Madame Oarmini Morley ; song, “ Why must we say Good-bye ” (Edith Cooke), Miss Randell (encored) ; recitation, “The Revenge” (Tennyson), Mr H. E. Nicholls; “Ave Maria” (Gounod), with violoncello by Mr C. Waud, Marlame Carmini Morley ; song, “ Oh, oh, hear the wild winds blow” (Titto Mattei), Mr J. Prouae; Gavotte, “ Immer Weider,” orchestra ; duet, “La ci darem,” from “Don Giovanni” (Mozart), Miss Trehair Osborne and Mr E. J. Hill ; recitation, “The fireman’s love” (J. J. Blood), Mr J. E. Read ; duet (comic), “ The Irish pair,” Messrs W. D. Lyon and E. T. Sayers. The orchestra was under the leadership of Herr Mosch, who also played the majority of the accompaniments. The exceptions were Mr Willeby Hawthorn, who accomDacied Mr Atkinson’s songs ; and Mr C. Waud, who acted similarly for Madame Morley. In the first part of the programme Mr Clark recited “Jean Goello’s yarn ” (Coppie). The item was encored, but instead of responding to the encore Mr Clark briefly addressed the audience. He said he would take that opportunity, which would probably be the last he would have of appearing before them in his present capacity, of thanking them heartily for the kindness he had received at their hands that evening and on many other occasions. He felt that he owed a debt of gratitude to the people of Wellington for the manner in which they had always received his efforts. He felt that their kindness to him that night was overpowering, and he would ever feel grateful for all the many happy experiences he had had during his sojourn in Wellington. He was a native of Wellington, and he was proud of the faot. (Applause.) He wished to thank those ladies and gentlemen who had so kindly assisted him, and also Mr R. E. Bannister, his old playfellow and schoolmate, and Messrs Lyon and Hill, who had undertaken the onerous duties of managing the concert. He also felt that he was under a great obligation to the press of Wellington for the consideration he had received at their bands. In this connection he would mention that the whole of the advertising of the concert was being done gratuitously, and the tickets were also being printed free of cost. In conclusion, Mr Clark said that the remembrance of that evening would always be a bright spot in his memory. Once more, thanking them for their attendance, he would wish them farewell. It may be meutioned that Mr C. Waud, who played the violoncello accompaniment to Madame Morley’s “ Ave Maria,” did so by kind permission of Mr J. L. Hall, manager of the company now performing at the Theatre Royal.