The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1877

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 368, 28 June 1877, Page 2

The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1877

A train will run to the Breakwater tonight for the convenience of passengers per p.s. Samson. Mr. Sumpter has kindly shewn us a telegram received from the captain of the Lochiel, which states that she arrived and was moored in Auckland harbour early this morning. The Lochiel has made unprecedently rapid time, having run from port to port in five days. At the President Magistrate's Court today, W. Jamieson, charged with obtaining goods to the amount of L 4 10s, from W. Sampson, of Dunedin, on a valueless cheque, was remanded to Dunedin, bail being allowed.—John Morgan, for assaulting Alfred Victor Johns, bailiff, was fined LlO, and bound over to keep the peace for six months.

The entertainment given last night under the auspices of the St. Paul's Young Men's Association passed off satisfactorily in every respect. The President (the Rev. A. B. Todd) officiated, and in a few introductory remarks referred to reasons that called the inst:ttition into existence. For variety the entertainment could scarcely be surpassed, consisting, as it did, of songs by ladies and gentlemen, readings and instrumental music, the introduction of some of which—that of the musical boxes—was a somewhat novel, but exceedingly happy idea. Then for the information aud encouragement of those whose ardour was great in the cause they had espoused, Mr. Keys, the Secretary, gave statistics to the offect that the society had made a commencement with niue adherents, and that it could now boast of 45. Were we to criticise seriatim the performances of those who kindly came forward to do their best to please the audience last niaht, we could do no other than accord praise all round, and we will ask our readers to imagine this done. Hypercriticism. or indeed, criticism of the mildest kind, is out ef place when writing of the efforts of those who have no other object in performing at such entertainments than to assist in rendering people happy, or in augmenting the funds°of a worthy institution, which is much the same thing.

Contrary to the anticipations of many, who thought the high rates charged for admission to the performance of the Georgia Minstrels would militate greatly against the gathering together of a large audience, the Masonic Hall was literally crowded in every part last evening by residents from far and near. There was, in fact, barely sitting room for the large number of people who thronged the hall, so great was the desire to see how a genuine troupe of negroes would carry through an entertainment. We have not space to enter upon a detailed notice of the performance, and we _sh-U therefore content ourselves with givi..g generally our opinion of the Company. The orchestra first calls for attention, and of this we may state that it is a really excellent one, the whole of the music being given with taste and precision. The accompaniments to the various sougs were admirably rendered, the soft, harmonious manner in which they were given clearly demonstrating that the performers are musicians of no mean order. The most thorough admirer of the piano must have been fully convinced of the superiority of string and reed instruments as accompaniments to the voice. Of the vocal powers of the company we cannot say much, for it is undoubtedly the weak part of the Georgias. There are one or two very respectable voices, but as a whole the vocalisation of the company does not come up to the ordinary run of Minstrel troupes. Of course, this can scarcely be wondered at, for it would have been difficult indeed to have gathered together a company of real "darkies" which would comprise really good vocalists. The choruses showed an evident desire on the part of each member to sing louder than the others, and there was not that nice balancing of the different parts into that one harmonious whole which usually charac

terises the choruses of Minstrel troups. The final chorus to each of the songs was the bebj effort in the vocal department, the singers showing very decidedly that when pianissimo was the order they were fully equal to the occasion. Unquestionably the feature of the first part of the entertainment was the manner in which the bones aud tambourine were handled. Unlike other Minstrel troupes, the Georgias have four corner men—two with bones, and two with tambourines. The manner in which the whole of these worked together, and the excellent time kept was really astonishing, but not more so than the performers' attitudes during their performances. Of the second part the dancing of various members was the greatest feature, the clog and "big shoe" dances being, if anything, superior to what has been seen here before. A banjo solo by Mr. Easton was admirably rendered, the player being loudly applauded. The different farces were of the ordinary kind, and call for no particular mention,, except one called " Brudder Bones' Baby," which might be omitted from the programme in future, and which received very decided marks of disapproval from the audience. The Georgias appear again this evening in a new programme.