Choir Social and Presentation at Ngapara.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 7695, 12 December 1899, Page 1

Choir Social and Presentation at Ngapara.

(from our own correspondent.)

The Ngapara Presbyterian Church choir gave their annual social on Friday evening There was a very large gathering of the congregation and friends. The church was beautifully decorated for the occasion, roses and lilies forming the chief features of the decoration. Mr Standring occupied the chair, and expressed his pleasure at the good attendance. He also referred to the excellent understanding which had always existed between himself and the choir. The choir, under Mr Robertson's leadership, then gave a selection of anthems, quartettes, and sacred solos, which Bbowed evidence of useful preparation. The soloists were Misses Graham and Christie, Mr 3 Brunton, and Messrs B. Seth-Smith and Crombie. A violin solo with organ accompaniment was played by Miss Nicol and Mrs Nimmo, and an organ solo by Mr Webb, of MorniDgton. During the evening refreshments of a substantial character were handed round and full justice was done to them. - £ Perhaps the most interesting item ot the evening was an unrehearsed one, and one which came as a considerable surprise to one member of the choir at least, viz , Mr Robertson. The members had decided that the occasion should not be allowed to pass without in some small way recognising the choir's indebtedness to Mr Robertson, both as friend and choir leader. Mr Thomas Paterson was, therefore, deputed to present Mr Robertson with a beautiful silvermounted baton and a copy of the new Hymnary. Mr Paterssn's remarks were in his usuil happy style. He referred to the harmonious and loyal feeling always prevailing among the members of the choir towards their leader, and said further that he wished to depart from the old custom of recognising worth and merit after death or on departure, and so would prefer to show their feeling for Mr Robertson while he was alive and with them, and asked him to accept the baton and Hymnary with the choir s best wishes. Mr Robertson, in replying, stated his total unpreparedness to meet a surprise of this kind, and thanked them for their present and good wishes. He thought his efforts did not merit such recognition, and further that he was not aware thab they required a stick. But as they had provided it he would have to use ib. . After the usual votes of tha,nks to the vocalises and friends from a and the choir, and the singing of the National Anthem a most enjoyable evening was brought to a close by Mr Standring pronouncing the Benediction.