MISS JUNO'S BENEFIT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6739, 20 September 1883, Page 3

MISS JUNO'S BENEFIT.

The complimentary concert tendered, by the Burns Statue Committee and Choir last evening to Miss Eloise Juno was all that the Com. liittee and Miss Juno herself could have desired, for the Garrison Hall was crowded in every part, and an excellent programme was gone through in a very satisfactory manner. Some surprise, however, was expressed at the absence of two of the leading vocalists -Signor and Madame Morley—who had promised their services, but who, aa his Worship the Mayor intimated, were absent "from professional reason best known to themselves." Mr T. Stewart, too, tho conductor of the choir, was an absentee, but from a different cause, he being too unwell to attend. His place was ably filled by Mr A. D. Denovan, who also entertained the audience with a humorous Scottish ditty, given in his own inimitable style, and further, in response to' an encor.e, with the experiences of " The Hundred Pipers," " with their bonnets, kilts, and a' that. Mr Morrison filled the gap in the first part of the programme'renderea vacant by the absence of Signor Morley, choosing for his selection "The Rhine Wine." He was, hewever, more successful in his treatment of "The Battle of Stirling," which was received with a good deal of applause. Miss Coventry came in for a good share of the singing, contributing no Fewer than four solos—"Darby and Joan," "The Old. Armchair," "Par away to Bonnie Scotland," tmd the song " She wore a Wreath of Roees." The laßt two items were perhaps the rriost successful, there being a want of expression in her treatment of tbo other two solos. Bliss Bell's song, " Caller Herrin'," was given very sweetly, but in'the first stanza hor voice was a trifle unsteady. The other verses, however, :wern Riven very correctly, and she was loudly applauded for the contribution. Mr J»go sang " Ooine sit theo doun,' and tho old favourite " The Boys of the Old Brigade," for which he was honoured with a recall. Miss Juno, who met with a. very cordial reception, aniwas honoured with'a number of bouquots, recited "Jeanie Deans'' inter new with the Duke °f Argyle" and a humorous' Scotch

recitation that never fails, to evoke hearty laughter—" Pittin' in the Cries." For this she received a unanimous recall, and later on gained quito an ovation for "A Newhayen fishwife's interview with her lover," in which she took part with Mr Wishart. Mr Towsey, iv addition to the accompaniments, played the "Funeral march of a marionette' and the brilliant!' Polish danse "in his usual artistic Btyle. The Garrison Band, too, lent valuable assistance, and the selections played by them under tho conduotorship of Mr Wishart were not by any means the least pleasing features of the entertainment. Tho concert was brought to a termination with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne," the Mayor having previously thanked tho audience and vocalists on behalf of Miss Juno for their patronage.