PUKERAU

Otago Witness, Issue 2008, 18 August 1892, Page 21

PUKERAU

Am ust 11.— The cantata "Under the Palms" wasgi\-tn on Tuesday evening, i»th inst., by the Pukt ran Pre-byterian Choir in tho Atheiueum Hall. The night being line there was a large attendance. The stage .was enlarged for the occasion, and h.id quite a sylvan appearance, beautifully decorated as it was with palm and fern trees ami other evergreens. The scats were arranged in tiers, a passage being left atone end for the singers to come on to the stage. The aich above the stage had ropes of greenery looped over it, which •wore thickly dotted with rgd aud white roses. The organ was festooned with ferns and roses. All the young ladies weie dressed in white, and as they" iiled on to the stage and into their scat=, while the opening march was being played, the audience were all of the opinion that they had i lu-ly if ever seen a prettier sight. The ladies in their white robes had a very fairylike appearance, aii-1 tins eli'ect was hei fc hlencd by the scenery all around. The soprano soloists, this Mit?es Jli'ne, (ircen, and M'Kenzie are worthy of special mention. The alto soloists, Miss Carrutheis, Miss ( J.vrd ncr, and others also did remarkably well. Mr Pun is, as bass soloist, seemed to please the taste of the audience, and his singing merits all praise. Tin- others— Mr Dawson (buitonc), Messrs Proudfevt and Cunningham (tenor) —performed their parts in a very satisfactory m.inn -r. The quartets, choruses, Ac , were much appreciated by the au'iicnce, the children's singing also being very "■ood. Miss Meekinjt presided at the organ. Mr Ov.-dn.cr was conductor, awl it is owing to his efforts that we were permitted to tn.iuy ourselves •li we did last Tuesday evening. Dining tho interval refreshments were handed round by

members of the choir, and a sociable half hour was spent in discussing the good things the ladies of Pukerau had kindly provided. Everyone agreed that they had spent a most enjoyable evening and expressed a wish that they might have a repetition of the treat shortly.