Matawhero School Concert.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5621, 16 November 1889, Page 2

Matawhero School Concert.

The concert at Makaraka last night was a decided success. In spite of the opposition of the elements there w;is a crowded house. On entering the schuolruun one was struck with the pretty appearance which it presented, decorated, as it was, with flags, flowers, and evergreens. An overture cjf Irish airs was played by Miss (piano) and Mr McFarlane (violin) in their usual brilliant style. The curtain screening the stage was then drawn, and a veritable fairy scene burst on the view of the audience. Tho stage was very prettily decorated, and in the centre was a see-saw also gay with ilowers, &c. ; kneeling round the stage were 35 of the school children, the girls dressed in white with blue or pink sashes. At a given signal they all rose to their feet, and Mrs Wright playing the waltz See-saw, one detachment mounted the see-saw, one waltzed round about it, and a third lined the walls, all singing. Patience Wall and Willie Harris, two little tots, then sang very well the song " Jolly Little Clacker;" Miss Aclair rendered with her usual sweetness " The Moon may love the Sea;" Mr Woodward had to give an encore to "They all love Jack;" Mr Berrill then followed with a very clever recitation in Highland character "The Execution of Montroso ;" Mrs Sunderland was vociferously applauded for her rendering of "The Song for Me ;" Mr Berrill, again in Highland costume, sang " Tho Standard on the Braes o' Mar " in such a manner that the audience could only be quieted by his singing an encore, "Come o'er the Stream, Charlie;" Mrs Caldwell sang "The Mill Wheel" in a most finished style. Mrs Birrell sang most sweetly and pleasingly "Oh ! Dinna cross the Burn, Willie." The first part of the programme was brought to a close by a hornpipe by Mr Bruce, whose dancing so delighted the audience that they recalled him. Tho Misses Stevenson opened the second part with an overture, " Home Flowers." The following songs were sung : — Mrs Birrell, " Why do Summer Roses Fade?" Mr Woodward, "The Meynell Hunt," with " Wrap me up in my old stable jcacket," as an encore ; Mrs Caldwell, "Rome;" Miss Aclair, "Robin Adair;" Mrs Sunderland, "Two Lovers Went a-Rowing ; " and Miss Ford, "Auntie." The children to the number of 17 brought a very pleasant concert to a close by singing (swinging) "Good Night," followed by the National Anthem. The dance afterwards was well attended, and dancing kept up until about a quarter to three this morning.