COLAC BAY.

Southern Cross, Volume 5, Issue 32, 13 November 1897, Page 5

COLAC BAY.

The concert held here last Friday in aid of the school funds was a pronounced success. The committee that engineered the affair had been fortunate in securing some of the best vocal talent of Invercargill and Riverton, besides well-known local singers, and this, coupled with the laudable object of the entertainment, assured its success. An audience of about three hundred crowded the hall. The chairman of the committee, Mr J. 0. Paterson, presided in a very happy manner. He briefly related the history of the school, and explained the objects of the entertainment, viz'., to raise funds to improve the school grounds. The Education Board, on taking over the school from the Native Department, had received £163 from the Government to put the premises in a proper state and enlarge the building. It had been hoped that this sum would have been sufficient for these purposes—but the hope had been disappointed, as more than that sura had been absorbed in providing an additional room to accommodate the increased attendance. Hence the necessity of funds. The school was an important one, the roll number being 90, and the duty of finishing off the improvements from the point where the board left off devolved on the committee. Any sum raised locally for this purpose would be subsidised to the extent of pound for pound by the Board. He thanked the large audience for attending and loyally supporting the committee’s efforts. The concert programme was happily varied and extremely interesting, every item evoking enthusiastic applause. Miss Gilchrist (Thornbury) gave Maid of Athens, and Miss McKay (Long Bush) gave The Carnival, both achieving a distinct success. Mr A. F. Grenfell, who was in good voice, sang Admiral Tom and a comic song, which were received with every demonstration of appreciation. Mr A. McKillop, who also made two appearances, in a recitation (Sharaus O’Brien) and in a comic song (in character), proved his mastery of both tragedy and comedy. A large part of the comic element, which always bulks largely in country concerts, was contributed by Mr E. Monckton, who played many parts, appearing in conjuring and sleight of hand tricks, banjo and singing, negro minstrelsy, and keeping the house in good humoui all the time. Mr A. Bain sang Moriarity in appropriate costume with marked success. Comic songs were also contributed by Mr J. Thurgood and Mr West, and were highly appreciated. One of the most enjoyable items was Mr Philp’s recitation, ‘ Glesca hie ! on the Clyde,’ which was vociferously encored. Instrumental items were judiciously interspersed. Mr J. W. Moore gave a finished performance on the cornet, Mr A. Wylliegave an enjoyable violin solo, while Mr J. Ramsay contributed a bagpipe solo. The last mentioned received a tremendous ovation, proving the real popularity of Scotland’s national music. As a finale a Maori Haka was danced by the Natives from the Kaik. The fantastic dress and tattoo marks that formed the toilet of the warriors, the vigorous movements of the dance, all descriptive of episodes in Maori life, the accompanying war song and extraordinary facial contortions, expressive of derision or contempt, afforded a most picturesque exhibition, all the more so on account of its contrast to the pakeha performances preceding. A very successful ballfollowed the concert. As first-class music was supplied by Messrs J. Hansen (violin), A. Wyllie (violin),

J. Taylor (cornel), Misses McKay and Gilchrist (piano), and Mr J. Ramsay .(bagpipes), a large number patronised the dance and kept it up till daylight. A great number of pretty dresses were worn, but the present writer does not feel equal to the task of describing them. Mr A. Henry made a genial and efficients M.C. The catering was in the hands of Messrs D. Kingsland and Son.