Complimentary Concert.

Southland Times, Issue 19006, 27 March 1903, Page 3

Complimentary Concert.

InVercargill citizens have never been-slow < in- acknowledging the Berviees of tho|e who -have t^eii pro^ineritc£ar6 in rendenug asBisttnoe especially euch M awmbife; or^less charitable in ther'oiharV -aoteifc^Beitie? it^' W not' anirpi ising that m - 'exc^dmgiyjarge^dieni c assembled iirthe : Zealanctia iECati yesterday &*n\ og on the 00----ojwion of . tie wmgHmfflJt^benefitto Mrs «6iijJ«r Mroi^M fc^wing maD y l^. 1 pastij^ii^ntte '% ;^^Sl^^ moßt pb^ ing sinwi^ «W^«adk to hejp .^jr good- : taSse. 2nd alway*s n Jre ;^f ; the heartiest re> eijptiioii whether inMprefcing ball^muao " an^OTtm»?ai#aying^lß^pprecia4ion of heVseryices and afc the^Bame^.iime^of evincing its sympathy^Hhvhwmhe^ recfint :iarn6nUble beieavemenb: it was rewlyed, ; therefpre; to organise a^entertainmeptoj the kiiid Mrs Ross hertelf M^ el VA nd •' to obtain the aid of Mr G. (Srayas dittetor. Ab a result, an admirable programnj* was awanged,.Bucli r as by jCß variety would Jh^ eettain^t b:^give fiDulestsatief action and flecyre? a apleridjd; awlien c: \.-.<. that this object "was achjeved ih^e^whd^ attended -the/ Zealaiiaia Hall amplest evidence; The; attendance wiaVgreater than,in gJoneA • ral was • a,ntici^e^*na i^ the ,= numbj^ 1 otiM Titogramme werelgive*i with & smvg-aiiaf^an--tub^usian^^hat ,werft fo^ay the least, T exlniarating^.^q^'BatfeHon^nd gaye-an excellent start by its^presentation ; of -a fine selection from Verdi, ancLthe Urnqn, orchestra thr ughout the evening dfeliglitwl a'l Ipvers of instrumental muoie; ; v3^^^ choruses vere finely chosen and' a/ifiWm^ rendered, and a part .soug, utmcoonipanieu, urvved ijuite a voc«l g«n.«> Jind was honoured

with a persistent encore. M iases Kirwan and Hiahou gave once again " The Elfin Call " a duet that they h*ve made specially their own ; and Messrs Lillicrap and Le Petit, wi'^h clarionet aud flute, weie at thair best in the duet " Lo ! here the gentle lark." The polos were on the same high level as the choruses and ins'rumentai selections. Mr Taylor's," Wolf " was never more effective. x\lr J. T^itigsland, by h s i-inging of *' A Russian love song,'? proved Ijis right to a place aoiong our hi t vocal gin. Mr Thomson's vtiice was sweet.and pure, and his ''Angels giitrd thee" must be re-kone*d one of the most nu bers. t Mr Portejusygavo a fine exposition of " I he Yeo,mati's'Wedding," imparting to it a,bundance*uf vim. Ihe lady singers should perhaps have been mentioned t first ; their numbers were thoroughly enjoyabe. Mrs \surphy, ever a favourite, Eang " Dear bird of s wttf6er," and received heartispst applause. , Mrs Grovvth'er appeared to advantage in.H.Wjhen the hei'rt ig*young, v giving a p^eaairitly 'symptthejbic interpretation. A recit >tion by Mr Webb imparted variety to the programme Jt was a capital elocutionary effort-, and the reciter received an eavhußiastic recall;- Of instrumental-solos there was but one, Mr Ferguson-'gi^jng a cavaifn by Ratf, aid doing it so well that the audience would glad y have had more. Mr Gray himself played many of the accompaniments ; jt is to say they were eilih as afforded •fuHest^assisJagcer to the s ngerß,and enjoyment to the audience. Just before the conclusion of the first pit of the programme the Mayor mounted the platform ;and addressed the gathering. He explained how it wa? that no train had been arranged to, suit Kivertoh citizens ; apologised for ihe somewhat uucooifortable character of a num-, bo? of the seats, and retarned, on behalt oT' Mrs Uoss, thanks x to tho organiser* of the entertaioineut and to the friends and S}'mpathisers who % had by their presence such effective aid. The piano used* was kindly lent for the occasion by the Dresden 11 Co The Pipe Band ala > lent its assistance by parading the struts and playing iv front of the hall j rior to the conceit.