Society

Observer, Volume 9, Issue 523, 29 December 1888, Page 14

Society

, • [Society items of all kinds will be welcome for insertion in this column. Al] commnviications should be addressed, " Society "Editor, Observer and Fbeb Lance," and should reach this office not later than Mondn 7 ___oi*uin in each iree.v. j

— Major Dane is going to settle in New South Wales, and turn farmfer. —On dit that a young lady well known in : Auckland Social circles haa forged the bonds of beti othal with a wealthy resident of the Cathedral . Oity. — The marriage of Mr William Wheeler, Surveyor, New Zealand Survey Staff, and Miss Elizabeth Ratcliffe, eldest daughter of A. P. . Ratcliffe Esq, H.M. Customs, Whangaroa, was • solemnised at the residence of the bride's parents (Whangaroa) on tlie fifth ult. ,the Yen. Archdeacon Clarke officiating. — Birkenhead has awoke to new musical life. Northcote has given birth to a Choral Society which promises to act as a tempting bait '> to lovers of music. The first concert of the newly inaugurated body was held inthe . Gladstone Hall on Wednesday evening before a large audience. The choir included sixteen sopranos, fourteen tenors, and eighteen basses. The altos were marked by poverty of number, only five mustering. Mr Parkin acted as conductor, doing his work in an admirable manner. Selections from ' The Messiah ' filled the first part of the evening. Mrs Bond, took the soprano solo, ' Come Unto Him ' * with artistic expression. ' O,- Thou that Tellest ' (contralto) was sung in splendid style by Mrs Neai. Mr McCarthy's rich, sweet Tenor was heard to great advantage in the recitative. ' Comfort Ye,' and the air 4 Every Valley. In the beautiful quartette, ' Adeste Fiddles ' (Novello), Misses Fitzpatrick and Vickery, Cadness and Bond, acquitted themselves with credit. The gem of the whole was a trio (Haydn) by Miss Slattery (piano), Mr E. Miller (violin), and Mr Parkin ('cello). Mr Miller distinguished himself aa a most skilful violinist in one of Beethoven's sonatas, the obligate being* played by Miss Chambers. A number of concerted pieces were given by the Society. Miss Slattery was loudly applauded for her rendering of ' White Wings ' (Pinsuti). Mr Cadness sang 'The Maid of the . Mill.' Mr C. Chambers's song, ' Parted or .Near,' was an excellent item. We congratulate the , infant Society on the marked approval greeting the maiden concert. —A correspondent writes:— One of tbe most successful musical and dramatic federations that has ever eventuated in the canny Ne-arua-wahia district came off in the Publio, Hall last Thursday night. The very bloom of local talent shed their lustre on the assembled audience, which swarmed like bees to indulge in what rumour asserted was to be a hive of good things ; nor were expectations vain. After the honey of voealism sipped in Miss Kate Young's ' Thine for Ever,' we became inflated with musical epicurism. The courses following the first entree were almost equal in merit. Miss L. Warren (a lady hailing . from your fair city of blue-blooded aristocracy and indifferent drainage) brought down the house with ' Forget ' (we're sending to the Kauri Company for timber to rebuild), a lovely ballad sung in strains which would put a seraph in the shade We wanted more, and we got it in the shape of a double encore, responded to by ' Fiddle and I ' . and\' The Miller and the Maid.' Miss White got a decided reea'.l in ' White Wings ' (deservedly so) ; she also scored a point in the duet (violin and piano) selections from 'Lucia di Lammermoor.' The gentlemen in question is a splendid violinist. Miss James's yocal definition of ' The Soldier's Tear' made a regular hit; the audience insisted on more salty globules, given in such sweet setting. Mr L. Laurie was capital in his * Lord Dundreary ' mimicry. The band added greatly to the success of the evening with instrumental . morceaux. The farce, 'Turn Him Out,' was capitally staged; tho walls of the hall fairly shook with laughter. Mr L. Laurie as Nobby acted his part to perfection. Miss Young made a first-rate Susan ,• Mr Young personated Mackintosh Moke ; and Mr Fred Hunt, Roseleaf . If you would like to hear more of our amateur talent. Mr Editor, drop a line to Oscar Sunflower AEkq., M.A.X.C.8., Post-office, Ngaruawahia. —Tbe concert in aid of tbe funds of the Waiternata Boating Club, v held in the City Hall ' on Monday evening, was not a financial bomb, notwithstanding the attractiveness of the uro- . gramme, which was one of the best we have heard for sometime. The entertainment was heralded by aweet music, discoursed by Impey's band on the balcony of the hall. Inside, Mr A. Bartley filled the'role of premier performer, his pianoforte solo was. played with, brilliancy and finished expression^ Mr E.O. Hare sang and expounded the /mysteries of the jubilant jig in a manner which met . with a hearty applause. Mr D. Menzies in warb- . ling strains declared himself 'True to the. Last,' his vocal statement met with a unanimous vote of confidence. Miss Hargreaves alone seemed to bea doubter, and boldly expressed her sentiments in the piquanto ballad, ' Ko, Sir,' which she rendered wi+h the archness of an Amy bherwin Mr W. H George was heard to advantage in ' The Monerch of the Wood.' Miss Tudehope oarried off. high honours ; her rendition of 'The "Wicket Gate ' was exquisite. Tbe comic element, vocrdly pourtr'ayed, found a vory hero in Mr Birdsall- . tbis gentleman's first number was the humorous ditty, ' When You Come to Think of It,' which was sung in such splendid style that an enthusiastic encore was demanded; in compliance with the hand-clamping petition, Mr Birdsall sang 'For jkver,' making almost as great a. hit in the second coition. ' A Soldier's Tear ' was called forth in a highly meritorious manner by Mr Teague, as an antidote to its sidesplitting predecessor. In response to an u..cUn.iisb.e recall, he gave " I'll Await, My Love ' Misa Walker was very happy in the quaint ballad, *• Fiddle and I.' Mr C. E. White then stepped on ( the stage wearing the honours of comicality, :" which he. did fall credit to in 'The Ghost of ; _^eiij:imin Binns.' Mr A. Obristie oamefoVth asa. ' deb"r_eator of poetic motion, and succeeded so well (in establishing his cause that, an encore Resulted. 7£Miss Hargrave came in for a . similar, ovation; ■'yher-spng 'Who's That Tapping,' was und&ubtedly A onebf the. best items... ;..*, The Wolf "!* by!^rlftvnir, •;7imohd"..(he. f waa.not7in. -^^'s;-.blb > th'iiig : .:t^».;iiiof6^: •fe^.MfJH

waß another appetising dose of harmony. In Mr BirdsalFs third comic song ' He's All Right When You Know Him,' the very essence of fun was extracted ; as an encore he gave ' You Know.' The programme was wound up like a Waterbury watch, from the end, by Mr W. H. Georsre with ' Marphais;' a vocal outburst. Euterpe having been uismissed with cordiality, dancing held the boards, capital music being supplied by Messrs Hannken Bros.' string band. — Remuera entertainments are proverbal for their excellency. A most enjoyable concert took place in the aristocratic suburb on Monday evening, in aid of the Hobson public school. The greater part of the programme was contributed Ity well-known lady and gentleman amateurs. The room overflowed with a most select audience. t'Romueraites are blue-blooded if they're anything ) many were compelled to remain standing Mr J. M. Shera presided. A duet (piano) by the Misses Henderson blew the first notes on the trumpet of melody ; the strain being kept up by Mr E. Baker with the song, 'Romany Lass.' Sweeter, more thrilling, grew the notes when Miss Dallas warbled ' The Little Mountain Maid.' i This lady possesses a charmingly sympathic voice. Her second number ' The Blind Girl's Dream,' fairly thrilled tho audience. A march from ' Ndrina' (violin and piano), Misses Harlinson, was a brilliant instrumental morcean. The Bard of Avon was then accorded full sway of the boards ; a performance of the fourth act of ' Midsummer Night's Dream ' was most creditably interpreted by Mr Chambers and a bevy of school girls. The curtain was then again laised by Euterpe's magic finger, Mr and Mrs Bell giving the vocal duet, ' I Know A Bank,' the rendition of which evoked loud applause. Mr Bruce enacted the role of ' Funny Songster ;' his ' Flying Dutchman ' and comic ' The Big Tom Cat,' were greeted with uproarious hand-clapping. Miss M. Blades won the laurels as prima donna ; ' White Wings,' as sung by this young lady gaired new beauty. Mr Chambers sang ' Across The Far Blue Hills, Marie.' Miss Bell gave 'The Student's Frolic.' Master Hould sang ' The Old Cathedral ' and ' Tit Willow ' in capital sryle. The next chapter was the ' Fee-saw ' Waltz in character, by a number of school children, whose light fantastic evolutions had been inspired by Miss Gertrude Harden. Nothing could have been prettier than the action singing of the children. A trio of items, vocal and instrumental, put a night-cap on the proceedings, contributed

by MrW. Champion, who was heard to advantage in ' King's Champion j ' piano duet, ' The Sleigh Eace,' Misses Herbert and Barnp.t ; instrumental trio (piano, flute and violin), Mrs Bell, Messrs N. Bell and Airey, After the singing of the National Anthem, dancing cheered the heart. Success stamped every item of the night's amusement. — A great gathering* filled the Newmarket Hall to the doors on Monday evening,the occasion of the Christmas concert in aid of the local Wesleyan Church. A large orchestra was present, under the conductorship of Mr Gatland. The cantata, 'Nativity,' was most creditably given by-way of introduction, followed by a programme rendered as under -.—lnstrumental introduction (most creditably performed). A well- sustained chorus, ' The Angels Appear to the Shepherd,' came next. Mr J. Jones sang the solo, 'O, Be Not Afraid,' with true devotional feeling. The chorus, ' Song of the Heavonly Host,' was kept up with spirit and correctness of time and expression. The quartette and chorus, 'As a Fair Face Dreaming,' was well sung by IVI iss Davis, Mrs Gatland, Messrs Forbes and J. Jones. The latter gentleman gave the reeit., ' The Shepherds go to Bethlehem,' with splendid : effect. Mrs Adlington's rich voice did full justice to the solo, "Twas not a Vision We Saw.' She was also •most successful in the duet, 'We Will Publish It to All Men,' with Miss Ormiston. Miss Elizabeth Davis took the solo, 'O, Come All Ye Faithful.' The chorus, 'And the Glory of the Lord,' from 'The Messiah,' was undotibtedly the finest chorus given. 'With Weary Weeks of Travel,' was also well sung. Mr R. S. Abel gave the solo, 'Nazareth,' with even more than his usual success ; lavish encomiums were bestowed on the performance. Miss Wilson sang ' But Thou Didst Not Leave,' interpreting the sweet solemnity of the number with artistic effect. Miss Davis was equally admired in the solo, ' He Was Despised,' bringing the pathos of the beautiful music fully into play. The remaining items were : Choruses, '0, List the Grand Chorus,'. ' Glory to God,' * Lift Up Your Heads;' and the grand triumphant 'Hallelujah :' instrumental selections, orchestra. — The entertainment dramatic and musical, held in the select school of the Siaters of Mercy, Parnell, oh Friday, was an unqualified success. The performance of the pupils, both in the cause of ( Thespis and Euterpe,, reflected a fund of credit ;6n, _ their jpainstafcjaig instructors. The Misses X>a .aaa,JM^Aa'' a \ ■,_._: 7 :.;yy,y.-7;.

Lynch, Fitzgibbon, Flannery arid Carol were just struck off the role of the musical unemployed ; their duet, ' Niccolo ' on two pianos was played in first-class style by Misses Carroll Neville, McCabe, and Evelyn George Perhaps the prettiest recitation of the evening was ' Baby Christmas ' by "Miss Cushla Coupland, and Nellie Hodgson. Miss Mary Hodgson recited 'Mr Nobody ' with quaint piquancy, her enunc : ation testifying to her possession of histrionic talent. The song and chorus, ' The Old Land and the New,' was a praiseworthy effort ; the same may be applied to the rendering of ' The Last Sweet Words of Mother.' Misses Lynch, Fitzgibbon, Gertrude Flannery and Carol distinguished themselves in the capacity of musicians in ' Woodland Echoes,' a duet on two pianos. The characters in the drama, ' A Slight Mistake,' were enacted by Miss Fitzgibbon, Lady Prince Proudly Sarsnet ; her maid,, Miss Evelyn George; Penelope Perfect, Miss Gertrude Flannery ; Rosina (her cousin), Miss Alice Homen ; Dorothy, Miss Emily Flannery. The several parts were acted with the greatest satisfaction to the onlookers. 'Red Riding Hood', the second dramatic cause, found able delineators in Miss Fernandez, Red Riding Hood; Mother, Miss Glover ; Hugh (woodman) Miss Kate Mc Rhone ; Wolf (boy) Miss Jackson ; Robin, (playmate) Miss Evelyn George; Rose Miss Gertrude Flannery. The semi- chorus oi' bluebells (full chorus of merry children) was beautifully sung*. The proficency of the pupils in music, song and dramatic impersonation, should prove a source of gratification to the Sisters.