KAIAPOI INSTITUTE ENTERTAINMENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3524, 28 July 1879, Page 3

KAIAPOI INSTITUTE ENTERTAINMENTS.

The third of the series of entertainments in aid of the Book Fund of the Kaiapoi Institute took place at tho Oddfellows' Hall, Kaiapoi, on Friday last, and was undeniably by far the beat entertainment that has taken place at Kaiapoi for a long time. The first port consisted, as on tho last occasion, of vocal and instrumental pieces, and was decidedly above the average of amatenr performances. " Tho Lady of the Lea," by Mrs Champion, was mosteffectirelj sung by that lady, who is possessed of a

sweet and powerful contralto voice. Bhe was most enthusiastically encored, and kindly responded by pinging the three lost verses beam.' Thfi 4uet."The ( fila-ldr.'flighs,"'by the same lady and Dr Ovenden, was also admirably sung, and received a well-merited enqpre, but, was not responded to. Mrs Croumbie Brown contributed "Love's Request" jn her usual excellent style, and received a vociferous encore, which she responded to by singing " The waltz song," whioh was well adapted to show the power and compass of her voice. Miss J. Monk sang "Do they think of me at Home" in a way that fairly brought down the house, and for the encore sho repeated the last verse. Mr Champion contributed the well known song " The Village Blacksmith," which ho eang, as he always does, correctly, and with great feeling and expression. Mr E. Wright sang " Nanoy Lee" very well, and was in far better voice than on the previous occasion, the hidden chorus being very effective. Of the instrumental pieces, the local Brass Band performed the "Firo Fly," galop and the "Esmeralda " schottisehe, both of whioh wen very well. Mrs Hardy contributed awe played pianoforte solo, and Mr R. H. Mathews and Mrs Hardy gave the piano and cornet duet, "IlBalen" in a very pleasing manner. Tbe instrumental duet (piano), by Mrs Croumbie Brown and Miss E. Johnston was also very nicely played. The following is the full programme :— Brass Band, "Fire Fly" galop. Song, "Death of Nelson," Mr S. Johnston. Piano solo, " Siego of Pariß," Miss Ellen. Song, "My Grandfather's Clock," Miss Pinching. Duet, "Tho Sailor Sighs," Mrs C. J. Champion and Dr Ovenden. Duet (cornet and piano), "II Balen," Mrs Hardy and Mr Mathews. Song, " Nancy Lee," Mr R. M. Wright. Song, "Do they think of me at Homo," Miss J. Monk. Piano " Duet in D," Mrs Croumbie Brown and Miss Johnston ; song, " The Lady of the Lea," Mrs O. J. Champion ; pianoforte solo, Mrs Hardy ; Bong, " The Village Blacksmith," Mr 0. J. Champion ; song, " Love's Request," Mrs Croumbie Brown ; Band, " Esmeralda Schottischo." The entertainment concluded with the farce of " Cut Off with a Shilling," tho cast being — Kitty Gaythorne, Miss Kaufmann; Sam Gaythorne, Mr M. H. Smith ; Colonel Bernors, Mr G. F. Hawlings. The characters were well-sustained throughout, and the performance was frequently applauded, although the voice of the prompter was heard a little too often, and far too lond. Thero was, notwithstanding the bitter cold, a large attendance. The President of tho Institute (Mr J. L. Wilson) stated that tho Book Committee had already purcba-cd over a hundred new works, and intended, should tbo entertainments continue to be successful, to buy another hundred volumes.