NATIONAL CONCERT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6362, 17 December 1898, Page 7

NATIONAL CONCERT.

The "New Zealand National Night," promoted by the Christchurch centre of the Natives' Association, attracted a large audience to the Opera House last night. Ihe programme presented was of an entirely national character, the various performers being native born, while the music, songs and other component parts of the entertainment were all of New Zeaorigin. The concert'was opened by a pleasing overture,, "Kia Ora." composed tor the occasion by Mr' J K. Gardner, andperformed by the Christchurch Amateur Operatic, Society's -orchestra. Ihe Kaiapoi Maoris took the fancy of the audience. with a grotesquo " rwwhiri/' or song ot welcome, and were equally successful in a dance and a canoe song later in the evening Perhaps the most interesting feature of the entertainment was a limelight mynorama of « Christchurch— Past ?hf l reSen V^ Uus trating the growth of the city and the port from the arrival of the pilgrims to the present date. Mr G. K. Hart was a capital lecturer » Misses Peggy Ryan, Lucy R yan and Hilda Meadows, and Mean* C. Bead, R Petersen and P. Collins contributed successful vocal numbers. Mr D. Kyan reM'tL,- teke ? BJ.8 J ." I «ygen^ of Terry S?SL 1T1 fi P Pf en J id style. 'Misses Lilly and Peggy Baih danced a Highland fling very cleverly to. the music of Piper M layufo.. Mr J. R, Gardner gave an artistic rendering pf several violin solos. \tl f n *? rtainraen fc concluded with an offec184R S!. ea^ol preaentin g New Zealand in 1848 and 1898, crowned by a crrdup comand'ri r B ? tanii L a ' a cHSne3 S , ana native-born children/