CONCERT AT OHAUPO.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1284, 21 September 1880, Page 2

CONCERT AT OHAUPO.

A vocal and instrumental concert wag held in the School-house, Ohaupo, on Friday evening, for the purpose of raising funds for purchasing a hirraonium for the Church of England. Tho little buildIng 1 had been mo.st tastefully decorated by several ladies of th- 1 neighborhood ; evergreens being placed at all prominent point-,. Two very pretty chandeliers were suspcude 1 from the roof, coustructcd of -npple jacks and ornamented with fonts and bu^h flowers. The effect was pleading in the extreme. For the better conduct of the arrangements a .stage wag erected with curtains. All the be-*b local talent a\aibible was .secured, and the choir of St. Andrews Auarlican Church, Cambridge, al->o attended and gave very valuable aid. The chair was occupied by the Rev. W. X. de L Willie, who, in a few introductory remarks, expressed his gratification at seeing such a large attendance — (there were over 200 persons present)—and referred to tho object for which the entertainment \v,i^ given. Tho members of the Ohnupo Choir then opened the musical portion of the progr.unmc with th^ well-known glee, " Tho Bells of St. Miulucl'H Tower," whiru Hiey sang with much r\»> it. Mr D. C.iley, jun., sansr with power and expression '* Non 'c vor " and Mm Stuart with much feeling Biuhams favourite '' Sweet chiming Bells." Following upon these was a song, which formed a complete contrast, the native of which apart from the manner iv which it \v,is rendered exactly hitting the taste of the mijoiity ot those present. This was Mr Garland's motto song, " One Story is good till another is told.' 1 In response to an unniit>takcablo encore, !Mr (Jaiimd contributed "Baby don't you cry" a song which obtained a better reception even than its predecessor, and narrowly missed an encore itself. Mi.ss Finch's rendering of the old gem " Kathleen Ma\ onrneen" was characterised by the correctness and grace which are observable in all this younfj lady's performances, and .she received the hearty applause of the audience. The trio "Ye Shepherds'* by Miss Prince and Messrs. Prince and Fleming w.is carefully and well snug ; but Mr F. MuMinn's song "It made me so awfully wild" which came next was marred .somewhat by the absence of an accompaniment. The choir of St. Andrew s then gave a very pleasing rendering of the chorus " The Maiden of the Flour de Lis," the several parts being well sustained. Miss Prince was happy in the selection of "Thy Face"' which was given with taste and feeling, and was loudly applauded : and Mr Caley sang with nric the line ballad "England and the Sea.'" To this succeeded the plaintive aria, "Alice where art Thou" by Miss Smyth, and then Mr (■Jar land appeared in a new rote and one better suited to his tine tenor voice, in "The Village Blacksmith" which Mas rendered in a quiet and yet forceful manner that fairly won the applause which ensued upon its conclusion. Miss Fleming played a brilliant solo oi\ the pianoforte " Echoes from the Hills," and was rapturously applauded, and the first part of the entertainment was brought to a close with " The chorus of huntsmen " by the choir of St. 1 Andrews. After an interval of ten minutes the second part was introduced consisting of a dramatic representation of the Trial Scene, from Pickwick. The characters were ably sustained by young gentlemen, amateurs, and the performance was in every way a thorough success. The young gentleman who played U\c double part of Mrs. Cluppins and Mrs. Winkle is especially deserving of praise, though the part of Buzfuz was also admirably performed. The concert was brought to a clo>e with the national anthem. We must not forget to pay a compliment to the ladies, Mrs. Chitty and Miss Fleming, who co efficiently played the accompaninents to the various solos and concerted pieces. The office of accompanist ia often a very arduous and nearly always a thankless one and it gives us much pleasure to refer here to the admirable manner in -which the ladies above mentioned earned out the duties entrusted to them. It is pleasing to add that the concert was as successful financially no less than muxieally, the sum of £15 being netted. This amount with tho few pounds which we understand have becti collected will go far towards accomplishing the object of the concert. After the programme had been exhausted, the school-house was cleared ior dancing, and t6 the music of piano, violin and acconlian, a large number of the visitor^ tripped it ti# early morning.