BENEFIT CONCERT.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17407, 21 May 1928, Page 8

BENEFIT CONCERT.

GRATIFYING SUCCESS. OYER £IOO RAISED. The Theatre Royal was filled last evening when a sacred benefit concert was given. The programme was most enjoyable and featured many of Hamilton's leading performers. The cooperation of artists was readily assured as is usual in Hamilton at Ihe call of charity. The committee in charge of the arrangements is to be congratulated on the result. The Hon. .1. A. Young, M.P., Minister of Health, under whose patronage the concert was conducted, commented briefly on the well-deserved response that had attended the efforts of the committee. The unfortunate man for whom the concert was held, had been known to him for the last twenty years and his association with him bad led him to the knowledge thai he bad, in I hat time, been a good servant of the community. He was at present at Auckland in Hospital and the proceeds of the concert would go to assist his wife and family, who were in poor circumstances consequent on his illhealth. It had been hoped, he continued, to raise £IOO, and it gave him great pleasure to announce that this had been achieved. He paid tribute to Ihe efforts of the committee who had kept expenses down to a minimum. This bad been made possible by the generosity of the Waikato Times, the Theatre Royal management and the gratuitous assistance of the artists. The programme opened with a song from Mr H. Saunders, "The Sword of Ferrara," his encore being "Still as The Night." Mrs P. Booth, by her artistio rendering of "The Pipes of Pan are Calling," fully justified her assured popularity. Her encore "At Dawning" had' a sympathetic hearing. The Swales, Lusk and Piper instrumental trio was enthusiastically received, their items being "Marchc .Miniature Mennoise" and "Gavotte." Mr .1. T. Battcrsby gave a fine interpretation of

"Gome Into the Garden Maud" and earned a well deserved encore. Elocutionary items by Miss Ruth Johnslone were a bright feature. In both serious and light numbers she held the attention of her audience. Her first it em "Barrioboola" was followed with "Good Girl" while she was further heard in the second half of the programme in "Infant Prodigies." Mr Harold Piper in "The Harvester's Night Song" made a good impression. As an encore, he gave "Morning." It has been said that an evening is not fully complete without the Harmonic Four (Messrs E. 11. Quill, J. T. Battersby, F. Mason and A. Ant trim) and the reception given to their items certainly lent strength to this assumption. They rendered "Old Black Joe," "Juanita," and "The Soldier's Farewell" most enjoyably. Miss Dulcie Evans immediately won the hearts of her audience in Hie "Waltz Song" (from the opera "Tom Jones") and further delighted with an encore number "Love's Echo." A new recruit lo Hamilton musical circles, Mr R. Brailhwaite, sang "Th : Lord is My Light" and "At Dawning' while in the second half he was warmly received in his rendering of "Jnviclus."

The second half of the programme comprised numbers from Mr Saunders Hie Instrumental Trio, Mrs F. Booth, the Harmonic Four, Miss Ruth Johnstone, and Mr Brailhwaite. The position of accompanist was capably tilled by Mr 11. Piper.