WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 2, 10 January 1891, Page 9

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, December 27. I went to see the final sets of the double tennis tournament at the Thorndon Courts one afternoon last week. The pairs left were Mr Boddington and Miss Maude Grace, and Mr H. Vogel and Mrs Hardy, the former couple winning after a capital game. It was a lovely day, ana afternoon tea and other good things were provided by the lady members, consequently there was a large attendance, and great interest was taken in the tournament. The Amateur Athletic Club gave a conversazione at the Star Boating Rooms, when Mrs A. Stuart-Menteath presented the prizes to the successful conqietitors at the recent sports. The prizes—chiefly silver cups and medals—were very handsome, and the recipients, of course, were made much of during the evening. After the presentation we were enteitained with music, and during the evening tea, coffee, and cakes were dispensed. Miss Bendall, wearing a plain grey tweed and a small toque filled with marguerites, played a piece, and Miss Pownall, in blue trimmed with white vandyked embroidery, sang a song. Miss Buller sang * The Garden of Sleep ’ very well, and wore a pretty white gown, the bodice entirely of embroidery, and large green sash. Mr H. Batger sang ‘ Anchored,’ Miss Cooper accompanying him, wearing a white gown. Mr Fox was capital with his comic songs. Mr Pearson sang, and a novelty consisted of a tiio for three banjos, played by Mr J. Hume, Mr J. Duncan, and Mr C. Pearce. I think that was all the music, but a very pleasant evening was spent by the guests. Mrs Stuart-Menteath wore a handsome gown of white satin veiled with black lace, and a violet flower bonnet softened with lace and tied with velvet strings. Miss Holmes had a handsome black satin gown, and Mrs Fulton a silver grey costume with large grey lace straw hat with ostrich feathers. One gown I admired, and which was worn by a stranger to me, was of crimson silk with the yoke and sleeves of velvet of a deeper shade. Miss C. Brandon, who played some of the accompaniments, had an uncommon-looking gown of pale fawn trimmed with mauve silk, and hat to match. We have just enjoyed the great treat of hearing Madame Burton and her excellent little company, combined with the Harmonic Society, produce the ‘ Messiah. ’ I feel now that I have really heard Handel’s grand and ever favourite oratorio as it was meant to be sung. We have often had it before, but never with such success, but with such soloists as Madame Burton, Miss Colbourne-Baber, and Mr Stockwell, and with a leader of the orchestra of Mr Horace Poussard’s fame, and also with Mr Bradley assisting, perhaps you will not be surprised to hear that we were pleased with the result. Unfortunately, forfinancial reasons, the usual prices for the dress circle were raised, but with no good result. Indeed, people, especially those with families, contented themselves with the stalls and family circle, consequently the dress circle on both occasions, particularly so on the second night, was decidedly empty. The audience, notwithstanding this, was a large one, every other part of the house being crowded. Madame Burton*s artistic singing naturally was the feature of the evening, her rendering of *He shall feed His flock,’ being exquisite. Miss Baber shared the honours, her best efforts being ‘ I know that my Redeemer liveth ’ and ‘ Rejoice,’ the latter revealing the pleasing flexibility of her sweet soprano voice perfectly. Mr Stockwell was perhaps heard to greatest advantage in ‘Comfort ye.’ Mr Widdop undertook the bass solos, and we were all very glad to hear our local amateur get on so w'ell among all the professionals. The accompanying was a feature in the evening. Whether the unusual excellence lay in the fact of having Mr Poussard leading I know not, but there was a decided improvement. As to the choruses, I have never before heard the choir sing so well together, and with such expression. Mr Parker, as usual, conducted, and the choir took up their ordinary positions as at their own concerts, and wore the same uniforms.

The following night we again spent at the Opera House, for another concert by the same company was given. It was partly sacred, and Madame Burton charmed every one with ‘O rest in the Lord’ and ‘ Voi che sapete.’ She also joined Miss Baber in a duet, and also Mr C. Hickson in Spohr’s ‘Children, Pray.’ Miss Baber sang the * Inflammatus’ and * Dear Heart.’ Mr Stockwell chose * Cujus Animam ’ and ‘The Death of Nelson,’ the latter, I thought, suiting him better than the former. Mr Poussard that evening was undoubtedly the favourite, in fact his enthusiastic listeners could not get enough of him, and he was so wonderfully good about his encores, for the audience was most inconsiderate, I thought, in demanding, in some instances, a double encore. ‘ The Silent Land’ was decidedly the best of the part-songs. Mr Rous-Marten conducted, and Mr Parker played the organ, while Miss Medley and Mr Bradley officiated at the piano. Another Christmas has come and gone. The town, in consequence of the holidays, looks so deserted, and nearly everyone is away. The steamers were all crowded with excursionists on Christmas eve, and ever since the trains have been well patronised. Christmas Day was fine, but Boxing Day was hardly a success. To begin with, it turned out windy and disagreeable in the morning, and in the afternoon a heavy shower of rain completely spoilt all enjoyment of those who had ventured out for the day. I felt so sorry for the excursionists who had started out so merrily in the morning for their day’s outing. The churches were prettily decorated, St. Peter’s being more elaborately so than any of the others, I think, and although St. Paul’s looked very well, I could not but remark the absence of colour in the tloral part, which seemed to me to be more appropriate to Easter than Christmas, the flowers being all either white or yellow. The services in all the churches were fully choral, numbers of members belonging to choirs staying in town esjiecially to take part in them. The Rev. Charles Clarke was the great attraction in the evening, the Opera House being crowded to hear the clever lecturer on Christmas Carols. The previous night he lectured on • Christmas in the Old Country,’ and Mr Parker had a very good little body of male voices in attendance, so that the lecture might be varied by the introduction of Christmas carols, etc. We will l>e sorry to lose the rev. gentleman, who has provided so many interesting and instructive evening amusements for us during the past ten days or so.

RUBY.s