NAPIER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 50, 12 December 1891, Page 681

NAPIER.

Dear Bee, November 23. The topic of last week was Mrs Sheath’s concert. I will endeavour to tell you of it. The Theatre Royal was well filled and great taste was displayed in dressing the stage, which for the time was converted into a regular fairyland. Mr E. H. Bold was most successful with the limelight. A capital orchestra assisted, Mr C. P. Sheath conducting, and Mr Herbert Spackman officiated as leader. There was a strong chorus of sixty voices, ami they sang well. Special praise is due to two concerted pieces. The overture to ‘ Masaniello,’ by the orchestia, and ‘ I Know a Bank,' sung as a duet by Mrs Sheath and Miss Large. The orchestra played well in the overture, ‘ Bronze Horse,’ and in ‘ Tannhauser March’(Wagner). The best piece of work by the chorus was in the opening of the concert when they sang ‘ O Balmy Night ’ (Donizetti), and ‘War Song of the Druids’ (Bellini). Miss Bowesgotawell deserved encoieforher song, ‘ Lovely Spring,’ ami in response gave ‘ The Meeting of the Waters.’ Mr Roberts sang ‘ The Spirit of The Whirlpool,’ and was applauded. Mrs Sheath was recalled for Benedict’s very florid ‘Carnival of Venice,’and sang ‘Home, Sweet Home,’ in response. Mr Herbert Spackman s De Beriot’s • Scene de Ballet,’ so pleased the audience that he had to give a repetition. Miss M. Collinge got a good reception for her singing of the sacred song, ‘ < >, Rest In The Lord.’ Miss Large caused ajitrorc. by her singing of ‘ Softly Sighs,’ but that young lady did not reappear, although the concert was stopped tor some little time t>y the plaudits of the audience. The curtain was lowered, to be raised later on a tableau, ‘ Tapers Brightly Burning,’by the lady pupils of Mrs Sheath. A quintette ami chorus, ‘ Tho' Every Hope,’ by Misses Guy and Collinge, Messrs Finch, Bollock, and Roberts was very good. Miss Levi sang nicely • Should he I'pbraid,’ and Airs Sheath and Miss Lai ge sang a duet, ‘ Manuelita,’ and in response to a pronounced encore sang

the duet already mentioned, • 1 Know A Bank,’ which was the vocal gem of the evening. Mr T. Sayers sang, * Look Back,’ and met with great applause. Miss Guy was in good voice, and met with a pronounced recall for her song, ‘ Di placer mi balya il cor,’ and responded with ‘ Beauty Sleep.’ The concert concluded by the ‘Tannhauser March' (Company) and the National Anthem. The accompaniments were played by Mrs Sheath, Miss Hitchings, and MrH. G. Spackman. Mrs Sheath deserves praise for the. manner in which she trains her pupils, and to her we owe a great deal in the teaching of singing here. Most unfortunately, two of her pupils could not appear owing to recent deaths in their families—Miss Ida 'tiffin and Miss Bena Williams—both of whom, I hear, sing charmingly. Mr George Swan, who also is a pupil, and who is very popular, was unable to appear owing to having brought • influenza ’ back from the Military Tournament held at Wellington. He has been confined to the house for two weeks, but I hear is progressing well towards recovery. It is quite an epidemic here at the present time. Mrs Horace Baker has had a very bad attack and is in a very weak state. Mr Baker and son also have had it.

There is a great deal of sickness in our pretty town at present. Poor Doctor Allen is very ill. We all hope he will get strong again, but he is very weak. The Kev. Parkinson, of St. Augustine’s Church of England, is seriously ill, and not expected to recover. It is very sad, he is such a very popular man in his parish, and liked by everyone who comes in contact with him. He has recently returned from a trip to Australia, which his parishioners and friends hoped would restore him, but he has gradually got worse. Mrs Parkinson has every sympathy. Her adopted daughter is lying ill of consumption in the house, so her hands are quite full, and our good old Doctor Hitchings is far from well at the present time, and is causing his daughters very anxious moments. He still keeps driving on his rounds, but when seen walking looks very changed. We hope to see him looking his own self before long. Mrs Maurice Mason is looking herself once more after the severe attack of fever she had a few months back, and is going to reside at Hastings till their house at • Te Ante ’ is rebuilt.

Mr R. Millar, for the last six and a-half years well and favourably known in connection with the Union Steamship < ’ompany here, left by the Manapouri to take up a position in the Hobart Office, to which place he has been promoted. Mr Millar was a most energetic officer, and combined with it a most pleasant manner, and was ever ready to render assistance and guidance to the travelling public by the Union Steamship Company or anyone who came in contact with him in the office or out of it. He takes with him the best wishes of a very large circle of friends, who congratulate him on his promotion, although sorry to lose him also.

Mrs Logan met with an accident while driving with Mrs Fairfax Fenwick, being thrown out of the dog-cart, hurting her elbow, which has proved very painful. Little Miss Mabel Burke got a bruised eye. The others escaped unhurt.

Miss Handin is wearing a very pretty grey dress and white hat ; Miss Greenwood (Christchurch), who is on a visit to Mrs Ernest Tanner (Hastings), was in town last week looking charming in a cardinal dress, black jacket and hat; Mrs Fenwick is wearing a very pretty white dress and hat; Mrs Balfour also looks nice in a brown Tudor cape, Bond-street hat; Miss Bella Hitchings, large check dress, ‘ Melba ’ hat with pink flowers. Jack.

Dear Bee, November 28. I hear you have a full description of Mrs Sheath’s excellent concert, so though I have written you three or four pages on this subject, I will leave them out, and you will understand why my letter is short. Altogether the concert was a regular treat, and I hope it will not be long before we have another of the same kind. I must confess music is my weakness. I would rather go to a good concert than to any other kind of entertainment. While we are on the subject of concerts I must tell you that the Puketapu people have been coming out of their shell. They have actually had a concert, and a very successful one too. You know that Puketapu is a small village situated about four or five miles from Napier, and is a very quiet little place. The coaches run from Napier and back I think twice a day, which helps to liven the township. For this especial concert an omnibus was put on ; it was positively crowded with people, and numbers of ladies, most of them carrying bouquets. The school room, where the concert was held, was beautifully decorated, and along programme was gone through. Amongst the performers were Misses Rymer, Harpham, Hislop (2), Hoaguard, and Crosse, Mesdames Spence, Spackman, and Anderson, and Messrs Spackman (2), Martin (2), Absolom, Peacock, Newbold, Le Petit, J. Parker, Kennedy, Von Haast, Pirani, Holt, Hughes, and Leroy. The accompaniments were played by Misses Rymer, Jensen, Crosse, Hislop, and Mr Spackman. The gem of the evening was Mrs Spackman’s song, ‘ Call Me Back,’ with violin obligato by Mr H. Spackman. We also had two enjoyable contributions by the ‘ Bohee Brothers.’ During the interval light refreshments were dispensed by Mrs Oliver, and were much appreciated. 1 am sorry to have to tell you. Bee, that the Hastings Choral and Orchestral Society is not now going to assist in the production of the ‘Messiah.’ I believe there has been a split in the camp, which is a thousand pities. The Misses Fulton gave a most enjoyable dance a week or so ago. There were about forty couples present, and they all seemed to enjoy themselves most thoroughly. I haven’t time to tell you all the guests who were present, but amongst them were the Misses Rhodes (2), Hughes, Millet, Humphries, Hamlin, and Mesdames Tabuteau, Hamlin, Fraser, Logan, and others. Mrs Tabuteau looked very nice indeed, as did also Miss Leslie Thompson, and Miss Hamlin ; Miss Iris Fulton looked charming, and was very attentive to her guests. Mrs Fulton's house is such a delightful one for a dance. The garden is simply perfect, and on a moonlight night the view across the Bay is like a glimpse of fairy land, it looks so shadowy and unreal, and withal so intensely beautiful. lam a lover of Nature, Bee, and hope you are also. 1 am very sorry to have to write you that influenza has been rather busy in our part of the world, although most of the cases, I am happy to say, have been mild ones. We have, had two or tbiee rather alarming cases notwithstanding. Mrs Horace Baker has been most seriously

ill, and her little boy * Racy;’ indeed, all the family have been laid up, but Mrs Baker and * Racy ’ have been far worse than any of the others. The latter has had whooping cough to struggle with as well as influenza. I haven’t heard bow Mrs Baker is the last day or two, but sincerely hope she is better. She is a most charming woman, and a great favourite. Dr. Moore had a slight attack of the same complaint, but lam glad to say he is about again. Dr. Hitchings has been seriously indisposed lately, and has consequently gone on a trip to the * Sounds,’ and has taken Miss Hitchings with him. I hope he will return to Napier quite his dear old hearty self again. Mrs J. W. Carlile has not been very well lately, but I hear she is going away for a change, which is sure to do her good, far better than all the medicine in the universe. Mrs Jim Wood is staying in Napier at present looking after her sisters, as her mother, Mrs Kennedy, has gone for a trip to Christchurch to see her other married daughter, Mrs F. W. Thompson. Mrs Wood is looking very well indeed, which speaks volumes for the Nelson climate, from which place she hails. I don’t know whether I told you that Dr. Jarvis is to be married about Christmas time to Miss Millet. Miss Louie Sutton’s engagement to Mr Stewart is broken off. I am told that Miss Lena Stuart, the niece of the Bishop of Waiapu, has passed a very successful examination in Edinburgh as a medical missionary. Miss Stuart was a great favourite when in Napier some two years ago, so we all take an interest in her doings. I hear she is going to India to devote her services to the Zenana Mission. I believe no strange male is ever admitted to this portion of a Hindoo’s house. We heartily wish Miss Stuart all the success she so well deserves. Mrs Marsden Clarke, the Bishop’s eldest daughter, is at present residing in Napier with her children.

I must tell you all about the cricket match which was played at Farndon Park in my next letter, the gowns worn, etc., but as I have to catch the mail now must say goodbye.

Gladys.