NAPIER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 6, 6 February 1892, Page 135

NAPIER.

Dear Bee, January 18. The Auckland Concert Company gave two most enjoyable concerts here, and had good houses. The musicloving people here have had a heavy strain on their (rockets lately, one company succeeding each other so quickly, otherwise the theatre would have been packed. The first night’s programme opened with a pretty instrumental trio (Schleppergrell) by Messrs Arthur Eady (violin), S. Jackson (clarionet), and Alt Bartley (piano). Mr P. E. Dufaur, who possesses a fine baritone voice, sang, ‘ Who Deeply Drinks of Wine ’ (Ginden), and so captivated his hearers that he had to give an encore, and sang in response the trying song, ‘ The Deil’s awa’ wi’ the Excisemen,’ and was applauded. Mrs Kilgour, who has a well-trained voice of fair range, sang ‘ The Prima Donna,’ and not being able to escape a recall, gave ‘ Waiting.’ Kowalski’s ‘ March Hongroise ’ was capitally played by Mr Alf. Bartley. Mr Tom M. Jackson sang * Mona * (S. Adams), with great expression, and in response to a pronounced encore he gave ‘ My Sweetheart When a Boy. His voice is a powerful one, is well suited to staccato and decided passages, but lacks the great sweetness of Mr R. B. Williams, of Wellington. He was, however, a favourite with the audience, and was warmly applauded for all his numbers. Mr S. Jackson, one of the best clarionet players I have heard, played ‘ Fantasia on Scotch Airs ’ (Lazarus), and charmed the audience, and had to reappear. Miss Alice Rimmer, who has a charming mezzo - soprano, sang with feeling Jude’s setting of * The Better Land,’ with violin obligato splendidly played by Mr Arthur Eady. Having to give an encore she sang the ‘ Last Rose of Summer.’ Messrs T. M. Jackson, Bartley, and Dufaur, sang well the trio, ‘ Were I a Maid,’ from ‘ Princess Ida ’ (Sullivan). The second part of the programme opened with a trio for violin, clarionet, and piano. Mr T. M. Jackson sang Blumenthal's ‘ The Message,’ and not being able to escape a recall gave ‘ There is a flower that bloometh. ’ Miss Alice Rimmer was recalled for ‘ Scenes that are Brightest (Wallace), and gave ‘ There's no One Like Mother.’ A violin solo, ‘Il Trovatore,’ evoked great applause: Mr Dufaur sang Poinatowski's • Yeoman’s Wedding,’ and had to reappear, and sang ‘ The Gauntlet’s Down Mrs Kilgour was encored for her next number, Ganz's florid, • Sing Sweet Bird,’ and sang archly, ‘ The Stile.’ The concert closed by a quartette ‘ The Angelus,’ well sung by Mrs Kilgour, Miss Rimmer, and Messrs Jackson and Dufaur, with accompaniment by Messrs S. Jackson (clarionet), Bartley (piano), and Eady (violin). Among the most noticeably successful pieces on the second night’s programme, which was well arranged and each number artistically given, were Mr Dufaur’s ‘ Curate’s Song,’from The ‘ Sorcerer’; Mr Tom M. Jackson's, ‘Tell Her I Love Her ’; Mrs Kilgour’s, ‘ Tell Me, My Heart ’; and Miss Alice Rimmer’s very sympathetic rendering of ‘ The Blind Girl to Her Harp.' The programme was as follows : —lnstrumental trio, ‘ King of Diamonds’ (Lavalee), Messrs A. Eady, S. Jackson, and A. Bartley ; song, ‘ Only Once More’ (Moir), Mr T. M. Jackson: song, ‘Dear Heart' (Mattei), Mrs Kilgour; violin solo, ‘The Old Folks at Home’ (Christie), Mr A. Eady : song, ‘The Death of Nelson ’ (Brahms), Mr P. E. Dufaur; song, ‘ Heaven and Earth ' (Pinsuti), Miss Alice Rimmer ; duet, • The Fishermen ’ (Gabussi), Messrs Jackson and Dufaur ; instrumental trio, ‘ March from Henry VIII.’ (Alexa), Messrs A. Eady, S. Jackson, and A. Bartley ; song, ‘ Tell Her I Love Her So ’ (Robertson), Mr T. M. Jackson ; song, ‘Blind Girl to Her Harp’ (Glover), Miss A. Rimmer; clarionet solo, Fantasie (Brepsant), Mr S. Jackson ; song, • Queen of My Heart’ (Cellier), Mr P. E. Dufaur; song, ‘ Tell Me, My Heart’ (Bishop), Mrs Kilgour; chorus, ‘The Angelus’ (Wallace), the company. The concert was most enjoyable. A very sad buggy accident occurred in Emmeson-street, last week, Mrs Davis and young Mrs McKinnon being very much hurt. Both are getting on as well as possible under the circumstances.

The great exploier, Mr H. M. Stanley, lectured here. The theatre was crowded, and everyone delighted. It seems strange to think the man so short a time since we sometimes thought would never emerge from darkest Africa was standing before us on the platform in full evening dress, looking as if all the trials and hardships he had gone through were but a summer’s dream. He looked every inch a man born to command, and his white hair and moustache made me think of an army officer. He has a military style. On his appearance for some minutes the applause w as deafening. The annual Caledonian Sports took place, being a great success in every way. Five thousand |>eople were on the ground, and competitors from all paits of New Zealand. The weather was simply perfection. The event which evoked most interest during the day was the Amateur

Handicap of 100yds.. which was run in two heats and a final. The first heat was won easily by Mr Jack Hempton in lOsecs. from scratch, with H. M. Rathlsrne (13yds (second, and C. S. Whiteman (10yds.) third; H. Cronley (10yds.) also ran. The second heat was won by E. Cowan < 10yds.), with E. Cronley (7 yds.) second, and J. H. Swan (10yds.) third. In the final Hempton (scratch) and Rathbone (13yds.) ran a dead-heat for first place in 9 4-ssecs., with Cowan (10yds.) a fair third. In the run off between Hempton and Rathbone the former won with a bit to spare in 9 4 ssecs., thus doing the distance twice in succession in such wonderful time. Great eare was taken with the time-keeping, experienced men beingat the work,and the track was measured before and after the run. Mr Hempton was carried shoulder high after the races. The prizes went as follows :—Cup valued at £9. Jack Hempton ; Cup valued £7. Rathbone ; Cup valued £3, Cowan. The theatre was crowded in the evening, when the annual Caledonian concert was held, and each item was applauded. Those who contributed were Misses Wyllie, Greig, and Bowes, Messrs Simpson (2), Wensley, Bollock, Haliburton, Collins, Neilson, Sheath, and Sayers. Mr R. Smith evoked great applause for the manner in which he gave the sword dance. Between the first and second parts of the programme Mrs P. S. McLean presented the successful competitors with the prizes they had won during the day, and as each stepped forward to receive the reward of his prowess he was received with hearty and prolonged applause, especially in the ease of Mr Jack H. Hempton, and the two young sons of Mr IL Smith. After the conclusion of the concert the members of the Caledonian Society met in the Masonic Hotel for the purpose of making a presentation to Mr R. Smith, who is leaving the district. After full justice had been done to a capital spread provided by Host Moeller, Mr P. S. McLean, the chairman, proposed the usual loyal and patriotic toast, and then made the presentation, consisting of a gold watch and handsome illuminated address. In making the presentation Mr McLean referred to Mr Smith's services as founder and secretary of the society, and on behalf of the members wished him a long career of prosperity in his new sphere. The gathering broke up with the singing of • Auld Lang Syne.’

The Kowalski Concert Company o)>en next week. I hope they have a successful season. I hear they are good.