WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 8, 20 February 1892, Page 182

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, February 5. The Kowalski concert company are performing at the Opera House, but I regret to say they have not been as well patronised as they deserve. The programmes have been very attractive too, and high-class, but it is a bad time of the year to come to us. This is the only reason I can tiiink of for their not having gained the support of the Wellington people. ‘The Yeoman of the Guard,’ too, is just over, and I suppose people are tired of going out. If they had only known their merit the concerts would certainly have been well patronised from the beginning. I heard the second concert, when Herr I’echotsch played ‘ Reverie,’ by Vieuxtemps, most beautifully. He was greeted by round after round of applause, and as an encore he gave ‘Yankee Doodle’ with most intricate variations and later on he played some lovely airs from the ‘ Bohemian Girl.’ The great attraction, naturally, was the pianoforte playing of Henri Kowalski, who certainly deserves all the praise he receives, and that is saying a great deal. The audience simply could not have enough of him, and he was so good in responding to their enthusiastic encores. First he played something from ‘ Martha,’ arranged by Meyer, and towards the end played a duet arranged for two pianos with his pupil, Miss Beatrice Griffiths. This item was particularly interesting, it having been especially dedicated to Kowalski by Gottschalk, and was most brilliantly played by both performers. As I have never heard the renowned Ketten, I can safely say Kowalski is the finest pianist I have ever heard. The vocalists were one and all exceedingly good. Miss Rossow we were very pleased to hear again. She sang ‘ Qui la Voce,’ and ■ Ave Maria,’ the latter perhaps being her best effort, and for which she was enthusiastically encored. Madame Vanderveer-Greene sang ‘ln Sevilla’ and ‘Thine Eyes so Blue and Tender,’ both being encored. She is quite new to us, and has a very fine contralto voice, and sings with an amount of expression seldom heard. Mr Poole sang ‘ Philip the Falconer,’ and also took part in the trios, etc. At their last concert Mr Robert Parker is going to conduct, and they are going to produce Mendelssohn’s Concerto in G Minor by M. Kowalski and a powerful orchestra. The town is full of Synodsmen, and we have great variety on Sundays in the pulpits. Bishop Julius is staying with the Rev. Mr Waters, and Bishop Cowie and others are the guests of the Primate, Bishop Hadfield. Bishop Nevill is staying with Mr and Mrs Quick, and most of the other visiting elergy are staying with their friends. The opening service was very impressive, the long procession—the small choir boys leading, and the whole choir and clergy, the Primate last, following—singing a beautiful processional hymn as they slowly wended their way up the whole length of the church. The church (St. Paul's) was crowded, and it certainly was a very imposing sight. The Bishop of Auckland preached. A beautiful anthem was sung, Master Burnett taking the solo, and singing it so sweetly. Mrs Marshall is visiting her mother and father at Bishopscourt, and is still wearing mourning for her father-in-law. Mrs Fenwick, of Dunedin, is visiting her mother, Mrs Robinson, and looks well in navy blue serge jacket and skirt, white shirt and tie ; Mrs T. C. Williams is wearing black soft silk figured with white, black jetted mantle, and jet bonnet; Miss M. Williams, a pretty navy blue silk spotted with white, white chiffon rutile, black openwork hat with feathers; Miss 11. Williams, a plain soft grey gown, the long basque cut in long tabs, and pretty white cherry ripe hat covered with feathers; Mrs Grace, blue foulard figured, black lace bonnet covered with cornflowers ; Mrs Rous Marten, fawn cloth tailor-made gown, and small black and gold bonnet.

The LawnTennisTournaments have begun at theThorndon Courts, but none of the rounds are yet completed. The ground is looking lovely still, in spite of the hard play lately when every one was nractising for the tournaments. Mrs Stratton Izard and Mrs Elgar are in town passing through on their way to Wanganui. Mrs Elgar was wearing a pretty pale blue gown striped with a darker shade, and black lace hat with flowers and strings ; Mrs Izard and her daughters have gone to Dunedin for a few weeks’ visit.

Th* Misses Wilford leave shortly for Dunedin in order to be f resent at their brother’s marriage to Miss Georgie McLean. hear great preparations are being made for the happy event. Great preparations are also been made here for a brilliant affair —the farewell banquet to be given to His Excellency the Governor and Lady Onslow by the Mayor, Mr H. D. Bell. It is to take place at Bellamy’s, ana is, I hear, to include two hundred guests. We shall be very ‘Churchy’ until the session of the General Synod is over. After that we shall have the Bentlev Company to liven us up a little.

Ruby.