BLENHEIM.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XXIII, 4 June 1898, Page 3 (Supplement)

BLENHEIM.

Dear Bee, May 23. The HATHERLY-DAMPIEIi CONCERTS were not very well attended here, why 1 do not know, for really both the harpist and the violinist should have formed a sufficient attraction in themselves without the additional allurement of local singers. The first concert was fairly well attended, and though the two ladies must have felt discouraged at the paucity of numbers at the second, it was not visible in their demeanour, and they respor.ded to the marks of appreciation which were accorded to every piece played by them with pleasing readiness. The harp aud violin solos were delightful, but the two combined were still more so. Miss Celia Dampier is without doubt a most talented child, and plays beautifully already, ami 1 hope that she will not meet, as here, in Nelson, with such scanty audiences, or she may fail to amass sufficient to enable her to go to Europe to study, which is, 1 believe, her present hope and attention. Mr M. Cheek was pianist and manager. The ladies and gentlemen who assisted Miss Hatherly and Miss Dampier were Mesdames Mclntosh and Lueas, Miss Simson, and Messrs Sturrock and L. Griffiths us vocalists, and the Misses N. and M. Rogers, who played the overture each evening. Among the audience I noticed Mesdam.es Mclntire, McCallum, Mac Shane, Rogers, Simlson, Sturtevant, Carter, Mead, Furness. Cheek, Carey, Shaw, Petre (Wellington), Misses Rees and Ferguson, and Messrs Mead, Bunting, Trevor, Maude (Pelorus Sound), Carter, Father Fahey, etc. Immediately following the HatherlyDampier concerts TWO BOROUGH SCHOOL CONCERTS took place, and on the first night no

complaint could be made about the attendance, for the hall was packed, fresh seats were put in every available space, and yet many had to stand. The first part of the programme was filled by the infant school children, who under the direction of Miss Browne, sang- a number of action songs. It was a gay and pretty sight when the curtain was raised to see the little ones on seats graduated in height, in white frocks and blue and pink ribbons, with the boys forming a background. The precision and smartness of their singing and actions were wonderfully good. After an interval the infants came into the hall, and Grieve’s ‘Kinderspiel’ was given by the older children, under the conductorship of Mr Sturrock, in which we met such old friends as Jack Sprat (though we missed his wife), Tom Tucker, John Gilpin, Robin Hood., Tom Thumb, Blaek-eyed Susan, the Lady of Banbury Cross, and a host of others. This ‘Kinderspiel’ comprised solos and choruses and one duet which was sung by two very little girls, Miss O. Armstrong and Miss C. Hadfield, as Black-eyed Susan and the Lass of Richmond Hill respectively. The action songs were accompanied on the piano by Miss Clara Farmar, and the •Kinderspiel’ by Miss Elbeck. We are experiencing another period of unseasonably warm weather. Even in a room without, a fire it is difficult to persuade oneself that this is the winter, for the thermometer is about 60. A change seems to be impending, which I hope will not take the form of an ■earthquake or cyclone.

FRIDA.