NEW PLYMOUTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue IV, 27 January 1900, Page 178

NEW PLYMOUTH.

Dear Bee, January 19. They say ‘‘After a storm comes a calm,” and there is abundant proof of the truth of the old adage with ourselves at present. We seem to be suffering a recovery from the dissipations of Carnival AA'eek. However, there is always the Transvaal war to fall back on. Last Sunday afternoon the volunteers in camp at the Recreation Ground had an open-air service, conducted by their chaplain, the Rev. F. G. Evans, who made an appropriate address upon the occasion, and a collection was taken up from the numerous visitors in aid of the Transvaal relief fund, amounting to £ls. The City Band played the accompaniments of the anthems and hymns. On Monday A PATRIOTIC CONCERT in aid of the same fund was held at the Theatre Royal, and was an immense success, the seating room being taxed to its utmost extent. The stage was beautifully decorated with flowers and ferns. The national, New Zealand and American flags were blended in the background with a charming effect. All the items in the programme were carried out by our local talent. Among those best appreciated (while all were good) were the recitations of the evergreen “Charge of the Light Brigade,” by Mr Pascoe; and "The Absent-minded Beggar,” by Mr Spence. The latter so appealed to the sympathies of the audience that a deluge of coins was showered upon the stage, and the scene as the whole audience rose en masse and

shouted the chorus to the “Soldiers of the Queen,” sung by Mr McDarmid, was such as will not be forgotten for many a day. The Rev. Mr Bennett's patriotic songs of "Marching to the Front,” and "Rule, Britannia,” were sung in a masterly manner, and suited his fine baritone voice. The proceeds of the concert, including the shower of silver and gold, were over £6O, not a bad sum for our rather small hall. The greatest praise for the promotion of the idea of the concert must be given to the Misses Humphries, to whom a great portion of the success of the whole affair is due. Amongst those present I noticed: Mrs Dr. McClelland, black and pink; Mrs Brewster, black satin; Mrs Samuel, black satin; Mrs Paul, grey, silk; Miss Paul , white; Miss Cunningham. pink; Mrs George, fawn; Mrs Holford, white; Mrs Watson, black; Miss Kent, green silk; Mrs Dr. Home, purple; Mrs Mullens, black; Miss M. Humphries, black; Miss Drue, white; Miss K. Humphries, black; Afiss K. Holdsworth, muslin blouse; Miss G. Holdsworth, white blouse; Miss Walker, pink; Miss Webster, white; Mrs Webster, blaek; Miss O. Tuke, pale green, black strappings; Miss G. Fookes. white; Miss M. Fookes. white; Miss Bayly; Mrs Bacon, blue and white; Miss Taylor, cream; Mrs A Kirkby, white with scarlet tie; Mrs Penn, grey and black; Miss E. Rennell, Mrs Phillips, black and heliotrope; Miss Shore, black; Mrs Bird (Auckland), black and white; Mrs Skeet, black: Mrs Wrigley, grey and white; Mrs Turton, black; Mrs Haywood, shot silk; Mrs Garry, black and pink; Miss N. Garry, cream; Miss Harley,

Mrs W. Newman. Mrs Hempton,cream; Mrs Stanford, black; Miss Stanford, cream; Mrs Cornwall, black silk, jet trimming-s; Miss F. Cornwall, old gold silk blouse; Miss I. Cornwall looked pretty in a rose pink blouse; Mrs Weston, grey trimmed with white silk, with handsome lace fichu; Miss Hoskin, green; Miss Hoy, cream; Mrs Fenton, white; Miss W. West (Thames),black and white silk blouse; Miss Hursthouse, white blouse; Mrs McDarmid, pretty grey muslin; Miss Essie, eream; Mrs Morrison, white blouse, dark skirt; Mrs Devenish, black; Miss Devenish, pink blouse, dark skirt; Mrs Gray, white.

NANCY LEE.