WANGANUI.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIII, Issue VIII, 20 August 1904, Page 51

WANGANUI.

Dear Bee, August 13. On Friday Mr. J. L. Beck gave A MOST ENJOYABLE CONCERT in the Opera House before a large audience. The concert had been looked forward to with a considerable amount of interest by Wanganui musical people owing to the fact that Madame Lillian Tree (especially engaged by Mr. Beek) was to make her first appearance here. Madame Tree's opening number was the celebrated “Jewel Song,” from “Faust,” for which she received quite an ovation, and responded with a coon song as an encore. Her other songs were "Roberto tu Che Adoro,” "How Driary to My Heart,” and “Scenes That Arc Brightest,” all of which were well received. The other vocalists were Messrs. T. W, Potts, J. James, and that promising young singer, Mr. Russell Stevenson. The programme ineluded five orchestral selections, which wore excellently performed by a band of 30 musicians under the baton of Mr. Reek, who also took part in a violin duct with Mr. Andrews*

one of his numerous pupils. The accompaniments were played in a faultless style by' Mr. L. T. Brinkley, Madame Tree was gowned in a sea green silk frock, the trained skirt having numerous small frills headed with a wide hand of gauging, cream lace collar round decolletage, with rosettes of ends of cream satin ribbon; the sleeves were lace to the elbow, with a green silk frill. She wore a diamond crescent and two lluia feathers in coiffure. Amongst the large audience 1 noticed: Mrs. Beck, in a becoming gown of white silk, with overskirt of cream net, angel sleeves, and corsage embroidered with steel sequins, long pelerine of white fur; Mrs. Alexander wore black silk evening gown, with handsome opera coat of black satin, with collarette and wide cuffs of white satin embroidered with black silk applique, roses and leaves; Miss Alexander, black silk, long pale grey opera cloak, with band of Oriental shaded embroidery forming a cape, the collar of white cloth, with vandyked trimming; Mis. Brookfield wore a pale grey voile, tucked and banded with gallon,long grey opera cloak; Miss Trainor, crimson silk blouse, with zouave and collar of cream lace, blaek skirt; Mrs. John Stevenson, black net evening froek, black brocaded cloak, lined with pale pink silk, and trimmed with black feathers; Miss Brewer, red tucked silk blouse, tucked and trimmed with lace, black skirt ; Miss Stevenson, pale blue silk blouse, with lace y'oke, black skirt, and pale blue sash and ribbons; Mrs. Greig wore black and handsome opera coat of panne velvet, with border and collar of cream, having a hand of jet; Miss McGregor (Hunterville), white tucked silk opera cloak of white velvet and feather trimmings; Mrs. Mason, black silk, with black lace transparent sleeves, fichu of lace on corsage, white velvet opera cloak; Miss Mason wore a white nun’sveiling, gauged and banded with lace; Mrs. Fairburn, pale pink silk blouse, ■with transparent lace yoke, black skirt, white opera cloak, trimmed with white

fur; Mrs. F. Hatherley wore a hands nine eoat of white satin, profusely trimmed with champagne medallions; Mrs. Chamberlain, black velvet gown, with collar of real lace: Mias Tuke, blaek net evening gown; Miss Hook wore black silk; Mrs. Sarjeant, a smart blouse of old rose pink, with vest and collarette of real lace, and bands of black velvet, black silk skirt, with wide gauged frill at the foot; Mrs. (Dr.) Porritt, pale pink silk blouse, with lace trimmings, blaek skirt; Miss Blennerhassett wore a dainty white silk evening gown: Miss Greig, white silk, with sash ami ribbons of crimson silk; Miss Willis, pale pink silk blouse, blaek skirt; Mrs. Pleasant, black silk and net evening gown, with rich opera cloak of heliotrope shaded brocade, edged with white fur; Miss YleRae wore a blaek silk frock, the bodice trimmed with Oriental embroidered applique; Airs. Stevenson (Auckland), black silk, with lace, crimson velvet cloak, with black fur; Mrs. Craig wore a cream gown, opera coat of pale pink brocade, the collar covered with deep cream lace: Mrs. Richardson, black satin frock, white satin opera cloak, with white fur trimmings; Mrs. Well Jones, black frock, opera cloak of white, with, fur to match; Mrs. Perritt, blaek satin costume, profusely trimmed with jet; Miss Swingleman wore white, with a long pale dove grey cloak, with, cape bordered with white fur; Mrs. Cohiys, miroir blue velvet blouse, trimmed with laee, fawn skirt, white velvet opera cloak, with feather trimmings. There wore also present the pupils of the Girls’ College and the'Convent School,'Messrs. Stevenson (3), JoncS, J. G. Wooh, Pleasant, Hatherley, Patterson, Swingleman, Sarjeant, Richardson, Drs. Hatherley and Porritt, and many others. MR. MEL. B. SPURR’S RETURN VISIT to Wanganui has been looked forward to with great interest, and the splendid audiences for his two nights’ season at the Opera House on the 10th and 11th were in no way disappointed. Amongst

ttosr prtsent 1 noticed: Mr. and Mrs. *. Lethbridge (Tamakina), Mr., Mrs., •nd Mias Mason, Mr. and Mrs. Babbage, Mr. Lambert (I'ahiatua), Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Atkins, Mr. and Miss Christie, Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys, Mr. Izard. Mr. aud Mrs. .Stevenson, Mr. •nd Mrs. Kissling. Misses Montgomeiie, Jones. Rev. \V. Compton, and ninny ether.. HUIA.