ENTERTAINMENT IN DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 1, 24 April 1885, Page 17

ENTERTAINMENT IN DUNEDIN.

The entertainment given at the Garrison Hall, Danedin, on Wednesday evening in aid of the Christian Brothers 1 building fund was io every respect a success, and the members of the Catholic Literary Society, under whose management it was, may be congratulated on the results of their efforts. The large ball was filled in every part, and the performance was excellent. St. Patrick's Brass Band, under the conductorship of Mr. Stratton, opened the concert with a selection of Irish airs, which were played with great skill, and showed the progress the Band continues to make. One or two other pieces likewise performed by them proved also very acceptable to the audience. Of the vocal selections given Mr. Mcßenzie's " Bugler " was very finely sung. Miss Smith's " Kathleen Mavourneen " was exceedingly sweet, and pleased the audience highly. The vocal powers of this youDg lady fully warrant the increased confidence which is all that is wanted to make her a very'effective singer. "My Girofla, my bride," a duet, by Mr. and Miss Corrigan, was given with all the notes of culture for which the singers are remarkable, and Miss Corrigan's solo— an English version of Arditi's favourite and difficult " II Baccio " — was admirably executed. Mr. Corrigan also sang with spirit " Old Timbertoes." " The Reign of the Roses," gang by Miss Walker ; " The Sweetest Singer," by Mies Conway : and " Sweet Home," by Miss "Woods, also proved very pleasing. A duet, " Murmur, Gentle Lyre," sung by the Masters Murphy and accompanied on the piano by their sister, was extremely pretty, and an encore was insisted on. The prpils of St. Joseph's Convent schools sang two or three choruses in a manner that was most creditable both to themselves and their teachers — " The Meeting of the Waters," as harmonized by Sir John Stevenson, a very difficult arrangement, and in which they were unaccompanied, being remarkably good and free from a single error in time or tune. The plainness with which these little girls, as well as the Christian Brothers' boys, pronounced their words was especially commendable. The boys also gave a couple of choruses with correctness and spirit. " Shamus O'Brien," recited by Master Bheedy, was capitally given, and Master Lynch distinguished bimstff by au admirable delivery, by heart, of Robert Emmet's grand defe&dje. The recitation, in fact, could, not be better given by any boy living. The Christian Brothers cannot be too highly praised for the manner in which they are careful to train their pupils in fidelity to the nobler traditioDß of the country of their fathers, and there will be no danger that these lads, on leaving school, will find themselves at variance with the recollections and aspirations of their Irish parents. The third part of the entertainment consisted of a farce, " The Area Belle," which was carried out by Messrs. P. Carolin, B. A. Dunne, Harris, W. Hall, and J. P. Hayes, whose efforts convulsed the audience with laughter. In conclusion, the New Zealand anthem was given with excellent effect by the school children and St. Patrick's Baud. His Lordship the Bishop, who was present, with several members of the clergy, afterwards thanked the performers, and expressed the great pleasure ie gave him to see so large a gathering so willingly assembled to aid a Catholic work. The accompanists throughout the evening were Misses Murphy, Maloney, and Woods, and Mr. Corrigan and a gentleman whose name did not occur on the programme. -