CATHOLIC CONCERT AT MILTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 33, 18 December 1896, Page 15

CATHOLIC CONCERT AT MILTON.

A concert in connection with the local Dominican convent school was held in St. George's Hall, Milton, on Friday last, when an excellent programme was presented to a large and appreciative audience. The feature of the evening was the ringing of the children, especially in the very beautiful cantata " New Year's Eve."' The chorus singing in this effort evoked the greatest enthusiasm amongst the audience, and the nuns are to be warmly congratulated on the high standard which the children have attained under their care. A very pretty dance was also given by the children with great grace and precision, and in this connection a special word of praise is due to Miss O'Neill, to whose patience and skill in training them, the proficiency of the children was in a large measure due. Before the close of the concert the Very Rev. Father O'Neill, in a brief speech, returned thanks to all who had assisted to make the entertainment a success, and also to the public for turning out in Buch large numbers. The Bruce Herald gives the following account of the performance :—: — That the public are not slow to recognise good work was amply demonstrated by the large crowd which gathered at St. George's Hall on Friday night, when a concert was given in aid of the funds of the Dominican convent school. All over the Colony the schools conducted by the good Sisters are steadily increasing in number, and additions are being made to the buildings already in existence. Here in Milton a school has been in existence for a number of years, where several Dominican nuns are regularly employed teaching the young people, It was to assist the funds of this school, besides giving an example of the proficiency of the pupils in many ways, that the concert was held on Friday night, and all concerned must have felt well pleaded at the large audience which assembled to hear the concert. And, having arrived at the hall, they were well repaid for the programme was a first-class one of a very varied character. The first item was a chorus, " This sunny land of ours," which was excellently rendered by a number of the convent pupils. This was followed by a dance, " Gavotte de la Cour," by eight little girl*, which was, very gracefully done, reflecting great credit on Miss O'Neill, who had evidently been to great pains in coaching them. A cantata, "'New Year's Eve," divided into three parts, was the feature of the first part of the program inc. About twenty performers took part, and the whole piece went swimmingly from beginning to end. The lion's share of the work fell on Miss O'Neill's bhoulders, who took the part of Father Time, and

she acquitted herself with great credit. She has a very sweet voice. Her singing was much admired. She also materially assisted by exercising a general supervision over the other performers. Master M. M'Tigue was the Old Year tfnd Master M. Scanlan the New Year, and they both got through their tasks very creditably. The chorus work, which showed signs of very careful training, was undertaken by four bands of girls representing Summer, Autumn. Winter and Spring respectively, and also by a larger number ranged at the back of the stage. The girls representing the seasons were all very prettily dressed, the decorations representing the different times of the year. The stage also looked very pretty, great pains having been taken in decorating it. The piece was heartily applauded throughout, the audience evidently appreciating fully the merit of the performance. A piano solo, " Fantasia on Irish airs," was also given by Miss Hall, whose excellent touch and execution were much admired. Mrs. King sang *' La Serenata " in fine style, being asssisted by a well-played concertina obligate- by Mr. D. Reid. The first part of the iprogramme closed with an instrumental selection, " Irish blossoms," by Misses A. and J. Moore, I. Reid, Masters John, James and Michael Scanlan (pianos), Master P. Bastings and E. Marryatt (violins). The piece had evidently been carefully practised, and the playing was excellent. After a short interval the second part commenced with a chorus, '' The Haymakers," given in good style by the convent pupils. Next came a cornet solo, " Haydn," by Mr. C. M'Glashan, of Dunedin. He proved unmistakeably that he is a master of his instrument, the piece being played with excellent effect. The audience clamoured for an encore, and on reappearing he repeated portion of the selection. A pianoforte solo for three pianos, " Argentine," was next given by Misses Hall and Moore and Master J. Scanlan and was loudly applauded. " The valley by the sea," by Miss O'Neill, was the next item, and an excellent rendering of th« song was given, hearty applause greeting the singer at its close. Miss Hall followed with another pianoforte solo, " Polka de la reinc," played in her best style. Mrs. King and Miss O'Neill then sang a very pretty duet, "Day softly dying." The two voices blended very sweetly and the item was a very enjoyable one. A duet, '• Radetsky March," for two pianos and two violins, was played in an excellent manner by Miss Moore, Masters J., J. and M. Scanlan (pianos) and Masters Bastings and Marryatt (violilis). Mrs. King then gave a fine rendering of that favourite song, "Call me back," Mr. Reid again playing a concertina obbligato, the audience greeting the close with hearty applause. The concert was concluded with a farce, " The man with the carpet hag," by a number of the school pupils. They had been excellently trained by Father Ryan, and their acting was a decided success. All the actors seemed to enter heartily into the spirit of the affair, and the result was a high-class performance, to which all contributed to a greater or less degree. This seemed to send the audience home in the best of humour. The accompaniments during the evening were excellently played by Miss Hall.