OXFORD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 42, 18 October 1900, Page 6

OXFORD.

(From an occasional correspondent.)

The annual concert in aid of the Catholic Church and grounds improvement fund took place on Friday evening, October 5, in the Town Hall, East Oxford. The weather, however, was not so propitious as on former occasions, and consequently the audience was not so large, yet what it lacked in numbers it made up in enthusiastic appreciation of the various items. The introductory piece was an instrumental quartette by Miss A. Parish (piano), Mr. Cloudesley (violin), Mr. Hooper (cornet), and Mr. Hoare (piccolo), rendered in a very pleasing manner, and warmly applauded. Mr. Thomas Hunter in his vocal items, ' Just as the sun went down ' and 'The young brigade,' was very effective, and received the warm applause of the audience. Mrs. Mead (Christchurch), in ' Killarney,' ' Twilight lullaby,' and in the duets 'In the dusk of the twilight' with Miss Bryant, and 'The cousins' with Miss Gertie Duncan, sang- beautifully, her contributions being most enjoyable. In the duets ' The failor sighs ' and ' Larboard watch ' Messrs. Harbidge and McCormack were very successful, rendering the items in their xi°ually correct style. The violin solos, ' Les Cloches de Corneville' and 'The Gondoliers,' given by Mr. Cloudesley, were artibtically played, and added very considerably to the success of the entertainment. In the club swinging exhibition and the dramatic scene, ' Times uxe changed,' Miss A. Lynskey and Miss Menzies were particularly good. The club exhibition was very well done, and the scene created great amusement. These items were a special feature of the performance. Mr. McCormack in his songvs, ' Ora pro nobis' and 'The outpost,' with violin and cornet obligati. excelled himself, the iterus being specially well sung. Miss Bryant (Chridtchurch), in her rendition of 'Asthore' and ' Remember me no more,' made a decidedly favorable impression, more especially in her duet with Mrs. Mead. Miss Gertie Duncan contribute! ' Because I love you ' in a finished manner, her singing being highly appreciated. She also took part in the duets, ' What are the wild waves saying ' with Mr. MoCormack, and ' The cousins ' with Mrs. Mead, in both of which she scored a decided success. The fin>il item on the programme was ' The shamrock of Ireland' given by Mr. McCormack, in which the audience relieved him of the roces'ity of singing the chorus. Itj response to an imperative encore he was about to give an additional verse, composed by himself ppecially for the occasion, when Mr. Ingram craved leave to express on behalf of the audience their great appreciation of the treat which had been provided for them, and proposed a vote of thanks to the conductor. Mr. McCormack briefly thanked Mr. Ingram and the audience for the compliment paid him, and said that the arranging of the concert had been a great pleasure to him. Mr. McCormack then responded to the redemand, and the singing of the National Anthem brought the concert to a close. The accompanimentp during the evening were played by Miss A. Parish in her usually efficient manner. It may be here mentioned that the whole of the arrangements, the tasteful decorations of the stage, and the conducting of the concert were in the hands of Mr. McCormack, who had the great satisfaction of seeing his labors crowned with a full measure of success. A committee of ladies of the parish provided a liberal Bupply of refreshments.