DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, 21 March 1907, Page 17

DUNEDIN.

Owing to St. Patrick's Day falling on Sunday,, the concert in connection with the Irish national -festival was held on Monday evening in the Garrison Hall. The celebration committee, with their energetic- hon. secretary (Mr. W. P. Rodgers) left nothing undone to secure the best possible available talent for the occasion, and the excellence of the programme submitted was convincing evidence that they had succeeded in " their efforts. Nearly every item was encored, and all .were received with much enthusiasm by the very large . audience. The programme was opened with ' The gems of Ireland ' by the ' Kaikorai Band, under the . conduc- " torshdp of Mr. Laidlaw. This was splendidly played, as was the overture to ' Zampa ' in the second part, and also the instrumental quartet by Messrs. J. A. O'Brien, D. Whelan, F. McLean, and E Kerr. : The Coulin ' found a very sympathetic interpreter in Miss Violet Fraser, who was enthusiastically recalled. She received a like compliment for her singing of ' Serenade in summer.' Two bracketed items, ' I know a i lovely garden ' and ' The I'lrth of mom,' were given with much artistic taste by Miss Nellie Hall, who had also to respond to an eiicore. As this was practically Miss Hall's first appearance on the public concert stage, her success was highly gratifying. Mrs. R. A. Power's programme numbers were a ' Russian love song ' and 'Oh ! steer my barque to Erin's Isle,' in addition to which she gave as an encore, ' Say yes.' "A featureof this lady's finished rendering of the items was - her clear enunciation. Mr. P. Carolin was recalled for his singing of '" The rose of Tralce, ' and as an .encore gave 4 The shamrock of Ireland. -Mr. Hussey was warmly applauded for his singing of ' The Irish emigrant,' the inevitable encore being responded lo by ' The low-backei ] car.' Mr. J. McGrath cave a fine rendering of ' The wearing of the green,' for which he was emphatically recalled. Mr. ' Arthur Murphy was encored for his singing of ' Come back to Erin,"" but contented himself with bowing his acknowledgments. The balance of the pro- - gramme was made up of vocal quartets^ ' Spring rejoices ' and 'In May-time,' by 'Messrs. A. .^Wright, E. Falck, P. Lemon, and T. J. Hussey, * and .selections of Irish melodies by "St. Joseph's choir under the direction of Mr. Vallis. These items met with much- favor from the audience. The accompaniments during the evening were played by Miss M. Drumm and Miss S. Hall. - ■-