Invercargill

New Zealand Tablet, 3 December 1914, Page 22

Invercargill

(From our own correspondent.) The Irish national concert in aid of the Belgian relief fund took place in the Municipal Theatre on Wednesday, November 25. The spacious theatre was literally packed, many patrons having to be contented with standing room, while late comers had to be turned away. The proceedings opened with a lively French air by the Hibernian Band, after which the Very Rev. Dean Burke, V.F., delivered an appropriate speech, which is reported elsewhere in this issue. The Dean’s remarks were punctuated with generous applause and cheers, especially when reference was made to the number of Irishmen serving at the front. These remarks were particularly appropriate, in view of some of the news contained in cablegrams from London concerning the Irish and recruiting. All the artists met with a flattering reception, particularly Mr. J. McGrath, from Dunedin, whose items pleased the huge audience immensely. Mr. McGrath, who is an exluvercargillite, was in splendid form, and the audience was roused to a great pitch of enthusiasm by his vocal efforts. lie sang four songs, and also the solo in the marching song, ‘ It’s a long, long way to Tipperary,’ which concluded the concert. One of the most interesting and pleasing features of the programme was the marching and singing of, some 60 odd boys from the Marist Brothers’ School, under the direction of the Rev. Brother Boniface. The singing of ‘ A nation once Again,’ which ended with a magnificent and effective tableau, entitled ‘ Erin go bragh,’ fairly ‘ brought down the house,’ while a maze march, and the song ‘ I want to be a soldier ’ (in which a number of tiny ‘ Belgian soldiers ’ caused great amusement) were no less effective. The boys were taught the maze march and the drill by Sergeant-Major Laffey, to whom great credit is due, especially when it .is considered that he had the boys under him for only a little over a week. The boys did not make a slip in the maze march, and the applause was so sustained that an encore was imperative — a flattering tribute to the boys, but more particularly to their instructor. The other performers were Misses Officer, Ward, Davey, and Smaill, and Messrs. Robson, Moore, Wills, and a group of convent girls, all of whom rendered excellent items and had to submit to encores in nearly every • instance. The accompaniments were creditably played by Miss Collins, A.T.C.L., and Mrs. Cahill. Before the concert, and at intervals, a bevy of girls sold home-made sweets, the proceeds from which amounted to nearly £3O. The stage-management wasdn the experienced hands of Mr. R. Wills, and the secretarial work was capably performed by Mr. A. Keaney. The ladies’ committee, 1 under Mrs. Dr. Snow, Mrs. Timpany, and Miss Kane, and the general committee are to be congratulated on the great success of the function, which will increase the Belgian fund by considerably over £IOO.