CARTERTON.

New Zealand Tablet, 11 April 1918, Page 10

CARTERTON.

As usual the annual concert organised by the Catholic community for St. Patrick's Night was very successful and enjoyable, a very large audience assembling at the King's Theatre. Proceedings were opened with a mandoline overture played by Messrs. M. Bish and Waterman, and Misses Kilmartin and Berrill, Miss Bish at the piano. The same performers played another selection at the opening of the second part, ' and both were heartily applauded. Pretty dances, an Irish jig and the Spanish cachucha, . were given by Madame Foley's Featherston pupils, and their graceful movements compelled hearty encore. Songs were sung by Private Poppelwell, "The Midnight Hour," encored, and "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes," splendidly rendered and encored. Corporal Wright, who has a very sweet and well-trained voice, sang "The Mountain Lovers," "It's Morning," and two other fine items, all being encored. Father Duffy gave "The Old Plaid Shawl," and in response to an encore "The Low Backed Car." Father Fitzgibbon "The Green Isle of Erin," encored. Mr. Yates and Private Scotty Carr provided the humorous element, and each had to respond to double and triple encores for their laughter-provoking turns. The lady vocalists were Miss Spellmann, Miss Barrie, and Mrs. Bailey, who sang well-known Irish airs, and were each encored. At the close Mr. Dudson, on behalf of the Catholic congregations of the South Wairarapa, presented Father O'Beirne, who is leaving for Ireland, with a purse of sovereigns as a token of the esteem in which he is held by the parishioners. Father O'Be I 'rue warmly acknowledged N the gift and the sentiments it conveyed. At the interval Father O'Beirne came on to the stage and said they had with them a young officer who had won his promotion on the battlefields of Gallipot. France, and Flanders, Lieut. Dudson, and he asked all present to give him a rousing British cheer. The request was responded to with tremendous enthusiasm, the cheers and clapping lasting several minutes. Lieut. Dudson, in acknowledging the compliment, said he was very pleased to have the good fortune to bs amongst them that night, and he hoped tint other Wairarapa boys now at the front would have the same luck to get home as he had.