ENTERTAINMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 699, 27 July 1882, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENT.

A musical and dramatic entertainment was held at the Town Hall last evening, in aid of the Library funds. The attendance was satisfactory, although not so large as the object of the entertainment warranted. Mr Joseph Ward presided, and opened the proceedings by addressing a few words to the audience. Mr Ward said the insurance money on the old Library was LSOO, LIOO of which had been sent home for new books. This left L4OO in hand, and the County Council had very liberally promised a donation', of L2OO, provided tho committee could raise L2OO more. To build and furnish the new Library would cost LI,OOO, and if it was' to be built everyone must help to the-best of his ability, and by every means in his power, to enable the requisite sum to be raised. The programme was then proceeded with. Pianoforte duett—Miss and Mr Pish. (Applause.) Part song—St Stephen’s choir, accompanied by . Miss Gates On the piano, and conducted by Mr Horace Gates. Capitally rendered and loudly applauded. Song—Miss Kidd. Sung in the finished manner for which Miss’.Kidd is well known. 'An encore was asked for but not responded to. Mr Minnis was to have given a recitation next, but was unable to appear owing to. j indispositionr Song—“ The gallants 6f [ England"—Mr Simpson. In response to an encore, which would not be denied, Mr Simpson gave “Afighting we would go.” (Applause.) Piano duett, Miss and Mr Fish. (Applause.) Song, “Dearer than-all”—Mr Branson ; accompanied by Mrs Branson. Part song—St. Stephen’s choir. (Applause.) Song, “Granny’s old armchair ” —Mr H. Gates; accompanied by Miss Gates. As an encore Mr Gates gave, “ He’s always at home when he’s wanted.” Part song—St. Stephen’s choir. Song— Mr Branson, accompanied by Mrs Branson on the pianoforte. In response to an encore Mr Branson repeated the last verse. Piano duett—Miss Kidd and Master Kidd: Very nicely played. Song, “Life is a river”—Mr ’H. Gates. An encore was asked for, but not responded to. Mr Ward then announced that the first part of the programme was at an end, and it had been represented to him that hi# presence on that platform was no longer wanted. (Laughter.) Before retiring he desired to thank the performers who had so kindly given their assistance

that night, as well as the members of ;the Ashburten Dramatic Club, who were

about to make their appearance. He also thanked the public for its attendance, and had to announce that in about three weeks time from that date a second entertainment would be given in aid of the funds of the Library of a similar kind to that night’s entertainment—or perhaps a better kind. (Applause;) The curtain then fell,: to rise after a brief interval on the' adventures of ‘ J Betsy Baker,” the naughty “ Mouser,” his wide-awake better half, and che celebrated “Crummy,” the friend of the family. The piece has been, played on more than one occasion on the Town Hall boards, and last night the cast was the same with the exception that Mrs Yaughan, as Anastasia Mouser, supplied the place of Mrs Teppett, who was unable to appear on. this occasion. The piece went off very well, and the audience dispersedshortly before 11 o’clock, apparently much pleased with their evening’s amusement. "We must not omit to add that the Ashburton Brass Band lent valuable assistance by playing selections in front of the Hall before the doors were opened, thus probably attracting many who would not otherwise have patronised the entertainment. Mr Meeoh is also deserving of a word of praise for giving the use of the furniture required for the farce.