WATERTON CONCERT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1536, 9 May 1885, Page 2

WATERTON CONCERT.

A most successful and enjoyable enter tainment was given in the Waterton Library last evening, when the building was filled to overflowing with residents from the immediate districts, and a considerable number of visitors from Ashburton. Mr Malcolm presided, and briefly stated that the entertainment was given for the double purpose of providing an evening’s enjoyment and endeavoring to augment the funds of the Library. Mr Sidney Wolf had charge of the musical portion of the entertainment, and the ladies and gentlemen who assisted him were Miss Stephens (a lady visitor from Christchurch), Miss Butler, and Messrs G. Dillon, A. Gates, J. Wood Jones and J G. Rose. Mr Wolf first of all delighted the large audience by a brilliantly executed pianoforte solo, for which he received a hearty round of applause. During the evening Stephens, a lady possessing a sweet and welltrained voice, sang several pretty ballads and a song “ No, Sir," for each of which she was rewarded with an encore. Miss Butler sung “ Killarney” and several other Irish melodies, and her sweet voice, and the depth of feeling she threw into the songs of her native soil won most rapturous applause and encores Mr Rose sang “ Dream Ficea ’’ admirably. He is to be congratulated on making such a happy choice, as it is a class of song peculiarly suited to his voice, and he sa ig it with great expression and feeling. He also contributed two other songs. Messrs A. Gales and J. W. Jones also contributed to the harmony of the evening, and each sang a couple of songs, which were highly appreciated by the audience. Mr Gates received a well merited encore. Mr Gerald Dillon, who is a recent arrival in Ashburton, does not pride himself on his musical ability, but nevertheless, in his special line he is a host in himself, and his services are likely to be in request at many future entsrtainments in the district. He gave several recitations last evening to the intense astonishment, wonder and delight of the audience. Hia rendering of “ Sharaus O’Brien ” was both pathetic, humorous and funny in the extreme, and his acting and mode of expression thoroughly tickled the risible faculties of the audience, but while enjoying the humorous side they were enabled to restrain themselves and seemed to fully appreciate the pathetic and tragic e’ement with which Le Fanu has invested this well-known composition. It is needless to add Mr Dillon was loud’y applauded and heartily encored. The Mcßae Brothers appeared twice on the stage and gave exhibitions of Highland dancing in costume, for which they were heartily applauded. After the concert a ball was held, the Library proving much too small for all those who wished to join in the dance. Mr Wolf supplied the music, occasionally assisted by a gentleman who “ bio wed the piccolo,” as a son of Edo was pleased to term the instrument. Mr Dillon filled up one or two intervals by relating funny stories. Altogether the evening’s entertainment was a big success, and lasted far into the early morning. The gentlemen performers returicel to town at daylig it, some little delay having been caused in starting, through Mr Maßae’a horses breaking out of a paddock and necessitating a lengthy and ‘' mysterious ” search on the part of the proprietor.