ASHBURTON SCHOOL CONCERT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1737, 16 December 1887, Page 3

ASHBURTON SCHOOL CONCERT.

, A concert m aid of the treat fund of j the Ashburton Borough School was he'd 1 In the Oddfellows Hall last evening. The attendance W-s only moderate, a fact that Ib much to be regretted, as the Cono.rt passed off In a manner that left nothing to be desired, being one of the most enjoyable performances of the kind that we have witnessed. Tho most note- " worthy featnre of the evening was the ■inglng of. the school children. AU tbo ■ Items rendered by them were excellent, . and tbe very greatest credit is due to Mr • Kneen, the beadmattor, who it Is evident - has spared neither time nor trouble m tbe tuition of his yoncg charges. The ' Mayor (Mr T. Scaly) presided and introduced tbe various performers to the audience: At the commencement it wbb annonnced that encores would not be responded to on account of the very lengthy programme to be submitted, bnt this rule was broken In one or two instances, the audience insisting on a repetition of the items that took their fancy. The entertainment was opened with a round by tho school children, which m common with the other ■elections rendered by them was capitally given. Mr Simpson followed with a sea aong, for which he was warmly applauded Mies Bartatt sang " The dim hills far away" ln an excellent manner. Tho children contributed a laughing sobg which was followed by a humorous song, capitally rendered by Mr Brooks. After another item by the children, Mrs Wllli.ms, was encored for the song given by her. The sohool children gave another Item, after which Mr Williams contributed a song, well rendered. The ohildren then ■ang ." Jaanita," which wbb conceded to be tbe gem of the evening. This song which is a very difficult one for each young performers was rendered m a style which left but little rdbm for Improvement. Mr H. Gates contributed a comlo song, *' Robinson Crusoe," for which he watt encored. The next item was a song by Mrs Dorm, " Jeßole of Dumblano," with a violin accompaniment >by MUb Slcatnoadfl, this being rendered m excallent ■tyle. A piece by the school ohildren brought the first part of the entertainment to a olose. The second part conlisted of a comedy, " The Suspicious Husband," the characters m which were allotted aa follows : — Mrs Pennington, Lydla; M'bs Carry Wildscnlth, Peggy; Miss S. Elston, C'.cely ; Mr Elston, Twitters ; Mr F. Nokes, Tim ; Mr Tasker, a farmer ; Mr J. Pauling, a commercial traveller. The entertainment throughout was of a mo3t enjoyable nature, and it Is to be regretted that the attendance w»3 not so large a3 its merits deserved.