CONCERT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1932, 31 August 1888, Page 3

CONCERT.

- -*. ' The promoters of tne concert In aid of < the Convent Schools have every reason to < be satisfied with the success achieved. < Seldom, if ever, has there been suoh * large attendance at any oonoert held m Ashburton. Shortly after half past seven ] the. hall w»a crowded, and long before < eight o'olook Its holding capaoity was so ] severely taxed that seats had to be I Improvised, and the audience were i erpwded as tight as possible. As it was there must have been a number of people who failed to even gain admittance to the < hall. Tbe programme, which was a i lengthy one, waa opened by an instrumental selection, " The Gems of Ireland," by the orchestrfr/the performers m whioh were :— lst violins, Miss Simmonds and filr Purchase ; seoond violin. Mr Simmonds ; double bass, Mr U. Hoaken ; t cornet, Mr G. Hcsken ; piano, Mr Kneen. Then followed a song from Mr Simpson, '* Heart of my heart," very well rendered and ■ warmly applauded, Mlbh K. Henry sang "My Molly Asthore," and though evidently a little nervous, waa very successful. An Irish dance, "High Oauld Cap," was given by Messrs N. Fitzgerald, O'Loughllo, Connor, D. Fitsgerald, P. Fitzgerald, Healy, Scanlan, and H. Cullen ln good style, and was tedemanded by the audience, a request whioh was not however acceded to. Sir J. Benedict's Hunting Song was eivea by Mesdamei C. M. Brooke and Williams, the Misses Henry, and Messrs Simms, Williams, H. Stephenson and Simpson m excellent style, and was warmly applauded. The next item was a song by Mrs Orlsp, "The Touch of a Vanished Hand," but unfortunately a very severe oold from whioh this lady was suffering prevented her finishing the piece. Tbe comio song, "Killaloe," by Mr H. Stephenson quite hit the popular taste and an undeniable enoore tras the resnlt .A highland reel by Messrs T. McKay, Morrison, Lyons and Gallic was capitally danced, and the audience were not satiefied till this also had been repeatad A duet " O'er the Hill, O'er the Dale " wan very nicely given by the Misses Butler, and was warmly applauded. Mr P. Williams' voice was heard to advantage m the song " Nil Desperandnm," and he was loudly applauded. Mrs 0. M Brooke scored a great success with her song "The Last Rose of Bummer," and m response to a unanimous encore she gave "Love was once a Little Boy " Both these items were capitally given, and Mrs Brooke is certainly an acquisition to the musical talent of Ashburton. An Irish Jig by Mr M. OLoughlin, which was redemandei brought the first portion of the programme to a close. The second part was opened by a selection by the orchestra, "The Swiss Fairy," after which Mrs P Williams sang " Bouquitiere " very nicely, meeting with warm applause. Mr Simms^ was m good voice and gave a capital rendition of "Queen of the Earth." The Misses Henry gave a duet "The Flower Gatherers " m good style ; and Mr N. Fitzgerald who contributed a hornpipe had to repeat the item. Mr 0. M. Brooke was loudly applauded for his song " The Powder Monkey," and another Item by the Quartette Party, "Come •nd see the daylight dawning " was excellently given. Miss F. Butler sang "Eileen Alannah" very pleasingly and was encored, as was also Miss K. Henry who followed with an Item, "Barney O'Hea," very nioely sung Indeed. Mr A. McKay gave • sword dance In capital style, and •a a repetition was demanded he had to respond. In the absence of Me English, who waa Bet down for a oomlo song, Mr Simpson kindly stepped into the breach and gave a song ' ' Tom the Tinker . " Mr J. H. Brooks acted as oonduotor and aooompany Ist and Messrs T. and A. MoKay supplied bag pipe and violin musio for the Sootch and Irish dances. At tbe eooclualon of the concert the Rev Father Blnsfield returned thanks to the performers for haying so kindly given their aervloes, and to the audience for the liberality with, whioh they had accorded their patronage. He expressed his thankfainesa beoause of the ahsenoe of sectarian strife m New Zealand, aud earnestly hoped that auoh would never be known here. He alluded to tbe fact of the Caledonian Soelhty postponing their concert ao aa not to clash with that held that evening and he expressed warm wlahet for the sucoess of his Sootoh friends' vesture* The net proceeds of the oonoert ahould be very handsome indeed, and the Sohoola ahould bs benefitted to a consider able extent thereby