THE LATE LECTORS AND ENTERTAINMENT.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 83, 18 June 1873, Page 3

THE LATE LECTORS AND ENTERTAINMENT.

Ths entertainment given by the Committee of t -e Mechanics' Inst itute for its benefit passed off vcr y successfully on Friday evening last. The w eather be.ng very fine, and the moon rising at 7 o clock, were additional inducement# for those ladies and gentlemen interested in snob gather* mgs, and a large attendance was the result? The programme was gone through very carefully, and apparently pleased the audience. There is some cause for congratulating the sub-committee upon hunting the number of songs and pianoforte pieces, which on all previous entertain moots have been superabundant, towards the end causing some weariness. The great attraction of the evening was the lecture by the Rev Mr Jordan, who, ui the absence of the President and VicoFresident of the Institute, was introduced by Mr iiootb. The reverend lecturer entertained the audience for an hour and a-balf in the true sense of the word, exciting the risibility of hi# hearer# by his genuine Irish humour, entrancing their attention by his powerful delivery of legends and romances, and awakening deepest emotion by his beautiful poetical quotations. At the conclusion of bis lecture Mr Jordan sat down amidst the heartiest demonstrations of satisfaction from all present. Mrs TunL s and Mrs Tovev played a duet, which coot, hied many rattling Irish airs, in a very spirited manner, und received, as they deserved, marked approbation. Mr# Tovey opened the second part of the concert with a niece, of ifnif ,C , i esecu * move brilliantly than usual. ‘The Sexton” was the first song, and evidently required a larger room to bo heard with due euect. The pretty gong, “ Maggie by my aide ” was rendered by Mr George excellently, both as regards vo»ce and articulation. It was highly appreciated. r J be piece de resistance of tho con* cert waa “ Farewell Leonora,” sung by Me V, mttoker very effVotivelv, and securing the only Si?’w,°. f tl i o evmio S, which compliment was paid Mr Whittaker by his many friends, who attended doubtless principally to bear him. Kext time, however, this gentleman obliges the public ho would do well to select a new song, and not on® that moat people have beard Sims Reeves and Mano sobbmely render. “Farewell Leonora” can scarcely bo hoard patiently apart from the opera it is culled from, or when delivered by less than a prima lenore. The three glees wore sung very weU, the time and tune being all that is desirable in a glee, and giving pleasure to the audience generally.

TBiimcuoßß.