CONCERT AT BANNOCKBURN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 44, 14 September 1870, Page 5

CONCERT AT BANNOCKBURN.

The Concert and Negro Minstrels' Entertainment given at Richards's Bannoekburn Hotel on Thursday evening last was very well attended. This entertainment, which was got up by several gentlemen resident at Bannoekburn, in aid of the funds of the Duustan District Hospital, has been eagerly looked forward to by the people of both Bannoekburn and Cromwell. There were between twenty and thirty persons present from the latter place, and the Bannoekburn people mustered in such great force that the concert room was found to be inadequate to the requirements of the audience. The Bannoekburn Minstrels ("expressly imported from the Old Dominion for the occasion") were announced to make their first appearance, and this in itself was a sufficient guarantee for a full house. The first part of the entertainment commenced at eight o'clock, and consisted of songs, comic and sentimental, by Messrs Pretsch, Jackson, Berry, Behrens, Robertson, Ormiston, Shadwick, and Jelly : and a burletta, on a small scale, by Mr and Mrs Stuart and Mr Bissett. An interval of ten minutes was then announced; after which the Bannoekburn Minstrels made their debut. They eoinpisied Messrs Shadwick (Bones), Hickey (Johnson), Moore (Tony), Berry, Robertson, and Howson. The performances of the Minstrels were really first-class, and we have no hesitation in saying that we have seldom, if ever, seen them equalled by amateurs, and most decidedly never surpassed. The songs were exceedingly rvell rendered, and the local puns were above the usual average, one or two being especially good. At the conclusion of another interval, Mr Hancock performed the "renowned Juba dance," and the entertainment was brought to a close with a screaming farce by Messrs Shadwick and Howson, and a stump oration by the former gentleman. The success of the affair was greatly enhanced by the excellent music discoursed by Messrs Whetter and Howson, (cornet and banjo), whose kind services and valuable aid the Committee of Management have desired us specially to acknowledge. The amount taken for admission was £23 15s, and it is expected that, after all expenses have been paid, there will remain a balance of £2l tgjjbjs handed over to the Hospital Committee, the entertainment was concluded, the room wa cleared, and dancing was entered into ,wip£. great gusto by the lovsrs of the Terpsichdr'&Mß art, and kept up unSspP&te hour on Friday 1 morning. 4&M&m'<? -,