SUNDAY CONCERT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2529, 2 August 1915, Page 2

SUNDAY CONCERT

There was a good attendance of the public at a concert given by the Tramways Band in His Majesty s Theatre. With only nineteen' players the band could hardly do itself concert justice, and with the possible exception of von Suppe's bright overture, 'Toet and Peasant, no big work was attempted. The. band played the marches, "A Soldier Hero" (Stainer), "La Rita Italiani (Dresher), and the entr'acte "Bells of St. Germains" (Menier). Bandsman J. Drew plaved "The Holy City" with a band accompaniment, which was not impeccably played. Mr. J. Glennie and Master Glennie essayed the duet (cornet and euphonium) "Ora Pro Nobis" of Piccolomini, but as they were distinctly out .of tune and the boy would tap time audibly with his foot the effect was not pleasing. Madame Anderson (w'ho was announced on' the programme as a pupil of Madame Marcnosi, of Paris) made bar first public appearance in Wellington, and created a favourable impression. She lias a strong and rather musical mezzo-contralto voice with a serviceable range, and au ingratiating presence. She sang "A Summer Night" (Thomas), cncored, "My . Little Grey Home in the West," and Bullah's "Three Fishers." Mr. H. Fisher's muffled tone was scarcely sujted to the large auditorium. He sang "Thou'rt Passing Hence," "The Deathless Army, 1 ' ana "Cleansing Fires." The band was under the direction of Sergeant' G. W. Bowes. Madame Ethel Berry was the accompan-

The problem of providing facilities for properly _ educating children in tho country districts was discnssc-d at. this week's meeting of the _ Auckland Education Hoard. Tho chairman, «Mr. G. J. Garland, said that in regard to half-time schools tho conditions under which the board was working we're most difficult. A largo number of tcachers wero away at the front, and the people in the country districts should not bo unreasonable, but should recognise tlio difficulty of carrying on the work. Parents and children should bo prepared to make some sacrifices. The board was doing its best, and although it mia;ht seem, hard that only three days' tuition per week could be given it was bettor than nothing. When attendance warranted it the. board ' would convert half-time schools into fuIT-timo schools. Mr. J. D. M'Kqnzie remarked that better teachers were now. being obtained for half-time schools, as the last Education Act made provision for better salaries! Half-time schools were now much better off than ill the past, and it was unfair to judge theai from the experiences jjf tua past,.