CONCERT AND BALL, BLACKS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 794, 6 July 1877, Page 3

CONCERT AND BALL, BLACKS.

The Concert and Ball in aid of the Dimatan District Hospital, which took place on Friday evening last, the 29th of Tune, considering the weather, which was simply execrable, was a most successful affair, and great credit is dne to ail concerned, whether it is the ladies and gentlemen who kindly volunteered their services, the Clyde Brass Band, the local Committee of Management, or the residents of Blacks generally; each vied with the other in Bringing the brightest side forward, the only object being apparently to make the affair as successful as could possibly be under the circumstances. As I said before, the weather was execrable, and deterred many from putting in an appear ance to the concert, in truth, there was'buta scant attendance, but to the ball there were more, and if the earnest manner in which dance after dance, to the number of some 27, were gone through, any little shortcomings in the concert, was fully made up. The performers at the concert, Imustncce - sarily commence with the fair sex, were Miss Mary Jane Hastie,, and Messrs W. G. Rees, Button, M‘George, and Mr Simpson, of Ida Valley, ably supported by the Clyde Brass Band under the leadership of Mr.H, Nettletold. The Band struck up the opening note by playing a lively March in front of Kr Gavan’s Shamrock Hotel, after which they proceeded to the School-house, and opened the Concert with a well played overture. The singing then followed, the various singers doing their very best they could in a very bad room, and to the accompaniment of a broken-winded harmonium, the which, on any future occasion, I would suggest should be dispensed with, as its music is anything but sweet, and it has the effect of drowning the voice, it otherwise should support. The programme gone through, Mr Fache, the Secretary of the Dunstan Hospital, briefly returned thanks. The room was then quickly cleared, and dancing soon afterwards commenced, and was kept up all night. I have already said that great credit is due to all for their efforts in making the affair a success, but to leave it at that would be doing but scant justice, I therefore desire to say that special thanks are due to Miss Hastie, Mr Rees, Dr Button and Mr M‘George, as also to the Clyde Brass Band for undertaking the journey in the face -of an impending storm. Mr Gavan, of the Shamrock Hotel, is also deserving a good word tor the good care he took of the Band, nothing being left undone by him to render them comfortable. The last, though not least, deserving of a word of commendation is Mr J. Parkes, of the Hartley Arms Hotel, Clyde, who kindly supplied, free of charge, 2 two-horse buggies for the band. lam not exactly aware of the number of tickets sold, but the amount to be placed to the credit of tho Institution 1 believe will be somewhat over L 39, if therefore there was any inconvenience, there is the satisfaction of knowing it was not for a trifle.