SATURDAY NIGHT CONCERTS.

Evening Star, Issue 3852, 29 June 1875, Page 2

SATURDAY NIGHT CONCERTS.

T0 the Editor. ► Slß^— On behalf of the {Saturday Night Concerts Committee I crave a* little space in your paper to reply to certain 'statements that appeared in yesterday’s ‘ Guardian.’ The committee feel assured that the remarks made by that paper were hastily written, and possibly by the gentleman who felt most aggrieved by the two songs complained of. At the same time, the committee were not aware when the patty whose songs gave so much offence offered his services that they were of the nature they turned out to be. They take this opportunity of publicly denying any intention on their part to offend the feelings of any individual or ekes. Ihey also labor under the disadvantage that when an encore is demanded they rarely know the nature of the song that will be given, which was the case of the singer of the “Locals” complained of on Saturday night. For the future they have d- termined not to allow any |mng of an objectionable nature to recur tgnin. The committee Ban point with.pride and satisfaction to the fact that these concerts are answering the purpose they were established for—viz., the amusement 0! a large clash 01 persons who on Saturday nights visited bars, billiard-room, theatres, and so forth. That these concerts should possess the refinement of elegance of high-class musical seances should not bo expected. Every effort has been made by the committee to preserve order, and they are happy to say that so far their efforts have been attended with great success, the hat concert having been one bf the most orderly and appreciative since their opening night. _ The chairman’s remarks were listened to with respect and attention, and at • the close of the concert ho complimented &e committee on the order and decorum shown, They would also draw attention to the fact tbnt “any gentlemen of the very highest position in Dunedin have_ presided at these meetings, and they bear testimony to their usefulness, amusement, and respectability. Another gratifying feature of these concerts is that they haVe already been the means of inducing a numbefc of persons to become. total abstainers, who otherwise would not have done so. Apologising for the length of this letter.-—I am, &c.. < /* W. C. Wilson, Mon, Seo. to the Saturday Evening _ Concerts Dommittee. Dunedin, June 28. [Wo have received several letters on this subject, including one from Mr Anthony Mills, but as they are merely confirmatory of W T*J; Wilson states, it is unnecessary Ao publish them. We have been requested by the 0 0,1 Saturday night last (Mr Wales, AT.BLR.) to state that there was no rowdiness at the meeting, which was as orderly as most meetings are. Tt is true that, in the earlier part of the evening some people adopted whistling as a means of showing their appreciation, but on being remonstrated with by the chairman they at once discontinued the practiced It is admitted that the ‘'local” songs should not have been given to such a gathering: and the committee assure us that it is not likely offence on that score will be again given.—Ed. ‘E. S.’]