A field Day at Birmingham

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 8, 3 July 1890, Page 3

A field Day at Birmingham

" ~~ Ccn^nderable interest centred at Bir mingham on Saturday last, which wac one of the busiest day 's known there since it became a settlement. The beautifu] Weather, together with the various attractions presented, had the effe<j£sf bringing to the township a large gathering of set. tiers and working people from many miles round, to' do their part in making the day's proceedings what they really were, viz., a general success. The first event was an auction sale of miscellaneous goods in the Town Hall in the fore- - noon, which was well attended, and as many of the articles offered were exactly suited to the wants of pioneer settlers, it is almost needless to say that they were for the most part keenly competed for. This part of the business over, adjournment was made to an enclosure adjoining the hotel, where a sale was to be held of trees and plants from the nursery of Mr T. Hall, at Feilding. The whole of the lots were disposed of at prices satisfactory to all concerned. Mr W. Trimble wielded the' hammer in an efficient manner at both sales. Such was the demand for fruit and other trees, that had there been doable the quantity they would in all probability have been quitted. It goes without saying that host Lowes and his family were kept well employed in attending to both the solid and. liquid requirements of the numerous visitors, which they succeeded in doing to the general satisfaction of all. THE CONCERT. A vocal and instrumental concert was jiven in die Hall in the evening by a company composed of several visitors to Feilding from. Napier, and of certain wellknown amateurs to this district. There was a very good house, and the audience were enthusiastic in showing their appreciation of the efforts made to entertain them. Mr T. A. Bryce presided in his usual felicitious manner. The proceedings commenced with a piano duet en- . titled " The; Shepherd's Evening Song" l>y Mr and Mrs M. L. Heading, which . -was capitally rendered. Mrs Gardiner's song " Longing " was well rendered, and in response to an encore she gave " Ye Need Na' Gome Courtin' O' Me," to her own accompaniment. Mr Lovejoy's song '.'• Tinkle, Tinkle Turn" led to his re-ap-pearance, when he gave " I weeps and I Wander's," Mr W. Beading introduced «• The Union Jack of Old England," which so folly drew oat the patriotic element in Ms hearers that they instinctively joined in the chorus, and gave him and his flag a warm reception. A cornet solo " Scotch Airs" by Mr M. L. Beading was well executed and loudly applauded. " The Song that reached my Heart" by Miss M. liowes, to an accompaniment by one of her sisters, was so pleasingly sung that ■ she. was compelled to give a repitition. Mr. R. Sommerville's concertina solo ** Aiild Robin Gray" was encored and responded to with. •« The Bells," Mr C. Young gave a reading from Bret Harte, entitled "Dow's Flat," which was well received. This was followed by a cornet, piano and "violin trio, " Wayes of the Ocean" by Mr and Mrs M. L. Beading and" Mr J. Newman respectively, but the length of the programme prevented the encore being responded to. The overture *' Guillaume Tell" was performed on the piano by Mrs 'Mi L. Beading in capital style. " Flotf Gently Sweet Afton" was s.> -well sung by Miss E. Fraser that her reappearance Was demanded, when she gave "Forget Me Not" in good 6tyle. Mr Lovejoy brought in his " Bouncing Baby Boy," which caused great merriment, and — ia^response, to a recall he gave another coi&ig~ni^A--ApisGo and violin selection, "lie Calife de Bagdad" was next given ' by Mrs M. - L". Beading and Mr J. Newznan, and was very artistically rendered. The duet "Many Happy Beturns of the Day" by Mrs Gardiner and Miss J. Fraser - was so sweetly sung that it had to be repeated. MrW. Beading quite "fetched 'em" with " The fLost Child," after which Mrs Gardiner sang " Parting" so well that she . had to re-appear, this time giving "True till Death." The chairman made a few remarks and expressed the usual thanks, -when a verse of the National Anthem by the company, joined by the audience, terminated a most pleasing and successful entertainment. Mrs M. L. Beading played the greater portion of the accoinpani- - menta, in which she displayed considerable ability. A dance was afterwards held which was well patronised. Some excellent music was provided, and Mr B. Somznerville ably conducted the ceremonies, which were brought to. a close as the clock struck twelve. *