NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2133, 24 December 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PBB PBBSB ASSOCIATION. | AUCKLAND, Deceit ber 23. The H-A-C-B. Society. At the half-yearly meeting of the H.A.0.8. Society, the president, Mr P. Lynch, was re* elected. The balance-sheet showed £I2OO available to the Auckland branch of the society, exclusive of the funeral fund. A Curious StoryMrs Brooks, of Ficton, is at present here searching for her husband and two sons, who went a missing in a yacht three years ago on a voyage from Ficton to Wellington. She had been informed that persons answering to their description were working at Kaipara timber mills, under an assumed name. The police are making inquiries. She is in a destitute condition, her effects having been sent by the Hawes to Nelson by mistake. An appeal has been made on behalf of her and her children to send them to Ficton. Burned to Death. A gum digger named O’Connor was burned to death in his whare at Chinaman’s Landing, Kaihu Creek. He sold gum at a Hax mill and received £l2, and afterwards went to Kaihu and returned with drink, which is eaid to be the cause of his death. * Kauri GumAt the Waste Lands Board, Mr J. C. Firth proposed a resolution—“ That it is advisable chat a duty of £1 a ton should be imposed on kauri gum, and that the resolution be forwarded to the Government for their consideration.” The resolution was carried. Racing. The following acceptances were received by the Auckland Racing Club for the Free Handicap : Vampire, Farawhenni, Tim Whiffler, Vortex, Rosarina, Hilda, Edward James, and Slander filly ; and for the Hurdle Race—Lone Hand, Agent, Harry Mount, and Mignonette. QKAHAMSIOWN, December 23. Mining. Another test of four and a-half tons of quartz from the Bright Smile claim, To Aroha, has just been completed, and gave two ounces of retorted gold. The result is not considered satisfactory, for more than ordinary care was taken in the treatment, as the proprietors were desirous of having a reliable tost. The miners are returning from the new field for the holidays, and nothing wiU be done for several weeks. The feeling here is not to sanguine at the prospecte of the field. Hematite Ore. It is proposed to form a company to work a deposit of hematite ora found here. Larf# workshops will be erected at once, and artisans aro coming from England. NEW PLYMOUTH, December 23. The Parihaka Block. At a public meeting held last night resolutions were carried protesting against the sale of the Faribaka block being held a| Hawtsra, instead of New Plymouth.

OPUNAKB, December 23. The Stella. The Government steamer Stella has arrived with the Governor's aide-de-camp. Captain Knollyo is supposed to be en route for Parihaka. BLENHEIM, December 23. Griffiths v JohnstonAn application to have a new trial of the late ease, Griffiths v Johnston, at the forthcoming sittings of the Supreme Court at Nelson, was made before his Honor the Chief Justice in Chambers this afternoon, and refused. Compensation CourtThe Compensation Court to day awarded the Wesleyan body £IOSO, with costs, and Messrs Fell Bros., £7050, for land taken for railway purposes. The Government offer was much below these amounts. Obituary. Father Bezant, an old Catholic priest, died to-day. WELLINGTON, December 23. The Murderer TuMThe sheriff informed Tnbi this morning of the decision arrived at by the Executive Council. Tnhi received the announcement with the utmost equanimity, smiled pleasantly, and remarked—“ I know it.’’ The Governor’s Tour ! It is understood that the Hon. W. Eolleston will accompany hia Excellency on his tour through the colony next month. Wellington College. At a meeting of the College Governors to-day one of the members intimated that at the next meeting he would move that the masters of the College be given six months’ notice of dismissal, with the view to a reconstruction. _ DUNEDIN, December 23. The Inter-Colonial Conference. The committee of the Chamber of Commerce met this afternoon. The principal business transacted was in reference to the zepresentation of New Zealand at the Intercolonial Conference, the sitting of which was postponed to some time in January or February. Those, retary (Mr H. Houghton) laid before the committee statistics showing that dming the past eleven months the export from Dnnedin of oats and barley was 52,064 boshels, valued at £4844; from Oamarn 16,318 bushels,|£234B; and the value of exports from Southland to Victoria was £2790. Daring the same period the imports from and ▼ia Victoria amounted to £382,649. It was shown that notwithstanding the large trade between the two colonies, the Victorian Government had doubled the duty on imported oats, which is now 2s per lOOlbs, instead of Is, one plea being that the Victorian market was swamped with New Zealand produce. The secretary was requested to communicate with the Government asking what steps it was intended to take to have the colony represented at the adjourned conference. The Biverton Seat. The “Western Star” mentions that Mr MoOanghan, the member for Riverton, ia about to pay a lengthened visit to England, and will In consequence shortly resign his seat. Mining. A trial crashing from Conroy’s Gully gave 3ozs to the ton. “the Messiah!” The Christchurch Harmonic Society gave selections from this grand old work, as its second concert of the season, in the Academy of Mnsio last evening. The attendance was an improvement on the last concert; but could it be otherwise ? Does not this oratorio belong to the people? Moat certainly it does, and every amateur will say he knows it by heart. For everyone to know the mnsio is, with amateurs, a mistake, for by such knowledge they are apt to get astray, and strive to lead the conductor. There are two or three ohoros numbers that always suffer from this, notably “ For unto us ” and " The Hallelujah.” Again, in this respect, amateurs are apt to sing out too loudly, never too softly; t’were better could such a complaint be urged. It is the one great fault with our chorus singers—they will not sink their iniividnality. At last night’s performance the want of expression was very marked; it arises chiefly with those members who are beet acquainted with the music, bat will not sink their voices. Good chorus singers—and more especially those who are looked upon as leaders—serve an equally important part with soloists. If their work is what it ought to be, the less efficient ones will follow. The choruses of the oratorio are the finest ever written, and given snch a grand one as “ The Hallelujah,” what cannot be made out of it?

The programme was divided into two parts, it usual, the division being somewhat different bo what is generally followed. Several of the numbers that have always had a place on previous occasions were omitted last night. Of the numbers on the programme the recitative 41 Then shall the Eyes,” the choruses “ By man came also ” and “ Even so in Christ,” together with the quartettes “ Since by man” and “By man came also,” were omitted. It was probably a wise omission for those numbers are, usually, the least satisfactory of the performance. The orchestra occupied the centre of the stage from front to back, the violins from their forward position drowning somewhat the other instruments. The band was not so strong as usual, and we missed from its ranks many old faces who have for years back played a good part. There was a great lack of bass, made noticeable in several of the items where it was missed altogether. However, all those present did their best for the success of the concert, and to Mr Oorrick, the leader, special praise is due for the admirable manner he played throughout, and to whose efforts and care much of the success is due. Had the orchestra been seated in front of the stage there is little doubt that a great improvement would have been effected. The chorus mustered in strong force, as it always does for "The Messiah,” Owing to the contracted space of the stage front, the singers occupied seats quite to the rear of the stage, and covered the space where frequenters are accustomed to see “the wings.” This had its effect upon the sound and volume of tone issuing from the voices. All the parts were strongly represented, notably the bassi, who sang out clearly and well, some of their leads, notably in “ He trusted in God,” being exceedingly well taken. The soprani and alti both did well, the tenors evidenced weakness, and their position on the stage helped them in this respect. The chornaes“And the Glory,” “For unto us,” “Glory to God,” “She Trusted in God,” “The Hallelujah,” and "Worthy is the Lamb” may bo selected as those given with the greatest success. One or two choruses suffered somewhat from lack of style. For instance, In “ Behold the Lamb,” it was too jerky, on effect apparent in nearly all the choruses of that character, which above all others require special care. To give good effect to that class of chorus is real evidence of good singing, and may be practised with benefit. From the list of soloists we missed the names of both ladies and gentlemen who have for many years past seemed part and parcel of tile performance, and in some cases it was a pity they were absent. Mrs Barry sang her numbers, “ Come unto Him ” and “ I know that my Eedeemer liveth,” with great care and appropriate feeling, expression, and style. To sing oratorio music is a specialty—it is a stylo quite apart, and one requiring more study, care, feeling, and practice than all others, and in which but few succeed. Mrs Barry’s forte is evidently oratorio, and she succeeded very well indeed last night. Mies Boirley sang the Pastoral recitatives and the aria “ Bejoioe greatly.” The aria was her best effort, which she sang in her usual clear voice. Miss Wright created a favorable impression by her rerdering of the recitative “Ho was cut off” and the aria “ But thou dida’t not leave,” and will no doubt be again cordially welcomed. Miss B. B. Bowley sang the contralto solo, “ He was despised,” with much care, but lacked expression. She possesses a really fine voice, bat should have made more of this piece de resistance. In the absence of Mrs Townend, the aria, “O Thou that tellest,” was taken by Mrs Edmonds, who sang it very well indeed, at so short a notice. In the solos last night, not hr the contralto alone but also in one or two of the bass ones, the break in the register and timbre of the different voices was very noticeable, and should be avoided n future. Coming now to the gentlemen soloista, we give first place to that veteran, Mr Charles Merton. What woold this annual performance be without him, and whom have we, or will we have, to play such an important port in music as he bos done daring his long residence hero ? To those who knew him in his palmiest days it is a great pleasure to hear him once more,

and his finished style of rendering the bass solos last night must convince new comers of his good style. We say this of Mr Merton—perhaps it ia a diversion —but it may be ni* last appearance, and we cannot help thinking of his good services. Mr Izard sang Comfort ye ” and “ Every valley” very well indeed, the only two numbera he took part in. Mr Edmonds sang the recitative “ Thus saith the Lord” and “ Who may abide” clearly and well, the runs being nicely taken. Ihe glorious solo “The trumpet shall sound, with cornet obligato by Mr Seager, was given by Mr Hobbs with much spirit. The Amen chorus brought the concert to a close. Altogether it was a decided success, and refleets great credit on all concerned. To Mr Landergan, who ably conducted the entire performance, too much praise cannot be accorded. It is but two or three weeks since it was put in rehearsal, and the performance speaks well for his care and ability.