WYNDHAM CATHOLIC CONCERT.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 6, Issue 310, 4 January 1884, Page 2

WYNDHAM CATHOLIC CONCERT.

« i The concert projected in aid of the clnarch whose name is indicated above took place ©n Wednesday evening. Leahy's hall was, at a little time after the advertised hour of openin.gr, comfortably packed, the committee having been unsparing in their efforts to make the affair a success. They were some- , •what unfortunate, however, in the fact that Miss Cameron, who was nominated pianist, was unable to attend, and consequently many of tie songs had to be. rendered with the disadvantage of strange singers and players. A number of ladies and gentlemen from Invercargill contributed their assistance ; and in the absence of Miss Cameron, { as mentioned above, they were accompanied ! by Miss and Master Sullivan, of Gore, the : instrument being kindly lent by Mr Nuts- ' ford. The programme opened with a boor, " Molly Asthore," by Mr O'Koefe. His ef- - forts to please were loudly rewarded. Mr Dennehy succeeded him with a recitation, and elicited the warmest encomiums for his rendering of the selection. Mr Poppelwell was next with his " Ould Oireland." It would have been better i£ Mr Poppe well had "•■ pitched his song half an octave higher, but he nevertheless succeeded in carrying off the applause of the audience. But "he labored under another difficulty — namely, that the air bore a remarkable resemblance to another move familiar one, " Uhe dear little Shamrock," and the difficulty of rendition was thus much enhanced. Mr Kidd sang a warlike song ; he was encored at the conclusion, but owing to the length o£ the programme, he wisely declined from responding till a later hour. The chairman, Mr David M'Kay, here made a few of his usually happy remarks, as he did in the course o£ the evening ; and then Mr Price, of Invercargill, sang in his well-known tenor vioce, " On the banks of Allan Water." He was followed by •. Miss Smith, from the same town', with ''I' dreamt that I dwelt," and she gained loud applause. Mr Nutsford began " The Reef er," but having forgotten the latter portion of it, substituted "I'm saddest when I sing." Mr ; Winter c?me next with a humorous recita- ■ tion entitled " The Bachelor's Complaint." He was honored with an encore, to which, however, the Jength of the programme did not allow bim to respond. Mr James M'Millan filled a gap, and created much amusement- by singing " The little AVjdow^. Dunn." This "song is usually accomptfnfeci "' with a dance, but the accessories did not permit of this being carried out. This concluded Part I. of the programme. Part 11. was commenced by an instrumental duet (cornet -and piano) by -Miss Sullivan . and* "Mr Woods." Considering the fact that the selection had not been rehearsed previously, the effort' was extremely; creditable.. Mi. . Lawlor followed with a humorous Irish read-; ' ing, and surprised many of those- 7 who" - thought he could not read to advantage; Mr Price was next with the famous song " Let me like a Soldier fall," accompanying him- ' self. He sang this song with his nsual skill. ; A duett by Mrs. M' Jjeod and Mr A. Kidd was, ■ the next item on the programme. They were ' accompanied by Mr" Nutsford, and sang " Merrily leave the Shore." The, harmony - 5 of the two voices betokened not only a large"' amount of practice, but a great deal of natural ability. Mr J. Walker then sang (i Waste not, want not " with his usual "vigor., • Mr, O.'Keefe again came to the fore. with, his pffbrt to sing " The heart Bowed Down." We should recommend Mr O'Keefe to be less ambitious in the* choice of his selections, and more circumspect before attempting them. Miss Smith then sang " Cushla Machree," and received most enthusiastic applause for her most feeling rendering of this exquisite, , ballad. She was 'succeeded by Mr Lai&ldr,L -.who sang a song which was unluckily lost to inpst of the audience. A- duett by Mrs Fits- ' roatirice and Mr Nutsford (from Dickens' well-known book •' Dombey and So* ')j " What are the Wild Waves saying-.'" w'ij* the next :tem, and received the most marked favor o£ Auy oi. C.^ of theeveriiifs*:" Oh i" and met with the~ degree' of ;ap^aiwe^^v' : which his courage deserved: The feal.'y artistic duett from ' Maritana,' by MisS jSmitbr. and Mr Price, brought t'ae programme to. a close. Thereupon the performers sang " God save the Queen, v Miss Smith taking the solrv parts. At the conclusion of the concert the ' hall was cleared, and a dance took .place ; and to the music of the violin, and piapo-r, the latter being performed upon by some" visitors — ihe -flying feet were encouraged to twinkle till daylight warned the dancers that another year of toii had begun.