OTAMA SCHOOL CONCERT.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 7, Issue 414, 2 December 1884, Page 2

OTAMA SCHOOL CONCERT.

One of the most successful concerts that has been held either in the (Jhatton or Otama districts, took place last Friday evening in the Otama School, the object being to raise money whereby the school committee might be enabled to present prizes to the children at the New Year. The school was for once found to be too small for the place, being taxed to its utmost packing capacity, several of the entertained having to content themselves with standing in the porch. The most noticeable and praiseworthy feature of the whole entertainment, was the mannar in which the scholars, about 20 in number., under the management of Mr Wm. M'Lauchlan, acquitted themsehes iv the several choruses which they sung during the evening, and which showed that not only had they been carefully trained, but that they themselves possessed natural ability of no mean order. Mr W. M'Lauchlan acted as accompanist vith his already well-known efficiency. The Chairman, Mr M'Kenna, with a few remarks, calle.l upon the Misses Wishart and Ji'Laughlan, to open the programme with a pianoforte duet, which, considering the tender years of both, was very efficiently performed. Mrs Stewart then sang, as if she meant it, " 0 for the bloom o' my am native heather," and had to repeat the last verse to please the audience. The scholars then gave us " something wonh hearing," as the chairman said in introducing them, though he did not mean to be rou^h on those who had preceded then?. This was a chorus. " The Blue Bells of Scotland." and was sung with good time and ture throughout ; the voices blending really well. Mr Brown then sang the " Weary pund o' tow," and was followed by Mrs Stewart and Miss Wishart, in a duet, the flowing melody of which pro-ve-'ced an encore, to which they responded by logether singing '■ Ehren on the ftliiue." Two scholars, the Misses Olellaud, then sai)g a duet " Adieu " remarkably free from nervousness, and then Mr Stewart c.ime fur-wui-d in iho old favorite, "Jock o' Hazoldeen," and for an encore j«ang one of the semicomic species. " See our oars wifcii feathered spray," by the children, was the gem of the evening, being remarkably well rendered for juvenile voices This was followed by a humorous recitation by Mr W. Hay " The auld Far rant Wean." Miss M'Lauchlau i then played a piano selection, "La Sonnambula," with truthful justice to the pi«co. An amusing farce by Mr W. M'Lauchlan as Brudder Johnson, in a nigger stump speech brought the first part to a close. After an interval oE 10 minutes the scholars again appeared in " Won't you buy my pretty flowers." and were succeeded by Mr Aitken and Mrs Stewart in " When ye gang awa Jamie." After Mr Cregan had given two splendid recitations, the second being an encore,'"Mr W. M'Lauchlan sang "The Gallant 93rd," with chorus by the scholars, and as an encore the children resung " The Blue Bells of Scotlaud." Mr Stewart kept the audience in good humor, by singing " The jolly Miller," and then a treat was introduced in the shape of a foot song, or rather a hornpipe, by Mr Knox, who managed tp clear q, space for tho 0C

ension. Mr M'Dougall, ;.lthough very young, bewailed hia unhappy marriage in son?, and in response to an encore sang " The Sea 'enger JBrigada." As a finale, the scholars, led by Mr Stewart and accompanied by the pianist, sang with good effect, Biacken's New Zealand National Anthem, which brought a most enjoyable evening to a close. After tea and cake, the inevitable dance .followed in the sehoolraaster's barn and to the strains of several minor Paganini's was kept up into the sma' 'oors.