WAR RELIEF FUND.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2, 3 January 1900, Page 3

WAR RELIEF FUND.

♦ CONCERT IN PIOTON. Tbb concert held m Pioton on New Year's night for the benefit of the War Fund, was an unqualified success, thanks to the many friends who assisted the promoters m various ways. Mr Cragg donated the hall, Mr Card did all the advertising free, and had also printed a number of copies of "The Absent Minded Beggar" for sale for the same fund, and as there were no other expenses a sum of £14 12s was raised m this way for the fnnd. Had there been a late train from Picton numbers of the road and country people would have remained m town for the concert. Mr Cheek volunteered bis services, which were gladly accepted, and the arrangement of the programme was left m very capable bands. The Blenheim Garrison Band played selections outside the hall, whioh was also a voluntary service on their part, and much appreciated. Mr A. P. Seymour, Mayor, opened the proceedings with a patriotic speech, which waß received with cheers and applause. Others items were '.—Overture, "The Siege of Paris," Miss V. Fuller; song, " Soldiers of the Queen," Mr Wilmot; "Under the British Flag," Mias Allen; recitation, "The Lyceum Theatre," Mr Freyburg ; song, "Alone on the Raft," Mr Riddell; " Apart," Miss E. Lloyd ; "The British Lion," Mr Robertshaw; "Bafferty Won the Mile," Mr Edwards ; reoiiation, " How we laved St. Michaels," Mr Hounsell ; song, "Boarlet and Blue," MiesV. Fuller ; " Truth m Absence," Miss Gibb; "At the Empire's Call," Miss Howard ; " The Skipper," Mr Wilmot ; " Half Mast High," Mias Mcintosh; "Our Boys," Mr J. Price ; " Britannia the Pride of the Ocean," Mrs Flood ; reoitation, " The Absent-minded Beggar," Mr Esson; 1 Ting-a-long " and m response to an imperative encore, " Meet me at half -past nin6," Mr Edwards ; duet, " Life's Dream is O'er," Miss Mdntosh and Mr Hawthorne; and by special request of the audience Mr Wilmot sang a third time "The Death of Nelson." Most of the performers were encored, Mr Robertehaw and Miss Howard being complimented by receiving floral tributes. Misses Lloyd and Fuller and Mr Cheek played the accompaniments, and all the peformers and audience joining lustily m singing " God save the Queen " and " Rule Britannia." The only decorations on the stage were the New Zealand flag and a red ensign at the back of the stage, while at the side of the front was a boldly drawn exaggerated pioture of*" 06m Paul" hiding himself behind an umbrella from the British lion. The pioture was done m black chalk bj Miss Belle Allen. Wellington, January 2. Mr W. 0. Buchanan, ex-M.H.R., has donated £150 to the South African War Fund.