The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1872.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 35, 9 February 1872, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1872.

The English Mail. — The Phoebe, with the San Francisco mail, can scarcely be looked for here before Monday next as she is not a subsidised boat, and will not leave Manukau before her advertised time.

Excelsior Minstrels. — There was no performance by this Company last night owing to the Harmonic Society's concert being advertised to take place. To-night, however, Messrs. Collins and Carroll will take their benefit, and judging from the attractive programme they have published for the occasion, they are fully justified in expecting a crowded house. Dramatic Entertainment. — Mr. Morton Tavares, the celebrated tragedian, accompanied by Miss Surtees, passed through Nelson yesterday from Auckland, where they have been acting for some time, on their way to Duuedin and Christchurch whence they propose to return to this town and give one or two entertainments.

: Resident Magistrate. — Mr. ShaT p having resigned his seat on the Bench as Resident Magistrate, which he has occupied for the last four years to the entire satisfaction of the public, is to be succeeded by Mr. Lowther Broad, who will hold the offices of Resident Magistrate, Warden, Sheriff, Registration and Returning Officer, Registrar under the . Sale of Poisons Act, and Sub-Com-missioner for the Government Insurance. Harmonic Society's Concert.— -Cou- . sidering the numerous and great disadvantages, consequent upon the state of the weather, under which last night's concert was given, the Society is to be congratulated upon the successful manner in which it went off. With something less than twothirds of 'the usual. number of performers on the platform, and in the absence of several ladies -who were to play the accompaniments to some of the; songs and choruses, it required no little courage on the part of the conductor and those members who were present to undertake the concert, but the result showed that they had not overrated their powers. The choruses, certainly, were rather weak, as might have been expected, but any shortcomings in this direction were aaiply atoned for by the number of solos and duets, the majority of which were given with great effect. The first of these was the song Beautiful Summer which was the means of promoting from the ranks of the Society a young lady possessing a powerful and flexible voice, and who, we are inclined to think, if she can overcome the nervousness incidental to a first appearance in public, will take a leading part in future concerts, The duet Crude l ! perche finpra as rendered by the, President and a young lady to whom has already been accorded: a warm reception as a solo Binger, was a rich treat, the accompaniment being cleverly played at eight by ' Mrs Scaife in the absence of the lady who , had originally undertaken it. It is scarcely necessary to say that this duet was most heartily, applauded and loudly encored. We have not space to-day to notice all the various items in the programme but we must not fail to mention Blumenthal's song; My: Queen, which was given by a lady who, although somewhat nervous on making a first appearance in public, afforded abundant proof of . possessing a very sweet and highly-cultivated voice. We hope frequently to hear her again. J arise Jrom dreams of thee was another real gem,r being most sweetly and feeijtaglyr: sung by a highly useful and valued raejrabefl of the Society. An encore followed! as a ! - matter of course, bui the second song* was

scarcely bo well suited as the first to the lady's voice and style. The seep a Fra Poco from Lucia di Lamntermoor brought to the front a gentleman possessing a fine tenor voice who promises to be a valuable acquisition to the Society. The loud demand for au encore showed that his singing was highly appreciated by the audience. The accompainments to the choruses were, as a rule, more than ordinarily.well.played, the. tones being most carefully modulated, whereby the instrument was made to render appreciable assistance to the voices. On the whole, as we said before, the concert was, considering the adverse circumstances under which it was given, a very successful one, aud there is reason to believe that had the night been fine" '.lt would' have, been fully equal to any that has. taken place for some time past. At the next concert, Birch's lively little Operetta entitled The Merry Men of Shenvoi'd Forest, will be performed. The. practice of this will" copjmerice at once, and we are assured that it is likely to prove one of the most popular compositions yet attempted by the Society.