CONCERT AT THE ONEHUNGA INSTITUTE.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1717, 23 August 1862, Page 9

CONCERT AT THE ONEHUNGA INSTITUTE.

Conductor—Rev. A. G. Pdbchas. To the Editor of the New-Zealander. Sir, —Having a few minutes to spare, and believing that yon are desirous of becoming acquainted with all that is interesting in the country as well as in the city, I send you a few hastily written lines from the note book of an unprofessional visitor to the concert given at Onehunga towards the funds of the institute. I am. &c., Snooks.

Onehunga, Tuesday evening, August 12th, 1862. The night was fine, and I arrived at the door of the institution a few minutes before, 8 o’clock. Mr. W—was there to receive the half-crowns, &c., assisted, I believe, by Mr. C . On entering, I observed abont 80 people, including children. The room was well lighted, and I easily recognised, as I moved towards a seat, Mr. F , Captain S . Mr. G——, Mrs. G -and a lad they call the Babe Miss K—— her sisters and brothers, Miss W—, Mr. T—, Mrs. T—, and Miss P—, Mrs. K— (the wife of the gallant colonel, the Onehunga great gun, who is now on his way to join the Legislative Council at Wellington), Mrs o—, her tall and handsome daughter and funny little son “ Lammy,” but no more like a Jamb than I am like Hercules, Mrs. I—, Mrs. W—, Mr. and Mrs. W, Mrs. E. H— and son, the Misses B— and their brothers, the venerable-looking Mr. B— and daughter, and a pretty dark-eyed young person sitting between them, Mrs. C—, Miss F— and her mamma; a few of the brave old soldiers, pensioners, who (as Sims’ advertisement stated) Her Gracious Majesty has blessed with the paradise of Onehunga; and last, though not least, the jolly looking, charitable, hospitable, fearless, out-spoken Mrs. G—; with many other ladies and gentlemen whose names (as the illiterate Scripture reader said, when he came to the hard ones in the Bible) “ ’tis too numerous to mention.” So much for that portion of the audience I recollect having seen, and whose names I knew. Now for the musicians. There appeared a goodly array; from the fair, fat and (I was going to say forty, but I wish to be within the mark,) thirty-five, down to the young ladies not yet in their teens. lam no judge of music, so I can only state (to be taken for what it is worth) my opinion of those I thought sang and played best. Mr. H --performed on the harmonium remarkably well and with great execution. His head, body, and legs, as he was violently working away at the bellows, had a very funny appearance. Mrs. J F—•, who has a sweet and cultivated voice, sang and played with great taste, and appeared to be a great help to the others. She mastered her pieces with as much each and self-confidence as a good horseman masters his horse, gracefully, skilfully, and fearlessly. But I looked in vain for a smile on that unchanging, earnest-looking countenance. I think a few smiles might have caused the people to say that they listened with rapturous delight. Nevertheless, I hate simpering and an everlasting giggle. Mrs. C ’s execution and voice are well known to most. It thrilled through the room and pleased everybody. She seemed to sing as if her own music pleased, herself as much as it did the audience. She was not in the slightest degree timid, looked at the audience rather than in her book, and was the main support of those ladies who appeared to be chosen rather for their good looks, dresses, or behaviour, than for their ability in singing. Mrs. B pleased me as much as any, she sang well, with taste and expression. Her happy look, comfortable appearance, the duke ridenlm, dulce 10~ quentem, sweetly smiling, sweetlyspeakingcountenance would have made far inferior execution to be received with delight. Amongst those who formed the choruses I saw Mrs. P and daughter, Miss G , and Miss—, and when I heard this name I thought of Lord Byron’s lines:—

Oh 1 Amos Cottle, Phoebus what a name To fill the speaking trump of future fame. Miss F , Miss C , and Mrs. E——. My ear for music is not sufficiently good to distinguish the individual voices of these ladies, but I have no doubt they sung well, for the choruses were effectively rendered. What pleased me entirely was the laughable “ Jack in the box” way in which they ail rose and sat down, immediately before and immediately after their parts. The gentlemen singers all did well; Mr. B—- was the great gun, and sang three or four solos. Mr. C took the principal comic part. Mr. S' sang one of the sentimental Christy melodies. Dr. W , Mr. W— and Mr. C———— completed the list. The concert was a complete success; every one seemed satisfied, and retired to their homes about 11 o’clock. The following is the list of the music and songs:— “Hark the Lark,” Glee. “Little Nell,” Mrs. Corlett “ I know a Bank,” Mrs. Corlett and Mrs. Brookfield. “ Since first I saw your face,” Madrigal. “ Slave Chase,” Mr. Brookfield. “ Now is the month of Maying,” Madrigal. A duett on the harmonium and piano, Mr. Hoffman and Mrs. Corlett “ May,” Mrs. J. Fairbum. “ I’m in want of a wife,” Mr. Cooper. “Coming thro* the Eye,” Mrs. Corlett. Mecdelssolya’s “Farewell to the Forest,” “Come where my love lies dreaming,” “ Dreams of my childhood.” “ Dame Durden,” “ Kathleen Mavoumeen,” Mrs. Corlett. “ Come, Fairies trip it on the grass," Mr. Brookfield and two lady amateurs. “ From Oberon InFairy land,” " Barney O’Hea,” Mrs, Corlett, “ The Steam Wig,” Mr. Cooper. “ There’s a good time coming, boys,” Mr. Brookfield, “Waits.” “ God save the Queen.”