BAKER’S HIBERNICON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4338, 13 February 1875, Page 7

BAKER’S HIBERNICON.

During the month there has come to us from Ireland, by way of America, Honolulu, and Ireland, an original entertainment, known as Baker's Hibemicon. The idea is very simple, but none the less attractive and pleasing. The panorama is one of scenery of Old Ireland, and a very large number of views are presented of the most attractive spots in that romantic island, from the Bay of Dublin, as seen from the' shore on the east, to Galway and Limerick on the west, and Belfast, Londonderry, and the Giant’s Causeway on the north, to Queenstown on the south. These scenes embrace the Lakes of Killarney, the Rock of Cashel, the Harbor of Waterford, the Abbey of Holycross, and Sackville-street, Dublin. Among the large audience who were present on the first night, and the still larger, number who visited the Odd Fellows’ Hall the following nights, there were many who were able to recognise the scenes of their youth, and who did so with not a little pleasure ; while, to the younger people who have read or heard, in book or story, or in the fireside gossip of “Exiles of Erin,” of the natural glories of their native land, the panorama must have proved most interesting, and instructive as well. Mr. Baker makes no display as a lecturer ; but his remarks are always appropriate, and the historical notes he introduces, do not fail to convey an idea what Ireland is, and a very impressive conception of what she was in the days of her early grandeur. The passage from scene to scene is made the occasion of introducing songs, dances, &0., most of them appropriate through their Irish character ; and if others are brought in which appear incongruous, from their want of harmony with the scene, these are received as necessary to the variety which an entertainment must possess, ar.d they are not only encored, but welcomed, when, as in a case such as this, they are of the best style of their typo. Mr. Henry Baker must be complimented, not only ou the excellence of his arrangements, the entire absence of pretence, and the care and accuracy which ho shows as a lecturer, but also on the taste with which he uses a naturally sweet voice, and the perfection of expression, the feeling, and modesty with which he gives such songs as “ The Meeting of tho Waters.” Mr. W. H. Baker, who, in times not long gone by, was a most worthy compatriot of Mr. Armes Beaumont in English Opera in Melbourne, has a magnificent robust tenor voice, and uses it with cultivated

skill. He sings “ The Death of Nelson,” and songs of that class, in aa pure a style, and with as great power, as we ever remember to have met with before. slrs.' Baker has a handsome figure and a pleasing expression, which add not a little to the effect of 1 a well-cultured voice, which is heard to particular advantage in such duets with her husband as “Flow on thou shining river;” and is so pleasing in 'such comic duets as “ The Music Lesson,” in which the coquetry of the school-miss is so amusingly copied. Mr. Verner was a member of the Emmerson Company of Christie Alinstrels, which is regarded as the best—after that originally brought out from England by Mr. John Smith, which embraced Steele, Nash, and La Feuillade—ever seen in Victoria. His German song—“ The Leader of the German Band”—was so good, and his make-up so natural, as to induce not a few among the audience to suppose that he really was a “Deutcher.” That illusion was speedily dispelled by his “Awfully Wild,” and especially by his local and amusingly satirical song “The Wellington Policeman.” This is an idea of his own, and it created roars of laughter. We compliment Air. Verner on deserving the appreciation he has won from a Wellington audience. The entertainment has taken very well in Auckland, Napier, Wellington, and the Hutt, and we have no doubt will do so throughout the Aliddle Island, to which the company proceed to-morrcfty by the mail steamer.