SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4459, 5 July 1875, Page 2

SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

On Thursday evening, June 17th, the Young Men’s Wesleyan Mutual Improvement Society held their usual tea and meeting. Notwithstanding -the unfavorable weather about 120 ladies and gentlemen sat down to tea. After the tea a meeting was held, presided over by the Rev. W. Morley. The secretary, Mr. E. S. Waterhouse, read the report, which showed an increase of some fourteen members ] also that the library had been considerably increased, and that in financial affairs the society stands well. A very_ excellent programme was then done justice to. Miss Pattenson presided at the piano. After votes of thanks had been accorded to the chairman and those contributing to the evening’s entertainment, the meeting was closed by the chairman pronouncing the benediction, all expressing themselves well pleased with the evening’s performance. A public entertainment was given at the Hutt on Monday, June 28, under the auspices of the Good Templars, when song's, recitations, and readings delighted a numerous audience during the evening. . This time, says a correspondent, we entirely depended upon local talent, and did not borrow any assistance from Wellington; and, though the entertainment was not equal to some of the previous ones, it spoke well for the adoption of a self-reliant policy in matters even of social amelioration. The entertainment and soirie dansante at the Odd Fellows’ Hall on the 30th June hi aid_ of a sick member of the Typographical Association was a complete success in every respect. Despite the horribly inclement weather, there was a very large attendance, A most attractive programme of singing was gone through, to the evident pleasure of the audience, following upon an overture excellently played by the Artillery Band, after which dancing was commenced, and kept up 'with the utmost spirit for several hours. The members of the Association are to be heartily congratulated upon the result of its most praiseworthy efforts to help a fellow-craftsman under what all must hope is a merely temporary affliction. The Pearl of Peace Lodge 1.0.G.T. held an opening soiree in' the Dixon-street Wesleyan' schoolroom on Tuesday night. About one hundred persons were present. . ■ The concert which took place at the Hutt on Wednesday, June 9th, in aid of St. John’s Church, may safely be chronicled as one of the happiest musical efforts which have ever ’ taken place in that district, a result which is greatly owing to the energetic support afforded by a musical amateur lady from Wellington. It is unnecessary to particularise the pieces comprised in the -programme, as space forbids such, a course. We will in the meantime, however, allude to some of the most prominent features in the performance. The- concert pieces were divided into two parts, viz., instrumental and vocal. The former division being most efficiently supplied by a lady and gentleman, amateurs, from Wellington. A solo for the piano, written on Scotch airs, was played with great delicacy of touch and correct interpretation, but did not meet with that warm reception which the undoubted merit of the piece entitled it to. As regards the solo vocalists, it udll be invidious to make any special reference as regards the majority of the pieces, one piece, however, excepted, which was the highlyartisticandcultivatedrenderingof a tenor solo, sung by the way in Italian, and most warmly applauded. It is to be hoped that the gentleman amateur who rendered this solo, will give his assistance in future to the town concerts, when, should he do so, we may safely predict for him a most hearty welcome. One song not belonging to either division, and yet belonging to both, deserves a special notice. We refer to the soprano solo, “I Think then of Thee,” by Lachner, with violin obligato, which was rendered in a style and intonation rarely met with in the colonies., It is to be hoped the same will be repeated on some future occasions, -It was warmly encored. As regards the instrumental performance it is only necessary to say that it was performed by lady and gentlemen amatexirs, already sufficiently well known to Wellington audiences,, not to require any further comment. The comic and irresistibly droll portion was supplied by two gentlemen; amateurs from the Hutt, who sang “ Lcs dev.x Gendarmes in a manner which “struck” the audience wonderfully, and was enthusiastically encored. Before concluding our notice of a most enjoyable concert, we must not omit to call attention to the finished manner in which the accompaniments were played by a lady amateur, and more especially tho accompaniment to the last mentioned piece—“Lcs deux Gendarmes” —which in more unpractised and unskillful hands might easily have come to an untimely end. Ihe concert wound up by the entire musical combination singing “ God Save the Queen.