MRS. JOHNSON’S SCHOOL, HUTT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5228, 24 December 1877, Page 3

MRS. JOHNSON’S SCHOOL, HUTT.

(Communicated).

The eighth annual entertainment was given by the pupils of Mr. Johnson's seminary, Lower Hutt, on the evening of tho 19thinst.,iu the Mechanics’ Institute, and was as successful as on former occasions. The stage was tastefully decorated with ferns, flowers, and banners, harmonising tellingly with the array of youth, beauty, and innocence which it encircled. The entertainment commenced with a lively song, after which the juvenile classes gave recitations suited , to their age, eliciting hearty laughter from the audience and giving the joyous little hands more than they could do in picking up tho bouquets awarded to them. The recitations by tho elder pupils were very creditably given and much applauded. Space precludes us from noticing more than a few. •‘William Tell,” by Master Henry Parker ; parody on Tennyson’s “ Brook” by Miss Swafford ; “ Bingen on the Rhyne,” by Miss Susan

Ransom ; “ Edinburgh after Flodden,” by Miss Welch ; “The glove and the lions,” by Miss Pyko ; “The farmer’s wife,” by Miss Gooch; “The Christinas pie,” by Miss Oudby ; “Today and to-morrow,” by Master John Parker ; “ Come-and-go,” by Miss Elizabeth Pierce ; and several others. Amongst the songs were “ Thy face,*' “ The merry merry heart,” “ The little fairy.” The accompaniment to the last two was nicely played by Miss Blanche Burt. The pianoforte performance was generally excellent. The “Sultan’s polka,” by Miss Jessie Corbett, with violin accompaniment by her papa; “ The musical box,” “ Chime again, beautiful bells” (B. Richards), “Les Trainaux mazurka,” by Miss Julia Pyke, were given in her best style ; “Echoes of Lucerne, the primo in the Tramp gallop” (duet), and the “ Brilliant quadrille,” by Miss Pry, were much liked. The “ Juanita quadrille” and the primo in the “ Battle of Abyssinia” (duet), by Miss Percy, were nicely given. “ Home they brought her warrior dead” (duet) prirno, by Miss Cudby, who in this and some other pretty pieces showed much proficiency for her time. “The liquid gem,” by Miss Jessie Corbett (with violin), and the Lancers (duet), by the latter young lady and Miss Burt (with violin) were indeed gems for sucli young performers. “ Horae to our mountains” and “ Down in the forest glade” (duets), by Miss Harriott Cook and Miss Swafford, went very well. “Jack Frost quadrille,” by Miss Isabella Evans and and “ The mermaid’s song” (duet) by the latter young lady and her little brother, Master Henry Evans, brought, like the otheis, showers of bouquets. The “La Traviata quadrille, “Brilliant mazurka,” and “The go-bang gallop” (duet with Miss Evans), by Miss Laura Welch, showed much ability and careful practice. The “ Edinburgh quadrille” and “ Sea-side polka,” by Miss Blanche Burt, went beautifully. The “ Echoes of the Alps” (duet), by Miss Lizzy Swafford and her sister, was much applauded. “ Home flowers mazurka,” by Miss Alice Liverton, a clever pupil, who, through family bereavement, was reluctantly, but unavoidably, removed from the school last year, and we hope her music and goodness will ever brighten her mother’s heart and home. Miss Philippa Knight gave a few sacred pieces on the harmonium, and accompanied one of the sacred songs very nicely. This brought the lengthy programme to a point of deep interest to the performers—viz., the distribution of the prizes and gifts, which pleasing task devolved on the Rev. Mr. Thomas, who gave an appropriate address, directing the attention of the audience to the spirit and efficiency of the teaching, and to the discipline of the school evinced before them ; complimenting the pupils on the success of the entertainment, and encouraging them to perseverance in study and the acquisition of those attainments which would enable them to do their duty in whatever state of life it might please Cod to call them. He hoped the principal would be encouraged iu her arduous and noble duties by the sympathy shown and plaudits givin by suoh a crowded attendance. A few remarks were made as the prize or gift passed into the eager hands of the receiver arising from the title of or the pictures in, the book ; and so well did the rev. gentleman blend the humorous with the instructive, that the audience were kept in a continual state of merriment. Mr. James Knight (whose children have attended the school for the last eight years) gave a short address encouraging the pupils to earnest work, &c., and saying the establishment had been a blessing tp the parents of the Hutt, hoping it would long continue so. He proposed a vote of thanks to the principal and the young ladies, which was carried in the usual manner. Mr. Young responded on behalf of Mrs. Johnson, hoping that next year they would have a more suitable hall, where the crowds who had now to stand outside, round doors and windows, might be comfortably seated inside. To calls for Mr. Young’s song he regretted his inability to comply, not having hia music in hia pocket, and never carrying it in his head. The meeting broke up after singing “ God Save the Queen,” and though a late hour, even.the. youngest little eyes were “ wide awake,” and the hands eagerly collecting their floral triumphs, which they would, no doubt, present to highly appreciative and pardonably proud parents awaiting them in the moonlight. Hoping every pupil will bo as successful on life’s great stage as they were that night, we wish them ;“ A merry Christmas and Happy New Year.”