FIRE BRIGADE CONCERT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 14 October 1880, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADE CONCERT.

I The entertainment in ais of the Fire Brigade funds, which was given last night in the Volunteer Hall, was in every respect a* great success. This was due, not only to the worthiness of the object, but also to that popularity which was infused into the affair through the activity of a number of our chief who formed themselves into a Gonwittee, of wliom Mr. R. L. Rule wag, Secretary, Although the price for admission waa fixed uniformly at the maximum usually charged on such liberty which we thought it was not possible to take without courting partial failure—the hall was well filled by an audience all of whom seemed to have resolved upon allowing themselves to be wholly absorbed by the event which brought them together. We have never seen more perfect order in such a crowded roor». This renews in our mind the conviction that we shall never enjoy suoh a public gathering as that of last sight as it could be enjoyed in almost any other town in New Zealand until we carry into effect the , desire which has been expressed on all hands that a new and more commodious and comfortable place of public assembly should be erected, "We suppose that some person enterprising than any of his fellows will some day solve the difficulty which has hitherto surrounded the accomplishment of such a design, and reap a fortune for his superior- courage and tact. But the ola hall looked really beautiful . with ita festoons composed of evergreens, with whioh were tastefully intermingled spriug flowers in great variety. On each side of the stage were the mottoes in red letters, " Ready }i aye, ready," ■ and "We strive to. save." There were also on and around the stage a number of the Firs Brigade's imple- , me'nts, emblematic of their philanthropic I self-imposed duties. For all this pleasing and appropriate display we. ara indebted jto Messrs. Fox, Mathews, Gray,, and IRolland, under the able direction of the captain. We now co;ne to the perform- , ance itself, and, in mentioning the first litem up,on the programme fantasia, " The azure la,ke^ u by the Rifles' Band— I we fe<?l considerable pride. But a few months ago there were two "Volunteer bands in this town, which had been developed out of chaos consequent upon the oft-expressed wish of the public that the excellent material which existed in the town should be brought together and made to assume some tangible and satisfactory form. We have now advanced a sstep further. Instead of iwci necessarily inefficient bands we haw only one, the determination of the bandsmen of this town being that they- will not rest satisfied till they have placed them-selves-'in the fipss rank amongst the volunteer. of the Colony, They ployed last night that, under Mr. Phejloung's leadership, they are rapidly attaining their objeot, Mr. Fleming came ! second with ''■ My Heather Hills." He was no| in his usual good trim, but nevertheless he sang as he ouly can sing such songs. There was no attempt at polished -vocalisation, which, when brought to bear upon such pieces, strongly resembles French spoken with a strong London accent. Possessed of a powerful flexible, voice, unusual presence.of mind, and. an enthusiastic—almost heroio—admiration for the national musio of his native land in all its native simplicity, he is, in the role he aooepted last night, facile princeps. We are not in the least surprised that he met with applause, in the language of one of his songs, "not long, but strong." We shall yet here Mr. Fleming in Opera. His vocal and acting powers are too uncommon to be so seldom witnessed in but one style of- vocalisation. Mr. Fleming's r\ext apng was "Widow Malone," which.he sang so much like a native, of Irelana that we would, i£ we dared, express doubts as to his real nationality. The able co-operation of Miss ;Flora Fleming added greatly to the success of Mr. Fleming's songs. Both seem to have come to a perfect understanding, and the true unadulterated Scotch style, which is bprn, not acquired, is the pleasing result. Not only as a variation, but as an elocutionary effort, Mp. Dowling's :recitatio,ti "The Lay of the Fearless de jCourcy," met with a hearty welcome. • Mr. Dowling is a born orator. His every gesture and word .are in. harmony, and he acts hi? part as though, blessed by nature with extraordinary elocutionary powers, he makes a thorough study of every situation in his subjects. Such eloquence we have seldom heard, and this, not- ; i withstanding that Mr. Bowling,, aa he ! felt, compelled to remark parenthetically;, f was not, in consequence of having con- | tracted a eold> in good form. We listened with enchantment to his recital of " The Lay of the Fearless de were sorry when he had finished it. " Roderick Dhu " his best effort'. We need say 'bat little 1 regarding Mrs. Kinneas'a, performances, Hor^JHah

Immigrant" and "Jessie'sDreatn v i'.were fresh instances of the pathoa^| :^^(jh: B ii Q is capable, and to which she lo gWerouafVi, treat us whenever called upon to thus " serve a good cause. Mr. E. Booth gave " jact'B Yarn," a song not bo well suited to his talents as many others we have heard him sing,; but we can allow a very considerable discount, arid yet credit him with an admirable performance. M Pt > Jones' solo " Lucie di Laminormoor " was a little long, and rather sickly from a preponderance of melodies ; in addition to this drawback, he did hot play with the accuracy and ease of which he occasionally proves himself capable. In his rendering of the simple melody " Ye banks aud braes," he was more at home. The public is well acquainted with Mr. Florence's vocal capabilities. He is worthy of the designation of a p r(J . fcssional of no moan order, and hia songs, " God bless the Fire Brigade" (air ''God bless the Prince of Wales," with words by himself), and Sullivan's " Once again,"' were sung in a manner that helped to. establish his reputation. We feel very considerable pleasure in bearing testimony to the- cleverness displayed by Miss Harper as an exponent of the pieces " Juana" and Bracken's "Only amines able wretch." Without any aid other than that imparted by an education in one of our public schools, this young lady has raised herself to a position as an elo-. cutionist of which she may legitimately feel proud. For dramatic power, inflo*. tion of voice, enunciation, and pronunciation, it would be difficult to find her equal. Of course, Mr. Farr's u Mrs, Jones' musical party" delighted the audience. The second part opened with a grand selection from "Norma," by the Band, in which the marks of expression were admirably observed. Miss N, Hardy's "Nevermore" was so thoroughly appreciated that the audience demanded, an encore, and that lady made a bow i& acknowledgment of the favor. " The Outlaw," by Mr. Daniel Booth, was sung in a , manner characteristic of the subject. Mr.. Moir's rendering of " The charge of thos Light Brigade" was, of course, excellent, but we felt that that gentleman scarcoly did himself justice in making such »• choice. We have heard him to much, better advantage. The accompanimontg: to the songs and solos, with the exception* of Mr. Fleming's, were played by Mr. J., G. Finch, who performed his onerousi duties with his usual care- and ability. At the close of the entertainment, Mr. Mainland suitably acknowledged the assistance which had been rendered by the performers a,nd the public in the furtherance of the interests of the Fire Brigado, and! the Hall was cleared for danciug, thei music for which was supplied by tho Band. We hear that the net proceeds will amount to the munificent sum of LOO, , or thereabouts.