" THE MOABITESS " CANTATA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 70

" THE MOABITESS " CANTATA.

The principal parts in the sacred cantata " The Moabitess," given by the Kaikorai Presbyterian Choir and local vocalists in the Kaikorai Church on the 3rd, were taken as follows : — Naomi, Miss Violet Fraser ; Ruth, Miss E. Fraser; Boaz, Mr J. Patterson ; First Reaper, Mr H. W. Armitage ; Orpahi and the Israelitish woman, Miss J. Duff; Jewish maiden, Miss M. Young; messenger, Mr J. Moir ; assistant reaper, Mr J. Robertson. The performance on the whole was much above suburban standard, and the solos were, with few exceptions, admirably sung. Misses Violet and E. Fraser had the bulk of the work, and much that was difficult fell to their share ; but it may be said of each that she fully deserved the encomiums of the large, appreciative, and, apparently, discriminating audience. One young lady has a soprano voice of great range and purity ; the other a contralto, which is equally pleasing in quality; so that, while they were successful in solo numbers, they were doubly so in duets. For this reason the parts " Who are thou, my daughter?" and ''Entreat me not to leave thee," may be specially mentioned. Mr Patterson's " Bcaz " was also excellent. He added to a naturally good voice a delicate appreciation of the character he was impersonating. Thus his duets with Ruth (who also showed that she thoroughly understood the nature of the part she was playing), his " Slumber song," and the concluding solos wherein he signified his gladness and thankfulness at having won the fair daughter of Moab were among the most artistic performances of the evening. Mr Armitage, however, while also filling his part pleasingly, did not seem to make the moat of his opportunities or of the power of expression that lies in his splendid tenor voice. He might, for instance, have sung with much more vigour " Hail glorious light," so as to suggest the healthy, red-blooded worker, aglow with life and the joy of honest toil in the grain field. Still, Mr Armitage's singing was very far above mediocrity, and an appreciative audience gave him the applause that was his due. Mr J. Robertson's conception of the part of the assistant reaper was beyond cavil. He did the little that he had to do well, using a nice bass voice in a way that betrayed training and temperament. The other soloists were favourably received. The chorus did some particularly good work in places. Its appreciative reading of the part and Miss Violet Fraser's delightful singing made '" Praise ye the Lord " one of the outstanding features of the recitation. Mr J. B. M'lntyro was conductor — and, incidentally, the frentleman responsible for the success of the function. Tho oiganist was Mi»s M. Callender, and the pianist Miss N. Esther. The Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland presided.

Arrangements are bring 1 made by the Victorian Public Woiks Department and the Penal Department for the revival of the wire-netting industry at Pcntridge Gaol. When the factory at the establishment was previou-iv worked by prisoners, the netting produced was found to bo of tco heavy a type, and difficulty was experienced in finding purchasers of it.

Great Britain (says the South African Notebook) has three interests to protect in South Africa — the Imperial tie, the natives, and the Europeans who went to South Africa at her instigation. And she cannot ignore her responsibility to them.

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