CONCERT AT HAWERA.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 224, 2 June 1877, Page 2

CONCERT AT HAWERA.

A concert in aid of the Presbyterian Church Building Fund, was held in the Blockhouse, Hawera, on Thursday evening. All the seats and standing room was fully occupied, besides which some intending patrons were unable to gain admission, and crowded outside around the entrance. In every way the concert was a success, the only drawback

being the nnsmtableness of the building, which should stimulate Hawerans to hurry up with their Town Hall. Anyone seeing the interior of the Blockhouse before decoration, and after, would scarcely have believed it to be the same place. Messrs McLean, Stewart, Riddiford, and Bate, were chiefly : instrumental in effecting the transformation, by the skilful disposal of ferns, flowers, &c. The audience, including many of the leading settlers from the surrounding districts, also contained a number of persons who had been attracted to Hawera on account of the races. The audience was decidedly jovial, and inclined at times to he more playful than was pleasant for the performers. All however, went well, Mr James Davidson acted as Chairman. >

New voices were introduced to the Haweran public, one being a late arrival at Hawera, another from Manutahi, From the excellent manner in which both gentlemen acquitted themselves, their services will undoubtedly be sought on the occasion ,of .similar future gatherings. Our reporter ijvas also given to understand that one- of the .lady singers, who won- hearty applause, had not previously appeared in Hawera. We cannot do otherwise than.complimcnt Hawera on its musical, talent. The marks of approval awarded the ladies (well known favourites), who presided at the piano, and played and sang,many times during the evening, evidenced the high appreciation in which they were held by lovers of music. The programme was a varied and entertaining one, including pianoforte performances (solo and. duett); songs—sentimental, grave, and gay; part singing; recitations, by both ladies and gentlemen, each doing remarkably well, the gentlemen being vociferously encored, first for a comic and then for a tragic piece. What created the greatest amount of genuine fun and uproarious laughter, was an original local song by Mr M. D. King, who had also appeared earlier in the evening in the singing line. The “ local” song was—well, a gem—being an enumeration of trades, persons names, and buildings in Hawera, strung together in most comical fashion, as for example—

Three churches, pubs, and commission agents, With flags to make so grand a pageant, A King, a Noble, and a Deane, As you before have often seen, A’Court, a Lock-up, the Town Hall (On paper still, with another call). A wheelwright, too, made up with Bills, For bilious people Eawson’s pills. -

and so on. In conclusion, the ladies and gentlemen sang “ Auld Lang Syne,” the audience joining in chorus. We regret, from several causes, being unable to particularise individual performers, but hope soon to have another opportunity of so doing. The proceeds formed a substantial, addition to the building fund.