PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 118, 3 January 1874, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

BAZAAB AND CONCEPT. Tat long-talked of Bataar and musical treat in aid of the funds towards building a church for the Presbyterian body in Gisborne, were held in the Music Hall on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday last. Simply to say that the whole affair has been a financial success would be to state u truism which, however satisfactory from that point of view, does not sufficently express rhe gratification of every one at the result attained, through the exertions of those who took the matter in hand and so zealously carried their plan into execution. The Hall presented an appearance very like what wo should think a fairy palace or an enchanted bower would be, und was tastefully decorated with the show goods, which tho presiding nymphs and goddesses took especial care to display to the best advantage. Ranged round the Hall were several stalls, including Goods, Post-office, Art Union, Refreshment, and others, each attended to by one or more ladies, who were charged with a duty—which they seemed to perforin pretty successfully—viz., to “ push the trade”

as much as possible. The weather being beautifully fine, large numbers visited the Hull, especially the “ young fry,” who were highly delighted with the huge Christmas tree laden with sparkles; also with Aunt Sally, and Mother Shipton. A large quantity of goods and fancy articles had been contributed by nearly everyone in the Bay ; and cont ributions from the old country and other provinces in New Zealand, all made up a stock, which as the Rev. Mr. Root said, was “too numerous to mention.” Foremost among local gifts wo may mention a lady’s superb work table, th® workmanship of Mr. 11. Steel, Cabinet Maker in Gisborne. The top is beautifully inlaid with various, shaded, New Zealand woods, cut in multitudinous shapes and sizes, which must have taken a tedious time to manipulate. This article fetched £5 ss. by lottery, and Mr. Blair the lucky winner was greatly envied his possession. We understand that Mr. Steel has received several orders for supplying these tables, the specimen one of which is really very handsome. The sum realized during the two days reached nearly £2OO. On Thursday evening THE CONCERT was held, and to our mind it was tho most attractive part of the entertainment. Wo proceed at once to notice the PROGRAMME.

The Gisborne Braes Band, under the leadership of Mr. Ateherley, commenced with Faust’s inspiriting “ Ueber Stock und Stein,” galop, and were deservedly applauded. “ Tho Red Cross Knight,” was too heavy for tho first vocal piece, and would have been rendered with more justice and satisfaction to tho singers themselves had it been placed lower down tho programme. One steady treble only, which led like a Chantieleer, was discernible among a number of ladies who had not yet recovered their self-possession. The parts were well harmonized, and the verdict of the audience was favorable. Mr. Atcherley’s •• Flute Solo,” tenderly and feelingly played deserved a better reception than was accorded to it. “Silver Moonlight" was among the best executed pieces of the evening, deriving its principal charm from the fact of the solo having been entrusted to Mrt. Berry,—a lady who, possessing all the charms of a cultivated voice, did infinite justice to this sweet little morceau, —and the whispering modulations of choruses being carefully noted, although the soloist perceptibly winced as one or two instances of forgetfulness occurred in in the lino Softly o’er the Summer Sea.” An encore was demanded and gracefully complied with. The Band next played the favorite “ Elizaber . than" raise which was a little under the mark, although well received. Mr. Turner» serio-comic song “ Pretty Jemima don’t sny No,” caused much merriment, and was vociferously encored, the singer, however, substituted “ Happy be thy Dreams.” “ Selections from. Verdi’s Trovatore,” including the popular “Il Balen,” were given by Mr. Ateherley on the cornet with his usual taste and skill, but thia kind of music does not take so well —even with the elite of a Gisborne audience, as productions after the style of “ Sally Coma Up.” The favorite old glee, “ The Wreath,” was the gem chorus of the evening. Mr. Graham and the Rev. Mr. Root took the bass and tenor solos respectively; and were, we think, too sparingly applauded. There was an even rendering of this glee which, except to those hypercritically disposed, might, be said to have been without a fault, and it should have been repeated. After the Band a selection, the “Gipsy Countess” duet was rendered by Miss Davies and Mr. Skipworth in a manner which elicited the warmest encomiums, and a repetition was demanded This young lady sang ber part with a charming naivete, which exhibited a eareful study of the music allotted to her. The duet to parts harmonized melodiously, but we are sorry to learn that a temporary indisposition prevented Mr. Skipworth from doing justice to his solos. Mr. Graham interpolated “ Sing me the Auld Scotch Songs,” which was ». rery muefeal, but nlaintively mournful mnr h espo *

Bund Lab had precluded- them from doing justice to the author’s merits. Captain Porter’s “ Buttle Cry of Freedom” was encored, and substituted with “ I would I were a fish.” “ London Cries” was silently dropped from the programme, without apology, but why we did not learn. Mr. Turner again delighted the audience with u comic song ; but he paid a questionable compliment to “ The Gopd-bye at the Boor,” by singing it with excellent taste after such u song as “ Dolly Varden:. We wish the public taste at amateur concerts would say “ good bye at the door," or any other part of the building, to those productions which professionals alone can render in a way that leaves an audience no opportunity to notice their deformity. At the conclusion the Bev. Mr. Boot announced that a gross sum of about £2OO had been realized from the Bazaar und the Concert; he thought alter all expenses were paid, that at least £l6O would be in hand towards the building of a Church, which he hoped to see erected in the course of the next few months. The Bev. gentleman having thanked the community, through the audience, for the liberal support given to the cause, Mr. Hall moved a vote of thanks to the ladies, who, as he said, hud been chiefly instrumental in securing that support. Now we have a word or two to say in conclusion.

We regret, as it was authoritatively announced that the Concert was to be given by “ the Choir,” that the programme was not divided, and some sacred music given. At this season of the year, and in view of the “object” sought to be promoted, a few anthems and selections from some of the Oratorios, would have been appropriate. But perhaps our taste is not correct. A great mistake is generally made at entertainments where sound is the essential element to success, in having so much drapery about; and it is astonishing that ladies and gentlemen with a very accurate idea of what is right and proper for themselves, should be so indifferent us to what is due to the audience. The beauty of most of the pieces—particularly the vocals—on Thursday evening, were greatly marred from the fact of the singers being as it were in a box, surrounded on all sides with “ flies,” “ wings,” “ skies,” “ proscenium,” and “ drapery,” that left no aperture for the voice to escape except through the opening in front, and there it was met by many cubic yards of heavy heated atmosphere. Again, the stage, with the dramatic accessories about it, is fur too small for a dozen performers and the piano ; this caused a circle to be made in arranging the singers which perfectly imbedded the voices in a cloud of scenic obstructions jfn observance of this was noticeable in Mrs. Berry’s solo in “ Silver Moonlight,” the Rev. Mr. Root’s solo in “The Wreath,” and in the second part of Mr. Skipworth and Miss Davies’s duet, nil of whom came to the footlights and threw their voices into the Hall. It was this that enabled Mrs. Berry's charming voice to be fittingly appreciated. The pleasures of a Promenade Concert are now to a Gisborne audience ; and they are a pleasant social innovation which we should like to see largely encouraged, but there are one or two points of etiquette (of course we write in the interests of the performers) which it would be as well to observe. The buzzing sound of voices in suppressed conversation ; the creaking of footsteps from persons who will not be quiet, and the posting of others bolt upright, within a few feet of the stage, during the performances, are among the disagreeables which were indulged in on Thursday evening to a painful extent, to say nothing of the want of consideration for the feelings of others. These are, however, capable of easy remedy, and we hope they will be remembered in future.