THE WESLEYAN PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2589, 8 July 1881, Page 2

THE WESLEYAN PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT.

A large audience assembled in the Wesleyan School-room,Bank street, last evening, and appeared to thoroughly enjoy the rather lengthy programme prepared for their entertainment. Mr Tichbon conducted, and various instrumentalists presided at the piano during the evening. The Rev Mr Beck stated he had been requested by the conductor to inform them that no programmes having been printed, the title of each item would bo announced as produced. This by the way is a departure from established rules that at least has novelty, if that alone, for a reccomnaen dation. The Tonic Sol Fa class of the Wesleyan denomination is mainly juvenile in character, and the various choruses were given very creditably, “ The Echo" chorus, “ The Watchman,” and “Raindrop” chorus being especially noticeable for their pleasing and effective rendering. Miss I. Musker was very successful with " The Clang of the Wooden Shoon,” and later in the evening sang as a substitute for an omitted portion of the programme “ Little Nell" in a manner that elicited and deserved an encore. Mr Wood with his reading “ Ask Mamma” (Bell) caused great merriment amongst his hearers, the fair portion of the audience especially appearing to relish the unfortunate dilemma he so graphically depicted. Miss Lines, with “ My Mother bids me Bind my Hair,” and Mr R. Foster, with “ The Waggoner,” brought the first part of the programme to a conclusion. After an interval of five minutes the Choir gave “The Gay Young Rider,” a humorous chorus, and Miss Shepherd followed with some really capital selections on the piano. Mr Gilchrist made a very happy selection with “ On the Golden Shore,” being in capital voice, he rendered it pleasingly. Mr Crawford threw considerable feeling into the fine recitation, “ The Lady of Provence,” which called forth an encore, to w’hich he responded with the good old Scottish recitation, “The Outlaw,” Miss Turner appeared in capital voice, and sang the song “ Yesterday ” in a manner which called forth an imperative encore, in reply to which “ Bother the Men ” was given. The piquancy with which this humorous composition was given took immensely, the audience again calling for the young vocalist’s re appearance, “ The Broken Style,” a song and chorus by Miss R. Collins (a little lady of some 12 summers) and choir, is very worthy of notice, the solo being very composedly and correctly given. It is pretty evident that the young people had been well trained, and their precision reflects great credit upon Mr Tichbon. After a quaint recitation by Miss Dick, a fine song and chorus, (Eileen Alanah) full of melody, and grandly given, was introduced by Mrs R. Foster, Miss Innes, and Messrs R. Foster and Gilchrist, The Rev. Mr Beck announced that Miss Innes would be the next vocalist, and before that lady sang he might inform his hearers that it would be her last appearance in Timaru. Miss Innes had always handsomely responded to the many calls that had been made upon her time and services, and was well entitled to the hearty thanks, not only of her musical friends, but of the entire Wesleyan congregation. The applause that followed fully testified to the high estimation in which Miss Innes’ services were held. “ Jessie’s Dream” was then given in the singer’s usual excellent manner, who, being again called upon, gave “ Somebody." The National Anthem terminated a pleasing evening’s amusement.