THIRTY-TWO POUNDS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 286, 1 December 1914, Page 3

THIRTY-TWO POUNDS.

COLLECTED FOR BRITISH AND BELGIAN FUND. • CONCERT A BIG SUCCESS.

Standing room was at a premium at the Town Hall last night on the occasion of the tree concert in aid of the British and Belgian Belief Fund given under the auspices of the Strati ord Defence Bide Club; and the concert was an entire success in every way, and a credit to the Rifle Club committee, its energetic secretary (Mr W. Lander),, and to the members of tiie Club who carried collection boxes ana in other ways helped to ensure the success of the evening. The very creditable total of £32 was collected. Before the collection was ‘taken up Mr P. Skoglund addressed those present, basing his remarks on tiie motto of an English family: “Suffer ana be strong: be faithful, be true.” It was not necessary, he said, to ask li Belgium had suffered—everybody knew of the horrors they had endured as a result of the war. Had Now Zealanders done their duty to the Belgians P They had not suffered a millionth of what the Belgians had, anu whatever sacrifices they had made were such as wore not felt to any extent. Idle Belgians had in the past proved themselves strong and were still doing so. They had barred Germany’s way through their country to attack France—they had striven and suffered for their own little country's sake, but none the less for the sake of Britain, France, and Russia. What had Now Zealand done? Only a tithe of what it should do. The Belgians had been faithful to their treaties; and they were true, though suffering worse than death, and still tliey had strength to suffer further. Had New Zealand, far removed -from the fighting ai;ca, suffered Certainly some had suffered in sending their boys away to the front; but great as such a sacrifice was it was nothing compared to the sacrifice and suffering ol the Belgians. Mr Skoglund concluded with a strong appeal, urging all who could afford it, to be double the amount they had come with the intention of contributing. Naturally the military items were a special feature of the programme. They were of a high order of merit, and the training of the lads was a decided credit to Lieut. Grey. The High School Cadets went throng! physical drill (without arms) and in conclusion formed a pyramid in workmanlike fashion. The Senior Cadets were almost faultless in their fancy march, which made an attractive show. Lieuts. Grey and Wilson gave an excellent exposition of fencing. The bayonet drill by Territorials and Senior Cadet teams looked well .and the Senior Cadets’ sword exercise was also well done. Perhaps the best item of the series was tfie physical drill (with arms) by the Senior Cadets, the strenuous exercises being gone through in almost perfect time. Unfortunately an encore was vigorously demanded and given, and in one exercise got sadly out of time; but this was no discredit to the lads, as the strain ol public appearance and the . far from gentle exercise would have excused a (much worse showing. ' Lieut. Grey had to respond to an insistent encore for his club-swinging exhibition, the clubs being illuminated with electric globes. Mr E. King was heard to advantage in two old songs of a light character, “The Corporal’s Ditty” and “Young Tam o’ Dean,” responding to an encore for his first item. Mrs Massey was in good voice and was well received in “Come Sing to Me,” being no loss successful in her second-part item. Mr B. Malone gave a good rendering of “La Marseillaise,” responding to an encore with “Tipperary,” and he also contributed a solo to the second part. Miss Sullivan was heartily applauded for her singing of “The Emblem.” Mrs Massey, jMiss , Wilson and Mr W. Lander gave the vocal, trio “A Memory” Mrs Massey, Miss Sullivan and Messrs Wilson and, Lander sang “Sweet and Low” ; and to wind up the vocal programme .Mrs Massey, Miss Wilson, Messrs Lander and ‘Wilson gave “Good-Night Beloved.” Miss Hopkins gave a good rendition of “Romance” (Svensdcn) as a violin solo, and the Misses Rogers and Mr Rogers were highly successful in “Idyll” (Labit/.sky), for two violins and piano. The selection *by the Egmont Club orchestra was a very pleasing item. The Municipal Band played patriotic airs outside the hall before the concert started and supplied pleasing overtures for each part of the programme.

The highly successful evening was brought to a close about eleven o’clock by the singing of “God Save the King,” the grouped Cadets and Territorials on the stage making a nice closing picture.