WAITARA NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 108, 23 September 1912, Page 6

WAITARA NEWS.

From our Own Correspondent. St. John's hall was well filled by an appreciative audience, when the wellknown "May Queen," by Bennett, was given by the society. In a small comniunity like Waitara, there was certainly a lack of popular taste for this class of music, and it was left to Mr J. R. Wingate to arouse some enthusiasm in the matter, and the gathering on Tues-

day evening was sufficient evidence that a good deal of interest was taken in iue j performance. Additional interest was lent by the fact that the role of "The i May Queen" was taken by Mrs P. Lewis, j of Wangauui. This vocalist, who made I her first appearance locally on this ocI <;asion, is the fortunate possessor of a soprano voice of undoubted quality, and power, which, combined with flexibility and sweetness, and last, but not least, clear enunciation, must always make her welcome on the concert platform. Mrs Lewis' first solo was the waltz song, "Se Saran Rose"- by Additi. This number was rendered in Italian very artistically, and the singer was emphatically recalled, and also handed a floral tribute. Mrs Lewis' other numbers were the solo in "With a laugh as we go round," and "The cloud hath passed away." The 1 other soloists were Miss E. Pearce (alto), | Messrs J. Broom (tenor) and W. J. Smith j (bass). Miss Pearce took the solo in "What means the angry sounds we hear," and gave a very pleasing rendition of this number. Mr Broom had about the hardeat work of the evening, for when he was not vocalising he was playing the 'cello. Through suffering from a relaxed throat Mr Broom was not in his best form for solo work, but in the duet "Can I not find," and the trio "The Hawthorn in the glade" he put in some effective work. Mr W. J. Smith was. in his usual good form, and his first number, "The song of the bow," was given in a robust, breezy style, which resulted in an encore. Mr Smith's next solo '"Tis jolly to hunt" was similarly redemanded, although it did not afford the same scope for the singer as his previous song. One of the most pleasing vocal numbers ' was the quartette "The Ohase" and "Tell j her I love her so," which were emphatically encored. A small orchestra, consisting of Messrs Murgatroyd (violin), Bezzant (cornet), Broom ('cello), with MLss Gilbert (organ) and Mrs. Prosser (piano) contributed to the success of me evening. Mr J. R. Wingate conducted throughout, and is to be congratulated upon the result obtained. At the conclusion, the performers and friends were j entertained at supper.