STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1921, Page 7

STRATFORD.

STRATFORD AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news for publication in tie Taranaki Daily News should be left at the office of our local representatives, Wilson Bros., Broadway, Stratford. Or uera for papers may also ba left with them. SCOTTISH SOCIETY CONCERT. AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS. Septelnber 9. It is very doubtful whether any entertainment has drawn such a large and enthusiastic audience to the Stratford Town Hall as did the Taranaki Scottish Society’s Concert, held last evening, for the purpose I of assisting the Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial j Fund, which should benefit to a very great extent. The orchestral stalls and dress | circle were fully booked up before the ; doors opened, and the takings at the door amounted to £5l. The full receipts. will not be known until the ticket returns have been checked up. It was a crowded house, and the programme which was presented quite merited such a large attendance. During the evening Chief Sinclair Macalister addressed the audience and outlined the objects of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society, which, he said, was - nonsectarian and non-political, being concerned with politics only so far as they touched the subject of patriotism. They stood for the old Scottish idea of patriotism, which, in times of stress, gave everything to the country and asked for little in return except the preservation of the rights and privileges handed down to them by their forefathers. The society did not want the ■disciples of Lenin and Trotsky who were in the country, and he thought that the young New Zealand Scot should become more imbued with the traditions of his race. The society desired to encourage •pipe music. x The Eltham Pipe Band was the honorary band of the society, and he hoped that, as it had survived the war, it would retain its present position of premier pipe band of Taranaki. The society was out to promote social intercourse between members, and to encourage the study of Scottish literature by giving scholarships and otherwise assisting in education; also to help in the relief of eases of destitution in the compunity, and make contributions to charitable institutions. As yet the society was not strong financially, but. hoped as time went on to be able to carry out those objects. They also desired to assist newly-arrived Scots in securing -©ecu-, pations, and would be glad to help any of those emigrants from the Old Country who. came to make their homes in Taranaki, He thanked all who had helped to make the' concert a success, and so assist the Soldiers’ Memorial Fund, a very deserving object. The artists deserved special thanks, and he mentioned particularly Miss Marie Nilsson, who had done a great deal towards assisting the soldiers during the war. The committee had done excellent work, and Mrs. Sangster’s work in connection with the supper arrangements was very valuable. He thanked everyone who had in any way assisted. Miss Marie Nilsson, the Scottish priina donna, who was the “star” attraction. |of the evening, came with a list of fine past 1 ' performances, and there is no doubt’ that if she alone were to sing again, without the attraction of the other items, the Town Hall would be filled with music lovers. Miss Nilsson, from the time she set foot on the stage, had captured the hearts of the huge audience, and she not only justified, but enhanced, the reputation with which she came to Stratford. Her opening number was “Lo, Hear the Gentle Lark”, with flute obligato by Mr. G. Dick, and as an encore she sang “A Hundred Pipers”. Later she was irresistible in tire rendering of three Hebridean folk songs; - and she further proved her wonderful vei^ 1 satility with “Whustle an’ I'll Come Tae Ye”, which earned tumultuous applause, and induced her to sing that simple old ballad, “Coming Thro’ the Rye”. In the second half of the programme Miss Nilsson gave the delighted audience a full meed of Scottish selections, which included “Doon the Burn”, “Flora Macdonald’s Lament”, and “Last May a Braw Wooer”, her concluding item being a beautiful rendering of Tosti’s “Good-Bye”, one of the gems of a performance that will live long in the memories of ail who were present. It is sufficient to say, that enquiries have already been heard as to when Miss Nilsson will return to Stratford, but she leaves for England in four weeks; Whatever further fame she may achieve, she will never make, a greater impression on an audience than she did last night. The other items on the programme constituted an all-round excellent list, which was received with great appreciation. Mr. Macfarlane, of Dunedin, proved to be all that was claimed for him ns a tenor singer. His numbers included “Hail! Caledonia”, “The Birth of Morn”, “If I Might Only Come to You”, and “An Old-Fashioned Town”. Miss Leitch, of New Plymouth, sang very pleasingly in “Angus Macdonald”, “I Hear the Thrush at, Eve”, and “The Rowan Tree”. The Hawera Male Quartette (Messrs. Tarrant, Searle, Sutton and Whithorn) harmonised very nicely in giving “Annie Laurie”, “The Soldier’s Farewell”, and “Allan Water”. Very acceptable comic items were provided by Mr. Judd (whose claim to the title of the Dominion Harry Lauder is fully justified) in “The Bounding Bounder” and “On the Road to Mandalay”, keeping the audience in a state of laughter, and Mr. Hale, of Hawera (accompanied by Mr. Fennell) in “Oh! By Jingo”, “Oh, La La, Oui Oui” and “Faddy. McGinty’s Goat”. The Eltham Pipe Baud was present, under Drum Major Johnson, and v-pened the programme with a selection, as well as giving selections later. Piper J. Rae did the piping for the Highland dancing, and in this section of the programme Miss Rae and her pupils, and Miss Main and Mr. It. I). Rae captivated the hearts of ail the Scottish people present by their fine exhibition of Highland dancing. Special menriou must be made of the accompanist, Mrs J. H. Thompson, who performed her arduous duties in an exceedingly capable and sympathetic manner.

Mrs. O. Hemingway, of Eltham, who had been asked to sing, was unable to do so on account of indisposition.

GENERAL. In another column the P.A.C. advertises for Saturday a sale of prime ox Beef and wether mutton in all joints. The falling in prices has been noticed by the P.A.C., who promise big reductions. The sales commence at 10.15 and 2 o’clock. • Stratford residents who are not on the delivery list for the Taranaki Daily News and would like the paper delivered at their homes each morning kindly notify Messrs. Wilson Bros.. Broadway, Stratford, who are the Stratford agents for the News.