PRESENTATION CONCERT TO MR COX.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1026, 4 November 1882, Page 2

PRESENTATION CONCERT TO MR COX.

Owing to the lateness of the iioiu* we were unable to do full justice to the above concert, and we now hasten to add to our first report the following particulars :—The attendance w.is the largest we have seen assembled in the Volunteer [Jail, and certainly it was the mo;-t representative one. Most of the piin-ipnl families in the County of Geraldine were represented, people from all parts of the county being present. The c >ncert was an excellent one, the instrumental and vocal music being, perhaps, eqn;il to anything the same number of amatuers in any community in New Zealand could do. There can be no two opinions about the talents of some of the performers. Mrs Rout, was in her usual voice, and her singing of 'Kathleen you're going (o lave me,' winch she gave as an encore, could not be excelled. It was sung with feel ing and expression, that brought out its pathos and insinuating drollery in a manner that was extremely pleasing. Her other songs were equally well sung. The instrumental music of Miss and Messrs Morris, of Pleasant Point, and the Misses Fish, of Geraldine, was really excellen'. All showed a thorough acquaintance with the instruments they played, and it would be difficult to find amateurs so clever. Mr J. H. Edmonds sang 'The Noble Boy of Truth ' in his usual voice, and the duet by himself and Mrs Edmonds was well rendered. Messrs Ash well and Aspinall, i who appeared in the garb of policemen,

gang ' The Bold Gens d'armes ' with good effect, and were received with quite an ovation. It wound up with a local verse that went down well. Mr Aspinall also sang ' The Warrior Bold,' and Mr Aahwell *My Grandmother's Chair,' with good effect. The Glee Club sang 'To Rome's Immortal Leader,' and ' The Ashgroye ' in a manner that elicited much applause. Miss McNair was not so successful as has hitherto been her wont in her singing of 'ln the Gloaming,' but still she sang very -well. Mrs Edmond'a song c Oh, Fair Dove,' was capitally rendered, as was also Mrs F. H. Baiker'a song, 4 Robin's Return.' Miss Fish accompanied the singers on the piano, She is a thorough accompanist. She plays with great spirit and verve, but hor touch is so light and delicate that the voice of the singer is never drowned in the music. This is one of the greatest secrets of being successful as an accompanist, because ne matter how well the instrument may be played, if it prevents the voice of the singer being heard it cannot be satisfactory. One incident in connection with the concert ought not to be overlooked. When the applause which followed Mr Cox's speech bad subsided,/, an enthusiast in the back part of the housecalledoutfor three cheers for Mr Cox. For some reason the audience did not respond, probably not liking to follow an unofficial invitation, however well meant. But Mr Edmonds, who conducted th» concert, at once came to che rescue, no doubt thinking that it would not be well to let pass an opportunity of giving ail the chance of expressing in some way the hearty sympathy they felt with what was going en. Stepping forward to the front of the si age he opened with the chorus * For he is a jolly good fellow.' Some one in the back cried out ' Stand up every man Jack of you,' and the command was this time obeyed by every man in the hall standing up and joining in the chorus, which wound up with enthusiastic cheers for Mr and Mrs Cox and all the family. Mr Edmonds deserves great credit for the readiness with which he took in the situation. There were a great many boiling over to give a cheer for Mr Cox, in fac* we have never witnessed greater enthusiasm exhibited, but decorum prevented people from giving vent to their feelings in this way till Mr Edmonds, the conductor of the concert, gave it officially, and then they heartily joined in ' it. The presence of mind shown by Mr Edmonds was very commendable, and great credit is due to him for the neat way in which he gave the people an opportunity of manifesting their feeling for Mr Cox. Oh the wholo the affairwas a great success. Mr Macdonald made an excellent chairman. He was very humorous and created a great deal of laughter, but we were not half satisfied with his speech in presenting the address. We expected that he, who had been so long intimately acquainted with Mr Cox ; would tell us more about him. This was the weakest part of the whole affair. He might have have given due praise to Mr Cox, and certainly he could not have praised him more than the people believed Mr Cox deserving of. Mr Cox leaves this district immediately to settle in Christchurch, and it is unnecessary to say that he carries with him the heartfelt good wishes of every man, woman and child in the district. .A