CONCERT AT MILFORD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1050, 2 January 1883, Page 3

CONCERT AT MILFORD.

Although the' cost of education is a serious item in the annual Financial Statement, the amounts received by the several School Committees has often to be supplemented without making a hopeless application to the Board, One bt the most popular modes of augmenting tho funds, especially if the object is to provide prizes for the children, is to hold a concert. The school at Milford having been recently examined with satisfactory results by the inspector, tho Committee determined to give an entertainment; and, in order to provide a programme that should be thoroughly attractive, secured the willing assistance of some of our well-known vocalists,&c., and they therefore succeeded in getting up an entertainment that brought together a,n audience that filled completely the schoolroom. Indeed, many, after trying the interior of the room, found it so crowded that they preferred hearing the concert in greater comfort at the windows. After an overture, very well executed by Miss Lee, a programme was gone, through which for variety could not have been surpassed, comprising as it did songs (high class, comic and negro), readings, resitatiems and glees. Misses Leo, Franks, Thomson and Burton, rendered several songs and a duet in an admirable manner, and, with Mr Coltman, proved that there is plenty of young and pleasing musical talent in this district. Mr Collins, 1 with a negro chorus which would have driven the best Hansard reporter insane if he had attempted to take it down, had to respond to a recall, as did Mr Clinch, who was so “ Naughty Naughty.” Mr Thornton also gave a very good song, and Mr Edmonds (who greatly assisted tho Committee in arranging fhe 0-> r icert) gave ibhe “ Will o’ the Wisp ’ in his a alg md style. Two very pleasing gLos were given by the ’Winchester Club. Mr Cooke received great applause for a Caudle Lecture ” and another reading. Master Fauvel recited very well indeed, and Mr Lavery called back old memories by reciting “ The New Chum in Tiinaru” amid continued applause. (The piece will be found at the conclusion of this article.) Miss Paterson presided very effectively at the piano, notwitstanding that she bad attended at the shortest notice, and several of the accompaniments she had to play without having previously seen the music. After the concert the room was cleared for dancing, which was kept up till well on into Saturday morning. The Committee were evidently determined to study the comfort of their guests to the utmost and therefore provided a bar (teetotal of course) the proceeds of which considerably increased the prize fund. The weather was all that could be desired, which is the more singular as a week’s regular winter’s weather was divided by the one tine day on which this successful event took place.