CONCERT AT WOODBURY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1371, 28 July 1885, Page 3

CONCERT AT WOODBURY.

On Friday evening a concert was held in the schoolroom, Woodbury, for the purpose of raising funds to procure a gymnasium for the use of the children. The evening was fine, and at the hour appointed for opening the proceedings the room was quite full, and those people coming later on had to be content with standing room. A number of people went up from Geraldine, either by conveyance or on horseback. The Rev. Jas. Preston was to have presided, but was unable to be present through indisposition. The Chairman’s duties were undertaken by Mr Greaves, who assisted materially during the evening to carry out the entertainment. The programme was got through successfully, and encores were rather the rule than the exception, the local singers receiving a full shore. The Misses Fish, Mrs Turton, and Mr Greaves were the accompanists, and the Misses Fish also played, as the overtures, selections from “Chilperic,” and a duett, “ Gaietie de Coeur Valse,” their playing being much appreciated. The performers, as will be seen from the programme following, are all well known, and it is needless to criticise vhe.ir singing, which, as wo have before said, whs fully appreciated. A little more taste might have been displayed, however, in (he selection of some of the comic songs. Though they may be considered inoffensive they are apt to depreciate the taste of an audience for the “ sentimental,” and good songs do not therefore receive merit they should. The following are the details of the programme ;-—Solos : “ Take Me Back Horae,” “ Colonial Education,” and “ Beautiful Queen of the Night,” Mr Thatcher ; “ Let Me Like a Soldier Fall ” and “ Nancy Lee,” Mr Lodge ; “ Masks and Faces ” and “ Kerry Dances,” Miss Fish ; “ Erin My Country,” Mrs Greaves ; “ Sweet Bell Mahone ” and “ Ring the Bell Watchman ” (with chorus), Mr Hammond ; “ Courting in the Rain,” “My Wife’s Relations ” and “ The Old Log Cabin in the Dell,” Mr Logan ; “No, Sir!” Mrs Hammond; “I Always was a Swell ” and “ Not to be Sneezed at,” Mr Pratt ; “ Jessie of Uumblane,” Mr Middlemiss ; “ London Town.” Mr Greaves ; “ Sweet Chiming Bells,” Miss Cooling; Duet; “ Polaski’s Banner,” Mr and Mrs Greaves ; Recitation : “ The Bridge of Sighs,” Mr Greaves ; Glee : “In the Harvest Morn so Cheering,” and the New Zealand National Anthem “ God Defend New Zealand,” school children. Before the last item was given the Chairman of the School Committee, Mr Dean, returned a hearty vote of thanks to the audience for their patronage, and to the ladies and gentleman who had kindly assisted in carrying out the programme, i Great thanks were due to Mrs Turton for the trouble she had taken to further the interests of the children on the occasion, and also to the Misses Fish for their kindness in always visiting at entertainments of the. kind. The inhabitants of Woodbury and surrounding districts, the Chairman remarked, should feel themselves highly pleased with all their Geraldine friends who were always glad to render their assistance in school or other matters. Mr Greaves, on behalf of the children and bimselt (who would receive the benefits ot the concert), reared to the eueigetic manner in which the Chairman and Committee had woiked to bring the entertainment to such a successful issue. Atter the Chairman had briefly returned thenks, the singing of the National Anthem brought the proceedings to a close. The room was then cleared tor the ball, and dancing was kept up for some hours.