GERALDINE SCHOOL CONCERT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1585, 21 May 1887, Page 3

GERALDINE SCHOOL CONCERT.

This annual event, which has come to be looked forward to with considerable expectancy by the public of Geraldine, took place in the Oddfellows' Hall on ' Wednesday evening last, and was a decided success from every point of view. Notwithstanding the dirty state of the" ioads, owing to the recent wet weather, the pablie mustered from far and near. • Long before the doors were opened at 7.50 quite a crowd had gathered outside, •hd in a few minutes after admission was obtained the hall was densely packed, every available space being taken up by the large audience who had gathered, i drawn more particularly to hear the singing of the children, who are alwayi popular when they come before the j public of Geraldine. A very large pro* I portion of .those attending the school took part in the programme for the evening. Accommodation had been provided for thein on the stage, and a gathering of "more intelligent and healthier-lookiDg • little ones it would be, hard to find. Apparently they were not in the least abashed by the numbers befoie them, but '*' took the keenest interest in the proceed* ings, and performed their part in a manner that was highly pleasing to the audience, and must have been very gratifying to Miss Pearson and Mr J. Aitken—Head Mistress and Master re» spectively—who bad trained them. Mr W. S. Maslin, Chairman of the School Committee, occupied the chair. Mr J Aitken conducted the singing of the . children with the exception of those itemejendeied by the infant and junior ' classed, when Miss Pearson acted as ; leaden The first part of the programme 'was entirely performed by the .children. ' ; *Thif arrangement via* thought advisable, as it would obviate the necessity of the children staying through the whole of the - prpgramme if their parents wished to take

them Way before it was oyer. The first item on the programme wag a pianoforte duet by the Misses Dean, which wos ' much enjoyed. The Senior Pupi'a then gave the song " Snow Flakes," and were heartily "pplanded. Miss Maggie Giordan recited " Barbara it etchie " capitally. The duet, ,"S f ar of Peaca," by Misses /Maggie Donlop and M. A. Goltmao was ' very prettily rendered. Master H. C. How»rd recited "The Yarn of the Nancy Bell"'in character, and was loudly applauded. Master B. Shaw and Miss A. Shaw succeeded capitally in their ren--1 deriDg of the "Canadian Boat Song." - Class 11. then gave the aong " The Vorld is Full of Mu»ic" very sweetly indeed!. Miss Sarah Bowkett was loudly applauded for her recitation " My Doll '. Bose." The action sonir "The Clock" . was excellently rendered by the lofanta \ and Classes I. and 11., and in reply to a unanimous encore tha last verse was re- ' "pe'ated. The quartette, " Three Little Kittens," by Missea Colbert, Coltman, Gibson; and Fleming was heartily F- applauded. The glee " Now Pray we for our Country," by Mimies Dean, McKenzie, fihiers, and Masters Maslin and Burridge, <waaaung in a capital manner, the voices blending very nicely. In response to an «ncore the last Terse was repeated. Miss Mary Malooejr recited " The Drum" very r nicely. The Seoior Pupils then sang \ ■ " Over the Ice," Which was given in a cipital manner. Ah interval pf about five mioutes then took place, daring which the stage was cleared of the child.ren and occupied by the older vocalists. The Misses Fish opened the second part of the entertainment with a pianoforte duet, which was beautifully pouted, and elicited a hearty vooore; The length

of the progromme, however, prevented its being complied with. Miss Dunlop followed with "La Buquetiere," and being in good vice vas loudly applauded. Mr K. Logan had to respond to a hearty encore for his singing "Powder Monkey Joe," and repeated the last verse. Mias Andrews was heard to great advantage in the song "Katie's Letter." Mr J. Aitken contributed the recitation " The Lay of Horatio " in a capital manner, and was ioudly applauded. Miss Mackenzie came next with a pianoforte solo which was nicely given. Mrs Porteoua then sang "Only a P»nny Blossom" in her beet style, and being encored substituted " Pretty White LiliHs. Mr J. Thatcher rendered the song "The Rose of Allandale " capitally. The next item wns the glee "The Red Crona Knight," which was splendidly given by the Geraldine Qlee Club, and he.-ir*ily applauded. Mrs Foster then contributed n pianoforte solo, which was a musical treat, and evidently Irsrhly appreciated. Mias Miller followed with the f ■•% "The Golden Shore," which was one of the gems of the evening. The last item, but not the least by far, was the ever popular song " The Death of Nelson," which was capitally given, and elicited a hearty encore, which, however, was not responded to. Miss fish accompanied the singers, and their thinks, and also those of the audience, are due to her for the excellent manner in which she performed her part. At the conclusion of the programme Mr Maslin c»me forward and proposed a hearty vote of thanlrs to those ladies and gentlemen who had so kindly come forward and assisted in making the affair such a success ; to Miss Pish, who was always willing to assist at such entertainments, and to the Misses Dean, who were new to r Geraldine audience. He said they were always very foitunate at the Geraldine School in obtaining the services of a Master and Mistress who could teach the children singing. The late Master, Mr Hughes, had always done so, and they had had many enjoyable concerts, and he (Mr Maslin) had no doubt the present Master and Mistress would still continue to maintain th« name the school had got of being a musical school. He believed that in about three months from now it was intended to hold another concert, when he hoped ihey would have a larger hall and even a still larger attendance. The votes of thanks were carried by acclamation, and the singing of the National Anthem terminated a most successful gathering.