CONCERT AT GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1821, 27 November 1888, Page 3

CONCERT AT GERALDINE.

A concert in aid of the funds of the Waihi Football Club took place in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, on Friday evening last. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather there was a very fair audience present, the front'seats being well filled and the back seats partly so. Quite a large contingent of footballers and their friends drove up from Winchester, The hall was decorated with evergreens, &e., those on the wall behind the stage being especially characteristic of New Zealand, pretty arrangement of cabbage tree, lance wood, and flax being made, while surmounting all was the British ensign. At the front of the stage two goal posts and a cross bar of lance wood had been erected, and up the goal posts and across the bar a number of New Zealand flowering creepers, with fern leaves, &c., had had been entwined. Over the centre of the cross bar the football was suspended by a fine grey thread, invisible by lamplight, which gave the ball the appearance of just crossing the bar from a kick. Cabbage trees were placed at the foot of each goal post, the whole of the decorations having a very pretty appearance. Mr E. H. Pearpoint occupied the chair, and in opening the concert expressed the pleasure he felt at being there that evening. As an old footballer, he congratulated the club on the position they had achieved during the past season. He then asked the Misses E. and E, Dean to open the concert with a pianoforte overture, which those young ladies did. Miss Andrews, who came next, did full justice to the song “ When the Swallows Homeward Fly,” and was also very successful in the second part with the song “The Reign of the Roses.” Mr F. Griffin elicited a chorus from the footballers present, a “ Kicked Sir! Goal! ” for his rendition of the football song “On the Ball.” In the second part he sang the well-known song “ Wrap me up in my old Stable Jacket.” Miss E. Dean was very successful with the two pretty songs “ White Wings ” and “ Gates of the West,” which she contributed in the first and second part respectively. Mr Aitken brought down the house with his inimitable reciting of “ The Dear Dinner.” Miss Dunlop secured a hearty round of applause for her rendition of “ The Brook,” and later in the evening gave “ True till the last.” M,iss Dean was in splendid voice, and quite took the audience with her in the song “ A Summer Shower.” For her rendition of “ Tit for Tat ” she had to respond to a unanimous encore, and gave “Auntie” equally well. The duet by Miss Menzies and Mr Aitken, “The Gipsy Countess,” was areally enjoyable item, as was also their duet in the second part “ Prythee, Pretty Maiden.” Miss Henries also contributed the song, “A Little Mountain Lad,” to which she did full justice. Mr Early rendered the song, “ The Scout,” excellently, and later on ** The Showman,” for which he had to respond to an encore, and gave “ The Parson and the Clerk.’’ Mrs Burn was heartily encored for her rendition of “Is it anybody’s business ?” repeating the last verse. Mr Burn rendered the fine song, “A Message from the King,” with excellent voice and expression. In the second part he contributed a stirring football song, “ Our Grand Old British Game,” for which he was heartily encored, and responded with the last verse. The latter song was composed by Mr Burn himself, who is an enthusiastic and somewhat renowned footballer, and, in fact, an enthusiast in almost all athletic games. The music is also >by Mr Burn, and the accompaniment by Mr A. J. Barth. The song should become a very popular one among footballers. The singers were accompanied on the piano by Mrs Burn and Misses Dean (3), and Andrews. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to all those who bad assisted with the gathering, and the singing of the National Anthem closed the concert, A very enjoyable dance was held afterwards, at which about 20 couples were present. Mr T. Hart acted as M.G., and Mr W. Radford supplied , the music. Dancing was kept up with enthusiasm till about 2 a,m.