WINCHESTER

Temuka Leader, Issue 2595, 16 December 1893, Page 2

WINCHESTER

Not the least successful of the concerts given at Winchester during the past season, was that given on Thursday evening by the children of the Public School in aid of the treat fund. With few exceptions the items were excellently rendered, and, altogether, reflected great credit on the careful training received by the scholars from the Misses Hawke, who are to be congratulated on obtaining such good results iu the short space of time allowed them since the inspection of the school. The infants' action songs were the best items of the evening, and met with vociferous encores. " The Chinainau " was especially good. An amusing composition by a local composer, intimating that "We want to get some money for the Winch'ster State School, as we go marching along," fairly brought down the house, being performed with a grace ad innocence of countenance, which seems the peculiar property of iiifiiufcchil Iren. Daisy Mcintosh,Kathleen Detlenzy and Mabel Opio looked very pretty. It may b*o remarked that the enunciation of these little ones was very distinct and clear, and well worthy of invitation by many of our local amateurs. Miss Annie Philp showed a splendid example of careful training in this respect in her recitation "We are Seven." The senior girls sang the " Japanese Fan Song," ard received a well-merited encoe. Some of them also gave the " Wauderer'a Farewell," very sweetly and expressively, they wt:re especially successful iu "Nice young Maidens," the performance of the soloist, Miss Nellie Opie, being perfect. The song " They all love Jack," however, was not well sung, and " A sweet good Night," was rather uneven and spasmodic but, for a difficult piece, was in otner respects well received. Recitations by Master Webster, Miss Martha Cliff, and Bertha Hyde were fairly well given, the last, though short, being the best. In the dialogue "Dolly's Doctor," little Miss Ethel Watt showed considerable dramatic talent, and met with deserved applause. The influenza song was fairly well given by a number of the elder boys, and was encored. Miss Lucy Hawke acted very ably as acoompanist to all the children's songs. At the end of the first part of the programme, Mr Robert Smith, on behalf of the School Committee, heartily thaukecl the Misses Hawke for the large amount of interest and energy they had displayed in the training of the children. He had been much disappointed by the absence of some of the adult performers, who had promised their assistance, but was thankful that in spite of the very inclement weather the attend* anoe was exceedingly good. The funds in hand towards the treat already amounted to six or seven pounds, and with the addition proceeds of the concerb he hoped they would have sufficient to aii'ord the children a very enjoyable day at " The Gums " on the 27th of December. The second part of the programme opened with a pian'ofqrto selection by Miss A, GimsQii, who kindly supplied her sister's absence. Mr Barrett, of Temuka, sang " Life in the East End of London," in character, and in respone to an encore gave *• Down went MacGihty " very well, with just the right amount of dialect and aclo-n. A lady performer from Geraldine saug " The song that reached my Heart," and another, The Rev. Mr Butterfiejd was not quite so successful as usual with his two songs, bub they were much appreciated for all that, Mr Steven gave a splendid rendering of " Beautiful Snow," but the piece being beyond intellectual capaciiies of some of the young " gentlemen " at the back of the hall did not soem to meet with their approval., Aftal' a vote of thanks to the performers, a very enjoyable ' concerb concluded with the singing of " God Save the Queen," the school children leading. It is to be rug retted, that the young " gentlemen " before mentioned saw fit tq prqclaiin theiv contempt for natiiiia] loyalty and gooc| taste by attempting to burlesque thjs, item in variqus ways.