THE PAYNE FAMILY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2645, 12 April 1894, Page 2

THE PAYNE FAMILY.

The Payne Family favored Geraldine with a visit on Monday evening last, and were greeted with a very good house. On this occasion the Family have s -rengthan ed their ranks with two accomplished young ladies, viz , Miss Bella Handricks (soprano, violiniste, and pianiste), and Miss Elfie Morelia (soprano), the violin performance of the former and the singing of the latter being both exceptionally good. The programme was opened with a pretty part song, “ Funiculi, Eunice la,” (Denza), by the company, which went with a good swing. Then followed a violin solo, “ Life let us cherish ” (Farmer), by Miss Maud Payne, which was the signal for loud applause. The song, “My Polly,” by Mr W. J. Payne was encored, but not responded to. Two selections “ Adelina Schottische” and “Barn Dance” were the next items, and were played in a brilliant manner on the handbells by the company. A humorous part song, “ Merry little fat grey man,” by the company “ took on ” well with the audience, and in the next piece, the song “ Beauty sleep,” (Arditi), Miss Elfie Morelia had every opportunity to exhibit her well-trained vocal powers. Mr R. Steele, on the musical glasses, gave a pleasing variation of a favourite old song, “ The last rose of summer,” which waa followed by the gem of the programme, namely, a quartette (vocal and instrumental) called “ The little huntsman.” Two more selections were given on the handbells, and then the first part of the programme ended with a humorous trio, “ The fortune tellers,” by Miss Lizzie Payne (Mrs Steele), and Misses Maud Payne and Bella Handricks. The instrumental trio, “ National airs,” elicited an encore, which, however, like other encores, was not responded to. The J‘ Convent Bells ” selection, played by fthe bellringers, waa a clever performance. This was succeeded by a humorous song, “ I may or may not,” by Miss Lizzie Payne, after which another gem was provided in the shape of a selection from “II Trovatore ” played on the violin in a masterful manner by Miss Bella Handricks. The company set the audience roaring with another humorous trio, and Misses Lizzie and Maud delighted their hearers with a violin duet, playing “Auld Robin Gray” and the “Keel Row.” Mr R. Steele gave colloquially and partly in song an amusing sketch of “ The shopwalker.” Then came another selection by the bellringers, and the programme ended with “ Old King Cole,” a humorous part song by the company. The programme was timed to finish exactly at 10 o’clock, which it did ; the company setting its foot firmly against responding to encores, although many items were redemauded during the evening. To-night the Payne Family appear at Tamuka, when they will no doubt be greeted with a full house.