Lecture.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3578, 15 June 1880, Page 2

Lecture.

A lecture was given last night in the Academy of Music by Mr G. Newell Phillips, head master of the Waio-Karaka school, on the subject of " England under Elizabeth." Previous to the lecture His Worship the Mayor, who occupied the Chair, made some preliminary remarks on the necessity of knowing something about England.

Mr Phillips said it had been first arranged to give the lectures to teachers and scholars, and it was only at the request of the School Committees that he gave them in public. He gave an elaborate account of the Court of Queen Elizabeth, showing at the same time her idiosyneracies, and the manner in which she successfully hoodwinked the statesmen of Europe. Speaking of the Earl of Leicester he gave the well known anecdote of Amy Bobsart and Kenilworth Castle, and a lucid description of the pageants held and festivities indulged in in her honor at that township. We hare ourselves often been through the ruins of Kenilworth Castle, which have lately undergone repairs, and the part of the lecture comprehending the doings of the Virgin Queea at Kenilworth brought the remembrance to our minds of t lie days spent amid the hills and chase surrounding this grand specimen of aucienfc architecture. At the conclusion of the first part of the lecture, a duet, " Oh, ye tears," was given by two lady amateurs, Mrs Macky and Miss Day, Mr E. A. R. Owen officiating as accompanist. We do not wish to be cynical in criticising the rendition of the duet, hut we can only say that it lacked pathos and expression, more attention being paid to strict time than true vocal interpretation. We are great adrocates. of time, and we sympathise with thoso who pay strict attention to its correctness, but it is quite possible to pay too strict an ndliarence in this respect. The amount of " feeling" required for the correct 'rendering of this selection is great, and had true delioasse been imbued, the duet would have been excusable, even if the time was slightly in error. As ao encore tbe ladies gave, " When the Swallows "—sung, to our thinking a little too slow. Mr Phillips recommenced his lecture and devoted himself during the sscond portion to the statesmen of the Elizabethan age. A vote of thanks to the lecturer and the chair terminated the proceediugs.