Page 2 Advertisements Column 3

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 32, 19 September 1868, Page 2

Ou the evening of Tuesday, the 16$ instant, an entertainment in the form of songs, recitations, and readings, wai given at Waipori, in aid of the funda\ the school. A numerous, and respectable audience attended. Mr Buchanan, who occupied the chair, in opening the meeting, said that this was the first perfor. j mance of the kind, and, indeed, the first opportunity, local talent had of displaying itself. He trusted that a kind of amusement so instructive and beneticial would receive the support it merited, and that that occasion should prove the first of a Beries of highly successful entertainmeuts. Air. Baker, schoolmaster, then read the following prologue, composed by him expressly for the occasion :— ~ Ladies and gentlemen, I've received instruction To come before you with an introduction. The task is n«w-my lines may be rough dress'd ; Bear with me kindly— l will do my best. I shall not try to come out learnedly, And quote the stories of mythology ; But first, if you'll permit, I'll briefly tract The changes that have pass'd o'er this our place. And glancing back tlyo' time's eventful page, "We see Waipori in a former age ; No human sound is wafted on the gale, But silence reigns supreme throughout the vale. The river oft iv devious course.,sweeps down, Changing the valley to one vaai lagoon ; The hills are cloth'd with trees and scrub "galore," ' Would it were"now s still growing as of yore ?" But fire and water have combiu'd to clianga The station of the vale and mountain range ; Changes so vast have swept o'er nature's faco, Not c'en the rocks retain their ancient place. But I must hasten on, and shift the scene ; I Diggers pour o'er the knd in countless stream ; I And now these dreary solitudes resound I With tramps of feet exploring all around. They spread throughout these gullies stekinir gold; They find it, aUd the tale is quickly told— Nuinbe.ra soon join them, and with sturdy toil Search for the treasures hid beneath the soil ; An enterprising merchant starts a store, The Bull aud Mouth opes wide its tempting door ; Anent the Ford th« old Waipori'a seen, The camp stood where it ever since haa been. £uch was the township of the olden day, When shilling nobblera, bottles, cases went, | Shouting all hands, till the. last cent was spent. Oft then you'd see Bill, Harry, Dick, or Pat Boiling about without a coat or hat j Free fights were common — just got up for fun, The noise waa deaf'ning, harm but litfle done." I've known men drag their coats along tho atieet, Shoating defiance to all they chane'd to meet • I've seen them when excited, take their hat Throw it down, ciying, " Hoo ! just stip oa that."" ' But nqw.,we've enter'd on a better day, When law and order hold their rightful sway Two Brotherhoods are form'd for mutual aid Should sickness, accident, or death invado. Such institutions now so well maintain'd Show a vast step in social status gain'd ; Meat heartily -we -wish them all SUCCeaj, All hail ! ye Rangers ! ye M.U.1.0.0.F J And not the least sign of the progress mad*. Is th' attention to education paid ; Most leadily you rais'd the needful sum And bought tho school— a most coinaiodioa tj one. jln aid of thi3 we've asli.'d you.here to-night, ' Funds are requir'd to keep the fire alight ; The wiater's been so longj and so severe, We've burn'd more than, our usual atock thl» year. x " Friends are now waiting, ready to begin, I must make haste, and let them come and «ing ; With songs, glees, roadings, they will now beguile Your, minds from daily cares a little while. I'll leave you to their efforts to amuse, Knowing they'll do their utmost to diffuse The spirit of music, harmony, and song ; May you enjoy it friends ! I'm off; "So long." A well-executed chorus by the Glee Club, "The Ofiough and Crow," was followed by an excellent song, from Mr. Stevens, " Water Cresses," who received an encore. Mr. Cairns then read Artemua Ward on " Woman's Rights ;" after which Mr. Cox sung " Yesterday, "'"and Dr. M'Lachlan read the "Clown and. "Vicar," followed, by. Mr. Donovan (of Lawrence), who sung "The ould Irish jintleman,'* and as an encore gave " Barney, avourneen ; " and Mrs. Smith, who. sang '•' Sweet apirit hear my prayer ; " all these were enthusiastically and deservedly applauded? The Glee Club next gave "Mary Blanc," and Mr. Ferguson (of the Times) recited "-The Packman ; " succeeded by Miss Cox, who sang " I'd choose to be a daisy " with great taste and feeling ; next Mr. Baker gave an excellent song. In the choruses of both the preceding, the Glee Club took part. Dr. M'Lachlan followed with "Champagne Charlie," and Mr. Buchanan read "Tarn O'Shanter '* with great verve and vigor. Mr. Cairns then sang ".Sweet vale of Avoca," and as an encore, "The man who wont marry," followed by Mr. Donovan with a. reading , " The Furlough ; "• who were succeeded by the Glee Club, who gave " Let me kiss him for his. mother" with marked effect After a short interval, other songs and readings were given, in which most of the abovementioned ladies and gentlemen took part. Mr. Smith presided at the harmonium, and executed his laborious task with great taste and ability. The Committee, after the Headings, awarded a I cordial vote of thanks to Messrs. Dono-' van and Ferguson, Tuapeka, for their kindness in coming so far to assist their, efforts on behalf of the school. Dancing then commenced, and the fun was kept up to a late hour. We understand that the receipts amounted to about £11, a result highly creditable to the promoters of- this movement.