OPENING- OF THE EVANS FLAT SCHOOL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 345, 8 April 1874, Page 3

OPENING- OF THE EVANS FLAT SCHOOL.

CONCERT AND BALL. A concert and ball was held in the schoolhouse, Evans Flat, on Monday evening, to celebrate the opening of the builling, and was largely attended by people from Lawrence, Blue Spur, and surrounding districts. The attraction of a dance in the new building, and the energetic manner in which the Committee took the affair in hand pushing tho tickets, which at the moderate figure of half- - a-crown found a ready sale, made the affair a - • great success. This, with the glorious moonlight, tended- to draw such a concourse of people together as had not been seen on Evans Flat for seven years. We think ' therefore • the Committee would augment their funds considerably, by a yearly benefit of similar- - 'kind. There is always plenty of local talent available, as-on this occasion, for the benefit of local institutions. Too great praiVe can- ■ not be accorded to the ladies and gentlemen who'on Monday evening contributed the vocal portion of the entertainment. The pinging of the numerous solos, ducts, glees, and choru«es was very cveditnblc, consi lering very little timo had been given to practice. Several of the pieces had not been sung by the same company before. Mrs. Hanson and Mr. Downes provided the musical accompaniment on the ' pianoforte. " The following is a resume of the programme :— Opening chorus, " God bless the Prince of Wales," by the full company— ■"'Mesaames Gooday, Titchener, Holmes, Day, ."Evans, Mips; Fowler, and Messrs. Dowues; , Holmes,- andvJanies Menzies ; comic song, Mr. .-" Holmes ; ''glee, - " The: Wreath," ■ Mesdames *■ and Titchener, Messrs. Downea and*

Holmes; Jso'ng, "Thy voice is nigh," Mrs.' Day j song, "The British Lion," Mr ..Downes; duet, "Tho Gipsy Countess," Mesdames Gooday and Holmes ; song, " Love's Request," . Mrs. Evans ; song, " Many happy returns of the Day," Mr. James Menzies ; song, "Liquid, Gems, Mrs. Gooday; glee, "Beam of" Light,"' Mesdames Gooday, Holmes, Evans, Titch.cn.cr, Miss Fowler, and Messrs. Holmes, ' Downes, and Menzies; song, " On tho Bridge at Mid- 1 night," Miss Fowler ; song,. "Go where "the Morning Shineth," Mrs. Titchener ; duet, " All's AVcll," Mrs. Gooday and Mr. Downes 5 song, " Man the Lifeboat," Mr. Menzies ; song and chorus, " Put Me in My Littlo Bed," solo by Mrs. Titchener, chorus by the company ; eong, " Killarney," Miss Fowler ; song, " Robinson Crusoe," Mr. Downes, who on being recalled gave " The Belle of the Ball ; " i duet, " The Merry Gondolier," Mr?. Gooday j and Mr. J. Menzies ; song, " The Last Rose I of Summer," Mrs. Day; song, "God Bless the Friends T>Vc Love," Mrs. Gooday. The musical portion of tho entertainment concluded with " God Save the Queen," rendered effectively by the company. Very little comment is needed on tho rendering of the various pieces. A little more of the comic clement would have been appreciated by the audience. Mr. Downes' rendering of "Robinson Crusoe" was rapturously encored, and kindly responded to. Mrs. Gooday's singing was also much applauded. Some of the singers were not in good voice, and a few had made selections f or the evening which they had not sufficiently practised, consequently they exhibited great nervousness. Mr. D. Evans, on behalf of the School Committee, at the conclusion of the concert, thanked the performers and the audience for their attendance in a brief speech. Refreshments were provided for the visitors, and wore partaken of in the schoolmaster's residence, ample justice being done to the good things provided. During the time the visitors were partaking of the refreshments, some foolish person or persons put salt into the boiler used for tea and coffee. No doubt the perpetrator thought it clever, and would relate it to his friends as a capital joke ; but had he made it known at the time, a visit to Mr. Evan's horse trough would probably have been the result. The water without salt would have driven the idea of annoying other people by such foolish practices out of the silly heads of the wouldbe funny people. After the lapse of an horn 1 from the conclusion of the concert, dancing commenced in the schoolhouse, which had been cleared for* the purpose. Tho music was provided by Mrs. Hansen on" the pianoforte, and later in the night Mr. AVatsou assisted with the violin. Dances succeeded each other without intermission until 3 o'clock on Tuesday morning, when the visitors rapidly dispersed for their homos, one and all well satisfisd with the enjoyable evening spent.