THE HOOPER MINSTRELS AT MAURICEVILLE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4287, 29 November 1892, Page 3

THE HOOPER MINSTRELS AT MAURICEVILLE.

(Fioui Our Own CompiuM.) The Hooper Minstrels opened in tho Chowl Hall 011 Saturday evening last, to a fairly I!"" 1 ' 1,011(1,1 Company cam 1 to us with a good vepu!»tion, which thoy sustuino: under some difficulties, chief of which whs a faulty musical instrument in the sha|iO of a piano. It is rumoured that this instrument whs brought to New Zealand by some whalers some years previous to the arrival of Captain Cook, and although it Ims lost nothing of its thrill, its harmony is not quite so pronounced as of yoie. . At all events tho vocalists of the Company complained about it terribly, and the proprietor of tho instrument (from whom it was vented for tho occasion) camo in forsome very heavy J>l)its"-locul hits being one of the of tlio entertainment. The >•' Lits," however, were apparently taken in good part or at least with that outward composure which wo know so well how to assume, when any of our cherished institutions aro attacked, and we have grown to look upon onr ancient piano as an institution. We have danced to its voluptuous music many a time and oft; we have strolled in the soft moonlight with our fair partners and studied astronomy _ within hearing of its impossible variations; wo have proposed and heen rejected, while the air around us was full of its sweetest melody; in short, we look upon it as an old lriend whoso eccentricities are pardonable on account of age. The Company did very woll notwithstanding, one of tho lady singers being especially good, and should the Company visit us again (and bring their own piano) we will give them every support. After saying this I have no doubt the Hooper Minstrels receive a bumper houßO on their r appearanco in Masterton. After tho entertainment, wo hud a dance—we always do have a dance after nearly everything in Mauriceville. Alter the dance we had some selections on the piano—Wagners, I was told. Wo then went homo in that blissful stato of sobriety which the absenco of a pub in Mauricovilie makes imperative on tlieso festive occasious,