CONCERT IN THE DRILL HALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5010, 26 April 1895, Page 2

CONCERT IN THE DRILL HALL.

A PRONOUNCED SUCCESS.

Although the weather lust night . was anything but inviting to those ' bent 011 entertainment, the acconi- j modation of the Drill Hall was ( taxed to the utmost to provide even | stiuuling-rooom for the large audi- i euce assembled to enjoy undoubtedly ] the finest concert programme that I has heen presented to the public of ' Masterton, for a very long time, and 1 we have 110 hesitation in saying that , W3 have never lmd the pleasure of j attending a performance so thor- , oughly complete and successful as that given last night in aid of St. Patrick's School, the funds of which will benefit to a very large extent, by the handsome balance reaped through the efforts of the Revd. Father McKenna, to whom, with his staff of able and willing assistants, all praise is due for the finished manner in which every detail connected with the entertainment anil comfort of those present was carried out. The hall was tastefully decorated with evergreens. Hags, banners, etc., and the stage screened off and divided into two hrge dressing rooms for ladies and gentlemon, while just in front of tlio stage was erected a temporary staging which not only improved the acoustic properties of tlio room, but added greatly to the convenience of the performers, as well as to the appearance of the hall. Miss Pearson opened the programme with a selection on.the piano, played with good taste and expression; Mr M. Meadows, a recent arrival in Masterton, followed, and in his first appearance here, scored a complete success. Ho chose for his first effort, " When Twilight Falls," which appeared to suit him admirably. Mr Meadows possesses a heavy baritone voico of first-class quality with a niaginilicent range, - and over which he has complete con--1 trol, he sings with plenty of feeling, also an amount of expression which is only obtained by first-class training and careful study, this Mr Meadows exhibited from the time he commenced his song right through to the close of the last note, it was here that the audience marked their 1 appreciation of his abilities as a vocalist by loud and continued applauso, unci with whom ho is established a firm favorite. For an encore the singer repeated the last verse, and later in the evening sang with equally good ' effect " Love's Proving," Mr Meadows is .taking up music as a profession in Masterton,and we trust our musical fraternity will accord him the support his abilitiesdeserve, and we hope to have the pleasure of hearing Mr Meadows 011 many other occasions. All old favorite-Miss Fisher—now made her appearance, and her two contributions were undoubtedly the gems.of the evening. Since her last appearanco in Masterton, this lndy has been studying in Melbourne undor some of tlio best masters to be obtained there, aud the benefits of such training were fully realised by all who heard her , sing last evening. Miss Fisher is far abovo any amateur wo have heard in this Island, and wo. doubt if slio would bo classed " second " to ; any in the Australian Colonies. Her 1 voice is mellow, and full of the richest quality iii both upper and lower 1 registers. She lias a very large com--1 pass, through which her expressions ' of light and shade are most finished and her dramatic passages were 1 tilled last night with a power and ring seldom found in a voice of similar quality. Her songs were j the" Last Muster" and" When tlio Tide Comes In," aud as encores the lady favoured us with "Dublin Bay," ! and "Don't Quite Forget." Mr Simms was in excellent voico and did full justice to his selection, ' " Close to tho Threshold," and satisfied himself by bowing his acknowledgments to an encore. • Mrs Butement sang in her usual pleasing aud finished style " The Carnival" and for an encore gave that old favourite "Fiddle and I." The Misses Gallagher here danced the " Caohuoha" with grace and ease, which pleased the audience greatly. Mr Mowlem, in his usual pleasant manuer, played the violin solo " Nocturne," by Bergmuller, and also added to the pleasure of those | present, by playing three obligates for different singers. MrR, Langton, in "Ever of Thee," carefully rendered brought the programme to a close. The accompaniments were most ably played by Missed Cimino and' D. Bunting, The Rev.' Father McKenna here thanked all present, both audience and performers, for their assistance, in a neat and well-chosen speech, after which the Hall"was cleared, and dancing indulged in till the early hoars of morning, "to mußic!pmvided' ,; by: 'Miss 'Pearson, and Messrs Gjnta, Russell, and Bennington, :, . .. v