THE CAMBRIDGE GARDEN FETE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue XXXII, 9 March 1889, Page 2

THE CAMBRIDGE GARDEN FETE.

* Tuesday was observed as a holiday in Cambridge, nearly all the business places being closed at noon to enable those employed in them to attend the Garden Fete that was being held in Major Wilson's grounds for the benefit of S. Andrew's Church funds. Shortly before noon the Cambiidga band paraded the town in a chariot of Mr Carter's, and thus notified the public that the festivities were about to commence, and the church bells also rang out merrily. About this lime the sun broke through the clouds, which earlier in the morning were very thick, and at one timoa slight shower of rain fell and sent the spirits of the vestrymen down to zero— and proclaimed that the day was not only going to be fine, but also extremely hut. The band was augmented for the occasion by the additiou of three of the Hamilton Light Infantry musicians, viz., Messrs Mettam. Tristram and Newrick, who performed respectively upon the bass, euphoneum and soprano cornet. As we anticipated, the Foto was a great success ; and indeed it thoroughly deserved to be, for the efforts of Messrs Wells, Hewitt, Dr Moon, the Archdeacon, and a host of other workers were most untirins, and we aro pleased to find they met with their duo reward. Upon entering the ground the first thing that met our ga/.e was the luncheon and lea stalls, where delicacies as well as the more solid viands were dispensed by ladies of the congregation. The presiding matrons were Mesdames Wells, Willis, Hill, Mackny and Seddon ; and they were assisted by the Misses Clark, Hunt, E. Hill, M. Cane, Bright, and Bedlington, who paid every attention to their customers, and if they did not have their money's worth, thoy cannot blame the fair waitresses, for indeed, they were so pressing with their invitations to '" take a little more" that we are afraid some of their pastrous must have suffered from indigestion. There was also a stall, where Mesdames Maxwell, Clenny and Bates vended most luscious fruit, and appeared to bo doing good business. The grounds looked very gay, tho fancy costumes of tho Gipsies and Maypole dancers giving a very pretty effect, The first

performance given was the Maypole dance when about twenty-eight youngsters went through the intricate measures with wonderful precision to thostrains of the beforementioned band. It would, whore all did so well, be invidious on our part to single nut any of tho performers for special mention ; but the universal opinion of the publie was thai, little Mi«s Hewitt, who was attired as a fairy, and her infantile partner, Jiirtio Maxwell, were tho best. Tins performance was gone through threo times during tho course of the day and afforded gre:it pleasure to the proud parents of the chil Iron as well as to the general public. Great credit in due to .Mrs Major Wilson and Miss Wilson, who had trained the youngsters and they must have expended a great amount of timo and patience upon the task. The gipsy encampment was a great attraction, and we cannot wonder at it," for some of the gi;i3y ladies looked charming, and we almost regretted that the number of male gipsies was complete ; for had there been a vacancy we should have been very much tempted to throw ourselves into tho breach even at tho risk of being " chucked" out again. The following ladies and gentlemen were in the encampment:—Mesdames Jackson, Chitty and Garland. Misses E. Williams, .T. Wilson, C. (Jane, Jackson, Mackay, Davidson and Clark. Messrs S. Chambers, H. Wilson, A. Sonter, If. Gane, E. Ward and Dr. Moon. The Gipsies wero supposed to be Spanish, but some of them wore rather too fair to be of that nationality ; they were however very prettily dressed and when they went through their two dances—a Spanish valse and a country dance—upon the lawn, formed a very pleasing spectacle. The encampment was under the control of Dr. Moon, who had trained them in their accomplishments, even to that of thieving, for we heard instructions being given at the fruit stall " to keepan eye on the Gipsies;" so we concluded they intended keeping up the prestige of their race. Mrs Jackson sang "A Gipsy's Life is a Joyous Life " and Mrs Chitty " I'm a Merry Zingara" the other members of the band joining in tho chorus. Both songs were well rendered and were loudly applauded. Mrs Jackson's fine voice was heard very distinctly. Most of the spectators then adjourned to a paddock next to the garden to witness the Tilting at the Ring. The entries were not as numerous as was expected, only ten competitors being forthcoming. The winner was Captain Owen, who secured four points; two for having secured it in a short time. None of the others obtained more than one tine;. Wo think the rings wero too small and placed much too high, 12 feet, the lances were also very much heavier than was necessary—wero in fact very ungainly, and could hardly be managed with one hand, being made of manuka. While this performance was going on, tho Alchemist (Mr Hyatt) was delighting a portion of the audience with his chemical tricks, etc., in the marques. The intervals in the programme were tilled up b;; throwing at cocoanuts and shooting with an airgun, the managers being, respectively, Messrs H. Wilson and W. S. Stewart. A sain by auction was also held, Mr G. McCann kindly officiating with the hammer, and Mr R. Chambers acted as clerk and received the spoil. We believe a substantial amount was realised by the auction. At 8 p.m. a series of seven Tableaux Vivants were given in tho marque'e, and they reflect the highest credit upon Mrs W. S. Stewart, who seems to have a special aptitude for that sort of thing with most artistic taste. The first one was " Scandal" and represented five old ladies having the proverbial cup of tea, and, if we are to judge by the expression on their face-;, they must indeed have dropped upon a lit bit of scandal. The tableaux was perfect. The performers were Mesdames Stewart, Dickenson, and the Misses Neilson, Mackay, and Hcdlington. The second was a scene from the opera of Norma, where Adalgisa (Mws R. Young), a virgin of the temple of Esns, pleads to Norma the high priestess (Miss B-jdhngton), to spare her (Nonii.i's)children. The children were little Miss Hewitt and the infant Maxwell. The next one was also from Norma, where she pleads to her father Orovcso (Mr Annershaiv) to spare her children. This was also good, tho Druid priests in the background, with Pnllio (Dr. Moon), the Roman Senator adding greatly to the scenic effect. The folliiwuig one was " Two strings to her Bow," and represented a lady with a lover on either arm, Miss Bedlington and Messrs Ward and E. Ciissen. This was splendid, Mr Cussen being particularly good. The fifth was "Slaves"of which there wore five, Mrs Stewart, Misses J. Wilson, Mackay, It. Young, and P. Garland, and their keepers, Messrs Ward and Sanders. This was very pretty, the drosses being exceptionally so. Number six was the " Sleeping Beauty," the chief character being Miss Louisa Wilson, who looked charming, and the attendants were pretty and well arranged. The final one was where Prince Charming (Miss Gray), wakes the sleeping bsauty with a kiss. Miss Gray did not belie the character the represented, for she did look charming. If she were really of the male persuasion, and retained the appearance that she possessed the other evening, she —or we should say he—would play sad havoc among the hearts of the fair Cantabs. The tent was then cleared previous to the nigger entertainment. This, wo think, was a mistake, as many departed—notably, most of the Hamilton contingent—who would have been glad to have paid the money and retained their seats. We do not mention this in a fault-finding spirit, for wo believe every one did their utmost to make tho affair a succes.i, but so that on a future occasion a similar mistake may not occur.

The Nigger Minstrels were undoubtedly the piece-de-resistance, as was evinced by the crowded state ot (lie marquee, which was simply "j mimed." Tho performance was (riven "by nine ladies, assisted by Mr H. Wilson as "Bones," and Mr E. Ward, "Tainho.'' When it became known that the ladies intended " blacking up," wo heard a number of very unkind remarks made by different members of tho congregation of the church for which they were making martyrs of themselves ; but having seen them, wo do not think it is anything very dreadful. Individually, they certainly did not look as well as tiiey do in thoir natural colour by a very long way, but as a troupe they looked remarkably well; and, if we come to think the matter a pretty Depress is almost as scarce as a tortoise-shell tom-cat. so we could hardly expect to find that burnt cork and stale beer had added to the ladies' charms. Each of them wore a red species of turban in which a white lily was placed, and, as wo before remarked, taken as a whole, the effect was pleasing, and we think they showed a vast amount of pluck in undertaking the performance. The singing was good and the choruses were evenly balanced. Mrs Johnson, the interlocutor, did not speak loud enough, and was slightly too verbose for a nigger entertainment, but never having undertaken the role before would account for that defect. Thetrouble she must have taken to work up her troupe must havo been immense, for we know that she wrote one of the songs and also composed the tune. The programme was as follows: — Opening chorus, '• Stars of Heaven," Miss Topsy ; "Is There any Harm in That," Miss Cora; "Hannah! How's Your MaV" Tamho; "Kiss Me Mo'.her," Miss Juliana ; " Yo ! Yah ! Yo !" Madame Celeste ; "Sleep Dearest," Mistress Dinah ; " The Vaont Chair," Aunt Chloe ; •'Kiss Me Sweet Zoe," Cora and Topsy; " A Cambridge Ditty," Eliza Hano. Tho ladies then left the stage leaving Bones and Tambo, tho former sang " Kissing," which was encored. Miss Juliana's "Kiss Ma Mother " was the gem of tho evening, and was rapturously encored. The local song was remarkably good and contained somo telling local hits. The composer attempted to "spot'' General Gordon who lately wrote on tho dipsomaniacs. This closed the performance and the ground was speedily cleared. A number of Chinese lanterns added greatly to tho evening's enjoyment.

Special thanks are duo not only to .a members of the vestry—we only mean those who worked—but also to Major and Mrs Wilson, Miss Willson, Mrs Olntty (who we forgot to say played the accompaniments for tlio minstrels, beautifully) Mr and Mrs Garland and a host of other friends who kindly assisted. We aro pleased to learn that about £00 has been cleared by the fete. We refrain from mentioning the names of the lady minstrels, in consequence of the beforementioned unkind remarks.