Oamaru Hibernian Society.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 14, 3 April 1902, Page 20

Oamaru Hibernian Society.

The eighth annual sports meeting' of the Oamaru Hibernian Society was held on Monday under conditions pleasant to the public and satisfactory to the Club. The weather (says the Noith Otugo Timet'), which promised uncertainty for several days, cleared a good deal early in the morning, and the trains reached town with very large freights, and these visitors, together with the increased attendance of townspeople, totalled up the best gate in the Society's history, over £93 befng taken. The enterprise of the society in offering handsome prizes is, therefore, once more rewarded, and a substantial surplus will probably be the result. From the public point of view also the day was a good one. The large entry of outside athletes, as well as of local men, created much interest, and this was not misplaced, for some fine contests were witnessed. The officials all worked very hard to secure the success of the gathering ; Mr. P. J. Duggan, the secretary, was most active, while Mr. A. Direen, superintendent of games, had all the events over by five o'clock. The Oamaru Garrison Band was present, and played a number of selections during the afternoon, aud the North Otago Pipe Band made a very favorable impression in this their initial appearance in public. The annual concert attracted a large attendance at the Theatre Royal in the evening The programme arranged is always good, but on this occasion it was of quite exceptional excellence. It was entirely contributed by visitors. Miss Nellie Black wag at her beet, and sang ' Irish Lullaby, and, in response to a recall, 'Do^vn the long avenue,' improving the good impression which she made with this song some time ago. Miss Black also rendered ' Scene de ballet ' very nicely as a violin solo, her instrumentation being very clever. Mr Farquhar Young never fails to please an Oamaru audience, and his Hinging of ' The memory of the dead ' created a demand for more, to which he responded with 'Father O'JTlynn.' Miss Rose Blaney was encored for her item. Miss Blaney and Miss Black, sang 'The dusk of twilight,' a duet in which their voices blended nicely, and being recal'ed they repeated the last verse. Mr R. Mi lien is not a stranger now to Oamaru, and his pieces were anticipated with pleasure, which was quite fulfilled. • Evicted ' and 'Geordie's weddin' day ' were his numbers, and they drew in one case a triple encore. Miss Mary Toohill also had to make a dual appearance, singing ' Come back to Erin ' and ' Barney O'Shea.' In the second part of the programme Miss Blaney sang ' Killarney,' which was emphatically encortd. Mibs N. Blnck gang 'At the concert' (encored), Miss Toohill 'Promise of life' (encored). Mr F. Young sang 'King Dayy 1 (encored). He also recited 'The last race of Rio Grande,' which was redemanded. Misses Blaney and Black, and Mr Young also sang as a trio ' Merry Gipsies,' and had to repeat it. Misß M. Duggan played the accompaniments nicely. The concert was closed by the singing of the National Anthem.