THEATRE ROYAL.

Auckland Examiner, Volume 1, Issue 19, 23 April 1857, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

It is related of Garrick that being present at a Dramatic Performance by unprofessional, he said any one might see they were amateurs as there was not an actor amongst them. Few who visit our Theatre expect to see such measure and kind of histrionic development as may be seen elsewhere. We can afford many thousands per annum for what corrupts both savage and civilized; but a company of commedrans able to embody in even endurable manner the immortal conceptions of Jonson, Shakespere, Massinger, Ford, Otway, Congreve, Foote, and Sheridan are beyond our ideas if not beyond our means. Living under the moral regime of Mrs. Grundy and Mr. Makebelieve, only what sours popular temper or stultifies popular intellect is deemed respectable. In every enlightened age the wisest of wise men have honored Dramatic Poets and in the “ poor player” have recognized the supplier of a wholesome, and natural, as well as “ brief chronicle” of his time. Considering the difficulties to be contended with, our Dramatic Amateurs achieved a triumph on Monday last. The house was well filled, and the pieces went smoothly, but, of course a critic less critical than Garrick might discover imperfections. Although Miss Fisher was suffering from illness, she managed to give a lady-like interpretation of Adolphine de Courcy in Monsieur Tonson, and played Cleopatra, in Antony and Cleopatra, decidedly better than much bepuffed Lola Montes,'whom we take to rank first amongst specimens of histrionic imposture. Monsieur de Laville was quite at home asMonsieur Morbleu, and deserved the hearty ■applause with which he was greeted. His efforts were ably seconded by Mr. R. Hill. Mr. Moffat, as Nap the old Charley recalled nights long past when with curious wonderment we listened to tales of Tom, Jerry, and Bob Logic. The-other characters were carefully played. We did not remain to see a Batchelor’s Last Day, but were informed that Mr. Hill as the “ feelosophical” Phrenologist who by manipulating, or even looking at, the outside of anybodv’s head could,tell to a nicety what was in it, caused much mirth and played so well, that although an amateur, he might very well have been mistaken for an actor.

pakopako Natives have visited our town. In the natural course of events, peace having been made with the majority cf the late Arama Karaka’s adherents, we were prepared to visit. The neutral, and we do not hesitate to declare, mistaken policy pursued by the General Government towards the assassins of the Native Assessor Ka.wiri Waiaua, induced us to believe that the innate feelings of horror and detestation the crime of murder usually inspires, would have ensured for these men a frigid reeception from the Provincial authorities. We must confess we were totally unprepared to see them ffited and honoured as heroes, and their flags, the emblems of their defiance of British authority, flying in front of the Superintendent’s residence. Such policy must lower us, not only in the estimation of our countrymen in the sister settlements, but degrade us in the opinion of the whole Native population. It plainly declares that the loyal Natives, recognised British subjects, servants of the Crown, may be murdered with impunity on the boundary line of purchased districts, provided their murderers be sufficiently powerful and audacious to set the authorities at defiance for a period. That defiance of British authority successfully carried out, converts an assassin into a hero, an outcast from society into an honored guest. If land can only be obtained at such a fearful sacrifice of honor, it were better to postpone its acquisition to an indefinite period than acquire it by offering a direct premium on crime. It is impossible, we maintain, to estimate the baneful effects the reception of the Kaipakopako Natives will have on the Native population of this and the adjacent districts; it must tend to strengthen the position of those adverse to the sale of land, and to weaken and disgust Ihaia and the party favorable to its alienation and our interests.

A Nugget.—A magnificent nugget was on Tuesday brought into the Bank of Victoria Maryborough, weighing 430 ozs. This is one of the most beautiful and solid lumps of gold, and quite free from dirt. It was obtained at Moonlight Flat near the head of the Alma, by two men who for a length of time had ranked with the unfortunate. A considerable number of smaller nuggets were also found in its company.— Launceston Examiner.