Local and General.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 440, 8 October 1880, Page 2

Local and General.

The Clara Stephenson Dramatic Company have been pei forming at the Oddfellows' Hall during the week. In respect of giving entire satisfaction to those who have attended their performances they have achieved a decided success, though we regret to say that in a pecuniary point of viewtho season has so far proved highly unsatisfactory to the enterprising projectors. On Thursday evening a dramatised version of Miss Braddon's famous East Lyvne was produced. This play has none of the comic element in it, nor does it possess the attraction of sensational incidents and thrilling tableaux. It depends therefore for its success almost entirely on the ability with which the lady enacting " Lady Isabel " and " Madame Vine " possesses of arousing emotion and enlisting sympathy. We have seen several good actresses in this character, but decidedly prefer Miss Stephenson's rendering to theirs. The audience testified their appreciation o£ her efforts in the most marked manner. Apphiuso may soineliinss be bestowed without sincerity or out of compliment, but when men and women are moved to tears there is no mistake about the power of the artist who can produce such an effect. Mr Hydes played " Lcvison" capitally, but it is this gentleman's misfortune to be so excellent in low comedy that whenever lie opens his mouth the audience think a " gonk" must be coming, and laugh accordingly. Some of the sneering, Mephistophelian remarks put into his mouth by the author were received as if they were screaming Adelphi jokes.— On Wednesday, Aurora Floyd was produced, followed by the laughable farce, A Kiss in the Dark. —Last nighr,the company opened with the sparkling comedy Euchred, which went even better than on its lmt performance. The burlesque of 111-treated II Tvovatars followed, md the wit, music, dancing, and cwslumea have never been equalled here ; all were excellent. Miss Clara Stephenson as " Count Manrico " was splendid ; we could scarcely tell which we admired irost —her gallant bearing, her saucy and piquant Bniiie, or the comic gusto with which she rendered her portion of the tortured language. Miss Ashton was very happy as " Leonora," and Miss Madge Ilenick as the vivandiere was picturesque in costume, and racy in her act-

ing, Mr Howe sang- remarkably well a so;ig reviewing the Inst session, which was

loudly re-demanded. Mr D'Elmaine was scarcely at home as " The Kinchin " ; in fact, ho was too gentlemanly for the prig. Mr Hydes , impersonation of " Azucena,the Gipsy Queen," was in our opinion the acme of burlesque, and his passionate tragedy effusions were delivered with a force and clearness of declamation that it would be well for many of our orators to_ imitate. The duetts and choruses were capitally given, and the incidental music by Mr W. G. Hydes very ably seconded the efforts of the talented company. Amongst the features of the piece was a song so comic, ally given by Miss Stephenson as to cause tho audience loudly to demand an encore, which was acceded to by the talented lady. —The burlesque will be repented to-night, with Lady Audley's Secret —On Saturday, The Kellys will be represented, which will be followed by a .dance, to commence.at 10 p.m. Particulars appear in our advertising columns.

The British juryman is a wonderful being. Innumerable stories are told, and many of them too well authenticated, of his vagaries. But it was reserved for one of the fraternity engaged in the recent criminal sessions in Ciiristchurch to distinguish himself by appearing in a new character. It appears that in the case of Archibald Wilson the jury returned a.verdict of guilty. Next morning prisoner's counsel appeared in Court, armed with an affidavit from one of the jurymen, declaring that he (the had not concurred in tho verdict; and 3 T et he had stood up with his fellow-juronr and heard the foreman give in na a unanimous decision a verdict with which he did not agree, and had expressed no dissent therefrom. No wonder His Honor remarked on his want of pluck. This is a mild term." Rank cowardice wonld better express the idea conveyed to the ordinary mind by such a pitiful exhibition.

We regret to learn that a boy of Mr Sunckell's met with rather a nasty accident on Wednesday, having been kicked in the month by a horse. We believe the poor boy's jaw was broken. The lad seems to bo particularly unfortunate, as he has had an arm broken twice before this last

accident,

Says the Fress : —"lt will be remembered that some time ago Mr J. Ivess, of Ashburton, sued a collector, named Martin, in the Magistrate's Court there for the recovery of a debt amounting to £6 13s. It appears that the amount in dispute formed part of a much larger sum, the balance of which plaintiff had received, and on the ground of non-juri.sdietion \)ie plaintiff was non-suited. Subsequently the case was taken to the District Court, where it was dismissed by Judge Ward, who said that the amount sought to be lecovered was below his jurisdiction and that he could see no reason why the lower Court declined to adjudicate. On Tuesday last tho case was again heard before Mr Guineas, at Ashbnrbm, and met the same fate as on the first occasion. Tho plaintiff, who thus finds himself in the novel position of being uivible to obtain a settlement cither in the Magistrate's or District Court, has stated a case for the Court of Appeal, and as the points involved possess more than ordinal , } , interest for business men, a decision, one. way or the other will be very desirable." This case reminds us of Mr Sam Weller's profound remark— '■ Battledore and shuttlecocks a wery good game, perwided you ain't the shuttlecock, and two lawyers rhe battledores."

The "Times" publishes the bowling average of the Australian team. Among them the " demon " is " facile prmoeps." During the English tour he has bowled 5096 balls, 592 maiden overs, and taken 3G2 wickets for an average of five runs per wicket. This is a greater number of wickets than all the other bowlers put together, and, considering the plaj'era against whom the team has had to contend is a wonderful performance

indeed

A parade of the various entires travelling the district will be held to morrow at noon, in Mr O'Beilly's paddock.

Skiuous reductions are impending in the police force. The rumours as to their nature are somewhat contradictory. One account has it that all inspectors and subinspectors arc to be abolished, leaving no superiors to the sergeants, except ft superintendontfor each island. Yesterday's Press however, speaking as an autliority,states— Notice has been sent to twelve out of the twenty-three Constabulary Inspectors in the colony that their services are dispensed with. The names of these officers have not yet been allowed to transpire officially, but the retirements will be decided in all cases it is believed by the officers', relative standing in the service, and there will be

no picking am! choosing.