GENERAL ITEMS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 541, 20 September 1881, Page 3

GENERAL ITEMS.

Two hundred persons applied for the olive truncheons given by Sii George Grey.

Mb J. G. Ruddenklan is to be asked to come forward as a candidate for the Cbristchurch Mayoral chair.

It may not be genernlb known that daring tie last two oi three years New Zealand and Australian theatre-goers have had a member of the English nobility appearing before them in the person of Mrs Morton Tavares, the speciality actress. This lady is a niece of the Marchioness of Normanby and Lady Mount Kdgecumbe; and tho train of events which led to her appearing on the boards of the colonial tsfnge might bo wove!) into a nice little romance. With the bluest of Norman blood in her reins, it is not to be wondered at that her august relatives took every care that the young laly'w affections should not be set on an unworthy object, mid at tho oge of Feventeen, in all the glory of youthful loveliness, hercorpßof preception was composed of the plainest looking pedagogues th.'it could be found letween John O'Groatsand Land's Erd. Her Fiench mister was Morton Tavares, wlioso great uglinesF, together with his skill aa a teacher of the true Fiem h accent, were his only recommendation. Strange to say, the youthful pupil, with the strange perversity of her Fex. fell in love with the tutor they ©loped, and the strangely assorted! couple were made one flesh. The nristociatic relatives of the young wife nt once disowned her on account of the mesalliance, and Morton and bis bride were thrown on their own resources. After wandering about for ome years, often feeling the pinch of poverty, they found themselves in Queensland, of which Colony the Marquis of Normanby had recently been appointed Governor. The Marchioness, hearing that her wayward niece was residing in Brisbane, speedily held out the olive branch of peaca, and Tavares and his wife were condant visitors at Govern rnent House. We are at a loss to know the immediate cai.se of their taking to the stage but it was during their residence in Queensland that they boenme devotees of the Thespian art. They became very popular caterers of amusement to the public, though very few, if any, of their many auditors ever knew their romantic history. Mr and Mrs Tavares, we may add, were frequent vieitors at Government lIoiJFe, Wellington, during a portion of the Murquis of Normanby's stay in New Zealand.