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Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 170, 26 July 1870, Page 2

_^R_ONAL:: A iTACX. The burler-que produced last night at the Prince of Wales' Theatre is of such a character as happily is not often presented in this city. Fejble in itself; performed 'without spirit; some of the actors reading their parts, most of the others stumbling through theirs, the thing was in execrable taste. No one with true manliness attacks a man when he is down ; aiid a theatrical performance, deliberately conceived and presented to insult iv tho hour of misfortunej a gentleman who has for years occuiiiecl the position of one of the most respected merchants and useful citizens of Auckland, can only be regarded as worthy of the character which the Prince of Wrdes has latterly assumed. We have no doubt that that theatre in burlesquing insolvency has clear accounts with all mankind, printers to wit ; and never droarus of "My dear sir, just hold over that 1 ttle bill for a day or two." But it is changed from other days when what should be the leading theatre in Auckland resorts to outrage on public feeling and public decency to tickle the cars of the groundlings and dra-F a full pit. The gentleman referred to is now down, and it was too consonant with poor human nature to neglect to kick him. In creditors annoyed by losses itwas pardonable, though, to th-ir hohoi* be it said, the feeling of irritation has largely passed away $ but even the. Church must join its witherin-» denunciations to the chorus of " away with lnn_.'' and we| are credibly informed that a parson whose mendicancy had often preyed on this gentleman's benefactions, prostituted his pulpit by pandering" to1 'the passions' of a parishioner in a sei-mon of special and pointed attaok. This it is that gives the sheer to infidelity and makes religion a bye-word; and after this wo can hardly wonder at a theatre turning religion into biirl-sque, and giving the point to humbug' with ".Let us engage in prayer." These attacks^ however, believe, have created a sympathy f6if this* gohtleman * which 'porhapl simple thisfoHune wJuld not have siifficed to produce I and wo have no hesitation iv asserting that .with every one of right feeling in this city he enjoys as sincere respect as ever he did in his palmiest days. His misfortunes have been such as are, usual with insolvents, j His losses have been' those which it was not in the power of man to overcome; and although with that shrinking from insolvency Which is not dishonorable, he struggled so long as to have more deeply involved his estate, he does bear, as he has over borne in this city, the character of an honorable and upright man. The feeble burlesquing of a theatre, and the pro«titutipn of the pulpit, are equally- contemptible j and there is too much manliness among our merchants and citizens to sympathise with either.