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Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 405, 28 April 1871, Page 2

The p.s. Royal Alfred leaves for the Thames at 6 o'clock this evening. The great attraction at the Holborn Ampitheatre is Miss Lulu, who takes a sudden jump upwards of 25ft. apparently without the slightest effort, alighting on a very narrow bit of plank, as though she could not help herself. Then she turns a triple somersault, and altogether is exceedingly like a human bird. We understand that the amount handed over to Mr. Walker, of the gymnasium, by the management of the Prince of Wales Theatre, as the share of the proceeds to be given to the funds of the Orphan Home, was £15 16s. 6d. J. Cosgrave and Co. are now holding a large drapery and clothing sale, and have opened the newest and mo3t extensive and by far the largest stock ever exhibited in Auckland. They also beg to inform the people of the province they are not retiring from the drapery trade, and regret exceedingly that respectable houses have to resort to such subterfuges in order to sell their goods. J. Cosgrave and Co. would wish some person to inform them where are all the retiring drapers to go ? The recont astronomical observations have Bot discovered any new heavenly bodies in which those gentlemen could reside -without having any opponents to contend against. By the arrival of the City of Melbourne wo have received no intelligence of any new land being discovered, no more people to be clothed, no Elysium where those modern Jobs could spend the remainder of their days in peace, and, alas! where are they to go p—" the shy, the dull, and tho gay." It is a pity we havo no gifted bard among us to compose some plaintive poem upon the departure of those modern Pilgrim Fathers.— [Ajdtt.]

We are informed that there will bo on view 250 pairs of earrings on Saturday, in the window of F. H. Lcwisson, jeweller, Queen-street, next door to Cater* the bootmaker.—[Ad yt.l

PRINCE OF WALES TFTEATHE. This theatre was last night f.gain crowded in every part, to witness the delightful impersonations of Mr. Hoskins and Miss Colville, who were admirably supported by the company. The performances consisted of the beautiful play of " Love's Sacrifice," in which Mr. Hoskins sustained the character of Matthew Elmore, and Miss Colville that of Margaret. The plot of the piece is well known to all playgoers, and need not therefore be described, sufficient to say that the principal performers would bear favorable comparison with any cast that we have seen. Miss Colville is a charming actress, and one that is sure to win upon the public the more she is seen, whilst the recognised talent of Mr. Hoskins hfs been the subject of critical eulogy for over a quarter of a century. Mr. Eyan in the character of Paul Lafont elicited enthusiastic expressions of admiration from the "pittites," and if we may be allowed a somewhat mysterrious paragraphical expression, " excelled himself" in the pourtrayal of that designing but ultimately baffled villain. J. P. Hydes was, as usual, genially funny, and displayed powers of suction almost comparable to the famous elephant of " G-alatean" reminiscence. Mr. Clinton's Friar was rather shaky, betraying either evidences of superficial study of the words, or nervousness at the magnitude of the part. He generally impresses us as a painstaking, intelligent member of the profession ; consequently, we were somewhat disappointed at his performance last evening. St. Lo, by Mr. B. N. Jones, was played in his customary conscientious and careful style, and Eugene de Lorme, by Mr. Booth, was a tolerably successful effort to sustain a part rather beyond his present ability. Miss Flora Anstead, Mrs. Eyan and Miss .Raymond sustained the subordinate female characters, and the play as a whole was a satisfactory and successful production. The farce "My Turn Next" concluded the performances, which were a great success. To night, "The Heir-at-Law" is to be produced, and as this is one of Mr. Hoskins' best impersonations, and one contributing greatly to his established popularity, we have no doubt the Prince of Wales will to-night show a brilliant success. We cannot do better than give the following extract from the Otago Daily Times, descriptive of Mr. Hoskins' appearance in this play at Dunediu :— " Mr. Hoskins is certainly one of the best comedians who have visited this colony, and his engagement has already caused a marked improvement in the attendance at the theatre. Last night }>o appeared in the character of Doctor Pangloss in Column's comedy of • The Heir-at-Law.' The piece, it will be remembered, contains little in the shape of plot, its merit consisting in clearly-drawn characters and brilliant dialogue. The author's principal aim is to satirize certain socitl manners of the period at which he lived, and those minners having now become obsolete, the pia ' cannot be fully appreciated now-a----day.-;; but its genuine wit will keep it in public favour. Mr. Hoskins' impersonatioa of Doctor Pangloss could only have been the fruit of long study, ft very word, look, and gesture was appropriate; and the whole character was invested with an individuality which proclaims the real artist. It was, in all respects, a fiuighed and talented performance, such as playgoers in New Zealand seldom have the chance of witnessing."