QUEENSTOWN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume II, Issue 101, 17 October 1871, Page 6

QUEENSTOWN.

(From our own Correspondent.)

October 14. Tenders are called for the erection of the Queenstown Athenaeum and Town Hall, which fact will, I hope, convince those croakers who were of opinion it would end in smoke that the much-needed building in question will soon be un fait accompli. ' The performance given at the theatre by the Amateur Dramatic-Club,'in aid of the Hospital funds, was moderately successful in a pecuniary point of view ; but owing, perhaps, to the contingent expenses, the Club have decided to give another entertainment shortly for the same object. The acting in the first piece was, with one or two exceptions, very good, the female characters being especially well played ; that in the last, simply bad. There is one defect which mars all the performances of the present Club, and until the Club is re-formed, or some fresh blood introduoed, it cannot be remedied. I refer to the abuse by the leading characters of that important little letter " H." I have no doubt that to the manner in which the Queen's English is mangled by the nobility, gentiy, and "heavy fathers" of the stage, may bo attributed the painful result which has followed some of the performances : the half-crowns given by the audience for the benevolent object in view having proved insufficient to cover the expenses of management.

The opening of the new church at Arrowtown on Sunday last passed off most successfully, the church being crowded. The morning was a perfect one, and between 40 and 50 Quoenstownites rode or drove over. The choir, under the management of Mr Richardson, our local organist, performed the musical portion of the service excellently. The anthem from Kent, " Thine, 0 Lord, is the Greatness," was effectively rendered, the "soprano" part being sung by Mrs P. B. Boult. The collection amounted to nearly £22. The tea-meeting on the preceding evening also proved a success,-over £3O being netted for the Church Fund. I am afraid the Arrowites beat us at raising funds for any special purpose. The. only drawback on Sunday was the coming on of a perfect hurricane of wind, accompanied by sleet and rain, which caught most of the visitors when on their return journey. Since then, the weather has been most unpleasant and changeable, and at the present moment the rain is coming down steadily.