ALEXANDRA AMATEUR DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 801, 24 August 1877, Page 2

ALEXANDRA AMATEUR DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT.

What may fairly he catalogued as the most genuine entertainment that has been given for many along day was the one pro. vided by the Alexandra Amateur Dramatics in the new Town Hall, Alexandra, on Wednesday evening last the 22ml instant. As a rule Amateur performances are only tolerated on the principle that the will is taken for the deed, and that if one is not pleased and delighted one ought to lie as a rceipient, hut there are exceptions to every rule, and the performance of Wednesday was a most notable one, not because one member of the Company was up in Ids part, and was a host in himself, or that one piece of the stage properties or scenery was in itself worth seeing, or that the music was better than usual, lint, because all were (if we may use the word) perfect, and that every thin" passed off without a hitch. The Hall was well titled, there being at the very lowest computation 200 persons present, hut we heard some placing the number at 250, of whom, fully .‘lO were from Clyde, The' pieces selected were, tufohml the wording of the play-hill—The laughable Farce of Painless Deutis " and the tragico eomien Burlesque •' Hindus and his Dinah ” Tiie east in ‘‘ ' .unless Dentistiy ” was as follows Phillip Puller, a dentist, Mr Williams ; Jack Castleton, a doctor, Mr Rees ; Mr Vanderpump, Mr Forrest ; Miss Uphcmia Vandcrpmnp, Master Edward Ryan ; Peter I’iinhuflle, Air Whelan. In “ Villikina and his Dinah,” the following was the cast- liriinihleton (Jriflin' (the ancient Parient) Air Forrest ; Dinah Griffin, tile daughter of the above, Mr Williams ; WilliamWilkius, (Villikina) Mr Whelan; Baron Boskie Bumble, the original lovycr, (so valiant and gay) Mr Rees. Mr Forrest, in “ Painless Dentistry” was a must judicious papa, and Ids weeping and railing at the supposed loss of his money, was a good piece of acting ; the three lovers of the amiable Knphemia were to the life, and had Knphemia been represented by a lady instead of Master Ryan, who, by tlio bye, made a most excellent lirst attempt, I their acting could not have been most natit. • rai. Mr Forrest, also, as the Parient ia 1 “ Villikins and his Dinah,” with Ids bins--1 tering, was excellent. Mr Rees made a good Baron, and Mr Whelan, a splendid ] Villikins, while Mr Williams, as Dinah, 1 was a truly screaming make-up. Altogether the performance was a treat, and though ■ there is hut little room for improvement, yet with a little practice, some of the square edges will get rounded off. Of the stage accessories, the dress, if there is a fault, it is in the direction of being too good ; hut all will allow that to he a fault very excusable. The scenery is really artistic, and the artist (Dr Feltliam) deserves more than a passing word of eoiiiin-nidation, the sirup scone being equal to many that does duty I for more pretentious stages. The ether scenes garden and drawing-room are equally good, and evidence both skill and judgment. The Alexandra Brass Band gave their valuable services during the I evening playing several overtures and i marches, two of their number also playing, during the interval, a cornet duet. Mr F. Williams, the stage manager during the j evening, spoke a few words after the lirst ; P'cee craving indulgence for any shortcomings, thanking the numerous audience for their patronage, and • intimated (that | their next performance would lie in the ! course of live or six weeks, with new picas ! and scenery, and would he for the benefit of j the Dunstan District Hospital, ami expressed | the hope in which we heartily join that on i that occasion they would be. greeted with a I bumper house. BLACKS’ DISTRICT PLOUGHING MATCH, The lirst ploughing match held under the auspices of the Blacks’ District Farmers' | Club, which took place on Friday lest the 17th instant was not so successful as wo j could have wished or as it should have ; been, there being nothing like the mimhcrdj ploughs on the ground nor as many spent f/\ tors, though, in proportion, the latter pie pnuderated. Of the eight ploughs on Ik ground, there was from Blacks proper. ■ one double ; Ida Valley, one single ; Tiger Hill, one single ; Disputed Spur, one single; Matakauui, two singles; Blaekstono Hill. i one single and one double. The ground , selected was on Mr Chappie's Farm, Tig l *; . Hill, and so far as the surface was concerned ■ as suitable as possible, hut the soil was ton i i light and friable to shew really good work; yet, withal, good work was done, and met j • with general commendation. Haig's workj 1 with the single furrow is deserving j i special mention. In mentioning Haig's 1 . name, that of his employers, Messrs.lcnkiw j Bros., must not he forgotten, as their horses, | harness, ami implements were all of a lirst- J class character, and deserving a place in any I . show. A temporary license was granted for I • the place fertile day, and Mr and Airs | Hayward, who had charge of the booth, did | . the catering in a satisfactory manner, Th«l allotted quantity of ground, half an «cre, | I being done, and the judges, Air Jehu Allen, | • of Alexandra, and Messrs Butler and l.cslir, | of Spear (trass Flat, having made their | i awards, Mr.l. 0. Chappie read them ahni'h j ■ after which the company separated. In the | ■ evening about forty gentlemen met at I supper at (! avail’s Shamrock Hotel, Dlacks, | . and partook of a most substantial repast-, | [ after which tl*e usual toasting and ipeciiii'l , fying was indulged in. The following aral - the results of the competition. 1 Sisoi.r, Frimow Plough. i First Prize, 1,7. A Haig, ploughman Jl 1 | AV. Jenkins, owner: (Gray, maker.) I I Second Prize, 1,4. A. Brown, plough*| i man and owner ; (Gray, maker.) r 1 Third Prize, 1,2. J. Neville, ploughman! •and owner ; {Sellars and Son, makers.) I

Fourth Prize, Lb— C. Robertson, ploughman ; J. Hamilton, owner ; (Sellars and Son, makers.) ; Michael Kelly, pluiighmitn, disqualified ; John White, ploughman, disqualified. I Doudlh Fuhhow Pi.ouuk. \ First Prize, L7.—W. Jenkins, ploughman and owner ; (patent axles, Held and Gray, makers.) Second Prize, L4.—W. Lensk, ploughman and owner ; (Held and Gray, makers.) Spkciai, Pmzus. Best 3-horse team—Mr Jenkins, Blackstone Hill. Prize-lady’s dress, gift of Mr Gloag. Best 2-horse team—Matakanui Station. Prize—snaffle bridle, gift ot Mr Joss. Best matched pair of horses-Mr Jenkins, Prize—sack of seed barley, gift of Messrs Theyers and Beck. Best harness in daily use—Mr Jenkins. Prize—fat sheep, gift of Mr A. Cameron. The prize of a eartwhip for the youngest ploughman on tho ground (presented by Mr Fitzgerald) fell to tho lot of Mr Jenkins.