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Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 785, 10 November 1865, Page 2

Strong representations ought to be made to the General Government with regard to the imposing import duty on mining machinery, whilst agricultural machinery is admitted free. Four pounds a ton duty on quartz-crushing machinery is a heavy impost, and calculated to hinder the development, of a very important branch of industry. We notice that Mr Haughton recently applied to the Government on this subject, but was informed that quartz-crushing machinery is not exempted from duty under the present tariff.

The management of the Princess Theatre did well to give a special performance in honor of the royal birthday ; and a very merry audience was assembled to witness the '' Daughter of the Regiment " and the burlesque of " La Sonambula." The peculiarity about the audience in the pit and stalls of both this and the other theatre was that every one of the softer sex either had a baby or what is sometimes more noisy and troublesome, a chubby prattling " olive " of about two years old. The performance went sprightly, and the artistes and audience respectively worked and laughed con amove. Children usually cry at the most important and telling part of a performance ; last night it appeared as though the •'rising generation" were fully up to some of Byron's most atrocious puns. We have so often noticed both pieces, that we can add nothing beyond stating that they were never better played here. After the first piece, an "allegorical Tableau Vivant" was exhibited, lighted by the magnesium wire light. The central figure was that of her Majesty surrounded by the Royal Family. A group of figures representing the Army and Navy paying homage to their mistress, whilst Brittania (Miss Julia Mathews) supported by the English, Irish, Scotch, and American nationalities, stood protectingly at the side. The Maori was also a prominent feature in the foreground; and a cleverly made-up representative of Louis Napoleon 111. occupied a pedestal, and looked as mysterious as the original is reputed to be. The National Anthem was sung, but we were astonished to notice that very few in the dresscircle, and scarcely any one in the lower part of the house, had retained sufficient of their old 'home loyalty to induce them to stand uncovered during it. They were, however, aroused to a sense of their conduct, by some one crying "Hats off!" It was fortunate for many that

they were in an Otago instead of an English theatre. In the latter, the hats would have been removed, but probably not by the wearers. Miss Julia Mathews, who sang in her old style the solo of the Anthem, also sang '' Rule Brittania" with good effect, and Messrs J. Dunn and Richardson sang two national airs of the countries they represented. The magnesium light is a wonderful thing to look at, and considering all the difficulties of manipulating it successfully, was a very great success. It will probably be exhibited again in a similar manner, and all who have not witnessed it should not lose the opportunity.

The Star of the Evening arrived at the Bluff yesterday after a 48 hours' passage from Hokitika, and anchored at Port Chalmers this afternoon. She will be alongside Dunedin Jetty at about 8 o'clock, after the short absence of twelve days on her trip.

We learn from the West Coast Time* that the second engineer of the Star of the South, William M'Crae, lost his life by falling into the river whilst attempting to step from the steamer to the wharf.

It is a noticeable fact, which speaks volumes in favor of the general sobriety of the citizens of Dunedin, that notwithstanding the occurrence of a general holiday yesterday, to celebrate an event which was calculated to induce some indulgence, there was only one case of drunkenness to be dealt with at the Police Court this morning. It is right to add that the unfortunate woman in question is a constant resident in the gaol, and no sooner obtain her liberty than she again qualifies herself for incarceration.

No better opportunity for the presentation of a novel entertainment could occur than the night of a general holiday, and we were therefore not surprised to find that a very good audience had assembled at the Theatre Royal to witness the debut in Dunedin of Miss Edith Pajmerston. The theatre has lately undergone some important renovations and improvements and before the curtain rose, presented a very cheerful appearance. The entertainment is announced as being "Mimical, Serio-Comic, and Protean," and each of the adjectives is certainly correct. Miss Edith Palmerston was warmly received when she made her appearance in ordinary costume in a scene representing a handsomely furnished apartment. "With a very prepossessing countenance, petite figure, admirable facial expression, and artistic byeplay, her various impersonations were cleverly conceived, and some of them most artistically executed. Her voice is not a powerful one, but she sings with considerable expression. The prologue, which is smartly written, was very well delivered, although the rapid transition from alto to contralto tones may be avoided with advantage. The first portion of the programme comprises seven impersonations, and the. changes are very rapidly made. The most excellent as pieces of character-painting were those of Mrs Flyntskin, a creation familiar to most bachelor boarders ; Jemima Jane, a type of a numerous class in Dunedin, and Dickey Hartshorn, the doctor's errand-boy. The volubility of the Welsh lass waß very cleverly imitated. Mr W. Alexander appeared upon the scene once or twice as a character spoken of by several of the characters, and so allowed time for some of the more difficult changes. Mr Singer, a gentlemen who will be well remembered as having contributed to the public amusement in the city when the "old Commercial" was in existence, presided at the piano, and played the overture and various accompaniments very skilfully. We observe that the programme will be repeated, and we shall be thus enabled to witness the second part of it. Last night the entertainment was frequently interrupted by the laughter of the audience, and may be pronounced as highly successful.