The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, JAN. 9, 1866.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 835, 9 January 1866, Page 2

The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, JAN. 9, 1866.

Wje understand that the share list of the English, Australian, and New Zealand Marine Insurance Company (Limited) will shortly be closed, as the number of shares alloted to Otago is limited. The celebrated Monologue artiste , Grace Egerton (Mrs George Case), who has for some months been giving her entertainment in the North with unqualified success, is announced in another column to shortly make her appearance at St George’s Hall. For elegance of design and clearness of chromolithography the card-almanac just published by Mr H. Wise must bear the palm this year. The border is in itself a work of art, and the whole execution of the design and drawing reflects great credit upon the artist, Mr W. Spreat. Vauxhahl Gardens will be open for a special gala night on Wednesday evening, when ‘ ‘ the Australian Blondin ” is announced to ascend from the grounds to an immense height upon a single rope. The American Barlow has been favored with good audiences since he appeared at the Corinthian Hall, as he adopts the very wise course of presenting a fresh programme each evening. The hall is kept very select, and all who have not heard this old colonial favorite may rely upon being well amused if they attend the entertainment. The 0.P.0. Quartz Beef Company maintains the satisfactory results which have lately characterized its crushings. The last fiften days’ crushing gave 206 ozs. 3 dwts. 12 grs. of gold, and enabled the directors, who met at Waipori, to announce a dividend, payable yesterday, of £2 10s upon each £SO scrip. The Caledonian Society requests in another column that all accounts against it may be forwarded to the Hon. Secretary by Friday afternoon next. In the Besident Magistrate’s Court this morning, before A. C. Strode, Esq., 8.M., Patrick Donaly, charged with assaulting Mary Ann Bradley, a woman with whom he cohabitated, was fined £4 and costs, with the alternative of twenty-one days’ imprisonment. The same defendant was charged, under the Vagrant Ordinance, with having no lawful means of support, and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hal'd labor. Jas. Minford was charged with obstructing the driving of a horse and buggy, the property of Mr Jas. Battray, at Green Island, on the 6th inst. Mr Weale applied for a remand until Mr Battray, who is suffering from the effects of an accident, could appear. As no information had been laid against the defendant, the Magistrate refused the application, and discharged him. George Ellison, alias Smith, charged with being a ticket-of-leave holder from Victoria, and illegally at large, was remanded for seven days. Wm. White (on warrant issued at Nelson), charged with stealing a gold watch and other articles from a dwellinghouse in Nelson, was remanded to that place. Thos. Shaw (on remand), charged with stealing, at Tokomairiro, in April 1865, a gold watch and chain, valued at £4O, the property of Geo. W. Dickson, was further remanded for seven days. Jas. Burnett (on remand) was charged with stealing, in October last, fourteen sheepskins, valued at £2 2s, the property of Messrs Greig and Turnbull. As the evidence adduced was not thought by the Magistrate to be sufficient to warrant a conviction, the prisoner was discharged. Barbara Weldon (on remand) was charged with stealing, in December last, one gold watch and chain, and other articles, valued together at £lO, the property of Fred. Parker. When brought into the dock, the prisoner informed his Worship that she intended to conduct herself in a more becoming manner than on the last occasion, which she attributed to having been drunk, whereas she was now perfectly sober ; but the promise was quickly broken, for shortly after the examination commenced, the same precautions were used as on.the former occasion, so as to allow the case to proceed without interruption. The prisoner was remanded until Thurs-

day. Thos. Collins was charged with receiving the above-mentioned goods, knowing them to be stolen. He was also remanded till Thursday, when the witnesses will be in attendance to strengthen a tx alibi set up by him. There were a number of minor offences heard, and summarily dealt with. The heat of the weather was sufficient reason for the moderate attendance at the Princess Theatre last evening, apart from the fact that the Wizard Jacob’s performance under the patronage of his Worship the Mayor, was calculated to operate as a counter-attraction. How is it that when Governors, Mayors and public bodies patronise any entertainment there is generally a larger attendance on the part of the public ’ The entertainment is generally no better than on ordinary occasions, sometimes worse, and we can only assume that lord-loving weakness of John Bull has something to do with the matter. The comedy of the “ Charming Woman ” is essentially a moral one, the chief aim of which appears to be the inculcation of the moral rule that a man is understood to discard all recollections of old flirtations and affection when he becomes the guardian of a wife. Certain it is that some men have been inclined to do the reverse or the “ Charming Woman” would have served neither to “point a moral nor adorn a tale.” It contains both, however, and it is but justice to say that Miss Shepparde looked as “ charming” a woman as the lady (Miss Swanborough) for whom the part of Mrs Bloomley was originally written. This lady dresses with perfect good taste, and has a very captivating style, which would be much more so were she to speak slower, and consequently more distinctly. The defect we have hinted at mended, and a little less “ moving about” upon the stage and Miss Shepparde may be quite prepared to challenge “ all comers.” Mr Richardson played of “Alfred Ardent,” which was certainly more adapted to Mr Roberts, who we were surprised took no character in the comedy. Again, Mr Richardson would have played “Bitterbliss” better than Mi’ Herberte, who was by no means indifferent. Mr John Bunn made up well as “ Symptom,” but hardly realised the “fidgety” old man of sixty, with a young wife who pays devoted attention to his slippers and fishing rods. He was too boisterous, and hardly techy enough. Mrs Bitterbliss and Julia were respectably represented by Miss 0. Mathews, and Miss A. Wiseman, and both contributed greatly to the success of the piece, the latter lady however having succeeded in dressing so as to appear twice as old as she is, or should appear to be. The Burlesque of “La Sonnambula” followed a dance by little Laura, and concluded the performance. We have repeatedly noticed it, and have only to add that Miss J. Mathews acted, spoke, sang and danced with that verve and perfection frequent reference to which has almost exhausted our vocabulary of eugolistic terms.