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Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1916, 26 June 1869, Page 2

Lecture.— The Rev. G. Sutherland delivered a very aide and impressive lecture last evening, at the School-house, Mornington, on the “Physical Evils of Intemperance.” The illustrations were drawn from the lecturer’s personal knowledge and observation. The lecturer’s kindness in thus placing his valuable services at the disposal of a new society—viz , the Mornington Band of Hope--was warmly appreciated by a very numerous and attentive audience.

H.M. Gaol, Dunedin. — The following is the state of H.M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending the 2Gth of June, 1809 : Awaiting trial, 1 male, 0 females; under remand, 1 male, 0 females ; penal servitude, 24 males, 0 females; hard labor, 65 males, 16 females; imprisonment, 0 males, 0 females; in default of bail, 2 males, 1 female ; debtors, 3 males, 1 female ; total. 96 males, 18 females. Received during the week, 6 males, 4 females ; discharged, 10 males, 4 females. Volunteer annual ball of the No. 1 Company (City Guards) was held in the New Post Office Hall last evening. Considering the counter attraction at the theatre, there was a very good attendance ; about sixty couples being present. A very well-arranged programme of dances was got through to the evident satisfaction of all. The room was tastefully decorated with ferns and bunting—the trophies of bayonets and a display of crossed swords forming a conspicuous feature. The Volunteer Band, under the leadership of Mr Martin, occupied the orchestra; but the music discoursed by

them was not equal to what we have heard on previous occasions. The refreshment department was under the control of Mr Kroon, of George street, and was all that could be desired.

Princess Theatre—As we anticipated the Princess Theatre was filled to overHowing last evening. The performance were by members of the Dunedin Garrric Club, and the pieces chosen for representation were the drama of “ The Times” and the burlesque of “The Merchant of Venice.” The drama is a most curious mixture of improbabilities , and is almost totally devoid of “ situations.” All the characters are overdrawn, and hardly one of them affords scope for good acting. It is no wonder then that the performance of such a piece by amateurs should have been rather tame. The play was about the worst that could have been selected ; and we advise those who have the choos ng of the pieces to he played by the club to be careful inf iture, to choose a piece that can be properly played. It is not customary—indeed the practice has grown into a rule —not to criticise the efforts of amateurs. Whilst generally admitting tbe policy of this rule ; there are occasions when a departure from it is rendered necessary and the present is one of them. Amateurs are very apt to conceive erroneous ideas of the parts they play ; and this was very noticeable last evening. We shall not point any individual instance, because the fault was a general ene. It would be well, too, for amateurs to remember that the rules of etiquette are supposed to be followed strictly on the stage. Some of the performers exhibited a total unacquaintance with their parts; but as we have already said, the piece as a whole was fairly played under the circumstances. The principal part was that of Crawley Bye which was well played by Mr Whitworth. Mr Fish was good as Hope Tangible, as also was Mr Reid as David Eden. The part of Nuffinwas sustained by Mr Cripps—a youthful member of the theatre company. He played it in such a manner as to give evidence that he is capable of doing far better things. He was called before the curtain at the end of the second act. Mrs Jacksou lent valuable aid as Mary Eden, and Miss Gassy Mat thews was excellent as Mrs Focus. The buv'esque of “Shy lock,” which followed, was admirably played. Each actor appeared to thoroughly realise the character he impersonated, and to play with spirit and effect. It will appear a graceless act, where all play well, to isolate individuals for special commendation ; but we do not hesitate to say that Mr Henry played iu a manner that would be creditable in a professed actor, and appeared conspicuously happy on the stage. He danced remarkably a pus de deux with MissNye, being encored. Mr C. White exhibited some good acting in tbe character of Shylock. Mr Miffs as Antonio, played and sang with the pardonable effrontery of a good actor. MrJ. J. Drumm as the Duke of Venice, Mr Lilly as B issanio; Mr l.nglis as Tubal; Gaptain Hutchison as Lorenzo j Mr Geddes as the Prince of Morocco ; Mr Fisher as Launcelot, played them respective parts with power aud effect. Miss Forcle lent invaluable assistance as Portia, and Miss Nye made a captivating Nerrisa. The burlesque was an unqualified success, and was heartily enjoyed by the audience, The Garrick Club have showq that burlesque is their forte ; and they ought to produce one at aff subsequent performances. We believe that the proceeds amounted to over LIOO ; a goodly p. rt of which sum will be handed over to the Benevolent Institution.

The Potato Crop.—ln almost every district the potato crop is turning out remarkably well this season. As an instance of prolific yield, we believe it would be difficult to find a parallel to the following, in this locality at least. We are informed that Mr Pearson, of the North Taieri, near Silveratream, has a crop of 13 tons to the acre, exclusive of small, and that he can find GO potatoes to make np 1 cwt, or nearly 21bs each. —Bruce herald.

Sticking Up. — On Monday night it was reported to the police that a man had been stuck-up, robbed, and (maltreated near the Sefton bridge, and left insensible on the ground. Constables proceeded to the spot, with a couple of civilians, and found there Mr Baden, a chemist, who lately arrived from Melbourne. When brought in to the station, he stated that he had been set upon by two men with tall Yankee hats, robbed of L 75, knocked down, stabbed or cut, jumped upon, and stupified by chloroform being applied to his nostrils. He was examined by T)r Morice, who found no marks or bruises on him, and as he appealed to have quite recovered, he walked away home. Pi om surrounding circumstances, and some facts which have come to the knowledge of the police, the story is not believed. It is possible that the man may have been robbed, but he was not injured, and it is thought the whole affair was a hoax for ulterior purposes, but he maintains that his first statement was the truth, and that he was stuck-np and robbed as described. Grey Bluer Ary us.

Sharp Practice.—A story of very sharp practice was current at the Ballarat Corner on Friday, 21st inst., and it is very amusingly told by the Star: —“ A number of shareholders in the Blanket Flat Company, near Dayltsford, journeyed to the claim to be present at the first cleaning up, wherefrom a rich yield was expected. The sanguine speculators started on Friday mornniug, having four buggies to convey them to the ground. One party of four people more eager than the rest, and, as after events proved, very mindful of the early bird proverb, got a long start. They arrived at the battery, and all their hopes of a large quantity of amalgam to be reduced to a handsome cake of gold were overthrown by the mine manager ; one glance at his face was sufficient to give them a notion that all was not well. They quickly learnt that the crushing would not yield so much as they had expected. The four agreed to return, and, on arriving at an hotel, ordered dinner for one o’clock. They could probably afford to wait for dinner, and yet be the first to bring the bad news to the Corner; but two of the number determined to act in a manner cute, cunning, and deceitful. They had all been early birds, but these two wanted to catch all the worms. To do this, they, while the dinner was cooking, and their hungry companions were anxiously waiting for the hour at which their cravings would bo appeased, got out the buggy and drove off to Ballarat. On arrival at the Corner they sold out, and when the rest of the buggies reached home the occupants found shares offering at a few shillings. The fellow-travel-lers of the two adroit ones were left behind at the inn, much to their disgust. Perhaps they got another conveyance and reached Ballarat, but possibly they passed the night

unwilling guests at the roadside hostelry. Rowing in the same boat is a phrase well taken to mean acting in concert, but riding in the same buggy is, it seems, quite a different affair. Names we do not give, hut the excursiou to the Blanket Flat mine, and bad puus on the ominous name, will afford amusement at the Corner for some time ; amusement, however, that will be accompanied by a feeling hardly complimentary to these two early birds. ”

The Earthquake.—The Bruce Herald says that a considerable number of the residents in Tokomairiro felt the shock of an earthquake on Thursday, at twenty minutes past 11 o’clock. The direction of the motion was from south-west to north-east. We ourselves did not experience it, but our neighbor, Mr Littlejohn, of the Bank fjof Otago, distinctly felt the shock, as did also Mr Gapstick, who on its occurrence, immediately came into our office and reported, his sensations and observations. The chair iu which he was sitting sensibly moved, and au oscillatory motion of the building was noticed. It was more or less experienced by nearly everyone iu the township. In some places it was rather alarming. Mr Donaldson, who resides in the Manse, near Fairfax, says that the building creaked a good deal, and a bucket of water on the floor of the kitchen was nearly upset, while stirrup irons hung on the side of the wall were swaying about like the pendulum of a clock. A correspondent in the Taieii writes that the earthquake was sensibly felt there at exactly the same time. From the Oamam Times we learn that “ a shai - p shock of earthquake was felt here and in the neighborhood at 11.20 a.m, yesterday. Its range has evidently extended over the Province. In this district we have only information extending as far as Teanaraki, some seven miles west of this, where a house was siiaken visibly to and fro, and articles hanging to the wall were set oscillating for a mat twenty minutes, although the actual shock seems only to have been momentary. In and near the town the effects produced were very manifest, though not serious. Even iu stone houses and offices chairs and desks rocked backwards and forwards quite visibly. The motion ajipeared to be from west to east. The oscillation was distinctly felt in the Resident Magistrate’s Gourt, the Gourt being sitting at the time. The reporter’s table and the Magistrate’s doffc rocked to aud fro, and one man among those in the body of the Gourt, noticing the doors to rattle violently, actually got up aud opened the door, thinking some one was seeking admission, Bottles were shaken from shelves, and from a boarding house in Thames street the children ran frightened into the street.”