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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2351, 14 October 1870, Page 2

Crowded Out.—We are oblige;! to .correspondence and a quanty | A other matteir.’ '

Fire. —On Monday last a stack of grain was totally consume! by tire at the Totara Station. It is reported to be the work of an incendiary. Drowned. town yesterday that Mr Bowers, storekeeper, Elm row, while on his way from Oainarn to Benmore Station, in crossing the Otemata River on Tuesday, was carried down the stream and drowned. The body has been recovered. Tonic Sol Fa.—The settlers of the East Taieri, desirous of improving their psalmody, have just started a tonic sol la music class, under the direction of Mr Geo. Brownlee, A.C. They met once a week in the East Taieri Schoolroom, and already number sixty members. Mr Brownlee will shortly commence a juvenile class in the same place. The San Francisco Service.—Notwithstanding all the Daily Time* has said against the San Francisco Service, a significant fact in favor of the service is stated in the Suez mail telegrams - viz., that the last last mails received via San Francisco were delivered in forty-nine days from Auckland to London. The War.— We have received from Mr Livingston one of a series of w.ir maps published on a large scale by the celebrated publishers Letts. They are accompanied with a packet of different colored adhesive diagrams, by means of which the positions of the two armies can be plotted in the course of reading, and a clear conception formed of the progress of operations. The idea is near and ingenious. The Jewellery Seizure.-—Wc are glad to learn that his Excellency the Governor has acceded to the prayer of the petition, so numerously signed, for the restoration of the jewellery to Jacob Berstein, declared forfeited on account of non-payment of export duly, and that it is ordered to be restored to him. Journalistic. According to an Auckland paper, it is rumoured that Mr C. S, llaughton lias been offered the editorship of the Southern Cross, and will likely accept it as his intention are to remain in that Province and also to offer himself as a candidate for the represeutati m of an Auckland district in the Assembly.—The Lyttdtini Times comes out at a reduced price in November.

Criminal. —Daniel Latham, seaman, late of the Nova Scotia, convicted at the last criminal session', held at Nelson on the 3rd of August, on two charges of bestiality, and sentenced to a cumulative j-eriod of 20 years’penal servitude (10 on each charge), was received to-daj, per s,.s. Tararna, into the Dunedin gaol in charge of Scrgt -Major Edwards, Nelson police, with a warrant under the band of his Excellency the Governor. We learn that the wietch is removed from Nelson to Dunedin gaol for safe keeping. Athen-'Kum. —This institution has, in addition to the works received per England’s Glory, received per the Tararna, the following works Hnbloy’s Lay Sermons, Lubbock’s Origin of Civilisation. Kaye’s Sepoy War. There is also a parcel of books, on board the May Queen, now on her way to Otago, containing about 200 volumes This parcel contains all Miss Maxwell’s novels, also those of Troll ope, Mrs Wood, Lever, lleadc, Thackeray, Smedley, &c., besides, Johnson’s Argentine Alps, Ereshlicld’s Travels m Caucasus, &c. It cannot, therefore, be said no new books have been rec ived this year. The additions made to the library, including those received in January before the last annual meeting since the first of the year are not far short of 1500 volumes, besides the serial publications. Princess Theatre. We have seen Tom Taylor’s comedy, “ The Unequal Match,” played many times, but hi many respects never better than last evening. Wc dare say most of onr readers know the plot. It is very simple, but it serves to bring out in strong relief two classes in English society widely separate from each other in wealth, habits, and style of thought. English writers for the stage delight in this soit qf thing. Colonial-born people, who have keen accustomed to a nearer approach to equality, cannot realise the truth of the picture. In few words, Sir H, ArnclifTe (Mr G. W. Collier), a cadet of a noble family, with narrow income and romantic temperament, while rusticating in the guise of an artist, falls desperately in love with a blacksmith’s daughter, Heater Grnzcbrook (Miss Carry George). There is little to be wondered at, considering the style, appearance, and charming manners of the girl. But while lie lias been wooing her in the fair fields of Britain, he lias left behind in aristocratic circles one who has love I him too, Mrs Montressor (Miss Lizzie. Bushe). She follows him. These, with Bessy Hebblethwaite (Mrs Edouin Bryer), arc the chief characters in the piece. The others, though necessary to its working out, are mere accessories, and, with the exception of Dr Bocrhave Botcherhy, play no very important parts. Coincident with a declaration of love and proposal of marriage, Sir Henry Icarus that,' through the unexpected death of an uncle, he is heir to a large estate. Nevertheless he fulfils his engagement, and transfers his plebian bride, with her unspoiled feelings, rustic habits, and love of nature to another sphere. Mrs Montressor, foiled in her love scheme and bent on re vengc, visits them, and tries by every artifice to turn the country girl into ridicule. The husband sees the unsuitableness of his bride’s manne's to her station, and is ashamed of them, but still retains his love, and gives her some very worldly lessons, holding up the mischief-brooding lady as her exemplar. Between these two there is a fine scene, in which Miss Carry George, with groat power and effect, assorted her position and administered a dignified relpike to her rival. The next act brings us to a German > pa, to which the baronet has been ordered, to counteract a tendency to consumption. Re has left his wife behind him, fearful to disclose to her his dangerous symptoms, and thither, with the best intention on the part of Dr Botcherhy, Mrs Montressor is ordered. Thus thrown together, the lady sets to work to wean the husband from his wife, hut without success. The forsaken wife has determined to teach her husband the efleet of the lessons he has read to her by apparent adoption of them. She lias put off the country girl, studied to master every outward emot?Qp, has learned to dress elegantly, and to speak French with a pure a cent. Thus fitted for her task, she resolves to seek and reclaim her husband, gets her name up as the elegant companion in travel of a German Count; and with her maid Bessy, her servant when a country girl, she suddenly astonishes Uim aucl Mrs Montressor at Ems. One

hardly knows which to be most surprised at—the transformation of Lady Hester or Bessy. 'I hey are both typos of classes seen every day at Home. Lady Hester, _ elegant, relined, self-possessed, calculating in every movement, cold and to all appearance passionless, repels the emotional impulse of her husband, consigns her father (an accidental a-rival) to the footman’s care, and with withering and studied sarcasm drives off Mrs Montrcssor and reproves Sir Henry. Miss George’s was a pijco of finished acting. We cannot pay her higher praise, and in its way M s Brycr’s was as good. Mr Musgravc, as Old Grazcbrook, was an excellent specimen of a good old well-to-do veterinary surgeon and Blacksmith. Mr Lawrence had a semi-burlesque character allotted to him in Dr Botcherby, of which on the whole he made the best, though perhaps a little more of the sun niter in inodo would be more in keeping with the position of an English country surgeon. Miss Lizzie Bushe sustained the character of Mrs Montrcssor in a very dignified manner, and the leading characters wore well supported by Mr and Miss Willis and the rest of the dramatis who really having nothng else to do than dress appropriately and look well, succeeded admirably. A deserved call before the curtain shewed the appreciation of the audience. “My Neighbor’s Wife” is a funny tit-bit, which must be seen to be enjoyed. It has evidently descended from the “Merry Wives of Windsor,” though very unlike it. We commend these two pieces to the attention of all who can relish really high-class comedy and genuine fun. They will be repeated tonight. . To-morrow the sports by the Dunedin Amateur Athlectic Association, consisting of foot-races, come off on the South Dunedin Recreation Ground.