CHRISTMAS DAY.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2453, 27 December 1870, Page 2

CHRISTMAS DAY.

The beautiful weather of yesterday enabled the inhabitants of the City thoroughly to enjoy themselves, and they took advantage of the opportunity. At an early hour in the looming, numerous parties, equipped with (every requisite for picniic pleasures, sought different rural spots by every conceivable mode of conveyance. The steamboats to Portobello and the Maori Kaik were loaded with passengers. At Portobello they were joined by the people of Port Chalmers, who seemed to have taken the whole of the children in the place across with them, so strongly did ihe young ones muster. They amused themselves on the ground adjacent to the hotel there with a variety of sports. Two violinists, specially engaged, by strains varying from grave to gay, from lively to severe, induced those skilled in dancing to thread the mystic mages of quadrille and waltz. We admired the tact of the musicians, as, by their measured cadences, they regulated the steps of the dancers, and suited their strains to the sultry wcatlier; bqt we equally admired the dancers, who swajq through the various movements with the grace and at the pace of our forefathers and grandmothers in the minuet — N'lmpovte. Although we should have enjoyed a brisker movement, they were satisfied, and no doubt satisfied their violinists. The Odd Fellows’ annual fete at Vauxhall Cardens was a splendid success. We learn that nearly three thousand people were present. The members of the Order mustered in strength, and the sports were contested with spirit. On the North Dunedin Recreation Ground old English juvenile sports were enjoyed by a number of youths and children, who competed at running, jumping, climbing greasy poles, bobbing for oranges, &c. The members of the Dunedin Cricket Club and Citizens’ Cricket Club played a match on the South Recreation Ground, which was not brought to a close ; but the probabilities are in favor of M‘Donnell’s side winning. The other side was chosen by Collinson. the pantomime. At the Princess Theatre, the pant H ium',e of “Alfred the Great and the Magic Cakes;

or, the good fairy Hope and the demon Despair,” was produced. The theatre was literally crammed with spectators, and we do not think that a first performance of a pantomime ever went better. Everybody knows the story of King Alfred, who spoiled the neatherds’ cakes while musing over his subjects’ misfortunes. But, in this case, King Alfred contrives to forget to take care of the baby as well as the cakes. His destinies are ruled over by spirits good and evil —but chiefly Hope, with enchanting smiles, •acts as guardian angel; ami of course, after the usual riot and fun, all ends in a fiery vision which all lovers of the beautiful should see. Some very suggestive hints are thrown out. In a forecast of the future the lessee of the theatre exhibits hia empty pockets—a significant hint which we feel certain Dunedin will not permit to be realised. Then the dialogue turns chiefly on passing events, and makes one wonder if there were Vogels, Macandrews, and Reids a thousand years or more ago. But the scenery from first to last is beautiful. Then King Alfred has an army of little “ Jack Tars,” who, if as cool and precise in action as on parade, would soon dispose of his Danish foes. The precision with which the most complicated evolutions were performed was truly marvellous, when it is considered that the leaders appeared to be little advanced beyond babyhood. The local scenes were the Globe Restaurant and Hart’s Bazaar. A libei’al lot of Christmas presents was thrown into the pit; and as everything went smoothly, and most things admirably, the audience were thoroughly delighted.

dickens’s panorama. Great was the interest manifested in the Panorama which was presented at the Masonic Hall for the first time last evening. The Panorama may be pronounced an unquestionable success. The audience—a very large one—received the work with the greatest enthusiasm, and awarded it round after round of genuine applause. The presentation of the first few scenes was sufficient to show that the Dickens’s panorama had hit the public taste. There is a unity and completeness about these views, and whilst vigorously representing all the principal scenes from all the principal works of the author, they may fairly lay claim to the highest merit as beautifu. works of art. As the canvas moves along, it is not necessary to have the pictures described nor to speculate upon the incidents bodied forth —because representing as they do with facile power and fidelity the author’s meaning—they tell their own story with striking force and truthfulness. It would be difficult to refer to any author who taxes the artist’s pencil in a greater degree than does Dickens—becaure the wide range of his genius embraces such a diversity of characters —men and women with s”ch widely distinct’individualities and characteristics — in wlii hj scenes of thrilling pathos are grouped with the broadest and most irresistible humour. But great as is the task imposed, the artist (Mr Mas* sey) has proved himself equal to it ; and while there is a breadth and boldness of treatment in the pictures he has presented, he lias reproduced Dickens in all his varying humours with great force and faithfulness. We cannot speak too highly of the labors of the artist whose canvass is full of movement and instinct with life. We will enumerate the principal scenes in the great work we are now describing. The drop scene which is poetical in design and masterly in finish, represents figures and drapery from the centre of which appears a splended portrait of Dickens in a medallion, surmounted by two figures, supporting a laurel wreath. Gadshill Place, where Dickens lived and died, is next represented —the election for Beadle, from Sketches by Buz, until Spruggius with his ten children on one side and Bung ami his four children on the other; the ice scene from Pickwick, with a splendid view ef old Wardle’s Gothic mansion in the distance ; the trial scene in Bardell verms Pickwick ; Pickwick’s introduction to the Fleet Prison, and his encountering his old friend Alfred Jingle ; a scene from Oliver Twist, the consternation of the master at the audacity of little Oliver asking for more food; the murder of Nancy by Bill Sykes ; the interior of Dotheby’s Hall, Mrs Squeers administering the morning dose of brimstone and treacle ; Nicholas Nicldeby meeting the dramatic company headed by Vincent Crummies ; a view from the Old Curiosity Shop, a meeting between Qnilp and Dick Svviveller ; the old man ami Eelly meeting the Punch and Judy show in the church yard, a splendid view of a church interior in which the old man after Nelly’s death is seen anxiously waiting the return of his poor Nelly; a scene from Barnaby Fudge, .the capture of Hugh and Barnaby ; the arrival of Martin Chuzzlewit and Mark T.ipley in the beautiful (?) City of Eden, Mrs Gamp and Betsy Prig keeping revels at home ; a splendid vieiy of shipwrecked mariners crossing the desert ; the old toy-maker and his blind daughter, from tha Cricket on the Hearth, from his travels in Italy, a splendid view of St. Peter’s, illuminated—(this view was perhaps the best of the whole series for soft shadowy effects, and was received with great enthusiasm, in the midst of which Mr Massey appeared before the curtam at the unanimous instance of the audience ; a view representing Ned Cuttlo and Miss Florence Dombcy ; a view representing David Copperticld introducing himself iu rags to his aunt; the finding of Emily by Pcggotty, from Dombcy ami Son ; the shipwreck, Hans attempting a rescue, and death of himself and Stcerforth ; Mr Micawber’s denunciation of Uriah Keep, from David Cppperfield ; from Hard Times the mournful procession of the litter, op which Stephen Blackwell is stretched, bis hand supported by Rachel ; Rrook’s death frpni spontaneous combustion, from Bleak House; Lady PDiddlock discovering herself to Esther as Chcuoy VVold j Mr Dorritt at home in the Marshalsea Prison, and tho artists’ studio, from Little Dorritt ; tho attack on and destruction of the Bastille, from the Tale of the Two Cities ; a church at Anglesea, the scene of the wreck of the Royal Charter ; the capture of two convicts ou the marshes, from Great Expectations ; a view of the interior of the hospital for sick children from Our Mutual Friend; the Opium Eaters, from Edwin Drood ; the last scene is Poet’s Comer iu AVestmiuster Abbey, in which lies the bo ly of the great English novelist. The interior of the Abbey is well depicted, and a mournful but natural gloom pervades the picture. The interesting lecture which accompanied the panoramic views was well delivered by Mr Whitworth, and well received, and the descriptions wrre in most cases borrowed from the author himself. The whole entertainment was, as it deserved to be, eminently successful, and was regarded by a large aijd respectable au : diencc as au artistic and intellectual treat.

Such an entertainment is sure to arouse '. the public sympathy, and be liberally supported. The Panorama will be exhibited every evening during the present week, and we believe a morning performance is to be given on Wednesday next. THE CHINESE (HAN'T. The levees of Chang the Chinese giant continue to be well attended, and ho and his wife appear to have already made themselves great favorites with the Dunedin folk. We cannot do better than reproduce a few particulars in regard to this worthy. He is now 27 years of age, and was born in the City of Ey Chow, of highly respectable parentage. Chang is 7ft. Sin. in height, with a wellproportioned figure, and a mild agreeable face, of the pure Mongol type. He is an intelligent man, and has received a good education, his father being an eminent Confucian scholar. He tells us that he comes of a “tall family,” his brother being some inches higher than himself. PORT CHALMERS. Yesterday at the Port the shops were closed, business suspended, and young and old seemed alike disposed to take advantage of the tine weather for recreation. The principal means of conveyance to and from the favored spots were the Harbor Company’s steamers, which were busily engaged and liberally patronised. Those visiting Dunedin —took the opportunity in the morning and throughout the day by the steamers Peninsula and Golden Age: the Result plying between Port Chalmers and Portohello, whilst the Maori was specially engaged on a trip to the Kaik and W aikouaiti, as many persons availed themselves of this ’opportunity of viewing the beautiful scenery with which the harbor abounds. The number of excursionists on board was increased by a short stay at the Port, and some watermen’s boats having been taken in tow for the landing of passengers at the Kaik, the Maori steamed swiftly down the harbor, rapidly passing the vessels in the bay, some of the crews gave a hearty cheer, especially the crew of the Robert Henderson, who though prevented from participating in the day’s amusement, seemed right 'glad that others were not hindered ; a few minutes more, on past Acheron Heads, Taylor’s Poi ;t, along the sand ridge that so securely protects the mouth of the harbor from the sea, and the Kaik is reached. The vessel anchored, and landing passengers is safely effected, the anchor weighed, the Maori, again in rapid motion, reaches the Pilot station where somemore passengers land, passing under the shadow of the high cliff on which the Light-house is built, the steamer emerges into the ocean, gracefully rising or descending to its mighty influence. Outwards, as far as the eye can see, is one vast expanse of water bounded only by the horizon. One solitary vessel, evidently a small coaster, the flutter of seabirds through the air, with their plaintive cry, innocent look, and beautiful plumage, attract the attention. Turning to the shore, the massive headlands, at whose bases the angry surf with ceaseless roar rushes on, expending its fury on the solid rock or dashing itself on the goklen sands, is ever broken and yet ever rolling on. Eventually we arrive at our homes, well pleased Avith the pleasures of the day, and all the better able to appreciate the comforts of home, and listen with pleasure to the recital by our neifihbois of all the great doings at Portohello.