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Evening Star, Issue 2870, 1 May 1872, Page 2

Early Closing. We understand that the proprietors of most of the butchering establishments in Dunedin have resolved to close their places of business at half-past six during the week, and at nine on Saturday evenings. South Ward Election.— We understand that a requisition is being numerously signed, inviting Mr Kossbotham to offer himself as a candidate for the representation of this ward, vacant by the resignation of Mr E. B. Cargill. Football. — We are requested to inform the public that, weather permitting, the match between fifteen of the Dunedin Football Club v. Twenty High School Boys, postponed on account of the bad weather, will be played on Saturday on the South Dunedin Recreation Ground, commencing at half-paet two p.m. The names have been already published. Musical.—A number of the inhabitants of North Dunedin, feeling the want, in that district, of a musical society, have brought their energies together and established one under the name of the North Dunedin Musical Society. There is a fair number of members at present meeting for practice, together with an efficient band of instrument di.-ts. Their place of meeting is in the Wesleyan Church, Cumberland street, where they have met formerly on Saturday evenings, but will probably, in future, meet on Friday evenings. The principal work as yet undertaken ia Handel’s “ Messiah” and a few glees. This Society will no doubt, if it succeeds in carrying out its programme, be a boon to that part of the town. It is to be hoped that any musically inclined will take an interest in it. Princess Theatre. Tide ” was repeated last night to a very good house j and was received with even more enthusiasm that attended its first representation. We have already said that the piece possess no merit as a literary production, and depends for success entirely on scenery and mechanical ’efiect; and these

necessaries have been 'provided as fully fas the limited resources of the Theatre will allow. All the scenery is new, that which calls for especial notice is the representation of Waterloo Bridge; 'and the scene representing the shrubbery of old Morris’s garden. The tragical termination of the first act is not so well realised'as it might be if the screenwork was raised more ; but the spectacle of the East Indiaman sailing from the docks with which the second act concludes is well carried out. Last night it was received with loud applause. The peice will be repeated until further notice, Stewart’s Island. —About the most interesting report laid on the Council table, is that by Professor Black on Stewart’s Island. By way of appendix he refers to the discovery of anew and very delicious eating lish, recently found on the island, in these terms While in Paterson Inlet, wc received from the Bluff a basket of fish that had been driven ashore there in immense numbers, covering the beach, we were told, for miles. They were, it appears, pursued by large herds of porpoises ; and when in their efforts to escape these, they approached the surface of the water, it was only to be pounced upon by the mutton birds, which hovered over them in dense clouds, and literally covered the sea over a large area. The fish measure It 4 to 5 inches in length. It is closely allied to the English sprat, Ilaremjula sprattu*, if not a variety of it. In flavor, our party considered it quite equal to the European sardine. From the abundance of this fish at certain seasons off the coast of Stewart’s Island, its excellent quality and the facility of curing it, it should become, at some future time, the staple of an important industry. Masonic Hall. Professor Haselmayer opened his Budget of Wonders for the third time last evening, and to an audience that well filled the house in every part, the back seats indeed being inconveniently crowded. The whole performance was a most successful one, while several of the specially favourite parts of it provoked such an amount of mirth and prolonged applause as for a time to prevent the Professor from proceeding with his programme. The “ magic paper-mill.” famous for its manufacture of bank-notes ; the “Miser’s dream.” with its showers of silver coins; the mystic nower-pots, and the marvellous growth of flowers and plants manifested the manipulation of a real master of the art. But the one trick which to our mind was the c eanest and most cleverly performed was first of the card tricks, in which the illusion was most complete, In this particular trick the Professor produced a pack of cards, and, to all appearance, an ordinary picture, framed and glazed, and about 18 inches square. Next, four persons in the audience were asked each to take a card and examine it. This being done, the four cards were placed in the hands of another person, and by him held up with their faces toward the audience, so as to be seen by all. The Professor then produced a pocket-handkerchief, and with it covered the cards (still in the hands of the same person) in such a way as that its four ends hung down towards the floor. These he next gathered up so as to leave the cards at the bottom, like a stone in a sling ; and then—“one,” “two,” “three” —and slap bang went the pocket-handker-chief up against the front of the picture, and there before the eyes of the wondering spectators the identical four cards instantaneously made their appearance between the glass and the picture, which it covered. Of course the handkerchief was empty j and the picture-frame being taken to pieces, revealed no clue whatever leading to the remotest suggestion as to the means by which this perfect piece of deception had been produced. In the second part of the performance, the Professor, accompanied by the piano, played his own “ Ida’s Mazurka” on the “stylocarfe,” and -was vociferously recalled, when he gave, in really brilliant style, a succession of variations on popular airs, which was also much applauded. The vagaries of the marvellous curiosities—the birds and mice, and the profound revelations of the magic drum —sent the audience laughingly home. This evening there is to be an entire new programme, and amongst other novelties the Professor is to play (on the pi an a) “ The Carnival of Venice,” with variations, “ executed y/ith an ordinary clothes brush,”

We see by advertisement in another column that a large section of the citizens are about presenting a testimonial to Mr Cargill, who leaves Otago in a few days. All persons desirous of subscribing arc rcciucstcd to forward subscriptions to any of the committee, who-e names may be seen in the advertisement. A meeting of the members of the Albion Cricket Club will beheldjin Hutchin? son’s Prince Alfred Hotel, to-morrow evening at 8 o’clock. The adjourned general meeting of the members of the Dunedin Eifle Club will be held in the British Hotel, George street, to-morrow (Thursday) evening, at 8.30.