SATURDAY’S NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 3101, 27 January 1873, Page 3

SATURDAY’S NEWS.

The popularity of “ Formosa ” appears to be undiminished, the attendance on Saturday being again large. The management intend to run it a few nights longer, when it will be withdrawn *for “ The Comedy of Errors,”

There was a meowing at the Empire Hotel on Saturday evening, to arrange a match between Fox and Drake. Fox attended with his backers, ready to make the match on Drake’s own terms. Drake was present, but refused to come to any definite arrangement, alleging as his reason his being obliged to attend a race meeting up the country. We understand that, by the last Californian mail, the Committee of the library of reference despatched an order for more books, to the value of between L7OO and LBOO, and have also asked Mr Auld, agent for the Province, to endeavor to obtain some Polynesian publications from the religious societies, and, failing gratuitous assistance, he ia directed to purchase to the extent of L4O. The first consignment arrived by the Helen Burns, valued at L2OO, and the books are now in the University library. The following are extracts from a private letter received by a gentleman in Christchurch, and dated Wellington, January 12 : —“ Wellington, of course, wears a very quiet aspect. There is a little building going on, but the inhabitants do not seem to care to provide anything like decent acommodation for the crowd that has to come at session time. As to the Government Buildings, the workmen are very busily employed, the rotten timber smashing, and the dust flying in clouds about the old chambers. I hear it stated that, in order to carry out the Colonial Architect’s plans, 'iy wjl be necessary to couci'lcrjdily increase the vote of last session ; LI3 000 is the sum now mentioned as being likely to be wanted to cover the cost. . . . The Hutt Kail way is beiug

washed away by the sea, and the stone facing appears to b* sinking inwards. The stones, not of the largest or most regular size, have been laid just on the face of the loose “craggy” stuff with which the embankment has been made A nice little dispute with the Messrs Brogden about this work appears to be impending, the question being whether the lieq jq jibe design dr workmanship. I am told that the whole contract is proceeding very slowly ; and from what can he seen on this side, it looks very little further advanced than it was at the end of last session.” , • Mr Horace Bastings, Goldfields Secretary, arrived at Oarnaru on Wednesday from the South, and His Honor the Superintendent, yesterday, from the ‘-orth. In the forenoon these gentlemen, accompanied by Mr Steward, M.H.R., Mr Sumpter, M.F,C., and Mr JaraSs Ashcroft, proceeded to the present northern termihus of she harbor-works tramway, where they were met by the contractors, • Messrs Walkem and Reyman, and Mr Forrester, inspector o! Works. A truck, provided with chairs for the accommodation of the visitors, was run down the line, and, on arrival at the breakwater, the party inspected the works and plant, and His Honor expressed great satisfaction at the progress which had been made. Afterwards the Hospital was vLited, and the excellent order in which it appeared was highly satisfactory. Mr Macancfrew promised that books for the use of the patients, and trees for planting the Hospital Reserve, should be forwarded at an early date. During the afternoon His Honor and Mr Bastings met Messrs Steward, Sumpter, and Ashcroft at Mr Sumpter’s offices, when various matters of public interest were discussed. Mr Simpson, C. was also in attendance. The tirst matter’ considered was the Awaiqoko branch line. Scarcely any land requires to be purchased, and the average gradient is 1 in 400 —almost a dead level. The North Otago Times understands that tenders will be called for the work within a month, the interim being required for the preparation of plans. It was also intimated that tenders • for the Opetqpq Bridge would be advertised fo 3 few daya.

Madame Cora do Lamond has equally the power to amuse and deceive. On Saturday evening last, the introduced her-elf to a crowded house at the Masonic Hall, as a conjuror, and for three hours succeeded in filling her audien e with wonder, bewilderment, and pleasure. Her entertainment was certainly the most perfect thing of the kind we have seen, and the various tricks performed were remarkable for ease, grace, and rapidity of execution. The surroundings of the stage differed somewhat from that usually presented by professors of the mystic art, while the engaging address and personal appearance of Madame Cora and hersister lent an air of refinement to the entertainment not always characteristic of such performances. Some of the items of the programme, though not new, were received with maiked approval, while others, not before seen in Dunedin, excited loud demonstrations of admiration. Chief among the latter was the “Philosophical sheet ” - a piece of white paper, or parchment, so folded that Madame Cora was enabled, by dexterous manipulation, to change it into rna y forms, representing articles of dress, furniture, architecture, &c. The firing of a number of p’aying cards, and the remains of a broken china plate, out of a pistol into a picture frame was cleverly executed, but surpassed by the cutting up, production, subsequent annihilation by lire, and reproduction, of a lady’s pockethandkerchief, The illusion in both tricks was perfect. The creation of blooming plants in a common elay pot was a charming deception, and the transformation of pieces of colored paper placed in different vessels into hot coffee was only excelled by the “goblin drum” trick. The latter, though made familiar by Professor Baselmayor, amazed the audience by reason of its novel and peculiar execution. The most astounding item in the programme was the suspension of Madamoiselle Christina in mid air, while in a mesmeric sleep, apparently without the aid of any mechanical contrivance beyond a pole on which her elbow reded. While thus suspended, she was placed in many graceful attitudes, which excited deafening and prolonged applause. This trick in itself is worth the price of admission to witness it. At the close of the performance, prizes, including a handsome chess-table, plated tea-service, cruet-stands, rocking chair, and several other useful articles, numbeiing over thirty, wore distributed. This evening the entertainment will be repeated, and wc commend it to the public as being deserving of liberal patronage.