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Evening Star, Issue 3210, 4 June 1873, Page 2

“ Black-eyed Susan ” and the burlesque of “ Lalla Rookh ” were repeated at the Queen’s Theatre, last evening, to a fair audience. Tonight Miss Stephenson takes her benefit, and if her popularity may be taken as any indication there ought to be a bumper house.

The Wellington yesterday took eleven cases of Otago-made twine to Wellington to the order of the General Government. The twine was manufactured at Mr Grant’s factory, Blueskin, and will compare favorably with any twine imported from Home. We believe this is the first order of the sort from the Colonial Government.

An exaggerated rumor has been circulated about town relative to a case of wife-beating in Stafford street, on Saturday evening last. The simple facts are, that a man named Lockhart quarrelled with his wife, and seizing hold of a candlestick, hit her with it, inflicting a wound which caused her removal to the Hospital, where she now lies. He was brought up at the City Police Court this morning, and remanded till Frida}'. This was the only case of local importance heard. The nomination for the Superintendency took place to day at noon, and although there was a good downpour during the proceedings, fully 60 > persons listened to the speeches of Messrs Macandrew and Gillies; but there was a general “ clear out ” when Mr Graham commenced to speak. The nominations were: Mr James Macandrew, proposed by Mr Jas. Brown, seconded by Mr James Black ; Mr J. L. Gillies, proposed by Mr A. Sligo, seconded by Mr Andrew Todd, of East Taieri; and Mr John Graham proposed himself, and was seconded by Mr Thomas Farrell. The show of hands resulted as follows Graham, 93 ; Macandrew, 78; Gillies, 39. The poll takes place on the 18th. Mr R. Hume read his essay on “The Music and Poetry of Scotland,” at the Athenaeum Hall, yesterday evening, before a fair attendance of members of the Dunedin Mutual Improvement Society and others. Thu reading, which afforded great pleasure to those present, was agreeably interspersed with vocal music by ladies and gentlemen who kindly gave their services ; amongst these being Misses Urie and Weir, and Messrs Sinclair and Thomson, with Mr Moss as pianist. We understand that the committee have jinder consideration the advisability of a redelivery of the essay for the benefit of the Benevolent Institution.

A lecture on “ China and its People ” was delivered in Knox Church, last evening, by the Ilev. Geo. Smith, of Swatow, China. On the platform we noticed the Revs. E. G. Edwards, A. Reid, and Dr Copland, and there was a great number of persons in the body of the hall. 'lbe Rev. Mr Stuart, who occupied the chair, iji introducing the lecturer, said that gentleman was present that evening to give a history of fifteen years experience in China. Mr Smith then gave a highly interesting account of China, its people, their manners, customs, religion, &0.,

and at the close of his remarks, which were very attentively listened to, a hearty vote of tanks was proposed by the Rev. A. Eeid, and earned by acclamation.

At the fourth annual meeting of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association, held last evening in the Fire Brigade Rooms, the president Mr Carroll in the chair, the report of the committee and the treasurer’s financial statement were unanimously adopted, and after a few accounts bad been passed and annual subscriptions received, the following office-bearers were appointed, viz.: —Mr Carroll, president; Mr Thompson, Vice-President ; Mr Watson, hon. treasurer ; Mr Jacobs, hon. secretary; and Mr Findlater, under secretary ; and the following gentlemen were appointed a committee of management, viz : Messrs Hancock, Hutton, Baxter, Pavleitch, Wain, Woodifield, and Williamson. After some routine proceedings, a vote of LIO 10s to the Benevolent Institution, and a vote of thanks to the retiring officers, the meeting closed. “Hamlet” was repeated last evening at the Princess’s Theatre to a thin house. We regret this, as -it points to the little interest taken in the classic efforts of our best artists. When so little encouragement is given to that which is really worth witnessing, and so much to what is comparative buffoonery, those who condemn the class of pieces brought out must blame themselves, not the management, for producing what pleases. Mr Rayner’s Hamlet is carefully studied. We have seen it differently played; but, on the whole, seldom better. Many passages were given with force, and, where required, with exquisite pathos. Messrs Musgrave, Collier, Lyster, and M‘Gowan were equally happy in their efforts last evening. We have already expressed our opinion of Miss A nstcad’s representation of the Queen, and Miss Willis’s Ophelia. In the mad scene Miss Willis was natural and interesting. Mr and Mrs M‘Cowan were irresistibly droll in “ The Irish Boy and Yankee Gal.” As we anticipated, they both sang well. Mrs M‘Gowan last night confined her effort to the comic ; but we fancy she could sing a ballad very effectively. This evening, “ Othello” will be played. Considering the counter attractions ef two theatres, numerous electioneering gatherings, and two or three lectures, the opening night of Charles’s Dioramas, at the Masonic Hall last evening, was as well patronised as could reasonably have been expected, though certainly by no means so much so, as the very excellent character of the entertainment really deserved. The various views in the first part were devoted to the illustration of the Suez route and the Nile, and presented a highly enjoyable succession of scenes of varied interest. The second and third parts were illustrations of the Franco-Prussian War, the whole of which were good, and not a few so life-like as to be almost painfully suggestive of the stern realities of the battle-field and its sad concomitants. Both series of illustrations were rendered more interesting by the running comments of Mr J. M. Perrier, who has the happy knack of saying just enough for the purpose. In the course of his remarks, Mr Perrier introduced a number of local hits, which took well with the audience, who seemed indeed thoroughly to enjoy the entertainment throughout. During the intervals, Mr Frank Milburn sang some comic songs, which were well received ; and Mr W. D. Francis presided at the piano with much success.

Through a misunderstanding as to the day on which the Chamber of Commerce deputation would wait on the Superintendent, to present the resolutions re railway construction, carried at the Chamber’s meeting last week, our reporter was not present at the interview. The deputation which saw bis Honor yesterday forenoon, was composed of Messrs R, Oliver (who acted as spokesman), Walcott, Sise, Law, and Webb. In regard to connecting the Southern Trunk and Wai-taki-Moeraki lines, his Honor said there would be no difficulty about the first-men-tioned one, if the Provincial Council agreed to the proposals that had been made on the subject. The Government had received one very good offer, which would secure the construction of the line at once, if it were closed with; but as regarded the Moeraki - Waitaki line, the Government were rather in the dark as to what the cost would be, He proposed to have submitted to the Provincial Council a plan which would enable the Provincial Government, contingent upon the General Government not going on with the line, to construct it themselves. He believed they had the means in the shape of their landed estate, the proceeds of which could not be devoted to any better purpose than the formation of this line. As to the formation of a Harbor Trust, his Honor said that individually ho quite agreed as to the propriety ®f establishing a Trust, but he did not think this was exactly the time to do so, as there was no endowment for such a purpose. His own belief was that they should abolish harbor dues altogether, and make the port a free one.

Mr Barnard Isaac is announced to address the electors in the Oddfellows’ Hall, to-mor-row evening, at eight o’clock.