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Evening Star, Issue 3474, 11 April 1874, Page 2

We notice that the Opera Troupe proceed to Oamaru to-morrow, per steamer Maori. From a Jewish journal, published in New York, we learn that Mr B. L. Farjeon is about to visit the United States, to read selections from his own works. We are given to understand that a requisition, which is numerously signed, will shortly be presented to Mr Fish, requesting him to come torward as a candidate for the next Mayoral election. ■The Oamaru roadstead, during the past day or two, bag been swarming with mullet, rock cod, and groper. One party, on Friday, caught upwards of a hundred in less than an hour with hook and line, and, after giving away a great many, had more than they could use. The uewly-elected school committee, for the recently-formed district of Kensington, held their first meeting in the Kensington Schoolhouse last evening, and elected Mr E. W. U’llen as their chairman, and Mr W. Smith as secretary and treasurer. The appointment of a shoolmascer was postponed to a future meeting. The Museum has been enriched within the past few days by several articles, including a priest’s fcava bowl from Fiji, three rare mats from tfie South Sea Islands, a tortoise nose ring from Solomon’s Island, and some rare shells from Dillon’s Bay, Erromauga. The donor of the above ja Mr owner of the Jessie Niccol, schooner. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Port Chalmers, this morning, before Captain Thomson and Dr Drysdale (J.P.’s), Peter Boski, Peter Chick, and Mariano Torres, articled seamen on board the ship Trevelyan, werej(charged by Captain Loftus with willfully disobeying .lawful commands on the 10th instant, and each sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labor. The adjourned case in which Mr Stephen S. Hutchison charged ,one Robert Goodison with

assaulting him with a riding whip, was heard and concluded at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, ending in the committal of the" The case excited considerable interest, several persons remaining in Court during the whole time. It lasted between three and four hours, Messrs Stephenson and Moore acted as bondsmen for Goodison, who was liberated on bail immediately afterwards. Our report is held over till Monday. “Koy Roy” was played at the Queen’s Theatre last evening to a very indifferent house. Mr Burfor Vs Rob would have been more successful if he had not shown such an inclination to' “rant.” Mr O’Brien’s Baillie was a very good representation, and Miss Raymond, who doubled as Helen and Mattie played both parts capitally, but appeared ,tp greater advantage in the latter. Mr Glover as Duigal, and Miss Moore as Diana Vernon, filled their parts creditably. The less said of the remaining characters, especially Mr Lawrence’s Francis Osbaldstone (which was a complete farce) the better. “Grif” will be reproduced to-night.

We are glad to learn that the Press Dramatic Club have tendered their services to Mr Da.’id R- Hay, in aid of the Scott Scholarship fund. As the Press Club comprises some of .the best amateur talent we possess, we have no doubt the entertainment will be alike creditable to .those who take part in it and the object for if, js got up. Tim Princess Theatre has been granted on very liberal terms by the proprietor, and next Friday is the night fixed. The Caledonian Society fias kindly granted its patronage, so there is .every prospect of a bumper house being secured. It 'would be difficult to name an object that more richly deserves it.

Amongst the passengers by the City of Melbourne from San Francisco on her last trip was Miss May Howard, a “star” comedienne, from the United States. She is under engagement to Mr Coppin, for the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, and intends visiting other parts of Australia, and ultimately New Zealand,—The

Home News’ contains a few items of theatrical interest, the chief of which are that G-. F. Rowe received L 3,000 for his “ Geneva Cross,” now playing at least at half-a-dozen different theatres in. the States. Hi it Glarance Holt is still doing Shakspeare in London, and his daughter May playing in Liverpool. Mr John Hall continue' a favorite with the Liverpudlians, his wife being engaged at Manchester. Julia Mathews continues her performances in “ Madame Angofc,” at the Philharmonic, with complete success ; and if she has lost somewhat the arch abandon of her earlier days, and the rich tones of her voice, lias developed into a more finished actress. Carrie Nelson is also playing “Madame Angot” in the Provinces with great success. There was an excellent attendance at the opera last evening, when the performance was for the benefit of Mr Rainford, The entertainment comprised “The UohemianGirl ” and t The Rose of Auvergne.” As the first mentioned has already been noticed at length, it is only necessary to say now that its reproduction last evening was. on the whole, a success. The Roee of Auvergne ” is a musical farce of the richest kind, though there is very little music in it. Kleurette, a village coquette (Miss a y), i* beloved by Pierre, a blacksmith (Mr Rainford), and Alphonse, a cobbler (Mr Vernon), and her inability to choose the on# of them who is to be her husband gives rise to some most laughable situations. Miss May, in this trifle, shows a wonderful aptitude for comic acting; indeed, her vivacity was catching, for Messrs Rainford and Vernon vied with each other in seconding her efforts.' Some local allusions were introduced, and being,fresh and pointed, they told well. To be brief, everyone was pleased, and none could help laughing at the “Rose of Auvergne,” which might have been profitably produced earlier in the season. To* night is the company’s last appearance in Dunedin, when the “ Grand Duchess ” will be played for the benefit of the Benevolent Institution.

The Oamaru race meeting does not appear to have been very successful. The ‘ Times ’ states “there is no disguising the fact that the late meeting passed off with less satisfaction to the public than in any previous year. It is, indeed, not too much to say that the first day’s racing caused very general disgust, and, had it not been for the hurdle races ou the second day affording some legitimate sport, the whole affair would have been a fiasco from beginning to end. The reasons for this are not far to seek. First of all, by some unaccountable oversight, the really good money offered by the Club was not advertised outside of the district, and, as a consequence, none but district horses put in an appearance. This by itself might have been put up with, and perhaps notregrettedbymany, as the money would be kept in the district, but, unfortunately—whether rightly or wrongly—there was a strong impression that more than one event had been squared before hand, that the horses did run on their merits. Inside the saddling paddock there were not a few angry discussions on these matters, and rather strong language was made use of, which could not but have bad the effect of opening the eyes of outsiders a little wider than usual. Very strong and very indignant comments were made as to the O.J.C. Handicap, which was looked upon as a certainty for Maid of the Mill, but was won by Border Lad, by several lengths; although shortly before the start the owner of the latter had announced his intention of merely going to the post. An altercation between the two owners led to the belief that there had been some arrangement between them, and that the understanding had been broken through. Those who had money on the Maid were of course loudest in their protestations, but even those who had no interest in the event condemned the whole proceeding in no measured terms. The result of this will no doubt be that a large section of the public will withdraw their support from racing in this district, and indeed go a long way towards making them forswear encouraging racing in any way whatever. For some three or four years past matters have been growing worse and worse, and unless the O.J.C. take some step to ensure more satisfaction in future, they will have no function to discharge ; for to get up a race-meeting will be an impossibility. A meeting of the Hod Carriers’ Society will be held in the Royal George on Monday evening, at 8 o’clock. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Commerci.il Building Society will be held on Monday vening next, at 6 o’clock. The monthly meeting of the Union Permanent Building Society will be held on Monday evening, from 7 to 8 o’clock.