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Evening Star, Issue 3671, 27 November 1874, Page 2

The induction of the Rev, Mr Mackie into the pastorate of the First Church has been fixed for the 9th December. The case of Anning v. Martin was continued at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, and had not concluded wheu we went to press. “ Madelaine ” was reproduced at the Princess Theatre last night to a good house. “ The Lady of Lyons,” Mrs Bates appearing as Pauline, and Mr Bates as Claude Melnotte, will be played tu-uight, the performance concluding with “ Advice Gratis. ”

Several civic appointments were made at the City Council meeting last eyeping. Dr G. Cole, formerly health officer at West Sussex, was elected medical health officer ; for Town Belt ranger Mr H, Youngman was chosen from among thirteen candidates 5 and Mr J. N. Sherar, for many years connected with the police, was appointed revenue officer. For the last-mentioned post there were eight applicants. The Goddard fever has broken out in Christchurch, where, in two hours this morning, the whole of the reserved seats for the first two concerts were taken.. Madame Goddard gives four concerts in Christchurch, the first being on Tuesday night. We hear that the English opera season closes in Christchurch on Saturday night, and that the company then proceed toTimaru en route for Dunedin.

Funeral reform seems to be taking root in Melbourne. The late Dr Tracy left a memorandom of instructions for his funeral, which was as far as possible acted upon He desired that there should be no funereal trappings, no emblems of mourning, no feasting, no vulgar display of nodding plumes and glazed hearses, and that everything connected with his interment should be as simple as possible. It would be well if all family men took to heart the example, apd relieved their surviving families of a supposed obligation to expend large sums with the undertaker for a grand funeral. In the list of the thirty highest scorers in the competition for district representatives as published by us, the name of Yol. Smith, of East Taieri, with a score of seventy-nine, was omitted. The omission was not the fault of the Volunteer Office, but due to the circumstance that Sub-Lieutenant Biatcb, W.T., who superintended the firing, and who, in compiling the scores, wrote that made by Smith as fifty-nine, instead of seventy-nine. vStrauge to say this throws Blateh himself out <£ the final competition. We have been requested to state that the error was, immediately on discovery, rectified by Biatcb, who is usually chosen to superintend local firing, owing to his integrity in Volunteer matters.

Madame Goddard’s fourth concert proved equally attractive with the three previous ones, and went off perhaps even more successfully. Beethoven’s “ Moonlight Sonata,” with its dreamlike introduction, selections from Mendelssohn’s “ Songs without words, ” and Thalberg’s difficult arrangement of “Home, sweet home,” were p'ayed last night by her. The style of each composer was finely illustrated in the treatment of those subjects The massive harmony of Beethoven, the weird and sweet witchery of Mendelssohn, and the dashing arpeggios of Thalberg were most ably interpreted and enjoyed by the listeners, whose hushed, silent attention conferred a higher sense of appreciation of Madame Goddard’s talent than the loud plaudits which followed the conclusion of each piec ■. Mr Kainford sang well, and Mrs Smythe excelled every previous effo t in Dunedin in her rendering of “Waiting.” Artists arc generally sup posed to know their work better than anybody else, critics not excepted ; hut critics are commonly acquainted with what suits the public taste better than they. If, therefore, Mr Skinner would take the hint kindly we are about to give him, we think it would be to his profit. His voice is of good quality, but he does nob sustain his notes sufficiently. He should take a lesson from Madame Goddard’s legato playing, and while enunciating plainly every syllable of every word, he should master the habit he has acquired of introducing a semiquaver rest between every separate note. We have heard this what may be termed quasi staccato style has become fashionable in certain circles at Home, bub the effect on his mind has been described by an old musician as a style of singing in which there are too many corners. Notwithstanding this peculiarity, his “ Pilgrim of Love” was pleasingly sung. Madame Goddard gives another concert to night, which is the last. The programme is a most attractive one, and we trust that the attendance will In so full that Madame Goddard will in her future dwell with pleasure on her visit to Dunedin,

A meeting of the shareholders of the New Zealand Titanic Steel and Iron Company will' s° Provincial Hotel tills evening at' 9 Q

The demand for building sites is rapidly reducing the area available for the purpose in the neighborhood of Dunedin. We observe that to-morrow Messrs M'Landress, Hepburn, and Co. will offer sixty-one lots in a very eligible situation at Opoho, in the North-East Valley. The. first settlers in the Province little anticipated the growth of a township across the Water of Leith, or they might have extended the municipal boundary further. A concert will be given at the Temperance Hall this evening for the benefit of Miss Hesford. In recognition of the valuable services rendered by this lady, the members of St. Joseph’s Church choir have tendered their aid on this occasion, and also several well-known amateurs. The programme is well selected, and includes vocal and instrumental duets, glees, and songs, while Mr Denovan is announced to give a couple of characteristic Scotch pieces. When we state that Mr Sykes acts as accompanyist, it is a sufficient guarantee that ample justice will be done to this portion of the entertainment. Mr Sykes will also play two solos on the pianoforte—one being Beethoven’s Sonata in A flat, and the other “Home, sweet home,” with variations. Considering the high estimation in which Miss Hesford is deservedly held, there ought to be a liberal response on the part of the public.