BOXING DAY IN DUNEDIN.

Evening Star, Issue 3697, 28 December 1874, Page 2

BOXING DAY IN DUNEDIN.

•JIBE GERMAN PICNIC was held at NV.oodb.augh, Water of Leith, where some 300 persona were congregated Sports and dancing were the Qvfav 0 f the day, and for the latter the music was supplied by Messrs Bailey, Kelly and Weight. 1 * " MARINE EXCURSIONS. Of course the excursion in the Ladybird to Moeraki was most patronised. About 350 persons went there, leaving port at 9 a,xn. and returning at about 6 p.m. The Samson, which went to the Heads and Waikouaiti, was well patronised, while the Lady of the Lake and Golden Age made profitable trips down the harbor. THE FORESTERS FETE, This fete, in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the United Otago District, A.0.F., was but poorjy attended, which fact may be ascribed partly to the many attractions of the day, and partly to the bad at the last affair of the sort, .on tjhe ',Pip’ncc Wales’s birthday. There were perhaps only some §OO or 900 people present, but these enjoyed 'themselves thoroughly, the sports being carried out much more systematically than op the previous occasion. Besides the Provincial Brass Band there was music provided by a harpist and two violinists, while the usual games of chance and skill were well patronised. A “Punch and Judy” appeared to attract as large an audience as anything, while dancing and “Kiss in the ring” were kept up all through the .lay. The following were the winners of the various events-.—Boys’ Eace, J.§o yards, F. Stohr; Half-mile nice, E. Skene; Hop, Step, and Jump, W. Little; Putting heavy stone, Macgregor ; Three-legged race, Miller ; Picking up ; fifty stones, W. Hutchinson 1; Campbell 2;' Two-mile walking race, Macgregor 1 - Campbell 2 ; Breaking the Pot, Allen 1; Boys’ Walking Eace, Sims I; Bobbing forrolls and treacle, hj. Miller I; Half-mile boys’ walking race, Little 1; Foresters’ Race, APPhee 1.

THE CATHOLIC PICNIC. The annual picnic given by the members of the H.A.C.B. Society to the childuu attending St. Joseph’s School was held at Green Island on Boxing Day. The gathering was highly successful, as the great majority of pleasuieseekers from Dunedin patronised the picnic, and took iu the various sports organised tor the day. Special arrangements were made with the railway authorities for the conveyance of excursionists by the Green Island line ; and at short intervals during the day a very large train, drawn by two engines, carried large numbers to the site of the picnic, near the Green Island station. Some idea of the num her of people present may be gathered from the fact that 3,000 persons travelled ojj tjie railway duxiDg tbs day, and nearly every pa«se'ng*r by

the train was present at the picnic. During i the clay Bishop Moran, accompanied by the H Rev. Fathers Higgins and Gleasure, visited the ( ground and remained for a considerable time. As. will be seen from the following list of the ' principal events some very good sports were 1 organised, and nearly every race was very well I contested Foot Race, 150 yards—open to all comers, f First prize, 40s; second prize, 20s; third I prize, 10s. Seven entries-1, Murdoch; 2, i Robertson. Foot Race, 100 yards, for hoys under 14. \ Eight entries— l, Lindsay ;2, Grater. , Foot Race, 150 yards—open to members of juvenile contingent only. 1, J. Heffernan ;2, Sydney Smith. Foot Race, 250 yards—open to all comers. First prize, L2 10s ; second prize, LI; third ' prize, 10«. Nine entries—l, Bennett; 2, Murdoch ; 3, Donaldson. Green Island Handicap, 440 yards. First prize, L 3 ; second, Ll 10s ; third, 10s. 1, Murdoch ; 2, Brook ; 3, Murphy. Throwing Heavy Stone. First prize, Ll ; second. 10s—four entries. The contest for this event was an exciting one, P. Power and Hinds being very equally matched. After a hard struggle, they both tied, and divided the prize money between them. Boys’ Three-legged Race, 50 yards. Fourteen entries—l, Wilson and Cooper; 2, Rossbotham and Hawkins. Foot Race, 100 yards, open to members of Hibernian Society only. Three entries—l, Fegan. OTHER ENT RTAINMENTS. The Presbyterian Sunday School held its annual pic-nic in Mr Anderson’s paddock at the Water of Leith Valley ; the Spiritualists and their friends, to the number of close upon 200, met at Allandale—Mr Allan’s property at the Forhury where there were dancing, singing, and speeches, and so well did all present seem to enjoy themselves, that it was proposed to make the affair annual. THE MASONIC HALL. Dr Carr opened at the Masonic Hall on Boxing Night. Thy entertainment was in every respect as successful as any yet given by the doctor in this city, but the attendance did not come up to our expectations. Professor Sykes presided at the piano. Dr Carr appears again this evening. THE TEMPERANCE HALL. Val Vose’s entertainment at the above place of amusement was largely patronised on Saturday evening ; and his efforts were appreciated by the audience, who loudly applauded him. Mr Saunders acted as pianist and accompanyist, and also gave two solos on the harp, which were received with approbation, Mr Hobbs sang “ Rocked in the cradle of the deep ” very effectively. Mr Vose has increased the strength of his company by the addition of Mr Yerten, who will appear this evening. ; THE OPERA, ’ Everyone who was present at the perfor- | nmnce of “ Cinderella,” and their number was ’ legion, must have been pleased with the ’ opera. The Princess Theatre was so crowded on Saturday evening that even ladies were I kneeling rather than miss the treat. It was well that the theatre is so efficiently L ventilated, for not another place in the town , could have been found in which such a vast concourse of spectators could have been gathered together with so little inconvenience. The heat 5 was great, as might have been expected, but • not even a lady fainted, nor were many fans in i We need not say anything of the • plot of “ Cinderella.” It varies very little from L the popular legend, but Rossini’s music is not . so well known. His style is florid, and this f renders his compositions difficult for ordinary vocalists. It, however, presented no obstacles to [ its being exquisitely rendered by the members ' of the troupe. Miss Alice May,' who appeared ' Cinderella, was received with such an ext pressing of yelpome as shows how much she is > appreciated in Dunedin ; nop did she disappoint I the expectation of her auditors. The most 5 difficult and intricate passages were executed by I her with ease, brilliancy, and exquisite taste; } and in her rendering of the beautiful ballad, , “ She wore a wreath of roses,” the pathos and ’ appropriateness of even the ornamentation won j. her a most enthusiastic encore. We think her . voice has rather improved in richness and power 1 of expression since her last visit. Mr Henry r Haliam appeared as the Prince, On his last 3 visit to Dunedin opinion was divided respect--3 ing his talent. There can be but one now. He 3 has evidently studied his profession, and freed himself from that tendency to a nasal tone which sometimes marred his best efforts. ‘ His i singing on Saturday evening was excellent both in tone and taste ; and he gave the introduced ballad of the “Pilgrim of Love” in a manner • that is seldom equalled. But the advantage of 1 .combined practice was shown most umuis--1 takeably in 1m duets with Miss May. In • duets individuality must be sacrificed to f some extent and unity of purpose aimed at. f This axiom in music was evidently acted upon, ftiid Ip consequence it is seldom that passages .so difficult we rendered so'correctly as in 3 “ Cinderella.-”' Miss Rambert and' Miss Howe - sustained the characters /jf Clorinde ! and Thishe very ably, and Messrs JieWtan, Templet ton, Vernon, and Wilkinson were very efficient - in the comparatively subordinate parts of Baron Pompolino, Dandini, Pedro, and Buttoni. 1 jtu f lvssfSj dramatic effect is more in request z than v,<?cai skill, and they were fully equal to f the occasion. Trie nuiet part of the Fairy Queen was allotted tp r Migs IS. Johnson. We e cannot accord equal praise /to the pantomime with the opera. The latter was refined and elg- ’ gant, but thelpantomime was boisterous, and, in many passages, vfjjgar. That uproarious fun ’ should be a leading feature jn a pantotpime . seems to be an inherited idea. We enjoy fqn and admire racy wit, and Punch has shown us ’ how these can be secui’ed without alludons by word _ and action calculated to offend morality and correct taste. That some of the performers in the pantomime forgot this is to be regretted, and we trust the expressions _of disapprobation with which vulgarity in song and action were condemned will lead to a representation more in accordance r with the refinement of the day. What was ’ said and what was done might have been ac- ’ captable a century ago. In these days we ; require arjt without vulgarity or indelicacy. . Dulness ffi dialogue. ap r d clumsiness in trick o would have beeh* disregarded for tbe sake of " the splendid scenery' and' which, holh a in tj;e opera aud pantomime, have neyt/r been hj surpassed ip Dunedin, Mr Willi.-? was called , before the curtain, and rpgeiyed ampst d,e----n cided expression of the delight with winch his e successful effects were witnessed, Denuded ftf its larrikinism and th? other accessories wp have mentioned, and which form no necessary '• part of the entertainment, there is enough in 8 the scenery and beautiful dancing of Mdlle. d Lester and Sir C. Newton to delight the > young, for whose pleasure a pantomime is t especially prepared, and we know sufficient of 8 the management to be able to say that no rape--9 tition of the objectionable parts will be per- ■- re.it