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Evening Star, Issue 4204, 17 August 1876, Page 2

The Zealandia, with the San Francisco mails, is making extraordinary despatch down the coast. She arrived at Lyttelton at eight o’clock this moraine: and left at 9.40; consequently she may be expected at Port Chalmers at daylight to-morrow. At the City Police Court this morning, amongst other bye-law cases, a cabman named Henry Jones was fined 10s and costs for carrying passengers in his cab while engaged to Mr Walter on the last election day for the purpose of conveying voters to and from the polling-booths. The employes on the Otago railways have collected upwards of LIOO for the widow and children of John Young, who died about a month ago of injuries received while shunting tracks at Stirling station. This gratifying fact was made public last evening at a meeting of those interested in the matter. The addition of another aisle to St. Paul’s Church, which is much required, will now, it is expected, soon be made. On more than one occasion have the parishioners authorised the Vestry to cany cut the work, and after the successful meeting held yesterday (when over L2OO was promised) there can be no doubt about raising the necessary funds. The monthly practice of the Dunedin Fire Brigade took place last night, when there were twenty-four members present. On returning to the station-house the Brigade held a meeting, Gapt. Atkinson in the chair. After some discussion it was resolved “ That the secretary forward a letter to Superintendent WLitford, of the Wellington Brigade, requesting to know when it will be convenient for the Wellington team to carry out the necessary arrangements for running off for the cup won at the late Ballarat Demonstration, as it had been arranged by the two teams while at Ballarat that whichever team won the toss, and afterwards a prize, the same should be run off for in New Zealand on their return.”

The inspection of the North Dunedin Eifks was held last evening by Acting-Ad-jauuit Eagerty. There were present Capt. Koevcs, Lieutenants Pell and Pollock, four sergeants, and thirty-four rank and file. After i rill the acting-adjutant congratulated Capt. Reeves on the soldierly appearance of his men, and the scrupulously clean conditio:; i i which he found all the arms and accoutrements of the Company. TheCompany’s annual prizes wete then presented to the .v iauers during the season, and Capt. Reeves announced that Mr Hutchinson, who is an honorary member and was formerly an r ■. tive member of the Company, had handed him a cheque for LIO, to be invested in a prize to be shot for. Two new members were elected and two ballotted for. At a meeting held subsequently for the purpose of considering the desirability of instituting a series of concerts in aid of the funds of the Company, a committee was appointed to carry out that object. At the Princess’s Theatre last evening “The Two Orphans,” a domestic melodrama first produced in Dunedin duiing Mr Wheat Leigh's visit, was played. The plot of this powerful drama is well known, and it therefore remains only to notice the manner in which the 'characters were filled last night. The principal credit of the very successful way in which “ The Two Orphans ” was performed is due to Miss Colville’s pathetic representation of Homiette, and though the part is a very trying one, we never saw that lady to better advantage. Mr Hoskins is brought prominently before the audience in the part of the valet Picard, and in his hands the worthy servant is made a highly popular character. Mr Lingard appears as the cripple Pierre Fouchard, and although there is but little call upon his talents during the earlier portion of the drama, none but an actor gifted with great dramatic power could invest the last act with its proper effect. Mr Lingard was rewarded with great applause for his spirited and forcible acting in the last scene, which indeed was played admirably by all the characters which took part in it. Mrs Lingard, as the blind girl Louise, has also a character of which little is seen till the last act, but in that she was all that could be desired. Mr Harford looked and played the bully Jacques Fouchard admirably, and Mr Douglas was at home as the Chevalier. The representative of the old hag La Fouchard was perhaps a little too rough even for such an abandoned woman as she was oast for. The rest of the characters, including the Countess (Miss Howard) and the Lady Superior of the prison (Miss Lawrence) were filled in a most satisfactory manner. “ Tho Two Orphans ” will be repeated tonight. To-morrow evening, by special ioquost, “ Our Boys ” will be reproduced, ami Mr Lingard will appear in twelve entirely new lightning sketches.

iqv ui juycua* Howarde Burlesque Company, is in Dunedin making arrangements for the troupe’s appearance in Dunedin some time about ChristJJJ* 8 ; Owing to their successful season in Christchurch, they remain there till after the November races. A meeting for the purpose [of forming a Draughts Club was held in the Pier Hotel last evening. Mr D. R. Hay occupied the chair, and about thirty gentlemen were present, After some discussion it was resolved 1 That a Club be formed, to be called the Dunedin Draughts Club.” A committee of seven members was appointed to draw up a code of rules and report to a general meeting on Wednesday evening. At about eight o’clock this morning a two--B™ir®y house at Darley, owned by Richard Atkinson, was burnt to the ground. The fire is supposed to have originated from some defect in the chimney, as it broke out in the roof. The house was insured in the New Zealand office for L4OO. The owner, besides his household furniture and effects, has lost a ? sum of L 59, which was in the house at the time. Through the efforts of some neighbors the fire was prevented from spreading to the adjoining buildings. Mr George Darrell’s first appearance in Dunedin in “ Hamlet” some months ago will be well remembered, and the fact that almost everybody here then saw his impersonation of the character of the Danish Prince must be held to account for the rather meagre attendance at the Queen’s Theatre last evening when “ Hamlet ” resumed possession of the boards. Though the audience was small, it was very enthusiastic, and both Mr and Mrs Darrell, the latter of whom played Queen Gertrude splendidly, had several calls before the curtain. Mr Steele, as the Ghost, appeared in one of his best parts, and Miss W illis’s Ophelia is also well-known for its pleasingness. The minor parts were well filled, and the tragedy as a whole went oft capitally. To-night “Lear ” will be produced, serving to exhibit Mrs Darrell in a character she has made particularly her own. To-morrow evening Mr Darrell will take a benefit, and on that occasion the tragic play “ Ruy Bias ” will be put on the stage; and in addition both Mr and Mrs Darrell will give some of their best recitations.

A most determined burglar, named Robt. Butler, has almost entirely occupied tbe attention of the presiding Justices at the City Police Court during its sittings yesterday and to-day. Whether the above is his correct name or not it is difficult to tell, as the only information that can be obtained of Butler is that he arrived here from Victoria about nine months ago. The success with which his robberies were attended, however, would give the idea that he had acquired a proficiency in this line of business elsewhere. The total value of the articles which he stole was about L 150; and had it not been for the fortunate occurrence that be pawned some of them, he might have still been at large. In a carpet bag, found at his place of residence, a couple of pistols and a small crow-bar were discovered, the former loaded and all ready for use. Butler, who was only represented by counsel in the first charge against him, has not the appearance of one who could perpetrate such crimes. He was committed for trial at the next criminal session of the Supreme Court. # We notice that a petition is in course of signature at Green Is'aud for the opening of a lodge in connection with the 1.0.0. F. Ihe Kev. P. P. Agnew will lee*ore to-mor-row (Friday) evening, on “ Convict Life in New douth Wales,” in the Masonic Hall, Port Chalmers. J The Dunedin Football Club will play their I final game this season next Saturday, oa tbe Oval, when the team selected to play the Oamaru Club will stand against all comers. A seres of lectures has been arranged to be given in the Caversham Presbyterian v hurch; the first, which takes place on Wednesday next, will ba delivered by Dr. Stuart, on “ England’s First Colony.” A handicap race, distance half-a-ruile, is announced to take placa at the Skating Rink, Octagon, on Saturday. The competition will commence at 8.30 pm, and intending competitors are requested to give in their names before noon to-morrow.