NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 95, 19 September 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Sporting.—Mr Campbell's colt Castaway is scratched for all his engagements. Cricket.—The annual opening match between the married and single members of the Papanui Cricket Club will be played to-day on the club's ground, Harewood road. Play to commence at 2 p.m. North Town Belt.—The City Council intimate that persons desirous of obtaining earth, can obtain the same at the works being carried out at the North town belt, on application to the city surveyor.

Lyttelton Borough Schools. —We hear that the Lyttelton Borough school committee have taken over the new schools from the architect and builder, and that they will be opened at the beginning of next month. New Brighton.—The opening of the season at New Brighton will be celebrated on Thursday next by a ball and supper at Hopkins' Hotel. The steamer Brighton will also recommence running on that day. Baptist Church, Lincoln Road.— Anniversary services will be preached in this church to-morrow, morning and evening. A tea meeting will be held in the church on Tuesday evening, after which addresses will be delivered. The Mail.—The San Francisco mails arrived in the Phoebe yesterday morning, and were sent through by special train to Christchurch. It was a large mail, consisting of over forty bags, and the mail agent, Mr Matthews, states that the mail for this province is larger than any other for New Zealand.

1.0.G.T. —The usual weekly session of the Dauntless Lodge, No. 14, was held last evening in Gee's schoolroom. Three new members were elected and two initiated. Bro.! Donaldson, G.D.R.W.G.T. of the Alexandra Lodge, Timaru, and agent under the General Government for the Life Assurance Department, attended and gave an explanation of the proposed life assurance scheme to be carried on in connection with the friendly societies throughout New Zealand. Bro. Donaldson, in his address, referred more particularly to agencies which may be started under the auspices of Good Templar Lodges. After the usual routine business had been transacted, the lodge was closed with due ceremony. BiDi.f. Society, kangioka.—The Ran giora branch of the Canterbury Auxiliary Bible Society, was to have held its annual meeting in the Literary Institute, Rangiora, on Thursday evening, but as the attendance was very limited, in consequence of the weather, the deputation from Christchurch—the Revs; J. Buller, A. F. Douglas, and F. Knowles, and Mr J. P. Jameson—addressed only a few remarks to those present, and intimated that they would be willing to come up again at a future time. The meeting was therefore postponed until further notice.

Kaiapoi Loyal Obange Lodge.—A Royal Arch Purple lodge in connection with the above, was held on Thursday evening, in the hall which has recently been purchased by the members of the society in Sewell street. There was a numerous attendance of visiting brethren from Lyttelton and Christchurch. Four brethren were initiated to the Royal Arch Purple degree, and after the transaction of the routine business of the lodge, it was closed in due form. Five members have been nominated for initiation at next meeting. Entertainment.—The combined entertainment of St Luke's and Avonside at the Oddfellows' Hall last night drew a crowded house, the hall being filled to overflowing. The first part comprised vocal and instrumental pieces which went well. In the second part the trial scene " Bardell v Pickwick" was presented en costume, and created roars of laughter. The various characters were well filled, particularly Sergeants Suubbin and Buzfuz, and Mr Winkle, the latter being especially good throughout. Hearing the immortal " Samival," however, speak in "guid braid" Scotch instead of the language of Cockayne was somewhat of a novelty. Taken throughout, however, the performance was very creditable.

Theatre Royal,—The drama of " ■ zia Borgia" was produced last evening at the theatre, and it is with very great pleasure that we are enabled to commend very highly the manner in which it was played and put upon the stage generally. Mrs Hill played the Duchess and did so in a manner which agreeably surprised us, alike from the intensity of passion she infused into the part, and the great dramatic power she evinced. The varied passions which are so powerfully developed in the character, from the deep degradation she feels at her name being revealed to Gennaro by Maffeo Orsini at the close of the first act, followed by a burning desire for vengeance, to the pleading for his life with the Duke in the second act, and culminating in the horror she evinces at finding that she has poisoned her own son, were all most powerfully and faithfully depicted by Mrs Hill, and we have not seen her to so great advantage in any part she has played this season. Mr Steele was the Gennaro and played the young soldier of the Republic excellently. He was more especially good in the scene with Lucrezia which ends the second act. Mr Keogh was quite out of place as the Duke ; there was a lack of diguity in the impersonation, and instead of portraying an injured husband, bent on avenging his wrongs, yet masking his purpose to make his revenge more certain, he represented the character as that of the hero of a transpontine melodrama. Mr Musgravc played Oubotta carefully, but villains are not his forte, hence ho was not so successful as he usually in. The other characters were fairly filled, The "Swiss Cottage" concluded the performance. 11 is to be regretted for their own mike thtit the management did not produce Lhis piooo earlier in the season, and we hope (hoy will repeat it. To-night Stirling Coyne's drama of "The Woman in Red," in which, as playgoers will recollect, Mrs Steele made such a hit here some time since, will be produced, j

Cube Boating Club, Kaiapoi.—The adjourned annual meeting was held at the Pier Hotel on Wednesday evening. Present— Messrs Kerr (president), Smith, G. H. Wearing, Oram, Hallier, G. W. Wearing, and W. Taylor. The chairman having explained the business of the meeting, the following officers were elected:—Mr E. G. Kerr, president; Mr G. H. Wearing, vice-president ; and Mr R. W. Smith, custodian. Votes of thanks were passed to the officers of the club, and, after transacting some routine business, the meeting adjourned.