NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 320, 22 June 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Board of Education. —The usual ordinary meeting of the Board was held last evening, but in view of the approaching change in the system, very little but ordinary routine business was transacted. Intercolonial Cricket Match.— A committee meeting was held to-day. Present — Messrs E. C. J. Stevens (chairman), Fowler, and Sweet. The following letters were read: —Mr Goldsmith’s letter of Bth inst; Mr Worry’s, of 17th inst; Mr. Meares, of Ist inst. It was resolved—“ That Mr Meare’s estimate of £750 is generally approved for total contribution from all provinces, viz:— £175 each from Canterbury, Otago, and Auckland, and £ll2 10s each for Nelson and Wellington.” Resolved —“That it is desirable that Mr Meares, Dunedin, should be asked to act as secretary, and to forthwith obtain the decision of all the provinces, and send a final answer to Mr Goldsmith by the next Australian steamer.” Resolved—“ That as it seems doubtful whether the Wellington and Nelson contributions will together reach the sum of £225, Canterbury will raise Mr Meare’s estimate for it of £175 to £2OO if Otago will do the same, and that Auckland be requested to do likewise. ” Resolved —“That a copy of these resolutions, and an explanatory letter be ■written to Mr Gold smith at once, ”

Lyttelton Borough School.— After a vacation of three weeks, owing to the great falling off in the attendance from the prevailing epidemic, the school re-opened yesterday, when a fair number of scholars weie present. During the holidays the playground has been put in order by the hard labor gang, and considerable progress made with the dwarf wall and caretaker’s house. Monday Popular Concerts—Notwithstanding the great counter-attraction of the b’akir of Oolu at the Theatre Royal, the second of the series of popular concerts given under the management of Mr J. T. M. Smith, was largely attended last evening, the Oddfellows’ Hall being filled. A capital programme of solos, part songs, choruses, fee, was gone through, many of the items being loudly applauded, and, in the case of Miss Taylor’s concertina solos, redemanded. Altogether the performance was a decided and complete success, and we are glad to be able to congratulate Mr Smith not only on the success attendant upon his efforts to cater for public amusement, but also upon the really excellent programmes which he has put before his patrons at the two concerts of the series. Cricket. —The New Zealand Times of the 16th inst says :—A well-attended meeting of those in favor of playing a cricket match with the combined Melbourne and Sydney team took place yesterday evening at the Empire Hotel. Mr Bromley occupied the chair. A letter received from the Melbourne Cricket Club having been read and fully discussed, it was resolved,—* 1 That it is desirable that a match be arranged to be played in Wellington with the Australian team, in accordance with the terms of the letter received.” A provisional commiftee was formed, consisting of the secretaries of the various cricket clubs in Wellington, and the following gentlemen Messrs Buchanan, Marchant, Mason, Webb, Jackson, Knapp, Werry, Kaye, Barton, Lowe, W. Salmon, Dees, Rous, Marten, Mace, J. Salmon, Bishop, Russell, Bock, and Armitage, with power to add to their number. Mr Werry was appointed secretary to the provisional committee. A deputation, consisting of Messrs Mace, Werry, Lowe, and Stevenson, were empowered to wait on the trustees of the Cricket Ground, in order to ascertain what steps they would be prepared to take as regards the improvement of the ground in anticipation of the contemplated visit. The secretary (Mr Werry) was desired to at once communicate with the Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland, and Nelson cricket clubs with a view to ascertain what action they proposed taking in the matter, and also to invite the co-operation of the various clubs in this province.

Fakir of Oolu, —To say that the theatre was full last evening on the occasion of the Fakir of Oolu’s performance would be but slightly to convey the idea of the very large and enthusiastic audience which assembled. Several new items were introduced into the programme to which we shall refer presently, but we may say generally now that they fully bore out his claim to be considered the best illusionist that has yet visited the colonies. In the first part the Fakir introduced a novelty in the shape of reading writing enclosed in sealed packets, and handed up from the audience. These were placed in a glass vase held by the Fakir’s attendant at some distance, and Dr Sylvester then read the contents of the packets out one after another. At the end of the trick the Fakir proceeded into the body of the theatre, and placing one of the sealed packets on his arm, which was bared for the purpose, he requested one of the audience to open the packet, which, on being done, the words written on it appeared upon the doctor’s arm in blood red characters. This clever • illusion was very neatly performed, and drew forth loud applause. The second novelty was somewhat of a sensational character, being styled Aneotos, or an illustration of a legend of the Hartz mountains. The story, as told by Dr Sylvester before the illusion was performed, may be shortly summarised as follows:—A conspiracy against the life of a grand duke having been discovered, the principal in the plot was arrested, but all means to make him reveal his suspected accomplices failed. An alchymist, however, stated that he would be enabled by magic arts to make the criminal confess after death. Accordingly the execution took place, and the sequel is told by the performance of the illusion. On the curtain rising an apparently headless body was seen lying on the stage, the executioner with a long sword standing by. The newly severed head is seen on a sort of swinging platform suspended by ropes from the ceiling, the lime light thrown on it giving it a most ghastly appearance. The Fakir then questions the head, and in response it replies, stating that the criminal alone was the originator of the plot. Altogether though, as we have said, partaking somewhat of the horrible, this illusion is one of the cleverest and at the same time most incomprehensible ever seen in the colonies. The last novelty was the following round the stage, by the mere motion of the Fakir’s fan, of Miss Daisy Sylvester while suspended in mid-air, several of the audience being on the stage and the gas all over the house full up. This was also most cleverly executed; and was loudly applauded. The fairy fountain was as charming as ever, and was deservedly warmly received by the audience. The programme as now given is a most entertaining one and well worthy a visit. The Fakir will appear again this evening, and on Saturday a mid-day performance will be given.