INDIAN FAMINE RELIEF DEMONSTRATION.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1038, 23 October 1877, Page 2

INDIAN FAMINE RELIEF DEMONSTRATION.

The morning broke very unpromising for the Leviathan fete given in aid of the Relief Fund, and the efforts of the committee, who had worked late and early for the last week, and very late last night, to make the affair a success, seemed likely to go for naught. About seven o’clock, however, the weather began to clear up, and, though bitterly cold at that hour, Mr Sol’s appearance augured well for a fine day, and a lovely one it eventually proved, a gentle westerly wind, about midday, softening what would otherwise have been considered warm weather.

About 10 a.m. the onlookers began to congregate at the corners of Cathedral Square, in front of the Gaiety Theatre, and along the lino of march which it was known the procession would take. Mr J. Hall, mounted on brown ... jenny, was exceedingly busy as marshall, ana the players (characters already given) having taken their seats in two of Millett and Saunders’s four-horse drags, the ladies of the Gaiety were handed into a two-horse trap driven by Mr Mitchell, while a large omnibus and other vehicles, being rapidly filled with funnily dressed individuals, who were to contribute towards the days’ fun, with clown and pantaloon preceding, all was ready for a start. But not quite ! The marshall hesitates only for a moment, and in an instant a white donkey, mounted by a policeman wearing as lugubrious a countenance as if he possessed a season ticket to attend funerals, comes forth, and is placed in the lead. Everything being now in readiness the “ white quadruple,” under a slight persuasion from D. 4, gently moves on, and as—- “ One touch of nature makes the whole world kin”— animal magnetism seems to pervade the whole line, and the start is simultaneous. Now Toomer’s band—not mentioned before, but now—breaks out in melody, and a turn is made round the square into Colombo street, the sight being laughable to the onlookers, and especially so to the “characters” who were thinly clad, as nearing the Bank of New Zealand they were better able to view the snow that had fallen overnight on the port hills. Down High street, and a turn into Cashel street, still looking beautiful; along Oxford terrace the cynosure of all eyes, Jem Baggs, pantaloon, and clown appearing as confident by this time as if they were born in a saddle; up the Lincoln road, and the cricket ground is reached, where regret is felt at having to leave the “carriages.” “ What a beautiful wicket! ” is the general expression, as gentle remmisences of the severe contests on the “oval” flit about those well developed aquilines, and having just strolled round Maple’s tent to be able to get a better look at the “ beautiful wicket,” the committee room is reached, and willow-per-fect, not deigning even to use a pad both sides I go inWho could describe the game ? But the field, ! with a descriptive reporter in the back ground 1 was a tout ensemble not to be easily forgotten. Not a solitary' chance was given, not a ball ever reached the bounds, not a player was stumped, not a wide given far enough away to prevent the player having a try for it, and not a catch was missed off the ground. Up to the time of our reporter leaving the scores , were as follows : Jem Baggs ... ... ... 0 Pantalron 0 Henri the Eighth ... ... 0 A Modern Barrister ... (very nearly) Clown 0 And many of the others left sitting. About this time the ground was all life, and Jem Baggs, “ playing” a wind instrument that : might once have been a clarionet, was at intervals assuring the multitude, from the plat - form of Richardson’s show (which was beautifully' illustrated in front with oil paintings), it was their interest to be in time, as, for sixpence, they might see the most fashionable and magnificent entertainment ever given. The actors were all G. V. Brookes, and after seeing the show most of them would feel ready to die, as it was the most quizzical, comical, fanciful entertainment ever given in this sphere, not to Count the heavy tragedy. Jem’s music was varied now and then by a solo or two on a, hurdy-gurdy without any “ innards,” and sweetly pretty music it made. However, tho sixpences and threepences (for children) rolled in, and, in short, the eutertaimeut provided was well worth the money. Cheap John, too, had his admirers, and, though good business was done at times, not one solitary bid could John get for that tempting - looking chignon (four plaits), though ho charmed like a thousand—“ it would have looked so, you know.” Terpsichore had his votaries, too, in the large marquee provided for the occasion, and the “fascination song,” to waltz time, lost none of its charms as discoursed by Button’s band. It is time to go to press, and now (2.30 p.m.) there must bo nearly 6000 people on. the ground, with crowds still streaming through the gardens and up the Lincoln road. We must again visit his Worship the Mayor, Messrs Wynn Williams, and S. P. Andrews, who look at the gate as if “in the cause” they would not object to your giving them something once more, a£d leave the feat for to* ajorrow.