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Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 844, 11 April 1871, Page 2

An example of an up-country evening entertainment is thus given by the Merino correspondent of the Hdmilton Spectator : — " Last Friday evening we were promised a treat in the shape of a lecture on 'politeness,' by aMr Charles Binghara, and as nearly all our townsfolk thought to benefit by it, and rub off a little of the bush life they had been accustomed to, they mustered in great force, but when the hour of opening came there wa3 no chairman to be had. After a good deal of persuasion one waa got, and ha introduced the lecturer, Mr Charles Bingham, who, after a few rambling remarks, sat down quietly on the corner of the table placed opposite to the chairman, and leisurely pulled out his spectacles, and after adjusting them carefully, commenced perusing a manuscript or something else he carrie-i ih his hand. He then commenced reading — say, for a minute— and then it took him about five minutes to make out the next sentence before he could proceed. The audience began then to see that they were sold, and called upon him to proceed, when to all such appeals his reply was— ' Arrah, hould on a bit, and I'll astonish you yet. Wait till I get entered on the subject, &c. Astonish, his audience he certrinly did, for after making an exhibition of himself for nearly "an hour, some one mercifully ended the meeting by extinguishing the lights, when a grand rush was made for the doors. The greater number waited outside until the lecturer, Mr Bingham, came out, whom they hooted and jeered, until he took refuge in a house having the door conveniently open,"