Local Items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 754, 20 January 1870, Page 2

Local Items.

F. F. Ormond. Esq., of Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, has been appointed a Coroner for the Colony. The s.s. Phcebe may be expected from Wellington this afternoon, and is announced to steam for Auckland at noon to-morrow. We learn that at a meeting of the Napier Rifle Volunteers, held last evening, Mr W. R. Robinson was elected captain, Mr J. J. Torre lieutenant, and Mr J. Close ensign. The Flying Squadron arrived at Lyttelton yesteiday. We observe that the N Z.S.N". Company will grant return tickets, available to the '. 14th February, at single fares, to any of the usual ports of call of the Company's steamers. Waipawa Sabbath School Soiree —We are indebted to a correspondent for the following item : " The first soiree of the children attending the Waipawa Sabbath School took place in the school-room on the evening of Wednesday, 12th inst, and was attended by upwards of 200 persons. Tea and other refreshments having been served and heartily enjoyed, those assembled joined the Rev. Mr Taylor in prayer. Short speed jes were made by the chairman (Mr Harding) and others, diversified by music and singing . by the ladies. An exhibition of the magic lantern followed; after which a few select hymns were sung very sweetly and tastefully by the children. The National Anthem having been sung, proceedings were brought to a close about half-past nine—all being high, ly delighted with the evening's entei tainment." Dr. Carr.—This gentleman gave the first of his series of seances last evening, in the Oddfellows' Hall, to a pretty good house, though not quite so full as we expected to see it. We have neither time nor space at our disposal this morning to do that justice to the subject that we wish , but must content ourselves with remarking that the Doctor's preliminary oration gained the lapt attention of the audience, his delineations of character of a number* of wellknown volunteers from the company were acknowledged to be particularly ht?ppy and correct; while the manifestations of the phenomena of electro-biology and mesmerism were as striking and convincing as any we have ever seen, and such as we should regard as sufficient to carry conviction to all but the determinedly sceptical, whom, of course, nothing could convince. We observe that the Doctor gives three more seances, and have no doubt that they will be before crowded houses.

The meeimg of the Napier Debating 01ub, advertised for last Tuesday, has been postponed to Tuesday next. - A Proclam\tion in the ?Tew Zealand Gazette further prorogues the meeting of the General Assembly to Tuesday, 29th March. Departure of the 18thRegt. — The Port yesterday presented au unusually animated appearance, the greater part of the town having turned out to witness the departure 'from our shores, by H.M.S. Virago, of the detachment of the 2nd battalion 18th Regt., so long stationed here. The men were accompanied from the barracks by the Napier Brass Band, which played " Garyowen" (the regimental air), "The Return March," " Auld Lang Syne/' and other appropriate music. As boat after boat left the wharf to the drains of "Auld Lang Syne," the « men received quite an ovation. There now onl} 7 remains some 18 men, who, with the women and children and baggage, will most likely leave to morrow in the s.s. Phoebe, Napier Gatiricx Club. —Tuesday night was the one appointed by the Garrick Club for the benefit of the Misses Williams, and though, as is usual on a benefit night, the weather was very unfavorable, the house —especially in the front seats—was very well filled. The performance opened with the overture to " Tancredi," admirably performed by the band, and at 8 o'clock the curtain rose to the comic drama of "All that Glitters is not Gold." We believe this has not been presented before in Napier—at any rate the company contri\ed to keep the interest of the audience fully excited to the end of the piece. Mr Milner admirably personated the accomplished villain, "Sir Arthur Lassell," whose superficial " glitter " might so readily pass for " gold; " and Mr Tom Kemp, as " Stephen Plum," gave an equally good representation of sterling qualities with a rough and vulgar exterior. Mr Wilson, as "Jasper Plum," was intensely amusing—and in the scene in which he upbraids hi« son Stephen with " bringing such a blight upon the Plums," was particularly ludicrous. Mr Swan decidedly shone as "Toby Twinkle," keeping the audience in roars of laughter each time < he made his appearance. The important part of " Martha Gibbs," the noble and devoted factory girl,— a part requiring talents of a very varied character, —had full justice done to it by Miss Williams ; and Miss G. Williams made an admirable "Lady YaleriaWestendleigh." " Miss Deßrathwaite" as old "Lady Leatherbridge" was certainly hideous and malicious enough to satisfy the most fastidious. The minor part of "Frederic Plum" was very creditably sustained by Mr Brooking. At the close of the piece Mr Swan and the two ladies were called before the cm tain, and heartily applauded. A musical interlude followed. The song " Silver moonlight winds are blowing," by a lady and three gentlemen, was deservedly encored, when the song, " When this cruel war is over " was substituted. The clear voice of the lady was especially noticeable in both pieces. Next came selections from " Martha," followed by the song and chorus, " O, lady fair." An encore was again called for, but was not granted. The last item on * the programme was the burlesque extravaganza, " Aladdin, or the Wonderful Scamp." The scenery painted for this piece reflected great credit on Mr Kemp, and all the actors entered fully into the spirit of nonsense with which the piece overflows. Many of the puns it contains are positively ati-ocious. The makeup of Mr Kemp as the "Widow Twankay," and of Miss Williams as "Aladdin," were much admired. The illuminations with colored fir&s produced a very beautiful effect; and the audience at the close testified •their hearty appreciation of the evening's entertainment.