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Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 105, 20 October 1877, Page 2

The Wanganui press, whilst, congratulftf.ing the Marton people on their liberal contributions to the thdirtn Famine Fund, is beginning to point the'' finger at our Manawatu ' We believe the popular disposition here to' be quite as benevolent as it is anywhere else. The people are only waiting ; for some organised system of collecting to. be set on foot, and when '^bis is done they will come forward -cheerfully/ with their "contributions. We have already suggested the propriety of the civic '■'; body: taking the matter in hand. Their doing so would be likely to ensure ( a wider sympatKy than more private agencies could command. Meantime the people themselves need not : be wholly idle. - There is musical talent iii the: place which now might, be^niosfrrigateously ; exercised in winning bread ; for ttie hungry/ If the ladies in Palmerstbn will but exert tliemsely.es; in getting up a Famine Relief Concert, we venture to predict that, they will gather one of the largest audiences that have yet been assembled in- Palmersto'n. Moreover wep=believe that a concert for such, an object could be produced- almost free of '• . expense, and it need not in any way interfere" with the collecting of subscriptions otherwise. Our sister townships tod inight get up entertainments for the same object and join in our efforts to swell the common fund . to save our-fellow -creatures' from the ' bitterness of the bitterest death. ■ i The Foxton, Amateur Pramatic Club gave their inaugural performance on Tuesday •last hv the Public Hall, Foxton. Soon'after 8 o'clock the curtain rose on the comedietta "Lenpl, x nie Five .Shillings." The parts throughout this piece -were fairly sustained. '. Sain} (the^ .waiter).- ,was received by the public, with great: applause, and the part of: Mrs Ufojor Phobbs was very well acted. ' After an interval the tragic opera " Bbmbastes Furioso" (which was divided into j three acts so as to" allow of- the scenes benig. changed) was ':- successfully performed. Bombastes had a becoming amount of 'strut . and bounce, and the conception: pf^. 'the otKer characters -was: good. The dresses in thispiece were exceedingly good> and the background of the last scene (a; landscape) was a credit to the 'scenic artist;- The proscenium - was , tastefully decorated- with flags and had a very pretty appearance. The drop-curtain — as\is usual in the earlier performances of amateur, clubs— was very eccentric, refusing to go up when wanted to do so, and when up as obstinately refusing to come down again. ~ We would recommend mote powerful footlights being ÜB#d. We are glad to learn ..that .the entertainment ;was financially, aswell as, otKer--wise, successful. . „,..:, : - -■■■:'

On "Wednesday evening last a tea meeting and musical and literary eutfcrtainment took place in. the Ftyeatere' Hall in aid of the Wesleyin Harmonium Fuiid. The attendance of. adults at the' tea' was small, but the fSuhday^school children^ who had been intvited, mustered w&; andj&ght heartily en- , : j joyed themselves ' The/ftfter entertainment V • was well:ftttehded,.thetl^ll- being comfortably filled... A well-selected] programme of . songs and recitations . was gone through -. verySjreditably and without any hitch on -the-pai'fc- r of -the -performers^.;^JDh.e-; two pianoforte : overtures were tastefully executed and the accompaniment to the songs gave great satisfaction. The Scandinavian quintette raised the greatest storm j>f ap- . plause, but there were, a number of songs sung with great effect oy lady amateurs, and we are fairly puzzled ,,ta know . which '. name to print in^d lettera^fpr.; xjf thejfesti singers each had her peculiar charm ~itt*expresaion, vigor, or sweetness. THe quintette was " encored, so was the ' solb, : "'Jessie's Dreain;" and one' or two dthers^narrowly escaped the same catastrophe. :' r Channing r May" brought but charmingly a new voice which we may confidently ticket as an acquisition. The duets were deservedly appreciated. An unwonted feature .was the 'recitations— -especially that entitle d " Drowned," by a lady. "■ Captein.Eeece " ' was a comic recitation aridj; was well re-, ceiyed, but the'most enjoyable and best delivered piece was "Parrhasius." The^eydsV Simmonds and Hammond made .gome remarks at' the close of the coiioe^'/taP^ jitter thanking^ the ladies andgentlemeri 'whoiiad . assisted in the entertainment, also Mr. Bo e for lending his piano. The National An- . them closed a very pleasant evening; We are Borjry ; to^ b^e^p^W^dt^ told, over the County Obunbil repbrfc, : which'came to hand last toohite for insertion. Our readers wiliibe interested to know that the chairman of the Council has received a letter from thei Colonial:;Secreta;ry stating ' the decision of the Government to be against '-. advising the Governor, to, grant -the vßeparationqf[iManchester and rEwitea from. the Manawatu County. V .',.':'''■■'' •" ' : Sbine erf the larrakm'eleteent got into the ■Foresters' Hallj Palmerston, last Wednesday evening during the. concert, and conducted themselves as ; only larrakins ,can. ; The en- t joyment of many entertainments is impaired from r the same source. : i(lt is to : be hoped that in future the terrorS.oftheJaw will b© present in the person of a policeman. :: V : Dr. Lemon reports; that telegraph communication with Port Darwin has heari interrupted at Alice Springs since the 15th instant. Communicatvion by tfte Tasmfthian cable-, is ; also interrupted.; .Messages with the' words "Post" Melbourne '>' ; 'appended canvbe posted ironV Melbourne. -v, ■ -A*.'3tri. E. S. Thjririe:hbid3;hisaucf ion sale to-'day. in Fpxf oh/ dt/2 p.m; ; A; variety of \ goods ; 'artJ\.'advfertiBed.:';iFor--'8al©j:..,«l»"O. a quantity of secondhand tools, . ■ ._. We remind. t ; he Masonic fraternity of -the" meeting of the members i.of the Unil ed Manawatu Lodge that; will; lake place, on Tuesday night. .;