The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1877.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 198, 22 August 1877, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1877.

Wb are under the impression that we had on previous occasions seen the Oddfellows' Hall as closely packed as was possible, but we are compelled to admie thafc until last night we had never seen its holding capacity thoroughly tested. Every square inch of available space v/as occupied, and it is no exaggeration to say thafc nover before was such a crush seen in Nelson. The occasion of the gathering was the dramatic entertainment given by the men of H.M.S. Sappho in aid of the Queen Bee Relief Fund. The first part consisted of the two-act drama entitled "Harold Hawk, or tha Convict's Revenge, ' the whole of the characters being sustaiaed by members of the ship's crew "Haroiy the villain of the piece, was allotted to Mr Bramley, whose acting was most creditable, especially in the second act, when he appeared as a bushranger in the garb of an escaped convict and was about to wreak his revenge on the women whom as a girl he had loved, but who had given her hand fco another. " Joe Lobkins," Mr J. Wheatley the captain of the maintop, displayed a remarkable talent for low comedy, and kept the house in a roar with his comicalities The get up of the ladies was capital, although the wigs and dresses failed to impart to the sturdy Jacks by whom they were represented, that delicate feminine appearance which would be looked for, for instance, in Jessie Gray, the heroine of the piece, and in I nothing were the acting powers of Leonard \ Lincoln (Mr J. Lowrie) more clearly shown I than m the stolidity of countenance he pre- | served while complimenting his sweetheart m rapturous language on the possession of ? n^ a^ , , lc 3 face -" The whole of the parts in the little drama were carefully performed, and the Sappho is to be congratulated upon having so clever a company on board as they must assist to while away many a weary hour The usual tedium of the interval was relieved by songs by Messrs Scaife, Letts, Wheatley, and Jones Jand a step dance by the two latter, and thia was followed by the farce "A Fish out of Water," which, although it created much laughter, wenfc a little heavily owing to ona of the most important parts having to be be taken at a moment's notice by one who had never seen it before. In spite of this drawback the audience who were in a thoroughly good humor appeared to thoroughly appreciate the efforts of the actors to give them ac evening's amusement. The total receipts at the door were £27 18s, but this was exclusive of tickets sold at the door. Owing to the crush several people were deprived of the opportunity of paying at the door, and they will probably be glad to learn thafc thenentrance fees may be handed in to the office of this paper. The Naval Brigade's Calico Ball last night passed off with great spirit notwithstanding the attractions in other directions. Between twenty and thirty were in the hall, and the galleries were filled with spectators. The dresses were so exceedingly good that the judges had the greatest difficulty in awarding the prizes, but ultimately decided in favor of Miss Whiting, who appeared as Spring, and Mr M'Cabe as King Charles II Dancing was kept up until a late hour, and all present were unanimous iu pronouncing it to be one of the pleasantest dances they had ever attended. In the fourth page of to-days issue will be found an interesting accouut of the Karamea Settlement by a correspondent of the Westport T,mes. The writer was the successful candidate in the recent election of a representative of the Karamea Riding in the Buller Conniy Council.