HERR BANDMANN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 158, 5 July 1881, Page 3

HERR BANDMANN.

The following from < ! Men of the Tirae" will be read with interest by those who are anticipating a treat on the arrival of the Bandmann Company Bandmann, Daniel •^fiwaid, a popular actor, born at Oas-sel, Germany, November Ist, 1839. Tbe instincfc lor acting was apparent in him at a very early age, for in his childhood he used to invite his playfellows to the cellar, to play scenes out of the Bible, snch aa "Adam and Eve," •when he spobe both the parts, and filied up the dialogue with Hashes of lightning through a tin pipe wben God called upon Caio for hia bro her Abel. At the age of IS he made his first appearance on the stage at the Court Theatre of New-Shelitz, where he at once became a great favorite with the 'Gr__na Duchess of Mecklenburg, who lock a personal interest in h°s pro-fes.-ion. His next engagement wss at Prague, whence be proceeded to Grii'z Weimar, Pestb, end Vienna. In all these towns be acquired a great popularity as an actor of Shakoperean characters Failing health, consequent on severe Btudy, necessitated a voyage to New York, where, after a short rest, he was r*. quested by his fellow countrymen to play for a few nights at the Stadt-Theatre, where hia acting speedily attracted the uot*-. ce of journalists and critics, who pronounced the enthusiastic German to be one of the greatest "•actors ot the period. Ifc was in New York that Mr. Bandmann first began the study of the Eng'iah language, and it is remarkable that in six weeks' time he was . b!e to act Shylock at Niblo's Garden, speaking the language of its author — his teacher being an accomplished English lady. His success was highly encouraging. The German pky of " JN'arcisse' was afterwards translated for him, and with a repertoire embracing " Hamlet," "Richard the Third," "Othello." "lago," "Benedick," and "Richelieu," "he mado a tour of five yeara through the United States, his success beiug really wonderful. He played the part of Hamlet in Philadelphia, by invitation of the Shakespere Society, upon the occasion of the tercentary of the Swan of Avon's birthday ; and so highly was his style of acting appreciated that a crown of laurels in solid silver was presented to him asa memorial of the occurrence. In Han Francisco he was presented with a handsome gold medal, upon which were placed his initials in diamonds and other precious stones. His career in America •was a very triumphant one, but his great ambition was to play in London. Accordingly in February, 1868, he appeared at the Lyceum Theatre in " Narcisse," his success being so great that the late Lord Lytton, who witnessed the programme, invited him to Enebworth, when his lordship said he was the ouly actor he had seen since the days of Macready, who inspired him to work again for the stage. An intimacy sprarjg.up between them, and Lord Lytton re-wrote for Mr Bandmann his drama of " The Sea Captain," which was produced at the Lyceum Theatre, under the title of "The EightM Heir," and had a run of three months. Mr Bandmann next made a tour \hrough the English provinces ; and in 1869 he went to Australia, where he stayed for twelve months. He returned to England by way of Honolulu, where he played before the iate King Xamehameha, who invited him to his palace. In January, 1871, he played once more in Berlin, in his native tongue, Hamlet, Shyloek, and Othello, creating a most decided enthusiasm, which was flatteringly acknowledged by the entire Press. Since his return lie has made three tours through the United Kingdom."

At Grafton (N.S.W.), owing to the excite ment cansed by the smallpox, scarcely any person will purchase vegetables from the Chinese. Bacon, a seaman, whose father resides at Port Chalmers, was the first seized with small-pox on board the Cbarles Worsley, •which arrived last week from London. He ■was unvaccinated, and is very badly marked. The carpenter and another seaman, who were vaccinated, and who caught the disease, are only very slightly marked. The halfdozen passengers on board were kept aft, and so escaped the infection. The name of the mate, who died, was Peregrine. The Wairarapa JDady is responsible for tbe following story:— On Monday last a good -woman went to the police station at Masterton to lodge a complaint. She said that some wicked person had been tryiDg in the sight to throw her husband's house off the piles. The sergeant replied, "Why, yon foolish woman, it wag the earthquake I" (i What earthquake ?" said sht. -- Ytu are nakiDg fun of me." Tha compiuviatt ut terly refused to accept the explai«_j on offered, and turned away expresßitg a». opinion tbat the police we" s no good. A Melbourne telegram of the 27th June says : _The Orient steamer Protos has ~u ea.fr> nuTiEcd loading frozen meat, and is expected to sail at the end of June, with 4000 sheep and 200 cattle. The steamer has been chartered for one more journey from Melbourne to London. A portion of the present consignment w^s frozen by the Australian lea Company, and the whole is of first-rate quality. Some game is also to be sent Home by the Profcas. The steamer Europa will be the next employed for this traffic. The Cuzco, which arrives to-moi-row: brings a large consignment of frozen fish' ■which will be submitted to public auction tor morrow. The Pott of Saturday says :— A caucus "of Ministerial supporters wsb held in the Parliamentary Buildings this morning. The •whole proceedings which lasted upwards of two hours, are kept as profound a secret as it is possible for Buch proceedings to be kept. From whßt we can learn, there appears to have been an attendance of 26 or 28 members, including Messrs. Dick (Colonial Secretary). Edllestou, Johnston (Post-master-General),- and Atkinson (Colonial Treasurer). The disorganised state of the House was talked over at considerable length, and several members pressed upon the party the necessity of slicking to their colors more closely- than tbey, had hithertodone. It is said Mr Wakefield made a long speech Btrongly orging the course. The question of the 20 per cent, grants out of the land fund to local bodies is said to have taken np a iarge portion of the time of the meeting, several members strongly pressing for the 20 per cent, grant to be restored. Mr Wright, who had tabled a notice of motion calling for tbe appointment of a Select Committee "to enquire into the financial position of the New Plymouth Harbor Board, in respect to its present snd future relations to the pnblic creditor," ia stated to have said at the caucus tbat he wonld not forego his right to bave that matter sifted to tbe bottom. It is reported that no resolution was come to npon any snbject, bnt several of the party think the proceedings exceedingly satisfactory, and that what has taken place will tend to strengthen the hands of Governpent. The disorganisation of the party &r ose, they say, from the fact that they are too strong, and some of tbe headstrong ones cannot easily be kept in band. Ie ia itftted.tt.ftt aboat 86>t>seoteef were Bceoaated*