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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4785, 24 July 1876, Page 2

A public meeting will be hold in the Provincial Council Hall this afternoon, at three o'clock, for the purpose of considering the best means by which to perpetuate the memory of the late Dr. Peatherston. The passengers who arrived at the port of Wellington by sea during the past week numbered 310. Of these eight came from Australia, 126 from the South Island, and 176 from ports in the North Island. There arrived in the port of Wellington during the past week sixteen steamers, with a registered tonnage of 6629. Fifteen small sailing craft arrived, whose tonnage combined amounted to 538. The number of steamers that cleared but during the same period was 16, whoso tonnage amounted to 6602. There were seven sailing vessels cleared out, with a carrying capacity of 251 tons., An important sale of freehold' properties will be held this day by Mr. J. H. Vermeil, at his. rooms, f Hunter-street. ' • is the Wellington Club and premises opposite Government buildings, Mr. Solomon’s ; property opposite the-Odd Fellows' Hall, villa, residence in Boulcott-street,; and cottages m Victoria-place, ■ i

The only business at -the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday was one of drunkenness, the offender being fined 10s. and costs, with the usual alternative. , j j A musical and literary entertainment in ajd of the Presbyterian -Sunday-school funds, will be held in the schoolroom, Willis'-street, this, evening

There was a pretty fair attendance of football players at the Basin Reserve on Saturday, and some excellent play was shown. No goals were kicked.

.. A misprint occurred.in a local referring to the inquest on the body of Wm. Crowtber. Dr. Diver was made to state that death was caused by <! concussion ” of the brain instead of congestion. ■ , It is stated that a -large majority of the. teachers in Government schools have a strong objection to the existence of local committees, and would prefer being governed by the central boards for which the Bill now before Parliament provides. We have to acknowledge the receipt from Mr. Hayter, Victorian Statist, of a quantity of valuable statistics in respect of population, finance, agriculture, &o ; also, parliamentary papers from Mr. Eeresford, clerk of the South Australian Parliament. The Provincial Government offices will be closed to-day in consequence of the death ofDr. Featherston, and a meeting to consider the best way of perpetuating the memory of the deceased is to be held at three o’clock in the afternoon.

A musical and literary entertainment is to be given this evening by members of the Wellington Literary Association at St. John’s Presbyterian Church schoolroom. These entertainments are exceedingly popular, and no doubt there will be a good attendance. The man Blair, who was arrested last week on the representation of a telegram from Dunedin, to the effect that he was a fraudulent debtor, will be brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, and charged with endeavoring to abscond from the colony. He will be remanded to Dunedin and there tried.

There was a very good attendance at the Theatre Eoyal on Saturday night, when “ Hamlet” was produced for the first time during the present season. The performance of this, the greatest of Shakspere’s plays, was successful, the success being attributable to the really magnificent acting of Mr. F. M. Bates. The most fastidious critics could not desire to see a better impersonation of a part in which so many really good actors have utterly failed, and the audience of Saturday night were not slow to mark their appreciation of it. He was letter - perfect in the text, clear and expressive in enunciation, and as to the business of the part admirable. Unfortunately he was not so well supported as he should have been, and this makes the credit due to him all the greater. Mrs. Bates’ Ophelia was a good piece of acting, though the part is not so suited to her as many in which she appears. We hope to see this piece reproduced. To-night the company appear in burlesque, “The Invisible Prince” being the piece announced. As this burlesque has not been previously played in Wellington, it will doubtless attract a good house, notwithstanding the powerful counter attraction presented in the first appearance of Mdlle. lima -de Murska at the Odd Fellows’ Hall.

To-night Mdlle. lima De Murska will appear, for the first time' in Wellington, in the Odd Fellows’ Hall. A great number of reserved seats have been taken, and there can be no doubt that every part of the hall will be crammed, the appearance of a lady so distinguished in the profession not being of common occurrence either here or in the Australian colonies. It will be noticed by advertisement that arrangements have been made for a special train to leave for the Lower Hutt after each concert. Mdlle. lima de Murska made her debut in London about eight years since, and in the season of 1869 she sang at Covent Garden in company with Titiens, Adelina Patti, and other artistes. Here she greatly distinguished herself in the operas “Linda di Chamouni” and “ H Flauto Magico ;” she undertook the part of the Queen in “ Les Huguenots,” and Elvira in “I Puritan!;” and again in the autumn season of the same year she was most successful as Ophelia in Mr. Thomas’ “Hamlet,” a role which had been so well sustained by Mdlle. Nilssou in the early part’of the year. But the following season, 1870, was perhaps the most brilliant epoch in her London career. She appeared at Drury Lane in the character of Senta in Wagner’s opera “ L’Olandese Dannato,” and achieved an immense triumph, exhibiting a perfect mastery over the extreme difficulties of Wagner’s music. In 1871, she again delighted everyone in the opera “ Linda di Chamouni,” and on several occasions ably filled the part of the debutante of the season, Mdlle. Marimon, during her frequent illnesses. Her last opera in London appears to have been “Lucia de Lammermoor,” in 1873, when she firmly retained her hold of the public favor. The Otago Daily Times says of her first performance in Dunedin: —“ Her first solo, an arrangement of the ‘ Carnival {de Venise,’ with variations specially written for her by Sir J. Benedict, was well calculated to show to the greatest advantage the quality and range of her voice, and particularly her brilliant execution. This difficult piece was rendered in faultless style, evincing a fluency of vocalisation and a certainty of execution far surpassing anything ever heard in Dunedin. It elicited such hearty and spontaneous expressions of delight and admiration from the audience as to induce the great singer to accept an encore, when she sang ‘|Twas within a mile of Edinboro’ town,’ with exquisite grace and charm of effect. In the second part she sang a grand aria from ‘ Linda di Chamouni,’ with even greater success than her first effort. She clothed the melody with all the charms that could be given by beauty of voice, exquisite taste, and delicious expression—and again exhibited her marvellous power of execution. In response to an unanimous and vehement encore, she gave the ‘ lima Waltz,’ in charming style, and to the evident satisfaction of those who listened to her. In the duet with Signor Susini from ‘ L’Elisir d’Amore,’ she also sang with great effect, and on retiring was called for again and again, the audience giving vent to their transports by shouts and acclamations. There is no doubt lima De Murska quite satisfied the expectations raised by her magnificent singing. Her reception was in the highest degree triumphant, and her singing was attended with the warmest demonstrations of admiration and pleasure.”

We direct the attention of the public to Mr. J. H. Wallace's sale of superior furniture, &0., commencing at halt-past 11 this day as advertised.