ITEMS BY THE MAIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5680, 13 June 1879, Page 3

ITEMS BY THE MAIL.

The theatre portion of Shakspere’s Memorial Buildings, at Stratford-on-Avon, was inaugurated on April 23 by an elaborately arranged festival, which will extend over ten days. The buildings, which are of Elizabethan design, are picturesquely situated on the banks of the Avon, and will cost between twenty and thirty thousand pounds. They include, in addition to a well-appointed theatre, a library and picture gallery, intended for dramatic literature and pictures and statuary of Shaksperian subjects. The surrounding grounds will be laid out as ornamental gardens. Part of the scheme of the Memorial Association is the advancement and improvement of dramatic art by establishment and maintenance of schools of acting, delivery of lectures, establishment of prizes for essays, and relief and assistance of poor and deserving members of the theatrical profession. The town is gaily decorated, and visitors are arriving from all parts. A banquet took place in the Town Hall in the afternoon, and the opening performance in the Memorial Theatre at night, when a dedicatory address, written by Dr. Westland Marston, was recited. Dramatic performances, in which most of the leading artistes of the day, took part; concerts, under the direction of Sir Julius Benedict; and dramatic readings by Mr. Brandram, make up the programme. When com*

pleted, the Shakspere Memorial Buildings will form a magnificent and stately pile. The following telegram has been sent from the India Office for publication, giving the details of the accident which occurred to the 10th Hussars while crossing the Cabnl river ; —“From the Viceroy, April 4. Squadron 10th Hussars, crossing Cabal river, yielding to strength of current, left ford, which is wide and averages 21ft, deep, and were swept over rapid into deep water. It is supposed sudden wave or spate came down, as column, 140yds. long, was simultaneously washed off ford, which was recrossed by some men immediately afterwards without accident. Gei eral Gough, on 2nd, sent out two small reconnoitring parties from Futtehabad, both fired on and retired; later piquets reported masses assembling close to camp. Gough got under arms, and advancing found Ivugianis holding strong position two miles from camp. Artillery opened fire, but retired as enemy advanced. Infantry coming up pushed forward, and as enemy, 5 JOO strong, hesitated, cavalry charged; enemy was completely defeated, and was pursued four miles, losing 500 killed and 100 wounded. Our loss, 2 British officers, 1 native officer, guides, 1 private 17th, 2 sowars, guides, killed ; 3 native officers, guides, I gunner, 3 men 17th, 7 men Hussars, 26 sowars, guides, wounded ; 6 horses killed, forty wounded." Mr. Sims Reeves is again prevented from singing owing to indisposition. He has been suffering severely of late, the result of the trying weather, and although his voice is fortunately unimpaired in power and quality, it will be impossible for him to shake off the effects of a continued influenza cold for some days to come. All his friends unite in hoping for a genial change in the weather, which will enable him to appear again, more especially as his constrained absence entails upon himself a considerable pecuniary loss and upon the public the refined pleasure of his singing. It was not, perhaps, till the news of the relief of Ekowe actually arrived that people realised how severe had been the strain of anxiety on all minds these last few weeks. No one liked to think too much about the matter; yet it continually cropped up in every one’s thoughts would Lord Chelmsford get through? Would he get to Pearson in time ? What if Pearson, having no alternative but to lay down his arms, had fought his way out and had been cut to pieces ? These were questions which might be shirked, but they were perpetually asked without receiving satisfactory replies. Therefore it was that the good news was hailed with such intense delight. All along the streets, at the stations on the underground railway, opposite the newspaper offices there were crowds, each man and woman intently perusing their Globe, Daily News, and Standard, and then looking up with a sigh of intense relief. At the clubs men snook hands with one another, and joy was on every face. The war spirit may not be as strong in this as in other nations, but there is no lack of keen heartfelt sympathy for fellow-countrymen in danger, no stint of cordial appreciation of brave deeds done to rescue them and restore the national prestige. The Zulu war may have been a mistake from the first, but it is not without its value in proving that the old inherent qualities of pluck and endurance of our race have not yet suffered much diminution as time goes by.

Mrs. Wybert Dousby, the actress, died at her residence in London last week. This lady’s name will be familiar to our readers in connection with the recent assault case, in which Mr. Bandmann was the defendant.