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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1040, 20 August 1879, Page 2

I The Liberal Association have adopted a system of choosing candidates that we hope, for the sake of Liberalism, will be confined to the Empire City. It was supposed, judging from the real worth of the candidates, that Mr. Hutchison (Mayor of Wellington, an old politician, and friend to Liberal'sm) and Mr. Levin would be the favorites. But a ballot has been taken, and Mr. Henry Anderson, who is one of the proprietors of the Chronicle, and formerly a member of the Provincial Council of Wellington, from whicli he was removed by those who were glad to get rid of him into a billet, stands next to Mr. Levin. The game of chance has therefore brought a man to the frcnt who is nnworthy of the confidence of the electors—who, in fact, is unsuitable in every respect for a seat in Parliament.

In another column is published the requisition which has been presented to Mr. T. W. Hislop by the electors of this district, and "his reply thereto. It is numerously signed, and is a flattering comment on the political conduct of the senior member for the district.

Mr. W. J. Steward's requisition and that gentleman's reply are published elsewhere in this issue. It is evident that the election of members to serve this district will not be characterised by that dulness which at first seemed inevitable. Mr. Steward's manifesto is full of promise to all sections of the community, and is so liberal that even Sir George Grey himself could not surpass it in liberality. Truly Liberalism must be the ascendancy in this district. Mails for Australian C'olciw'f-5 and Tasmania, per Rotorua, close at Bluff at 11 a.m. on Thursday, 21st inst. A ball will be held in the Maheno Public Hall this evening, the admission to which is fixed at a very moderate figure. For the information of a correspondent, " Woolloomooloo " is the way to spell the Sydney suburb. The Suez mail arrived by this morning's express train, and was delivered throughput the town this afternoon. The largest number of town properties that have ever been offered at any one time in Oamaru, will be submitted to public competition by Mr. A. H. Maude, at Mr. George Sumpter's room, Harbor-street, to-morrow, at noon, at the instance of Mr. Procter, thus affording an unusually favorable opportunity to those who are desirous of acquiring properties, leasehold or freehold, with or without buildings. A conference of the Road Boards was called for 3 o'clock this afternoon, but owing to the lateness of the hour for which the meeting was fixed, no business of any interest was transacted. Last night, I Battery, Oamaru Artillery, turned out in strong force for their weekly instruction parade, under the command of Captain Morton, who has cause to be proud of his fine corps. The men were first put through the carbine exercise, and then a number of now and pretty movements, where each man had to do his part. The company was then questioned as regarded knowledge of drill, the answers showing the attention and interest taken by the men. Lastly, the instructor formed the company into two ranks, Captain Morton and his officers fell in, and the entire company went through a number of movements as in battalion. These were ycry well done, though officers and non-com missioned offieers had plenty of hard work. "H.M.S, Pinafore" has created such a stir in other parts of the world that it was not surprising, even in these dull times, to find the Volunteer Hall crowded last evening on the occasion of the first production in Oamaru of Sullivan and Gilbert's sparkling little comic opera. Every seat was filled, an.(J the audience was a thoroughly appreciative one, though a few of those in the back seats displayed a want of good taste by directly addressing remarks to the performers. The opera can scarcely be said to possess a plot, for the whole action of the amusing trifle is hung upon a very slender thread; but there is just sufficient plot to create an interest in the audience. It is, however, very pointed, and ridicules with an unsparing hand the fact of " landsmen ' being created First Lords of the Admiralty, as has been done jjGveral times in England within the past f-jiy years, and we can imagine how the opera must take with the public of the Old World on this score alone. The music is bright and sparkling, but last night it was heard to disadvantage—firstly, owing to the piiserable hall in which it was given and, secondly, owing to the smallness of the orchestra and tjie consequent omission of many rippling passages ip the accompaniments, little embellishments whicji tend to set off the singing, and heighten the delight j of the audience, But the singing was for the most part excellent, the acting good, and the scenery all that conld be expected upon SO small a stage. Miss Leaf, a colonial young lady, tutored jn Auckland by Miss Christian, the finest ballad singer that ever visited the Colony, appeared to great advantage as Josephine. Her rendering of the beautiful mnsicallotted to the part was excellent, and her acting in thorough keeping with the character. She has a pure soprano voice

of a sweet nature, and possesssing a very good range, and despite the fact that she was suffering from the effects of a severe cold, she rendered all her music in such a manner as to captivate the audience. Her best efforts were "Sorry her lot who loves too well" and " The hours creep on apace." For both of these she was deservedly encored. The central figure in the opera is Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty. Mr. Riccardi was a thorough embodiment of the character. He possesses a fine, full, rich bass voice, and is au admirable actor, having a very graceful carriage and easy manner. His rendering of "I am ruler of the Queen's Xavee," a song very similar in nature to that- of the Judge in "Trial by Jury," was grand, and he had to submit to a unanimous re-demand. Throughout he infused a great amount of life into the whole of the performance. As Captain Corcoran, Mr. Harding was also good, and gave his several solos admirably, the best of his number being " Fair Moor, to thee I sing.'' Mr. Crain, who was suffering from a bad cold, sang his solos capitally, more particularly that commencing "A maiden fair to see,' and it is evident that he has a fine tenor voice. Messrs. Love and Hodson gave very good renderings of the characters of Bill Bobstay and Dick Deadeye, and Miss Hunter and Miss Heath were capital as Little Buttercup and Hebe, singing their small share of the music very well and acting to the life. Of the concerted music in the opera the best to our mind is "Never mind the why or wherefore," a trio admirably rendered by Miss Leaf and Messrs. Harding and Riccardi. The duet " Refrain, audacious tar," was tastefully given by Miss Leaf and Mr. Crain. The whole of the choruses were performed in a very stirring manner, the best of them being " For he's an Englishman," with which the opera concludes. "H.M.S. Pinafore will be repeated this evening for the last time, and we would strongly recommend those who have not yet seen it not to lose the opportunity of doing so.