THE Otago Daily Times "Inveniam viam' out faciam." DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1862.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 112, 26 March 1862, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times "Inveniam viam' out faciam." DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1862.

Pbkhaps in no respect has the change that has come over Dunedin so markedly evinced itself as in the taste for amusements that is making itself apparent. At one time there was a notable deficiency of those means of'recreation which are apt to spring up in large towns. Of Theatres, there were none, Concerts-were extremely rare, Lectures were unusual occurrences, open air music was unknown. Of out-door amusements there was also a dearth, cricket flourished to a certain extent, but boat racing, horse racing, agricultural and flori.cultural shows were little, if at all, patronised or encouraged. Whilst entertaining a strong opinion that amusements, in the conventional sense of the word, are not only harmless, but deserving of encouragement, we are not of those who sneer at the upholders of a contrary opinion. We believe, there are many who conscientiously object to some, if not all of the amusements we, have mentioned, and knowing tlieir scruples to be sincere, we can respect if we cannot coincide in them. But the same freedom they ask, they sbould give. Those who see no harm in amusements, and who enjoy them rationally and not immoderately, may be as strictly following the dictates of their consciences, may be as strongly.endowed with the "mens sibi conscia recti" as those whose ideas tell them such relaxations are wrong. Ideas habits and education have much to do with the estimation in which amusements are held, as also with the way in which they are enjoyed. One man will listen to music with the dulled ears of a dull imagination—the melody may soothe, but not inspire. Another will recognise in .it an inspiriting voice—it will carry him but of himself beyond the present —it will call into predominance his imaginative faculties. He sees the nameless, glorious things Which youthful dreamers see ; When'fancy first, with murmurous wings, O'ershadows bards to be. Those forms to life-spiritual given By high creative hymn, From music born —as from their heaven, Are born the seraphim. The Drama again—to many how suggestive it is, to others bow material. There are some who cannot see a great play greatly acted without finding all the feelings of their better nature strained to the inmost depths. Others will listen with the cold, calm, emotionless sentiments of the practised critic. Granted that the drama may be degenerated into most unworthy purposes, that morbid subjects may be morbidly dealt with, and spurious sentiment may be substituted for genuine "feeling, but the abuse of a thing does not prohibit its use. The stage may be turned to the best account, and the study of the beautiful, and the purposes of High Art be consulted to the best advantage,— " Theirs is tlie spell o'er hearts, That only actia* lends, The youngest ot the sister arts, Where all their beauty blends; For ill can poetry express Full inanjr a tone of thought sublime, And painting, mute and motionless, Steals but a glance of time; — But, by the mighty actor wrought, -.. Illusions' perfect triumphs come, Verse ceases to be airy thought, And sculpture to be dumb." The love ofthe beautiful is again cultivated by horticultural and floricultural shows, and the accessory of music serves to excite tbe senses to a purer appreciation of their beauties, and these again react on the mind. But the senses should not be the only study; whilst cultivating delicacy and refinement, vigour should not be forgotten. Muscular Christianity is not a cant phrase of superficial philosophy, but the depth of its meaning has been penetrated, and its development has received the sanction of the highest ethical authorities. The amusements to which we cursorily alluded come under this head, boating, racing, and all out-door sports. True, they maybe misused, but again we say the abuse does not prohibit the use. Cf all sports perhaps horse racing has '"been most subjected to unworthy purpose, but yet such' }s the solidity of the

basis on which itresta, that whilst its abuses have times out of number to be deplored, ■ acing'still .numbers amongst its patrons the highest and noblest of the land which most of us are able to call our native home.

Without " treading on the prejudices " of those who entertain a contrary opinion, without desiring to recommend to them whit their conscience points out as undesirable, we cannot but think that Dunediu has no cause to lament the introduction of many species of amusements formerly unknown to it, nor the growing taste for indulging in them which is making itself apparent among the inhabitants. It is quite a mistake to suppose that the old residents generally keep aloof from them. On the contrary, they who laugh most heartily, enjoy most truly and visit them most frequently are to be found amongst those whom Mr Cargill would term the type of the ancient order, that order which he considers requires to be consolidated. We should be sorry to see the sterner purposes of life forgotten in a too absorbing love of amusements, but whilst there appears no probability of this being the case, we cannot but welcome with satisfaction the innocent means of recreation which the concert, the lecture, the theatre, and the race course afford. Those who see evil in them should aptly remember that motto born of the purest charity, "evil be to him who evil thinks." -

We believe the report of gold having been found on Mr. Black's station will prove not to be correct. A gentleman who arrived in town last night from a neighboring station, having left' it the day before, informs' us that there was no information concerning it on the spot.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Port Chalmers, , yesterday, Robert' Henley charged with drunkenness, was fined 20s, with the nltenative of 48 hours imprisonment. Morris Mcholson, for the same offence, received a similar sentence. John Jones, charged with being drunk and using obscene language on board the steamer Lady Barkly, when alongside Port Chalmers jetty, was committed for seven days, in default of payment of a fine of 40s, the offence being aggravated by the extreme grossness of the language made use of. The resident magistrate had occasion, yesterday, to instruct the police to caution visitors within the precincts of the Court House against keeping their hats on : it was only the other day, his Honor had to notice the misconduct of a man who appeared before him without a coat ; and now he had to complain of another who entered with Ms head covered. There were no less than sixty-six cases on the Roll for the- Resident Magistrate's adjudication, yesterday. '

We are pleased to notice that the management, of the Princess Theatre are exerting themselves to deserve pnblic patronage, by the frequent production of novelties. Last night four amusing little pieces were presented— "Who Speaks, First," "Loan of a Lover," "The Conjugal Lesson," and "The Spectre Bridegroom." All went well, the actors were all well up in their parts, and the audience well pleased. In the "Loan of. a Lover" Miss Harriet Gordon, of course, took the part of Gertrude, and sang the incidental songs with success. We might take exception to Miss Gordon's singing, that she is too apt to indulge a taste for ornament, but we have no desire to be hypercritical. Peter Spyk found a humorous representative in Mr J.P.Hydes. and Saigel was really well rendered by Mr. JWowney. As Ernestine, Miss St. Clair looked very well, but was rather inanimate. This young lady would do much better if she were to get rid of a trick she has of clipping her words. This bad habit frequently spoils the effect of her acting, and we the more regret it because she lias shown that in some points she can shake it off and be animated, and distinct. Perhaps the most taking' part of the evening's entertertainnient was the " Conjugal Lesson,'' iv which Miss 11. Gordon and Mr. J. P. Hydes, were very successful in provoking tho risible sensibilities of their audience. In this piece Miss H. Gordon sang the charming song, " My Beautiful Rhine," accompanying herself on tho piano. The "Screaming Farce" of the Spectre Bridegroom, which - concluded the performance, afforded an opportunity for Mr.Fawcett> as Nicodemus, and Mr. J. Dunn, as Diggory, to display their talents for the ludicrous. Tonight there is to be an entire change of performance. The sensation- drama of " The Momentous Question " is to be produced, to be followed by a burlesque, entitled " The Honeymoon." ' We have no doubt that the burlesque will be welcomed as an agreeable variation upon the ordinary run of comedies and farces. :

A sad accident occurred yesterday. A laboring man at work at the excavation at the Northern end of the Cutting, had his arm broken by the falling down of a quantity of earth. He was removed to the hospital.

This morning, at half-past niue o'clock, the legal arguments in the case of Howry v. Norton are to be discussed before the Resident Magistrate, in the Court House ; and as they involve a technical issue, the forensic abilities of the learned gentlemen (Messrs. Prendergast and Gillies) will have ample scope for display. The defendant has announced his willingness to abide by the ruling of the Court in this case, and to accept it as a final judgment in all the residue.