PUBLIC OPINION.

Patea Mail, 16 February 1882, Page 3

PUBLIC OPINION.

Contributions, Letters, Inquiries and Answers thereto, are invited on Farming. Commerce, Politics, and matters of interest to the Patea district. Names of writers need not be Printed.

THE “PIRATES.” The performance of (ho “Pirates" last night was evidently a great success from a financial point of view, the house being well filled ; and the management deserve great credit for the careful way they managed to extemporise a box plan, and conduct ladies to their seats. But as far as I could guess from a few backward glances, the owners of the hall must pull themselves together and put up some raised seats for the back portion of the house. All seemed to be confusion there, and I fancy many were unable to see the stage, for nearly all appeared to be standing. Would it not bo possible to make the charge (for the use of the hall) dependent on receipts ? Suppose it was £2 10s cash and 6 per cent of the money taken over £lO ? That would operate this way. When there was a poor house, the front part only would be full ; when the house was crammed and the raised seats used, they would be paid for. As for the acting, there is no doubt that “ Mother Carey’s chickens ” have mang good points. The Pirate King and the far-famed Lena promise well ; though the latter had really not much dramatic business. Ruth was not as much in her element as she used to be in Cousin Hebe. The drilling and grouping were Al, and quite now to us. But the articulation all through was simply diabolical. In the first scene the comical mistake of “Pirate” for “ Pilot ” was buried fathoms deep under childish indistinctness of utterance ; while the Major-General’s famous patter song lost all its drollery for want of slow distinct pronnneiation. Lastly, the orchestra'had a splendid leader, but the piano was not up to concert pitch. “ Pinafore ” to-night I expect will be even better than the “ Pirates,” because the articulation doesn’t matter so much. Playgoer. ♦-

TOWN BOARD for NORMANBY. In your issue of yesterday’s date you have a short article commenting on the backwardness of Nonnanby residents in not taking steps to bring the township under the Town Districts Act, and making these comments on the strength of your correspondent’s remarks. To show how much he knows of the matter he talks so glibly of, I may state that a meeting of householders was called by advertisement before the beginning of this year, to consider the best limits for the township, plans having been prepared for some time before. Nothing, however, could be done until the Act came into force on the first day of tin’s year. A petition was as soon possible circulated and signed, and a statutory declaration verifying the particulars has been forwarded to the Under Secretary, so that we are merely waiting for the Governor’s proclamation to proceed with the election of a Board. It may seem strange to yon that your correspondent knows nothing at all of these matters taking place in a small township. Anti-Gas.

DANGEROUS BRIDGE.

In your issue of the 14th I notice your comments re Manawapou bridge, and passing over it to-day I took particular notice of the structure. The most surprising thing seems to be how the bridge manages to resist any weight at all. One thing is certain : the structure is unsafe for traffic. The lower boom has sprung three quarters of an inch in the joints. The upper boom is so decayed that the wood can be removed by handfulls. Un leas some temporary or permanent repairs are at once executed, 1 should not be at all surprised to hear of some calamity which may be attended with loss of life.

Yesterday the coach was loaded with probably 14 or 15 persons, who together with weight of coach and horses would exceed two tons. It is highly probable than, if an accident occurs it will happen to the coach, as it is generally heavily loaded ; and should an accident occur, the result will be fatal in all probability. The Council could with very little expense have a long spar and corbel placed under the defective part temporarily, and thus protect, at least to a small extent, the public against the more than probability of accident.

F. G, Mace