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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 113, 13 December 1873, Page 2

Wr would call the attention of those interested in the formation of an Amateur Dramatic Club to an advertisement which appears elsewhere.

■Public notifications appear in this morning’s issue from the Superintendent cautioning persons from unauthorisedly cutting, felling, and removing timber on and from Crown lands, and from lands belonging to Natives in the Province of Auckland, under certain pains and pens tes. Mr. Lodder, Secretary of the Auckland Steam Packet Company, intends visiting Gisbcrne on Tuesday next, 16th inst., for the object of opening up direct steam communication between Auckland, Gisborne, and Napier, with a steamer suitable to enter our harbor. The company are about adding to their capital by the issue of new shares, 200 of which have been reserved for this district. It is to be hoped our country friends will make it convenient to be in town on Tuesday next when Mr. Lodder will be happy to meet them and explain the affairs of the Company.— (Communicated.) Ormond Garrick Club. —The performances at this place of amusement on Monday night last were far above the average, and showed a marked improvement both in the selection of the pieces and in the acting. The “ Porter’s Knot” was, considering all the disadvantages under which amateurs generally labour, well put on the stage, and the parts were played out with a naturalness which did good service to the actors in the absence of professional ability to delineate passion or sentiment in a way that preserves a thorough and independent individuality. There are few theatre goers from the Old World who have not seen the “ Porter’s Knot.” Primarily there are but two characters in it that call for any special acting. These are, of course, old Samson Burr, who has amassed a comfortable independence, and retired from the labours of his early days; and his son, Augustus Burr, who, as a medical student in London, involves his father in ultimate ruin by his extravagance. The moral of the piece is a good one ; and helps to bring to the front the true and noble qualities of self-reliance. The old man pays the demand of his son’s creditors —at least we suppose so—and the second Act, after the lapse of a year, finds the infirm old man cheerfully taking up again the badge of honest labour—the “ Porter’s Knot.” Burr’s is, of course, the character of the piece, and was very ably sustained by Mr. F. Seaton, who displayed a thorough conception of the author’s idea. His “ get up” was admirably improvised, and (what some pay too little attention to) he looked the character he attempted to personate. There was much room for pathetic and parental tenderness towards a son whohad disgraced and ruined him, and we must do Mr. Seaton the justice to say that his r6le was very ably and satisfactorily sustained. Mr. Whitehead, as young Burr, possesses many of the pre-requisites to success, and, we doubt not that a few characters played with professionals would exfoliate an evident natural taste for the stage. Mr. Lorrigan, as Smoothly Smirk, and Mr. Armstrong as Stephen Scatter, were the only other characters that require placing—the former as a needy threadbare money grinder willing to oblige Samson Burr by accepting £2,000 in payment for his son’s debts; and the latter as the jaunty devil-ma-care friend about town, who had shared in young Burr’s extravagancies, and aided in his ruin, were both faithfully portrayed; although we failed to see exactly why Smirk was attired in a style more in consonance with that of an impecunious parson—the Rev. Mr. Stiggins to wit—than of a bill discounter. An interlude of songs by Messrs. Whitehead and Clements, rendered in their usual inimitable style, and the farce “ Poor Pillicoddy,” the principal character in which was sustained by Mr. Bennett —brought the evening’s performance—which must be pronounced the most successful ever given by the Garrick Club—to a close. Dancing commenced about 12 o’clock, and was kept up with vigour until 4. We omitted to say that at the conclusion of the “ Porter’s Knot," Mr. Seaton was called in front of the curtain to receive the plaudits of a gratified audience.

Gisborne Public School Treat. —A very appropriate plan of operations was successfully carried into execution on Thursday last at the Music Hall, Gisborne, where about 130 children with their parents and friends assembled to partake of the good cheer provided for their delectation, through the hospitality of the public and the exertions of a few ladies who gratuitously undertook the task of making the occasion an enjoyable one to all. The occasion was the Christmas vacation of the Gisborne Public School presided over by Mr. Lysnar (who, we regret to say was forced to be absent through illness) and the public were invited to subscribe—which they did liberally—towards the project of entertaining the pupils from the other private schools in the town, in one monster gathering; the only distinction being that the pupils belonging to the public school received prizes and presents for anyparticular commendation passed upon them by their teacher. The subscription list amounted, we understand, to over £2O; £2 of which was devoted to prizes, £6 was spent in presents to adorn a huge “ tree ” which, at immense cost of labor and display of good taste, was suspended in the Hall, and the remainder, —after the wise provision of forming a contingency fund to meet expenses — was “ exercised ” in providing refreshment. At 5 o’clock punctually the “ fight ” began in good earnest, and more juvenile vigor, and friendly animosity to tea and cake, lollipops and merriment, we have seldom witnessed. The general hilarity, and youthful appreciation of the entertained, depicted on the radiant countenances of the children must have gone further than any other consideration to repay the matronly tenderness which originated the idea of the celebration. After this, those amongst the adults who desired to do so, also partook of refreshment, when the room was cleared of tables and other impedimenta, so as the better to continue the allotted work of juvenile festivity. To Dr. Nesbitt was given the responsibility of presenting the prizes, the recipients of which were highly delighted. Drawing for the presents on the tree was then proceeded with, the denuding of which took but little time to accomplish. The spacious hall afforded ample room for romping, juvenile dancing, and the usual means of enjoyment incidental to a children’s jubilee. About 8 o’clock the Rev. Mr. Boot called upon the youthful band to return thanks to their entertainers, and especially to the ladies, who had undertaken so much, and in providing so many good things for their enjoyipent. Three cheers, with a hip, hip, hurrah, was the instant response, after which, and a free distribution of lollies, a general exodus was made for home shortly after 8 o’clock. A dance followed, which we need not say in a company composed of adult people bent upon extracting as much pleasure as possible from the present hour, was kept up with great spirit for some time.