RAINER'S PANORAMA.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1336, 31 July 1883, Page 2

RAINER'S PANORAMA.

Notwithstanding the late arrival of the boat, with great exertion, the Panorama was put into working order and the show opened at the advertised hour on Saturday, but owing to the great hurry it was necessarilly scarcely up to the point of perfection which was arrived at last night. This evergreen panorama always meets with that amount of patronage it so rightly deserves. One of the most striking and beautiful depictions is the evacuation of Fort Moultrie by moonlight. The moon is seen to rise majestically from behind the huge and frowning ' fort, sheding its silvery beams which dance and sparkle on the rippling waters with a woundrously real effect. Then the burning of Norfolk Navy Yard, with its fleet of large war ships, whose guns keep fitfully exploding as the fire makes rapid headway and they become gradually heated, makes up a scone of most exciting interest. The next striking scene is the passage of the Long Bridge by night, with the troops marching silently and swiftly across, whilst the reflection of the lights in the toll-house windows and the lamps on either side of the bridgedance and play on the rippling wavelets of the running stream beneath. Then there comes a splendid view of the Queen of rivers the Mississippi, showing the beautiful and majestic river steamers which are there being used to convey troops down to the front. Then is depicted a most amusing scene of a foraging party, where soldiers are seen committing/bzc/ deeds and going the whole hog to save their bacon. The United States licet in a storm off Cape Hatteras, shows two fine war ships stranded and lying on their beam ends the sea making a clean breach over all, whilst the blinding lightning and deafening peals of thunder make up an appalling scene. The naval engagement between the Kearsage and Alabama is a triumph of mechanical skill. Whilst the Alabama is cruising in the offing the Kearsage is seen to come out from between the white forts of Cherbourg, and steam boldly toward her antagonist, who quickly opens fire. The firing from the Alabama is most rapid but ineffective, on account of the “cute” Northerner having taken the precaution to armour plate hisship’s side with heavy chain cable, thus rendering them impervious to the light guns of the Alabama, which vessel had been constructed with a view to speed, and was entirely unfitted to contend with a chain-armoured sloop of war. The inevitable result is soon seen, when the Alabama begins to settle by the head, and shortly heeling over disappears. The English yacht Deerhound is seen to steam up, and rescuing Captain Semmes conveys him in safety to Cherbourg. This must be seen to be appreciated. The entertainment closed on Saturday with the usual distribution of gifts, when amongst other numerous and valuable presents given away, was one of a beautiful silver-plated tea-service, the recipient being Mrs Edwards, of Peelstreet ; and a silver watch to Master Smith.

On Tuesday evening will bo produced an entirely new panorama of the Russo-Turkish War, the first picture being a beautiful view of Constantinople, followed by some splendid views and picturesque scenes on the Danube, and a splendid representation of the river itself, in which the blending of colour and the lights and tints are most true to Nature, it will be seen that neither time, money, nor pains have been spared to make the whole series of \ ws perfection {itself. A fine view of the Sohtpka Pass is also seen, and the artist has painted most vividly the terrible hand-to-hand struggle which took place there. There are about thirty pictures in part 1., the last three of which are “A Grand Double View of Plevna “ Battle of Plevna and “ Last Sortie from Plevna.” I’art 11. Ot the programme ia the Grund Mechanical Diorama of the blowing-up of a Turkish turret ship by the Russian gunboats. This will prove a magnficcnt sight, as the mechanism and dioramie effects totally eclipse those of the representation of the engagement between the American war vessels Kearsage aud Alabama. Part 111. opens with a picture of “The Battle of Gorney Dubnic j” “Carting away the Living and Dead inside Plevna “ Baker Pasha defending a Pass in the Balkans j” “Down Hill in the Balkans;” “British Sailors rescuing Turkish Fugitivesaud a large number of other beautsful and exciting scenes. The exhibition will conclude with a grand Mechanical Diorama of “The •Siege of Kars.” The general explosion which takes place is simply wonderful, and it is a matter of marvel how the whole stage escapes destruction by the mighty conflagration, Wo would take this opportunity of reminding our readers that they will have but very few more chances of witnessing the best pictorial exhibition ever seen in Gisborne.