BACHELDER’S PANTASCOPE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2341, 17 September 1880, Page 2

BACHELDER’S PANTASCOPE.

The above entertainment opened for a season of three nights at the Theatre Royal last evening, and seemed to favorably impress the audience. The panorama is illustrative of the railway route across the American continent from New York to Can Francisco, with a glance at Salt Lake City' and the Mormons by the way', and from thence by sea to the Sandwich Isles, returning to Auckland, New Zealand, and windingup with a view of Sydney 7 Heads. The curtain rose on a view of Barnnm’s Museum, New York, and shortly 7 afterwards the spectators were (in imagination) rolling across the continent in Pullman’s palace cars, and exploring the wonders of mountain and vale, giant rocks, silvery waterfalls, and all the other sights that combine to render this journey so interesting to the traveller. The City of; the Salt Lake was taken cn route, and the ways and customs of the saints afforded M. Chalet, who officiated as lecturer, the opportunity of cracking some jokes at their expense. The dry, quaint style of the lecturer was very effective, although a too palpable imitation of the Yankee manner. Some very good views followed, and after paying a visit to the dominions of Hoki-poki-wanky-fum, the King of the Cannibal Islands, the scene shifted to Auckland Harbor, which was followed by a view of Sydney Hoads.

A rery amusing' ventriloquial entertainment followed in which a number of life-sized figures were made to take part by Id. Chalet, who really has some claim to the title of ventriloquist and created roars of laughter by his clever manipulation of his figures. A distribution of gifts followed, after which some mechanical views of the Arctic regions were shown, and a little ship came on the scene, which was tossed about by moving waves. The latter were anything but natural, however, ami detracted considerably from the otherwise pretty scene. The exhibition as a whole is fairly interesting, and certainly worth a visit. It will be repeated this evening when the usual distribution of presents will take place.