CRICKET.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 22, 28 December 1863, Page 2

CRICKET.

A match between the two following Elevens was played on B ixing Day, on the ground of the Invercargill United Cricket Club : — MARRIED. First Innings. Second Innings. Colyer c Cross b JVlarchant 12 b Cross ...... 8 Lewis b Marchanfc ...... 0 b CroBS 4 Kingsland b Marchant . . 2 c Marchant . . 0 Jones run out 1 b Marchant ... 0 Born c Marchant b Cross 0 c Cross 3 Hemisley c and b Marchant 5 c Russell .... 5 Debenhane c Marcliant ... 2 b Cross 0 Cox b Cross 1 not out 8 Seandrett not out 13 b Cross 1 Hall c Marchantb Cross... 1 b Marchant ... 3 Cumining b Cross .... 0 b Cross ....... 2 Byes .10 Byes 7 Leg byes 3 Le>» byes . . 0 No balls 0 Noballs 0 Wide balls 2 Widea 3 52 U Grand total both innings, 96. SINGLE. First Innings. Second Innings. Marcbant b Colyer 0 b Colyer 4 CressbLewis 16 bColyer 9 Rout c Colyer b Lewis ... 0 b Lewis 0 ! BryercColyer 0 cHemsby .... 7'• Russell b Lewis ........ 1 lbw 2 Maling b Colyer 21 b Colyer 1 Fletcher cHemsby 0 b Colyer 0 J. Henderson b Lewis 1 b Colyer... 2 Anderson b Lewis 3 not out 0 W. Henderson lbw 0 runout 1 Stirling not out 1 b Colyer 0 Byes ........ 7 Byes 11 Leg byes 3 Legbyeß ... 1 No balls 0 No balls ... 0 Wides 0 Wides .».. 1 63 39 Grand total both innings, 92.

OPENING OF THE NEW THEATRE. The new theatre in Conon-itreet mi opened on * Saturday night," and if we mky estimate the degree of . patronage which it will in frfture receive by the way in which it was crowded at the opening, there will be no lack of support. Shortly after the' hoar announced for the doors being opened, the house was filled. Although the interior of the house is still in an unfinished state,' it' was sufficiently evident that when th© decorations are completed it will be a very pretty little place of amusement. The portion devoted to the accommodation of the audience is divided into two ; the upper, comprising circle and slips, being capable of seating nearly two hundred ; and the pit, what with sitting and standing room, of holding over double that number. The stage, rather small fia regards width, is of considerable depth ; and when the proscenium and stageboxes have received the result of the decorator's art, will look very well. The theatre having been engaged for a time by Mr C. R. Thatcher, the entertain- j uienta* given on the opening night were , composed of that gentleman's vocalisation, and of singing by Madame Vitelji, the instrumental portion of the conceit being furnished by Mr Alfred Oakey (piano), Mr Hunter j (violin), and by Mr Thatcher Cflute). Small as the company is, it is not scant of talent, the best test of its efficiency j being found in the fact that for j some three hours a large audience was j thoroughly entertained and amused. : Dividing the evening's entertainment into two portions, the time was alternately occupied by the performance of a selection of overtures by the orchestra, by the singing of Mr Thatcher, and by Madame VitelU. Of the singing of Madame VitelU it is but truth to say that since Madame Carandini was here, nothing of the kind has been listened to in Invercargill. To a fine and well cultivated soprano voice, Madame Vitelli adds a knowledge of music, and a taste in singing that is very pleasing. Of the various songs she sung, we might select as the best, Ah che la morte, fiom the Trovatore, and the pretty ballads of "Bid me Discourse,*' and "Ever of Thee." She completely won the sympathies of the • Caledonian section of her audience, by the introduction of Scottish airs, all of which she. gave very prettily, and that she did not oftener elicit an . encore was evidently due te the circunwtance that t'.ie majority of tho .audience were impatient — and Saturday nights' audience?, are generally impatient— to hear "Thatcher's locals." The "inimitable," — a title he has as justly earned, as ht» U universally known by — although but few days amongst us, showed that already he had been industrious in taking hold of the moat prominent phases of our local institutions, and local ma^naes, and " those who sit in high places." The peculiarities of the one. and the foibles of the other, were equally the objects of his witty rhymes, and although " shooting folly as it flies," with a well diiec- ; tad and witty shaft, there was neither malice nor ill-nature displayed, and no more than that amount of good humored satire, which, ' j while it set the audience in a roar, could not bi> i offensive to the subject of the rhyme. Indeed ] we noticed some of the celebrities present who appeared to relish being the game of the poet. The principal local subjects of Mr Thatcher's muse were a song on the Lowther Arcade and a comic effusion, hitting off t l ie past event* that haveoccurred in the Town Bo \rd, although other subjects were also introduced from his budget. From the first subject referred to— the Lowther Arcade — notwithstanding its literally barren and deserted aspect, Th.-ucher managed, and that very successfully, to extract materials for fun. Indeed, its very poverty formed the staple material for hislong. In singing of the Town Board, a more prolific source of amusement -was afforded, and its various members were humorously photographed in verse, each portrait being received by the audience with roars of laughter. The intervals of the singing were agreeably filled up by the performances of the orchestra, and altogether an evening was passed in a very entertaining manner. Mr Thatcher, in the course of the evening, intimated that the pr jgramme for to-night would comprise new songs ; one of them, we understand, will be descriptive of the excursion to Stewart's Island on Christmas Day. Apropos to the arrangements of the new theatre, we may suggest that additional ventilation would be a great improvement, especially as the atmosphere on Saturday night was unpieasanfly redolent of tobacco smoke. It will be seen by an advertisement in another portion of our columns^that in future ■ " smoking is strictly prohibited."