Untitled

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 43, 15 February 1864, Page 4

We soe that Thatchor and his company will fulfil a short engagement for throe nights at Riverton, commencing on Wednesday night. The Blvertonians had therefore batter be on their best behaviour during the temporary residence of the satirist. His farewell to Invercargill took place last Saturday \ week, and we "are sorry for it. Ju?t at the time when his ready humor and wit would havo had ample scope, food for it being derived, iu any quantity from the races and meeting of the Provincial Council, he disappears. The theatre, the scene of Ids late triumphs, is let to a theatrical company ; and Thatcher, like other monavchs, must succumb to circumstances, and walk off the stage. In bidding adieu, however, grateful for the patronage of the Invercargillites, Thatcher leaves behind him a souvenir, in the shape of the '•'lnvercargill Minstrel," the iirst number of which contains nine of his best local songs. Mute testimony of his wit and humor, though the racy delivery is wanting to complete the charm ; those who have heard him can recall the memory of it on readin'g the songs; those who haye not, will*, find' amusement in the songs themselves. Wheu all arc good, it is difficult to pick out any one as being best.; but perhaps '■' The Sessions," and •' The Caledonian Gathering," may be accounted suoh. The metre i3 easier for the unmiuieal reader, and in the songs, therefore, if one misses less the delivery of tlie composer, one can enjoy the humor by onesself. Thatcher's "Invercargill Minstrel" is well worth the shilling ifc is offered for ; we hope soon to see number two. At the conclusion of Friday's and Saturday's Kacos, several rows amongst some i* owdics occurred on the ground, and one or two men got rather severely handled. We were informed that the , excitable tendencies of two of the boothholders were tlie principal causes of the disturbance. It might be as well if the Bench exercised more supervision, before allowing, indiscriminately the permission to sell liquors at the Races in future. . : ;'■ y We ave requested to state that the settling for the Jockey Club liaces will take place tonight, at Roebuck's Union Hotel. Wc have to direct attention to the announcement in our advertising columns, of the benefit to be given to Mr. T. Fawcett to-night. In addition to his claims on pubhc support as a good" actor, Mr. Fawcett has a strong one in the fact of Ms being the pioneer of theatrical performances in this and the neighboring Provmce of Otago. . The WaJcatip Mail, of the 10th inst., says that at Arthur's Point nothing of consequence has transpired during the past week in mining matters. The race is all but finished, ahd we may expect to see the river out of its original bed in four or five days. Tlie new waterwheel erected by Bond and Co., for Arthur and party, lias been in operation, and is justly regarded as the most complete 'piece of work of tho kind on the river, and will save much manual labor by draining the deep ground in the upper portion of Cartwright's beach. In consequence of the rapid increase of sly grog shanties in the neighborhood of the railway line, wc understand that Mr. Commissioner Wcldon intends to commence, an active raid for their removal, and to put a stop to the scenes of rowdyism and debauchery whiclT are characteristic of such dens. In removing tlieso illicit dealers, it is not intended. to interfere with the legitimate storekeepers, or. the holders of ordinary bush licenses for selling spirits, a's care is generally taken only to grant the latter to respectable parsons, and the police* have the power of at once getting them cancelled if found- necessary. -^ The funeral of John Craig, late engineer of the s.s. Queen, took place on Monday last at Duneciin. The remains were followed to the cemetery by a large number of gentlemen who had known -the deceased, and the burial service was read by Captain John Robertson, of the Marine Board.