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Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 216, 14 February 1866, Page 2

Mr. and Mrs. Case (Miss Grace Egerton) made their first appearance in Southland, on Monday evening last, at the Theatre Royal. The house was crowded with a select and appreciative audience. The entertainment was entitled " The Drawing Eootn Eloor." It was a complete success. Mrs. Case is an accomplished and graceful actress ; has a wonderful power of imitation, playing every part with a vivacity and truthfulness, we have scarcely ever -witnessed. The whole of the performance is entertaining and refined 5 the changes are rapid and complete. Mrs. Case took no less than nineteen characters, and it would be difficult to say which was best, j when all were. good. Her Lady Teazle was excellent, as was also Katty Mooney, a maid-of-all-work from the Emerald Isle ; but it would be folly to particularize. In every part she was perfectly at home, except perhaps, that of the "Wizard of the East." Although in this character great dexterity and ability is displayed, it is a misconception — the tricks are wonderfully well performed, but a Turk talking beautiful English is scarcely consistent. Mrs. Case might with a fair show of right put in an appearance as a rival of the Wizard of Wizards (Jacobs) or the great Wizard of the North (Anderson), either of whom we feel certain she could mimic to life. The versatility of talent, the . refined judgment, and thorough earnestness displayed by Mrs. Case in her delineations of all countries and all people, — the refined " Lady Teazle " or the dacent " Katty Mooney," theJSnglish fop or the country bumpkin, the old or the young, the educated or the ignorant, — appear all alike to her, she is throughout inimitable. Mr. Case is a clever actor and an accomplished musician. His performance on the Concertina is admirable — he makes the instrument speak, and brings forth melody which can scarcely be imagined unless heard. On the Violin he is also a proficient ; with the exception of Miska Hauser and Mons. Pouissard, he has never had his equal in the colonies. In short, the Case's have the ability and unison of action, which enables them to present an* evening's entertainment which cannot fail to delight and astonish even the most fastidious They were enthusiastically applauded during the performance, and repeatedly encored — a practice which we think, considering the immense labor which Mrs. Case undergoes, would be more honored in the breach than the observance — and not a single hitch occurred to mar the perfeGt pleasure of all present. Last evening (Tuesday), Mr. and Mrs. Case appeared in their entertainment, known as the " Latest Intelligence." Mrs. Case fully sustained the high estimate we had previously awarded, and even more — she displayed ability which we could not have imagined had wo not been present. In this performance she has ample room for the display of her vocal attainments, and she did display them to the admiration and wonder of all — she has a pleasing voice under complete control, and her imitations of professionals are exquisite. Mr. Case added considerably to the good opinion expressed of him aa a musician and an actor. The house, despite the rain, which poured, down in torreuts waj well attended, and.

the applause vehement. Mrs. Case was compelled on more than one occasion to repeat a song or a dance, and at- the close of the first part was by acclamation called before the curtain. We would remind our readers that the Cases are bound to leave by' the first steamer for Australia, and that therefoae they cannot appear for more than "two nights more. The performances for the two nights will be found particularised in our advertising columns. AWe have received a copy of a work, a treatise on " sheep, long-wooled, and short-wooled, for Victoria, Tasmania, and New Zealand, with a word or two on scVb and fluke, by Omega" The object of the writer is stated to be a desire to bring under the notice of stockholders, in the cooler portions of Australia, the advantage of producing long-wooled as well as short-wooled sheep on those pastures which are especially suited to them, from the richness and luxuriance I of the herbage ; and likewise to direct attention td the most efficacious means of curing that fearful pest of Australian flocks — The Seab — indicating a remedy that never fails when it is properly applied, and at the same time exhibiting the inutility, and in some cases the mischievousness, of tobacco applications for that, disease Some observations are also added upon the Fluke, which has committed such ravages in the western districts of Victoria during the Autumn just passed. The wri ter has evidently studied the subjects upon which he treats, and is possessed of that practical experience which should enable him to speak with authority. In the introductory chapter a very interesting history of the progress made in the • Australia 3, from the time sheep were first introduced, and wool growing was declared a profitable speculation ; the rapid development of this branch of industry throughout the colonies ; and suggests the system by which the 'prestige of Australian wool production may best be maintained and extended. He then proceeds to describe the constitution, habits, and mode of management of the various breeds of sheep which have commanded attention from the squatters, and pointing out the way for many to improve their flocks and increase their incomes. Chapter s—treats5 — treats of " Scab and its Care ; " chapter 6— of " Fluke and Rot j " and finally showing how disease in sheep may be prevented, mitigated, and cured. We have read the work with care, and can with confidence recommend it to our readers. It contains a mass of information which is useful, suggestions which will doubtless prove of value to wool-growers. It would be out of our province to pronounce upon Hood and Co's cure for Scab, but certainly the tone of the testimonials annexed to the treatise would lead to the belief that it is a most valuable discovery. The Jpastoral section of the Province would we believe do well to obtain and study this little work. — Messrs. Surman and Crerar are agents for Southland. On Monday evening, a number of gentlemen met at the Southland Club for the purpose of presenting a testimonial to M. J. B. Thomson, who, for between two and three years has held the position of Detective Officer for Southland, but who is now leaving the province, at least for a time. The exigencies of the Government has necessitated many reductions in tne various departments, among them that of which Mr. Thomson was a member ; but we understand that the Government, as a mark of satisfaction have not dismissed that gentlemen, but given leave of absence for twelve months. Mr. Kingsland occupied the chair. After a short address, complementary to the recipiant, he, in the name of the inhabitants of Invercargill — leading firms, the legal profession, heads of departments, &c, — presented him with a handsome gold watch and chain, with an appropriate inscription expressing approval of his conduct as an officer and a man. In receiving the gift, Mr. Thomson expressed the satisfaction it afforded him to have earned the regard of so many citizens, notwithstanding the unpleasant nature of the duties it had sometimes fallen to his lot to perform. To have attached to the testimonial nearly one hundred signatures was indeed a fact to be proud of, considering the comparatively short time he had sojourned in Invercargill. The Governor of H.M. G-aol begs to acknowledge the receipt of a donation of books and monthly magazines from W. H. Calder, Esq., towards the Gaol Library. Invercargill was all excitement yesterday. The new schooner, the "Danzig," built by our enterprising townsman, Mr. Puettelkow, was conveyed safely to the watery element which is henceforth to be its home. It was indeed an interesting sight. The vessel, weighing between thirty and forty tons, was taken from the yard of the proprietor on an ingeniously constructed sixteen wheeled carriage, drawn by twenty-four bullocks, through Tay arid Clyde streets with remarkable skill, and beached in splendid style. Much interest in the event was shown, all kinds of opinions had been for some days offered as to the probability of the smart little craft coming to grief in turning corners or crossing the Clyde-street Bridge, but all went well, and the "Danzig " will be ready for sea in a few days. The enterprise of Mr. Puettelkow is much to be admired— he [has proved that industry and enterprise will bring its reward. We understand that preparations have been made for the construction of another vessel of a much larger tonnage. The following is the state of H.M. Gaol for the week ending Tuesday, the 13th inst. Sentenced to penal servitude, 7 males ; sentenced to hard labor, 8 males,, 6 females. Lunatics 5, 1 female. Debtor, 1 male. Imprisonment only, 1 male. Total 22 males, 7 females. Received during the week, 5 males, 5 females. Discharged during the week, 1 male. Increase for the week, 4 males, 5 females. ; The Daily Times publishes the following in reference to the late vote of the Provincial Council of Otago, in favor of a dissolution. It says : — " We have been favoured by the Government with a copy of the correspondence relative to the proposed dissolution of the Provincial Council. On the 10th ult. His Honor the Superintendent wrote to the Colonial Secretary, 'I do myself the honor to forward the enclosed copy of a resolution passed by the Provincial Council at its last session, requesting me to apply to His Excellency the Governor for a dissolution of that body. I informed the Provincial Council by Message, that I would consent to forward the resolution, but could not agree to recommend it, for the following reasons, viz : — 1. That those who voted for the resolution are not quite a third of the members of the Council,— & Tfeafc a

similar resolution proposed »t an earlier period of the session, in a full House, was negatived. — 3. That it appeared unfair to the many members of the Council who had left, that such a resolution should be carried out.— 4. That I could not accept of a resolution so important in its character,^ carried at the close of a session, in m very thin House, as snfficient to warrant my recommending its adoption by His Excellency the Governor.' Mr. Stafford's reply is dated the 18th ult. After acknowledging the receipt of the letter, he simply adds, 'In reply, I hare to state that, for the reasons stated in your Honor's letter, His Excellency cannot be advised to grant the dissolution requested by the Council." Coromandel may yet turn out to be a valuable although a slowly developed goldteld. The following extract taken from the New Zealand Herald, indicates that there are those who have faith in it, and are prepared t» invest their money to prove the ground of their faiti. It says : — By the arrival of the Tasmanian Maid, last evening, we learn that all the frame work and stamping apparatus in the Kapanga claim is finished, and they are only awaiting the arrival of the shaft. Also that on the 22nd inst., gold was struck in the main shaft, which afterwards proved to be a rich leader (said to be the finest yet found) at a depth, of 220 feet below the surface j the leader runs north and south." Mr. Millar, F.S.A., Surveyor for Dunedin City Corporation, has been dismissed from office. The real cause is not yet made public, but the one assigned is that contractors refused to tender while he was in office. We extract the following from the Timaru Herald, of the 2nd February : — "About two years ago a young man named M'G-uiness arrived at Timaru, in company with another young man from Ireland, bringing with him a box or chest, with his initials ingeniously formed upon the lid of it by screws. He was going, we believe, from Timaru to the Otipua station, when h9 fell from the dray and was killed. The police took the matter in hand, and sold the deceased's watch and clothes, and box to defray his funeral expences. Mr Robert Taylor, the uudertaker, bought the box, and shortly afterwards sold it again for a small sum, and we believe it changed hands several times until it came into possession of Mr Wedderell, at Arowhenua. The police received a letter from the parents of the deceased, a short time ago, describing the box, and containing a plan of the lid of it, which showed that if four screws marked A.8.0. and D. were undone, they would disclose a small secret drawer, containing sovereigns, wrapped in paper. The police traced the box to the posession of Wedderell, and purchased it from him for the sum of sixteen shillings ; and on opening the lid as directed, Sergeant Ramsey discovered seventeen pounds secreted there."