AMUSEMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 233, 7 February 1911, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

BUFFALO BILL. , ' A picture show such as was put on at ,the Theatre Royal last evening is worth going a long way to witness. Nothing •like it for sensation has been the privilege of the New Plymouth theatregoer to attend since these popular entertainments were inaugurated here, and it is (Unfortunate, to say the least, that no further opportunity will be vouchsafed the public of enjoying such a fine evening's amusement and education. The special draw for the occasion was, of I course, the exhibition of the Buffalo Bill I Wild West Show, and when we state that the whole of the second part of the programme was devoted to these pictures (embodying 4000 feet of film) it will be. understood that interest was not allowed to flag for the greater part of two hours. The first film depicts a review of the performers, and thereafter I each succeeding event is wildly exciting. The champion riders on tlie bucking bronchos immediately raise the audience to a pitch of wild excitement, which is maintained throughout as the various evolutions are thrown on tne screen. Besides this set of films, there are some splendid pictures, notable among which are the drilling of a famous section of American infantry, and Japanese acrobatic feats, as well as the usual dramatici and comic items, all of which helped to j make the programme a worthy one for the occasion. Mr. Saunders is to be| congratulated on securing the rights.' even for one evening, of the Buffalo Bill' Circus pictures from such energeticl amusement-providers as Messrs. MacMahon Bros.

TO-NIGHT—UNCLE TOM'S CABIN. To-night will be exhibited a wonderful series of vivid and stirring living pictures, showing all the pathetic and real incidents depicted in Mrs. Harriett Stowe's powerful book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin." This great work, that assisted

to bring about the emancipation of millions of slaves in America, has been read by almost everyone, and to-night's programme should be all the more interesting. In addition to the above pictures will be pre-riiU'd a number of subjects that are bom.ii to find lavor. EMPIRE .MUSICAL FESTIVALS BY THE SHEFFIELD CHOIR. Dr. Charles Harriss's representative, Mr. Hugo tiorlitz, arrived in town yesterday to meet the members of the committee, which was formed here in June last and to which he is desirous of adding influential townsmen to carry through the idea of running a special train from New Plymouth to Palmerston North, where the Sheffield Choir will give a special performance at one o'clock on Friday, June 30th next. It is proposed to run this special so that with ao early start from here, say about 5 a.m., intending excursioniits can attend the concert and return immediately afterwards, reaching New Plymouth about 9.10 p.m. The Railway Department will issue the usual holiday excursion rates of Id and 2d respectively per mile for the round trip. Now, in order to carry this through successfully a strong- local committee iV required, and His Worship the Mayor will take the chair at the meeting to be held for this purpose ai the Town Hall at 4.30 p.m. to-day, when it is to be hoped our townspeople will turn out in full force. Ladies are invited to be present. In order to show the importance of this great musical and Imperial movement we quote the following from the New Zealand Times: That the power of music shall prove a medium for bringing the Motherland into closer touch with the oversea dominions is the ideal and life work of Dr. Charles Harriss. During the past ten years he has been occupied in preaching "the gospel of musical reciprocity" throughout the Uritish Empire. This idea has in course of time grown with astonishing rapidity into such stupendous proportions that Dr. Harriss is now enabled to take two hundred members of the great Sheffield choir around the world to participate with the choral and orchestral organisations of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in a series ct musical festivals. Dr. Harriss calls his policy "music empire making." That musical reprocity shall be a factor in the interchange of business relationships by and between the two hundred British visitors and the business heads of the Dominion whom the Yorkshire singers are destined to meet, and that it shall serve as an educator to the British choralists, who, after their return to England will be able to lecture upon the advantages of the new worlds, and thus benefit the visited dominions by giving lectures in England, is the real aim of Dr. Harriss. Thin movement is no experiment. In Novem&er, 1908, Dr. Harriss took two hundred Sheffield singers to Canada, who upon their return home gave over one hundred lectures on their experiences. The Empire Musical Festival destined for 1911 is the culmination of ten years' preparatory wofk of Dr. Harriss, a man whose earnestness of purpose has won for him the hearty cooperation and assistance of his musical colleagues all over the Empire and the support of His Majesty King George V., the Earl of Minto (Viceroy of India), Earl Grey (Governor-General of Canada), Viscount Gladstone (Gov.-Gen. of S. Africa), the Earl of Dudley (Governor-Gen-eral of Australia), and His Excellency Lord Islington (Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand), who has graciously consented to become chief patron of the festivals to be held in New Zealand in June, 1911. Substantial support will also be given by the Boards of Trade, Chambers of Commerce, Manufacturers' Associations, musical societies and the clergy of all dominions to be visited.