The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1883.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4658, 8 December 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1883.

We are pleased to learn, that' there is to be plenty of amusement provided for theatre* goers daring the coining holiday season. We hare it on good authority that the Academy of Music has been engaged for no less than 14 night 3, during which time Messrs Stanley and Darbyshire'a Juvenile Opera Company will : present a varied fare to. their patron?. It is intended to open on Boxing Night with a pantomime entitled "Jack the Giant Killer," and when that has run its course to follow with a number of operas, comprising " Les Cloches de Cornevillo," "Le Grande Duohesse," " The Pirates of Penzance," the ever popular " H.M.S. Pinafore," and others. This company, it will be remembered, visited the Thames a short time ago, and at the present time are performing at the Opera House in Auckland,

Considering the wretched state of the weather, the attendance at the Academy of Music last night on the occasion of the performance of the cantata entitled "The Rescue of Harry Gray," by the choir of the Auckland Band of Hope Union,, was Tery good. The band and chorus numbered some 80 persons, and they were fairly successful in rendering the several pieces allotted to them. The soloists were not ci w_ell represented as they should have been, owing to the soprano (Mies Peace) missing her paisage by the Botomahana. Her place was, however, filled in a successful manner by Mrs Bettany. The musio allotted to Harry Gray wai capitally rendered by Mr Hanna, a gentleman whose sweet, though somewhat weak, tenor voka is always welcome. Mies Downey, a little lady, who essayed the character of Katie, was very successful, her singing being warmly encored, while Mw G-oodison, who £3 Miss Sharp, a lady of, uncertain age received by far the largest Bhare of applause for her singing of a song entitled 11 Why don't the men propoße." In the reader, Mr Turlcy, we were somewhat disappointed, as we had bean led to expect a genuine treat from the manner in which he was said to give the connective readings. A few lessons from a master of elocution would, however, soon make a wonderful difference in his style. Mr Cranwell officiated as conductor ia a most [efficient manner. Of the cantata itself we cannot speak in terms of praise ; in fact the music throughout is very weak, and every item in it we seemed to have heurd before in a little different shape. We regret to hear that the affair will be a considerable loss to the promoters; the expenses in bringing Buch a large number of performers to the Thames being vevy heavy. The catering department was entrusted to Mr James Forgie, and great satisfaction was expressed at the manner in which he supplied the necessary refreshments. . :

The assay value of the Te Aroha gold, melted yesterday at the Bank of New Zealand, is: New Find, 53s per ounce; Premier, 56s 8d; Colonist, 56s 6d ; Werahiko, <iSs 9d; and Waitoki, 43s r 6d.

Thus funeral of the late Mr James Q-arvey, which took place yesterday afternoon, was, notwithstanding the very inclement weather veiy largely" attended. The road from the Hape Creek to the cemetery was in a shocking state, yet the whole of the followers in the procession went to the grave of their late friend. There were about 200 present.

An inebriate,was brought before the Police Court this morning, and fined 20s and costs for bis indulgence while in charge of a horse and cart, and on a further charge of resisting the Police he was ordered to pay 10s costs.

These was a large attendance at the funeral of the late Mr Wallace Henderson tbis afternoon. Long before the cortege left the family residence friends assembled, and by the time it had turned into Mary street a long line of followers had* joined the procession. , . .

It is already whispered at the Thames that Colonel Eraser does vnot/intend to let Mr Speight have a walk over-for the constituency at next election. It is considered that Mr Sheehan will stand for one.,of, the Hawke's Bay.constituencus.—-2% ' Jdrbha^eivs.

Tbndebs were opened at the County Chambers to-day for the supply of metal, to be delivered on the Parawai road, and that of Mr W. Ashby, at 8s 5d per yard, was accepted. Two other tenders wera received.

lir reference to tha^ introduction of?trout to our district, Mr Allom has kindly reported to us that the operations lately undertaken by himself, in conjunction with Messrs Smith and Steedman, in distributing the fish, are proceeding satisfactorily. Since their removal to the rearing ponds the fish have made very marked progreßa in development, and doubtless ore long they will bo deemed sufficiently strong and vigorous to warrant their removal to the streams they will permanently inhabit.

OifE of theKirikiri chiefs is lying dangerously ill in the Hospital. The disease under which ho is differing results from retention,, and it is anticipated that with ordinary care Ind treatment the patient will recover. .

A mossteb meeting of the Blue Ribbon Army will be held at the Academy of Music on Tuesday next, the notice of which appears in our advertising column.

Tendebs for supplies to the Thames Hospital are called for by the Secretary.

The Auckland Scripture Gift Association announce the usual annual prizes to scholars at'the Tbameß District Schools. A notice to tbat veffect appears elsewhere. We hear the Association will distribute about £30 worth of prizes. : - CakVASSEKS are reminded that all monies collected during the month should be paid in to the Treasurer at the monthly meeting to be held of the C-me tery Road Committee at the Council Chambers, Mary street, at 7 30 p.m. on Tuesday next.

The Rev. S. J. Neill announces a lecture on " Freemasonry " to-morrow at three o'clock p.m. At the Oddfellows' Hall Mr H. Taylor will deliver a lecture on " Count Campbello, or Rome aa it "is now." • '

Sobbn Neilsomv of Masterton, Wellington province, has lodged a complaint before tho E,M. against the Bnrnham Industrial School. He alleged that throe of his children, who recently left that school, were discharged dirty and ill-clothed.

An Auckland telegram states that the scow Olive capsized off Mangapai, during a squallJohn Graydon (owner) and the crew managed to reach the shore in a boat. The Olive was blown outfco sea. The vessel was worth £600. It is not known whether it was insured.

A SAWHilii. at Kawakawa, owned by the Bay cf Islands Coal Company, baa been burned down. The bas is £300.

Thb TS.Z. Shipping Co cable that the Penstanton frozen meat arrived in good condition. The Doric was to leave London on December 13th for Auckland, Wellington and Lyttelton, and the Fenstanton on December 21st for Port Chalmers.

Petbb Hakpbr has been committed for trial for stabbing a boarding-house keeper, Mrsßsgera, in the ahoulder, in Auckland.

/T the Appeal Court, Wellington, ye&terterday afternoon, an order was made reinstating Mr Staite (who some tiuae ago was removed from the rolls), of Canterbury, a solicitor of the Supreme Court.

Ye Old Englysshe Fayre, held in Wellington in aid of St. Peter's Church, has as yetnetted nearly £1000. It will be closed to-

night,

The funeral of Mr W. J. W. Hamilton an old Canterbury resident, and one of the owners of the Lyttelton Times, took place in Christchurch yeßterday. There waß a large attendance, including members of the Dioc:san Synod, and the Canterbury College Board of« G-overnora. The Moßt Bey. the Primate conducted the services.

Mb Ambbose Ricketts, boat builder, of Nelson, aged 76, was found dead in bad. At the inquest a verdict was returned of death from heart disease. ,

Daniee Wiizinson, a carpenter, residing at Mornington, Dunedin, died suddenly in a tram car at West Dunedin, on Thursday night. It is suposed the cause was heart disease. Deceased leaves a wife and one child. He was seizid with a fit as the Mornington tram was going up High atr».et, and died be- 5 fore medical aid could be procured. An inquest lias been deemed unnecessary.

. A deputation representing the We3tport Coal Company waited on Mr Mitchelaon in Dunedin yesterday a.'ternoon t-3 urge the ad« visableness of carrying on the work of improving Weatport harbor in a speedier manner than it was being prosecuted at present. Mr Mitchelson said the matter had come before him for the first time, and he could make no definitj promises, but he had no doubt when he returned to Wellington and placed the views of the deputation before Government they would agree to the expenditure of the money voted as was suggested. .

The Wakatipu Mail contains the following —" It has been reported on reliable information that a disease, similar to tuberelosis, has made its appearance, among rabbits in this district. The said disease has affected nearly a clean sweep of tbe rabbits on the freehold property of Mr 0. C. Boyes, Kawarau Falls Station. It has not, however, confined its effect to the freehold, as there have large numbers found dead on the run besides. If such should turn out correct, and should the disease spread, it will be a boon to Bquatters and farmers; but it must be borne in mind that similar cases have from time to time been reported, and they were only local clearances —viz., at the Dome Range, Southland, some three years ago, and likewise on the Obelisk Range about the same time, when the rabbits were in the spring, found dead in quantities, although no poison had bran laid there."