West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 292, 30 August 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1866.

We must repeat our regret lluit our strictures on the recent, management of the Priuce of Wales Opera House, have excited ft feeling of irritation wluphj so fov, shows no sign of abutment. We cannot but think that Mr Baitlett is ill advised ill- compelling us to *e<b\vn \o a subject which \ye wd'ulA glady have allowed to drop", m the hope that enough had been said to secure the reform we aimed at promoting. Silence, however, j is not permitted us, and We &re fei-ced j to justify more fully tUaA \V£ UsiVfe tiius far sought to do* tfte comments which have elicited such an unexpected burst of wrath. How does the case as between Mr Bartlett and ourselves stand ? It is part of his charge against us that, whereas the West Coisi Tiatia now I speaks the language of censure, if Vas ; at one time all praise. We have al- ■ ready admitted the fact aud explained the apparenl WousfateYicy; ikt if we arc 'driven f6 be nl'ore explicit, we must acctpt Ifche duty imposed upon us. When Mr Bartlett opened his dramatic campaign in Hokitika, he promised the public, whose patronage he sought, a good company, a high class of entertainment, and a thoroughly well conducted theatre. Making due allowance for the difficulties that necessarily surrounded such an enterprise on the West Coast, Mr Bartlett redeemed his word. And we awarded him full credit for doing so. In our theatrical notices, we recognised his claims to support and encouragement— to au extent, indeed, that could only be justified by the excusable desire to promote an undertaking that was a bold and venturesome one, and tofoster young efforts that bid fair to result in better things. Faults were systematically overlooked — excellencies, such as they were, systemati • (•ally exaggerated—in the desire to strengthen Mr -Bartlett^ hands in his undertaking. W<> repeat what we have

always said, that this gentleman made a satisfactoiy and praiseworthy beginning of his .management And so long as the performances at the Opera House deserved commendation, we continued «}ghtly to commend them, as our files will show. But the- time came when we felt that commendation was impossible, without something more than a venial excess of indulgence; and that we should be acting most forbearingly to the management of the Opera House by refraining from notice of the theatre "

altogether. Tho character of the pieces put on the stage, and the manner iv which they were rendered, rapidly degenerated, and it became too evident that a class of patrons was appealed to other than those whose support was iv the first instance bespoken. In fact, the whole tone of the House was lowered ; and if we had done our duty strictly, we should have employed a very severe style of stricture. It is not for us to say how far the blame rested with the management, aud how far it lay with individual actors yielding to the temptation of giving an offensive point It) passages in pieces iv themselves of a questionable character. We refer to facts that are still fresh iv the recollection of many who lent the theatre their warmest patronage at its opening, and who regretted the necessity for withdrawing it We hoped that the gradual falling off of patronage Would have taught a practical lesson» and led to the avoidance of the faults of management, out of which it ardsC. And in the indulgence of that hope we were silelit, When, if we had 'spoken al all, we must have been severely condemnatory. Perhaps we failed in public duty ; but if so, the public alone have the right to cortiplaiu — uot the management* to whom we were too considerate. It has unfortunately resulted- that the warmth of support given to tlifc new theatre on its opening, and the silence maintained afterwards as to its faults 'df 1 management-, have c'dnlbined to beget a fatae impression of the true' relations existing between the stage and the pres-s. The sensitiveness to criticism exhibited on the present occasion is one indication of this. It would appear that whilst theatrical managers arti glad to welcome jireSfc Visitors, it is only on condition that a substantial return should be made for .the 'comjMimehJt in the shape ttf a laudatory" notice of the perfbrftlance. It is scarcely 'betraying a confidence to state that Mr Bartlett has even gone so far as to stipulate that the name of the reporter to do theatrical work shall be submitted to- him for his approval, and that if his Wishes had been cousiilted he would have had his own critic to write in the style of the Communicated notices with Which We ttee'd to be favored.

On the whole Mr Bartlett has no cause to complain of the West Coast Times, whatever cause of complaint the public may have. If we have deviated in any respect from the strict path of duty, as critics, it has bepn to conceal defects, ariti to glosß over faults worse than defects* in the hope that time and experience would work aeuro. Our sympathy with a healthy drama is genuine-, and no Vrant of 5 earnesln'pfw itt its support will ever be charged against us. It is an agency of groat moral good. But we begin to feel that we have been too leuieut to improprieties on the stage, that ought to have been sternly rebuked, lather than passed over without censure. We feel, too that it would have been a kinder part to have acted towards mediocre playerfy id haye 1 pointed oi»t their defects with a. le&S merciful hand, fattier tKaii - adopted a uniform, fctyi'e tif praise, which ajtypftrs to have stood very greatly in the way of all effort at solfiinprovement in their art. We have only one excuse to plead— a desire not to discourage an enterprise that had many claims to public support, and a hope tllat experience would teach its ,own lesson. ,

Having said so much fa vindication of the com-sft ,yvys 'HlVe taken; we may at Ule ia/ite time adniit that the criticism of frhich cpnjplaint.ia tMVW, feas marked. b,y k t&ke til" Severity that might haVe been softened, if we could have foreseen that it would have been felt so keenly. Tt was not our desire to Wound too deeply, tmd We have no. reluptnuce to dontess^thatjthfe bounds t>f Uhnperate crit^sm \VeVe UJ some extent exceeded. V. r e say this without admitting that the censive pronouueed was not substantiollyjust, now leave this subject, For the present theatrical matteys. a for"mddeft taenie to u s; § 0 i»i\.> as Mr isai-ttelteontinaes Manager of the Prince ol Wales Opera House tJje. voice of criticism in, the AViisi CJoa&t Tisius is silent. We will riot praise where we Cannot • praise honestly, and we are gently reminded that we may not dispraise without incurring the penalties of actions for libel. Mr Bartlett has a boluator, and h is possible that even in this article may be discovered subiect matter for an action for libel. If so, it may be more convenient that the whole question of recent theatrical management in Hokitika should be brought into one issue. Mr Bartlett has vJi we k plieve ' a critic. And it the public are. satisfied with the critical notices of the Green Room why should we demur. Our " connection with the matter is a thine of the past. Henceforth, any class of pieces, and any style of interpretin«their points, may be' played without check, that may 'suit the taste and calibre of Mr Bartlett's company," and find patrons m some sections of the community. Whether the interests of the actor or of the stage will, in the end, be promoted by this silence of all all criticism, not " licensed" from the Manager s room, is a question with winch others have more concern than ourselves.

Mil. Sx4wobd made an announcement of the policy of the new Ministry in the House of Representatives iXt Wellington, on Friday last. Its main feature was a promise to make as large provision out ot the revenue for provincial requirements as could possibly be effected-— even to the last shilling that could be

bpaml. He stated that a despatch from the Secretary of State, just received, would enable the government to effect a reduction in the ueienee es» timntcs, as it was the intention of the Wai' Office to leave one regiment of troops in the colony without charge, under any circumstances. The financial (statement was to be made ou the following Tuesday.