THE PALACE HALL GREY TOWN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3688, 16 December 1890, Page 2

THE PALACE HALL GREY TOWN.

We had ■ tbe in the perBon of our South Wairawpa reporter,! of being present at the Palace HaH, Greytown, last night on tbo occasion of its formalopeniug after corisiderabio improreinent in its internal anced an appointments 1 made by the proprietor, Mr; ißarnardi U ! ] i' On'first entrance it was noticeable how thorough, and how admirable the alterations had been. The whole interior looked: as bright-and as nice' as any theatre of its size we have seen, l'he walls and ceiling were tastefully distempered in delicate colours, the latter being sky blue, bespangled with stars; the proscenium Wit'i Corinthian columns, scroll and curtain had been skilfully painted, the orchestra railed off by a purple screen, and altogether everything made as attractive as- it well could be. Above tho proscenium, we should mention, is the mottb, "Advance Greytown,"" Another, neW provision should also be noticed in the existence of somo most: comfortable receding seat folding wooden , chairs, with carpec;backs, specially made by the clever and ingenious proprietor.of the hall,.for the front seat portion of his audience, v

. The programme., orened. with an exhibition of the naw scenery. ; We had been prepared for something good but what we did see was indeed a revelation of Beautiful art.. Some .of the scenes were exquisitely pretty, and their mechanical movameuts were pre-' cision itself. The first scene wasi view of the sea and coast off Dover showing a rippling sea, steamers arid , rithei; vessels, and an exceedingly picturesque landscape in the way of coast-line, 'Two or three other scene!, each of I them very good, we have hot space to notice, Tie representation of a lake by moonlight,- and, -.in :another instance, of an Irish or Scotch lake by day must, however, receive a word of admiration 'for their beauty-and fidelity to natvre. The leafy wings, interiors, and other accessories were equally good, and are worthy of every praiso, As each Bceno passed tefore the audience, as it was specially arranged to do on this occasion, the applause was long and loud, and when finally the exceedingly handsome drop scone of the "Bay of Naples" fell, the feelings of those present were only adequately expressed by vociferously demanding the appearance before the em tain of Mr E, Briggs, the clever artist to whom is due the wonderful transformation of the hall, and Mr J. Barnard the proprietor. Both bowed their acknowledgments, and then the Mayor, Mr R, A. Wakelin, made a few congratulatory remarks. Of the remainder of the programme we have not room to say much, except that itwiß a vjry entertaining and lavish one, with' several original features and other items quite new to a Greytown audience. The painting of a view of Wellington aud its harbour in twenty minutes by Mr Briggs was a talented, and rapid execution, and when by some ingenious manoeuvres the artist, converted tbe sketch into one by night with the whole town illuminated, the result, was wonderfully realistic and extremely beautiful. Tbe farce "Wax-ination Gratis" was well aited and passed off very satisfactorily, Tho shadow pantomime was very amusing, and finally the "Fiery Fountain," by which tho whole stage was flooded with a shower of golden rain in the shape of sparks of fire from nbove and from below, excited the enthusiasm of tho audicnco to a very high pitch indeed.

The attendance itself was not nearly so good as the entertainment and exhibition deserved, :but it can only ho attributed to the fact that people did not know that there was so much worth seeing,