THEATRE ROYAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4322, 18 January 1893, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

Mr. E. Tennyson Smith's Farewell Night,

Despite tho somewhat inclement weaiber which prevailed last ovening there waß a uack«d audience at the Masterton Theatre Koyal, when Mr Tennyson Smith gave tho second of his Fpecial subjects, entitled "The Trial of a Not.irioua Criminal (KingAlcohol)," and bringing to a close a mission which lias bad tho sustain! d and ever increasing interest of the toivn .for nine evenings, the distinguishedlecturer bado farewell to Munturton and tho many firm friends made daring his visit here, i The chair was occupied byjMr Graham, and tho Revs Wood and Dukes occupied scats on the platform. The hall was constituted a court of justice, the atidimico assenting to the proposition of the Chairman that they should act as tho jury, iho lecturer appearing as counsel for tho prosecution of tho 11 prisoner" alcohol. The chargi'S ho piefenvd agtinst tho prisoner were that he was guilty of robherv and murder, inasmuch as lie robbed men of their happiness, of i heir good name, of their self-taped, of tlii'ir wealth and Anally murdered them body and soul, Mr. Tennyson Smith was in capital form and rivetted the attention of his hearers for the space of nearly two hours, and giving full play to bis extraordinary entertaining powers be kept them in an almost continual 'state of laughter, His illustrations ranged" from grave to gay and from lively to severe." We are only doing the lecturer justice in slating that finer pieces of word painting have never before been given in Masterton. lie closed with a very dramatic presentation of of a supposed interview with a drink fiend, and no one appearing to defend the prisonor after the Chairman bad recapitulated the charges sentence of banishment from New Zealand forevenvas pronounced to take effect in 189-1. Tho Rev. J. Dukes then rose to propose the following resolution: - " This meeting desires to testify to the great amount of good accomplished by Mr E. Tennyson Smith's mission in Masterton and accords him a hearty vote of thanks. As this is the last night of the mission and Mr Smith will shortly be leaving the 'Owu we rejoice with him in the success ot the work, In saying farowell we wish him God spied wherever be goes and trust that his labours in the causo of Temperance Reform will hasten the day when the liquor traffic, that moßt fruitful sourco of crime, poverty and pauperism shall be entirely swept away." The motion was seconded by the Rev R. Wood and supported by tho Chairman, the speakers referring in most eulogistic terms to the eloquence and power of the lecturer and the grand work rosultmg from the mission, The motion was carried by acclamation. On rising to respond, Mr Tennyson Smith received prolonged applause, and was for some moments unable to proceed. The applause broke out again as tho lecturer, with some emotion, acknowledged the splendid reception, saying he would always look back with pleasure on his mission in Masterton, and the cheering was renewed when he spoke of being present at the next election. He warmly thanked the stewards and the ladies and gentlemen who had helped to make the mission a success, and also the ministers who had supported hitn. At the close of the meeting a number signed the pledge in response to Mr Smith's appeals. Tho total number of pledges taken during tho mission was brought up to 389, A number ot persons present enrolled iheir names as members of the Prohibition League and Good Templar Order.