TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2939, 16 May 1891, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU.

Musical Society.—As Gilbert and Sullivan's dramatic cantata "Trial by Jury" is to be produced at To Awamutu on Thursday, the 2lst inst., it may not be out of place to supply our readers with an outline of the plot. The curtain rises on a view of the Court of the Exchequer at Westminster, a little before 10 a.m. Those present comprise the Usher, the jurymen, and various lookers-on, who doubtless ijre friends of tho litigants. The chorus annonnci) that " The hour of ten i.s soundincr," and that Edwin has been sued by Angelina for breach of promise of marriage. The Usher tenders to the jurymen his view of what their conduct should be. Edwin next appears, and in reply to some rather rough questioning admits that he is tho defendant; he also, m a song, endeavours to propitiate the jury. The Usher calls for silence, and during the chorus " All Hail, Great Judge " the learned Baron takes his seat on the bench. Before the trial commences "His Lordship " details the manner in which he became a Judge. The counsel for the plaintiff takes his seat, and the jurymen are sworn—

By tbe dull state of yonder sk} , . That they will well and truly try. The bridesmaids next enter the court, and to one of these "His Lordship" devotes his whole attention, and sends her a billetdoux by the Usher. Shortly after this, the plaintiff, Antral ina (the broken-hearted bride) appears, and to her the Judge transfers hia somewhat versatile affections. Tho counsel for the plaintiff opens his pleadings, during which the plaintiff, after being mads violent love to by her counsel and by the jurymen (notably by the foreman), is ultimately iuvited by the Judge to " recline on him " and take a seat on the bench. The fun gets fast and furious, and the defendant entreats the court to listen to his version of the matter, and proposes to marry " this lady to-day " and "that lady to-moirow," This proposition is considered by the Judge as very reasonable, but it is rejected by the plaintiff and by her counsel, the latter pointing out, in the reign of James the second, " it was generally reckoned aa a rather serious crime to marry two wives at a time " ; also that " to marry two at once is Burglarie." Edwin then repels the carros.ses of Angelina, and with a view to reducing damages hu informs the jury that he is frequently in liquor and generally a very bad lot. The Judge next suggosts that they should make Edwin tipsy so as to see if ho is as bad as ho professes. Ultimately his Lordship, finding that "no purpose seems to please you," breaks up the Court and announces that he will marry Angelina himself. This finale proves acceptable to all parties, and the curtain falls to the chorus of " He's a good Judgjj. too." AcomuxT.— Mr H. Roche, who sfflne six weuks ago met with an accident through which he l"sf. —it is to be hoped only temporarily —the sight of his left eye, is now making fair progress tosvards recovery. A few nights since a small thorn came out of the opposite eye, which Mr Roche declares to be tho one which penetrated ami caused the injury to his left eye. Assuming such to be the case, how the thorn mauajjed to work its way from one eye to tho other re-

mains a miracle. However, since the strange occurrence. Mr Roche has been free from the intense pain which he lias all along been suffering, ami he n»\v entertains great hopes of regaining his sight. The doctors, however, are of opinion thst this will take at least six months to come about.