AMUSEMENTS.

: » — ■ " ERMINIE." The great success of the Williamson Comic Opera Company, on iis recent visit to New' Zealand, is an indication that the pendulum of public taste, in the matter of entertainments is beginning to swing baok in the direction of higher-class music in opera. Ine so-called musical comedies (which alter all are only farces, with music-hall melodies and turns introduced) are giving place to pieces containing something of a story, set to music of a bright, sparkling character. Of this latter class is "Erminie," the opera which has been chossn by the Christchurch Amateur Operatic Society to inaugurate, on the evening of August 28, the new theatre known ias His Majesty b. When the opera was first produced in London, it at once achieved a great measure of popularity. The incidents were humorous, and there were a number of musical gems, both as regarded the solos and concerted numbers, and the-result was a decided success. When ife was produced hero by the Pollard Lilliputian Opera Company, it was also 'much admired. Now, for the first time it will be seen in Christchurch with adult performers, and with the advantages of a number of accessories and up-to-date effects which it was impossible at the time the opera was first played here to obtain. The performing members of the society have given a great deal of time to the rehearsing of the opera, and all the details, both musical and those connected .with the stage production, have Taeen very carefully attended to, under the able direction of Mr Tom Pollard, the original producer of the op The services of Mr Pollard ha n invaluable to the Society, and L** personal supervision is a guarantee that everything will be done to render th© production as successful