WAIRAU AMATEUR DRAMATIC SOCIETY.

♦_ LES CLOCHES DE CORNE VILLE. The Wairau Amateur Dramatic Society scored a distinct success last night iv their representation of Planquette's sparkling comic opera " Les Uloches de Corneville." It was no light endeavor for the Society to undertake the production of an opera such as "Les Cloches," and they a re to be congratulated on the success attending their efforts. Everyone of the large audience— one of the largest houses that have ever seated Ewarl'a Hall— which greeted the performers on the rise of the curtain last evening, left the Hall at the conclusion of the opera thoroughly pleased and gratified with the excellence of the performance. The manner m which the ladies and gentlemen taking the various parts sustained them was evidonce of the careful preparation and thoroughness that had been given by the Bociety to the production of the opera. A certain amount of "amateurism" is necessarily apparent m a production carried out solely by an amateur society, but at last night's performance it was not at all prominent, most of the characters sustaining their parts with remarkable ease and absence of stage stiffness, the opera going with a good swing from start to finish. The dialogue was well spoken throughout, it being given intelligibly and with good pronunciation. Tl.e staging of the opera left nothing to be desired. It is not too much to say that the scenery and appointments last night were the best ever used on a Blenheim stage. The scene showing the road to Corneville, the scenes of the Chateau and grounds, and the hiring fair were all splendid, but tLe best was perhaps that of the old Chateau m the second act. This scene showing the interior of the Chateau de Corneville, and the suits of armour placed around the ancestral hall had a splendid effect, which was heightened by a transparent window with painted figures. The music of the opera is very pretty, and was well rendered by an efficient orchestra under the conductorship of Mr M. A. Cheek. The choruses throughout the opera were very good, baing sung with due force, and the principal soloists were all m good voice, The cast of characters was a firstrate one, each performer beingqadmirably adapted to bis or her part, That of Germaine, the heroine, was accorded to Miss SimaoD, who was very successful m her delineation. She was heard to advantage m her solos, and called forth loud applause. For her rendering of the " Legend of the Belle," Miss Simson was the recipient of a handsome bouquet. She also sang with effect her duet with Gionicheus, " Twas but an Impulse" ; and with the Marquip, " 'Tis She ; a Happy Fate." Miss E. Rose was Serpolette, an orphan waif, who has a "wild time" of it. Her acting was very natural, and free from restraint. She fully appreciated her part, and acted it accordingly ; her interpretation of the character being excellent. Her singing evoked much applause, and she received an enthusiastic encore for the rendering of her song at the hiring fair. The minor female characters of maid servants at the hiring fair were ably sustained by Miss E, Nosworthy (Susanne), Miss Watson(Manetta), Miss L, Purser (Gertrude) and Miss Mullen (Jeanne). To Mr Sturrock was allotted the part of the Mar-jui 1 ? de Corneville, and he carried himself as to the manner born. His acting plainly showed that he was at home m his part and understood it, his representation of the character being excellent. The love scenes between the Marquis and Germaine were well acted, the parts not being overdone, jfor his song " With the joy of my heart," the Marquis received an encore. Mr L. Griffiths had a difficult part to perform m that of Gaspard, the old miser, but he sustained it with much success. His acting of the scene m the old Chateau, where the miser is counting and gloating over his gold and is disturbed by the entrance of the Marquis and his servant?, was very powerful, as indeed was his acting throughout the opera. His mase up as the miser was a revelatioD. Mr J". Rose creditably sustained the part of Grenicheur, his singing being a feature of the opera. To Mr E. Rose as the Bailie, and Mr W. McDonald, as Gobo, his clerk, fell the comedy of the piece, and they worthily acquitted theniselyee, Gobo being especially good, while Mr E. Rose made a very pompous old Bailie. Gobo's dancing was a special feature ; he received a vociferous encore for his dance m the third act. Master Tunnicliffo sustained the part of Christophe, the Marquis' servant. The choruses consisting of maid servants, sailors, coachmeD, and men-servant?, were filled by members of the Society. The Maypole dance iv the third act was a pretty item, but was some--1 what marred by the failure of the dancers to properly unwind their ribbons. At the conclusion of the first act the principal performers were called before the curtain. Before the second act commenced Mr Sturrock stepped before the curtain, and on behalf of the Society thanked the audience present for their attendance, and for the assistance thus accorded the Society m the production of the opera, which was done at great expense owing to the heavy cost of the scenery and preliminary expenses. He said that although this was the first performance of the Bociety he was quite sure it would not be the last, and expressed the hope that they would again be favored with a good attendance this evening. The Society are deserving of every credit for the excellent manner m which they have staged and carried out the opera, and should receive every support. That being so, we trust another good audience will greet the rising of the curtain this evening, for the performance is well worthy of patronage.

Fob Neuralgia and Rheumatism Shaw's Rheumat.o Cachete are re o omme?clS if 2a