THE ROYAL ARTHUR.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XLIV, Issue 2267, 20 May 1898, Page 2

THE ROYAL ARTHUR.

On Tuesday morning His Excellency the Admiral made an official visit to His Woiship the Mayor, and in that gentleman's company visited the principal places of interest in the town including the school, in which he made a short address to the pupils, urging them to make the most of their opportunities, and instancing his own rise from a midshipman. As a matter of course Commodore Lavaud's house was visited, and much interested the Admiral in consequence of the connection with the French occupation of Akaroa. The Admiral also took the opportunity of being ashore to return the calls of residents. He expressed great pleasure at the beauty and interest of the town, and pleased those with whom he came in contact by his extreme geniality and courtesy. During the day Mr. F. A. Anson, chairman of the County Council, visited the ship, and many visitors from all parts of the Peninsula went aboard, the steam launch running special trips to bring people to see the ship, attend the concert and return to their homes at night.

The entertainment in aid of the Observation Point fund was held in the Oddfellows' Hall on Tuesday evening. The Admiral was present, and also Captain Dicken and many of his officers, and a considerable proportion of the ship's company. There was an excellent attendance of the townspeople and friends from the Bays and from Little River. The hall was finely decorated with flags of all nations, the arrangement being excellent. On the right or starboard side, near the Admiral's seat, hung the white ensign, the emblem of power and war, whilst the blue ensign, the token of our merchant service and successful commerce, was on the left in proximity to His Worship the Mayor. One also noted that the ensigns of Spain and the United States were on opposite sides of the hall. There were thirty-two performers in all, fifteen being bandsmen, and the remainder the Royal Arthur Minstrel Troupe. The band were placed on the floor of the hall. They were mixed string and brass, and under the leadership of a most able bandmaster, who was formerly a member of the famous Royal Artillery band, and has only recently joined, they promise to become one of the best bands in the Southern Hemisphere. They played many selections, all the numbers being excellently rendered, some of the instrumental solos occurring being exceedingly fine. Ths Minstrel Troupe were admirably got up, all the costumes being very goid, those of " Bones" and

• Skins" exceptionally so. Mr. W, Thomas was the Mr. Johnson, and played his part with the due dignity that is supposed to be a eharac-' teristic of the interlocutor. Messrs. Lunney and Stewart were "Bones" and "Skins " and their jokes and antics caused very great amusement, and they deservedly received the most tumultuous applause.

The following is a list of the numbers of the first part:—Overture, Band; opening chorus, Troupe ; song, " Honey Oh," F. Smeaton; song, " While the Dance goes on," H. Jenkins; song, " Laugh whene'er you can," P. Lunney; song, " Jolly as a Sandboy," "W. Fisk; song, "The Coloured Girl," F. Stewart; scng, "While London Sleeps," W. Hall; song, " Queen of the Earth," A. Shinner; song, "Fare ye Well," P. Morris ; song, " The Factory Lad," T. Baker.

There was then an interval, during which the Band played some beautiful music. The following are the numbers in the second part which, took the usual variety form :—Song, " The Volley at Sunrise," W. Taffe; song, "We are Soldiers," Lunney and Stewart; song, " Love's Serenade," H. Jenkins; song, " That's the time to catch 'em," F. Smeaton; song, " The Troopship," A. Shinner; song and dance, " Where the Floweret grows," P. Stewart; duet, " Upper Ten and Lower Five," L\mney and Baker; sword dance, F. Smeaton; plantation song, Troupe. We do not wish to particularise too much, all the items being well given, but certainly the duets of Lunney and Stewart, and Lunney and Baker, especially ' Upper Ten and Lower Five," were up to professional form. Smeaton also danced the sword dance admirably. The choruses throughout weie excellent, and the mandolins and violins used for the accompaniments were played very nicely. The plantation song, scene and chorus was well acted and most creditably sung.

Before " God Save the Queen," His Worship the Mayor rose, and in a few well-chosen words thanked the Admiral, Captain, officers and ship's Company for giving such an admirable entertainment in aid of a local object. Need we say the applause was of no measured nature. The proceeds of the entertainment, when all expenses are paid, will amount to a substantial addition to the memorial fund.

On Wednesday morning the Chairman of the County Council and His Worship the Mayor went to see the torpedo practice and say good-bye to the ship. We understand the torpedo practice showed a very high order pf merit in those connected with that department of the ship, and the Admiral again expressed his appreciations of the peculiar suitability of our harbour for naval manoeuvres. He also alluded ta the beauty of the scenery and the pleasant relations that had existed between those ashore and aboard, and said he thought that all on board would look forward with pleasure to their next visit to Akaroa.

It was about 11.30 a.m. when the Royal Arthur finally steamed away for Wellington, and her visit will long be remembered in Akaroa as a very pleasing incident in the lives of Peninsula people.