AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 5, 6 January 1910, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. His Majesty's Theatre was packed to the doors last evening, when the J. C. Williamson Co. presented the "King of Cadonia" for the last time. This evening the new musical play "Havana" will be staged for the first time in Auckland. "Havana" comes with a great reputation for brightness, and recently had a nine weeks' run in Sydney. Owing to'the length of the play, an early commencement 13 necessary, and the curtain will rise each evening at a-quar-ter to eight, and the management would esteem it a favour if the public would be seated early. ROYAL ALBERT HALL. The weekly change of programme at the Royal Albert Hall last evening attracted a large audience, and the various films were greatly appreciated by those present. The star film. "The Land of the Midnight Pun," which depicts scenes in Norway, is an exceptionally fine picture, as is the dramatic film, "A Sister's Devotion." "Transporting Logs in British Columbia," "Algerian Views." and the various other films go to make up an excellent programme. On Monday evening next Lieutenant Ernest Shackleton's great picture, "A Dash for the South Pole," will be shown, and will be repeated for one week only. THE OPERA HOUSE. There is no falling-oft" in the attendance ai the Opera House, where Fuller's Pictures are still the attraction. The jiresent programme is an excellent one, the subjects being attractive and interesting, and were warmly -received fry the large audience present last evening. The programme will be repeated this evening. THE TIVOLI THEATRE. The National Vaudeville Co. still contiiiue to attract large audiences at the Tivoli Theatre, and last night was no cMfption to the rule. The various item* by George Tarr, G-eorge Mackie, Hrisrhtie Carlisle, Ivy Goodwill, Will Walker, and other members of the Company, were exceptionally well rendered, and recalls were the order of the evening. The present programme will be continued untii Saturday. THE PICTURE GARDEN. The Picture Garden at Devonport is still the centre of attraction for numbers of picture lovers, and there was a"-am a large audience present last evening. Next week the Picture Garden Pierrots ■make theii first appearance. MR. WRAGGE'S LECTURES. There was scarcely a vacant seat in St. James' Hal! last night, when Mr. Clement L. Wragge delivered the second of his farewell lectures, the subject being "The Cathedrals of God." A great many very interesting slides were shown of the places of worship in different parts of the world, and the lecturer then glided into the subject, which is particularly his own—"Nature's Cathedrals." Many beautiful pictures were shown, and ultimately Mr. Wragge launched into the romantic story of the process of sunmaking. On the subject of sun spots— the said spots often being greater in diameter than the diameter of the earth —Mr. Wragge was particularly interesting, and he explained how the working of these sun-spots has a meteorological bearing on the earth. The lecturer was listened to with interest, and was warmly applauded at times. An exhibition of the powers of radium was given. The third lecture of Mr Wragge's series will be given to-night.

BILLIARDS. A large audience was present last evening at ilr. P. UcNamee's Billiard Parlour, Ponsonby, to witness an exhibition match between Tred Lindrum, the Australasian champion, and Gaerge Gray, who holds the world's record break, viz., 830. The game was 750 up, Gray receiving 50 start, and was won by Lindrum by 557 points. Ihe play of Lindrum was "of an exceptionally fine order, the variety of his billiards and his wonderfully "accurate play for position winning much applause. Ihe sped with which he made his scores was a revelation. Lindrum compiled his points in 80 minutes, making breaks of 117, 88, 73, 61, and 55, and averaging 31.C. Gray was not seen at his best, though it must bo admitted that he had few chances to show the wonderful hazard striking skill which has made him famous. At the conclusion of the match, Lindrum and Gray combined in a masse and fancy shot display, which further enhanced the reputation of ihe former as a fancystroke player, and Gray as a Masse shot striker. The match was played on an Alcock and Co. table, and crystalate balls were used. It was announced at the close of the game that an exhibition match, 8000 up, Gray receiving 500 start from Lindrum, would be commenced on Monday evening, January 10. The centrally-situated premises known as His Majesty's Saloon, Durham-street, i≤ being comfortably seated, and Messrs. Alcock and Co. are erecting a standard pocket' match table for the game to be played on.