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Press, Volume X, Issue 1233, 19 October 1866, Page 2

Theatre Royal.—There was a capital performance at the theatre last night of two very good pieces, " The King's Rival" and "The Wonderful Woman,'' both of which were thoroughly enjoyed by the audience ; our space however obliges us to confine our remarks within very narrow limits. "The King's Rival," though not one of Mr Tom Taylor's happiest efforts, is a good play ; the action occasionally halts while the dialogue is rather heavily spun out, as though the author found it somewhat of a task to fill up the required number of scenes, but the story is : interesting, and the construction shows the hand of a master. The leading character is that of Nell Gwynne, the merry, light-headed, light-hearted actress, who, with a much too unlimited love of "sport," as she calls it, is withall so thoroughly good-natured, «and at times so true to the higher instincts of womanhood, that her faults are easily forgotten or forgiven. If people on the stage could only move or speak as they would under the same circumstances in real life, the character, aB drawn by Tom Taylor, would almost play itself; but unfortunately the reverse is so generally the case that we can scarcely pay Mrs Poole a higher compliment than to say that in such a part she was completely successful. Nothing could have been better done than her hearty, almost boisterous, enjoyment of every opportunity for indulging her iove of sport, while on the other handshe did not fail to make the most of those moments when the better side of Nelly's character is allowed to display itself. Nelly's frankness of speech and hoydenish demeanor contrast well with the dignified bearing of Frances Stewart, the high ", born beauty, but Miss Juno as the latter was too formal and declamatory. Nor can we say that we thought the introduction of Mr Pepys successful, though Mr Fawcett is not to blame for that, as his acting throughout the piece was very careful, and presented all the self-complacent busybody habits of the character without over-doing them. (But was not Mr Pepys' diary written in shorthand, and if so, how did Nelly Gwynne contrive to read it so easily?) Mr Stuart O'Brien was the Duke of Richmond, and Mr B. N. Jones Charles 11, but of them, as of the others, we must speak on another occasion if the play •s repeated, as we hope it will be. " The Wonderful Woman" is an amusing little comedy,in which we were glad to welcome tbe first' appearance of Mr Poole. His comic acting is of the dry rather than the broad kind, and if his performance as Crepin may be taken as an average specimen, is of no mean order. We fhall bo glad to see him again. Mr Stuart O'Brien did well as the Marquis ; he is evidently more at ease in comedy than in tho "liig!i4lutin" styla! wliilfl Mi's Pdok SL3 Madame IHCoi-texiae, brought to mind Mr-. VVeller's emphatic w.i-nings agaicst '* peroicioua widdies." To-night Mr T. DFawcett

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ought to feel certain of a good house, but to make matters doubly sure he has made up an excellent bill, including that universal. favorito the " Hunchback" We wish he may get what he deserves —a bumper.

Ckeistchttkoh Vestby.— A meeting of tho "Vestry of the Parish of Christchurch was held on Wednesday afternoon, in the City I Council office. Present—Messrs C. R. and lA. F. N. Slakiaton, J. E. Marsh, F. G. j Huwley, C. W. Bishop, Captain Wilson, Geo. Gordon (churchwarden), the Rev. George Carpenter, and the Very Reverend the Dean of Christchurch, who presided. The minutes of the last meeting were, read and. confirmed. The report to be laid before the quarterly meeting of parishioners was submitted, and adopted. Friday, the 26th instant, was fixed for holding the parochial meeting in St. Michael's school-room, at seven o'clock. Captain Wilson, per Mr Marsh, handed in a statement of the receipts' and expenditure connected with his late lecture, by which it appeared that after all expenses were discharged the sum of £7 2s remained, which Captain Wilson handed over towards paying off the sum of £350. The thanks of the vestry was given to Captain Wilson for his kindness. The Rev. G. Carpenter proposed to give a lecture with practical illustrations on chemistry, il" the Vestry would procure the necessary apparatus. Mr Gordon was requested to write to the Warden of Christ's College asking for a loan of theirs. It was moved by Mr C. R. Blakiston, and seconded by Mr Hawley, and carried : — " That Messrs Bishop, J. E. Marsh and Captain Wilson be appointed a committee for the purpose of making all the necessary arrangements for the G. Carpenter's lecture, and for any further lectures that may be given for the purpose ot assisting the Vestry in raising funds to pa? off the present debts of the parish."— After some other routine business the Vestry adjourned.

St. Pat/l's Chubch.—The bazaar in aid of the building fund of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church was Opened yesterday, in the Town Hall. The hall was decorated in a very tasteful manner by flags and evergreens, and during the evening the band of the Volunteers played some very excellent music' in a very creditable manner. On entering the hall one was met by Captain Wilson, with a terrible array of galvanic batteries, and nerves were .shocked and purses lightened all for the small churge of one sixpence. The next, stall was presided over by Mrs W. Wilson, Mrs Recce, and Miss Williams ; the second by Mrs Anderson, Miss Nelson, and Mrs McDougal; the third, by Mrs McKay, Mrs Angus, Miss McKay, and Miss Todd; the fourth, by Mrs Grant, Mrs Macpherson, and Miss Gavins j and the refreshment stall by Mr " Norman. The wares exhibited for , sale were, of course, of the most hetero- j genous character, amongst which we noticed j a lark, a bootj-ick, and photographs of I octor Cummins, and it would be difficult to Bay whether the fair vendors were more interested in selling the one or the other ; however, they succeeded excellently in disposing of all, and yesterday's sales must have reduced the stock-in-trade considerably. The number of visitors wa3 very large, so much so that in the evening the hall was inconveniently crowded. The bazaar will be continued today, and the lots remaining unsold will be disposed of by auction oa Saturday.

Gazette. — A Provincial Government Gazette was issued yesterday containing a notice that H. J. Tancred, Esq., had resigned his seat in the Executive Council and that his Honor the Superintendent has appointed R. Wilkin, Esq., to be a member of the Executive Council and F. E. Stewart, Esq., to be president of the same. The Gazette also contains the report of the Immigration Commissioners on the ship Blue Jacket, and a notice of the dissolution of partnership of Messrs Miller, Gooch and Co., sheep-farmers. No. 1 Company.—The third competition for the Company's prize took place yesterday at the Hillsborough range. Tho weather was very favorable for the firing, and very fair average scores wero made. Private Oakes was the successful competitor, the conditions being five rounds at 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards, to be won three times by one member before it becomes his absolute property. Captain Cook was the successful competitor at the first event, and Private Whale at the second.

Ratepayebs' Mutual Pbotection Society—A special meeting of the members of this society was held last evening in the Clarendon hotel ;Mr G. Allen in the chair. Mr Wynn Williams Btated that he wished to draw the attention of the society to the report which had appeared in the papers mentioning the contents of a letter received by the City Council from Dr. Foster, explaining that the sum of £80 taxed off the costs in the case of the City Council v. Wynn Williams was mainly of costs arising out of his (Dr. Foster's) forcing. Mr Williams asserted that this statement was not correct. The costs taxed off were chiefly charges made for briefs prepared after the case had been concluded, and for counsel's fees charged to Dr Foster, he having acted as solicitor. Mr Williams read several items in the bill bearing out his conclusions. Mr Williams stated that he had paid Dr Foster the amount of his bill as taxed, viz., £41 16s 4d. It was decided that the balance in hand, £19 18s sd, should be handed over to Mr Williams, and that all outstanding subscriptions should be collected, and likewise handed over to Mr Williams to reimburse him for his Costs. Several subscriptions, amounting to £5 15s, were handed in to the Treasurer. Mr Oswald was elected chairman, and Mr Oram treasurer, for the ensuing twelve months. A vote of thanks to Mr Allen, the retiring chairman, concluded the business, and the meeting was adjourned until Thursday evening next.

No. 2 Company.—The commanding officeof this company has offered several prizes to be competed for by his company under the following conditions :—l. Rifle, either Lancaster or Enfield. 2. Hythe position, target and scoring. Ranges 200," 300 and 400 yards first match ; 300, 400 and 500 the second ; if necessary, 400, 500 and 600 the third. Afterwards sanw series over again. 4. Fifty rounds at each range. 5. No sun shade or wind screen. 6. The first prize to be won by the man who has made tho highest score in any two matches, the second and third prize to be won by the men whose aggregate scores in the matches (including that by which the first match is won) are the first and second (excluding those of the winner of the first prize). The score in shooting off ties not to count for second and third prizes. The matches to be shot off in the third week of each consecutive month ; open to honorary members ; and in accordance with these rules, the following members competed yesterday at the butts, Hillsborough:—

It will be seen that a tie was made between Serjeant Papprill and Private Niemann, but in accordance with the National Rifle Association regulations for 1865, Private Niemann took the first place, he having made the least number of misses.

Volunteer Gbsteeai. Committee. — A meeting of this committee was held last evening at" the Criterion hotel. Present: —Ensign Blakiston . (chairman), Lieutenant Dobson, Ensign .Woolfe, Sergeants Martindale and Packard, Privates Dobbs, Dale, Barnes, Niemann, Thomson, Sergeant Brass, ColorSergeant Wullis, and the secretary. Ensign Lippetts. 'X*Ke inixiiitea o£ the last meeting were read and con£rmed. Th© folio-wr-ing resolutions were, tbea passed = « That the ouestion Of VIW resignation Of thy

treasurer be deferred." " Xhat the deputation named on July 12 be requested at an early date to communicate with the G-or-ernment as to a grant for the forthcoming encampment." The following letter was then read from Captain MuFarlimd, of tho Dunedin Volunteer Artillery : —" Yours, dated September 24, is to hand, containing copy of resolutions passed by your committee on the 20th of last month. Fortunately the proceedings of that meeting were reported in the " Press " newspaper, cUe the information contained in your letter would have arrived too late for the Otago Committee to have acted upon, il have on beialf of tho committee to inform you that the Otago team are quite agreeable to shoot at the ranges and targets proposed by your committee, and that they will shoot off the match on the 26th and 27th of this month." A letter was also read from Sergeant Stansell, Btating that the gross receipts from the different concerts were as follows : — On August 28, £28 6s ; on September 18, £43 10a ; on October 15; £44 3s ; total, £115 19s, which money had been lodged in tho Bank of New Zealand. ColorSergeant WalHs gave notice that he wished his name withdrawn from the list of representatives selected for the interprovincial match. The Secretary was requested to write to the officer commanding the Rangiora Company, requesting him to nominate members for the General Coinmitte«\ The following rules were then made for the firing for the interprovincial match on the 29th instant: —Headquarters to fall in at Hillsborough at half-past eight a.m., outlying companies at half-past two p.m., and that the Secretary be requested to communicate the commanding officers to supply an officer to command each squad, and also to provide a suitable marker on the day named for the match. Several accounts were passed and ordered to be paid, and the meeting was adjourned for a fortnight.

a> '3 o H ——— —\ Sergeant T. Papprill Col:-Sergeanl- Wallu Sergeant Brown Corporal Gee Private Niemann Private Ritchie Private F. East, Private T.Kowley... Private A. East.. Private Hankins , 14 J 10 15 6 14 9 12 13 11 2 16 6 10 6 13 0 2 8 6 0 8 13 10 0 11 7 9 6 4 Eeti 38 29 35 12 38 16 23 27 21 ired.