Untitled

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1337, 19 February 1867, Page 2

Land Saxes. —The following is the return of waste lands disposed of yesterday :—Ashburton and Oxford 61 acres, realising £122.

Mubder.—Very little further information has reached town regarding the murder committed at the ontstation hut of Mr Enys, near Porter's pass. We hear that the body is to be brought to town, when the inquest will be held, the population at the scene being so small that a jury cannot be impannelled.

Harvest Opeeatioks at Katapoi.—For the past five or six days the fine dry weather so suitable for harvest work has held out without a break. The heat however at noon has been most oppressive, but Qvery hour of fine weather is at this time most precious to the farmers, who hare so far taken advantage of it that most of the corn is cut and carried in first-rate condition. A few of the farmers have already commenced thrashing, but not as a general thing.

Lectttek at the Towk Haix.—Mr Hamilton gave the first of a series of leeturea on phrenology at the Town Hall last night. Having stated that it was chiefly a demonstrativo lecture, he proceeded to display skulls of Australian and New Zealand natives, at the same time arguing that their various developments were borne out by their character when alive. Afterwards he went on to compare casts taken from the heads of Burgess, Kelly, and Levy, with drawings of those of Burns, Shakespeare, Daniel O'Connell and others. He then explained that although a man may have the organs of destruetiveness and combativeness highly developed, those organs may turn out rightly if properly directed. Having stated that the subject of the next lecture on Wednesday evening would be on " Social and Domestic Affections," Mr Hamilton offered to examine the heads and organs of any of the audience. Among others Mr John Ollivier came upon the platform. Mr Hamilton's remarks on this gentleman's organs caused considerable amusement; after which Mr Hamilton concluded, having carried the attention of his audience with him throughout his very interesting and instructive lecture. Theatre Kotal.—Burlesque has decidedly for some time past been in the ascendant in Christchurch, and when nothing el?e would draw the mere announcement that a burlesque would be produced has generally been sufficient to draw a good house. This was the case last evening when a very good house assembled to witness the performance of " Ye Lady of Lyone." The first piece was the " Irish Heiress," a very excellent one, produced we believe for Mr Fawcett's benefit about a week ago, when it went very successfully, and again last evening met with the approbation of the house. "Ye Lady of Lyons " was, however, the success of the evening. We have seldom seen in Christchurch a burlesque more successfully put upon the stuge, and the dresses were really excellent. Claude Melnotte was taken by Miss Joey Gougenheim; she certainly looked in her bloomer costume as bewitching a Claude as could possibly be imagined, and her acting throughout was of the most naives character; she was frequently applauded, and on her first appearance on the stage she literally carried the house by storm. Mr ITawcett, as Pauline, dressed in a ve.ry rich silk dress, with his rather tall figure, looked anything but the sentimental part of Fuuline, and some of the usually pathetic parts, written byßulwer Lytton, were rendered truly ridiculous by the manner in which they were acted. Miss Nye made an excellent Beauseant, and Miss Cassy Matthews, as Madame Deschapelles, acted the part in a very amusing manner. The Widow Melnotte was very grotesque in the exaggerated manner in which it was taken by Mr Richardson. The burlesque was a great success. To-night two old favorites in Chriatchurch, Miss Cassy Matthews and Misa Nye, will take their benefit; both actresses are well known, and need no praise from us to secure a good house. The " Ticket-of-Leave Man" and "Ye Lady of Lyons" will be played.