AMUSEMENTS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4401, 22 September 1871, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

Theatre Royal. — This house was never fuller, nor has it ever looked to better advantage than it did last night. The dress circle comprised the elite ot Auckland, but we re "ret to say, for the sake of the charities for which the performances' were given, that numbers could not gain admission. The house was literally crowded to the doors. The drawing-room entertainment entitled "A Morning Call" afforded much amusement, and at the fall of the curtain there was a call for Miss Colville, which, on being responded to, was followed by a shower of bouquets. Miss Colville selected two or three of those nearest to her, bowed her acknowledgments, and retired under a storm of cheers and general applause. The after entertainments were ail excellent of their kind. City Hall. — "Mrs. McGregors Levee," some excellent piano solos, and a rapid succession of songs, sentimental and comic, formed an excellent groundwork of a firstclass entertainment at this house last night. There was a fair attendance. Prince of Wales. — Mr. Burford and Miss Clara Stephenson appeared last night in " The Flowers of the Forest ;" the character of Cynthia, being taken by Miss Stephenson ; the Gipsy boy, Lemuel, by Mrs. W. Hill ; and the Wolf, a Ziugara, by Mr. Bui ford. The play ran well from the rise to the fall of the curtain. Miss Stephenaon and Mr. Burford are likely to be great favourites with the Auckland public. The Hippodrome. — The magnificent area which is comprised within the stone walls of the Albert Barracks is about to be turned to a more profitable account and to a more peaceful purpose than that for which wa3 originally enclosed. On Saturday afternoon Mr? Murray gives one of two al fresco entertainments, the like of which haa never previously been witnessed in the colony, and iudeed could not be attempted upon any imposing scale in any other place outside of Auckland ; for it is only in such an enclosed space as is to be found at the Albert Barracks that a Hippodrome Exhibition could be given. At a very large outlay of money, and at a cost of much labour, Mr. Murray has arranged for a series of exciting sports, which are likely to surpass anything of the kind most of us have Jseen before, or perhaps may witness on any future occasion. The entertainment will assume more the character of a spectacle, in which steeplechases, chariot contests, double-horseback riding, flat races, and other equestrian feats, undertaken by lady and gentleman riders and drivers, will form only a pait of it. In the intervals of these sports will be exhibited.performances on the single and double trapeze, vaulting, and other Olympic trials among the athletes selected. A grand stand has been erected, from which those who do not prefer the promenade can view the races and the other contests. All the arrangements have been made under a committee of management, in which are to be found the names of many of our leading citizens. Mr. Perkins, of the Occidental Hotel, and Mr. M. E. Hale have been appointed caterers. Masters of the ring and judges of the sports will be nominated for the occasion, and no effort has been left untried to render Saturday afternoon's entertainment one of the most attractive spectacles ever witnessed in New Zealand, and never excepting on one occasion in any of the Australian colonies. This was in Sydney, when Mr. Murray's Hippodrome was visited by the Earl of Belmore, and over 30,000 spectators were present. On Monday next one-half of the proceeds of the second exhibition is to be given {to the local charitable institutions in Auckland.