AMUSEMENTS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4407, 29 September 1871, Page 2

AMU SEMENTS.

Prince of Wales. —The benefit accorded to Mr. B. N. Jones, at this house, last night, must have been 7nost gratifying to that gentleman's feelings ; and, it is to be hoped, of corresponding advantage in a pecuniary point of view. The house was crammed from floor to celling, from the seat nearest the orchestra to the door leading to the pit. The pieces for the occasion were " Ihe Little D — " I and "The Serious Family." In the first, Mr. Burford, Miss Clara Steplienson, and Mis.Hill appeared, and no better criterion of their acting can be drawn than the applan&e which they received from all pavts of the house. Of "The Serioug Family," it is unnecessary to speak further, when we mention that the two leading characteis were taken by Mr. Hoskins and Miss Colville. Their acting made us regret that we are so soon to lose them ; for it is certain that we shall not soon look upon their like again. During the whole of their engage ment Miss Colville and Mr. Hoskins have drawn, as a rule, crowded houses, and this solely upon their individual merits .is theatrical artistes of the very highest order of merit. Wherever Miss Colville and Mr. Hoskins may appear they have only to refer to Auckland in testimony of the high esteem in which they were held.

City Hall. — The Excelsior Minstrels gave another of their very amusing and versatile entertainments last night, to a very wellfi]]e.l hall.

Catholic Institute. —Au entertainment, given by Ward's Minstrels, assisted by members of the AucUlaud Ethiopian Troupe, as a complimentary benefit to Mr. Ward, took place in the Catholic Institute, Wellington-street, lasb evening. There was a large attendance, the hall being crowded to excess. The sonc, ".Return from the Battle," by Mr. P. Doian, and a concertina solo, by Mr. C. Reynolds, were certainly the gems of the evening, and both were loudly encored. '1 he following programme was creditably gone through : — Overture, company ; opening chorus, " Darkies gathering," company ; song, " When this cruel War is over," Mr. G. .Reynolds ; song, "Emma Snow," Mr. M. Aubrey; song, "Gentle Jenny Grey," Mr. H, Brown; song, "This Darkey will go Mad," Mr. P. Doran ; song, "Maggie May," Mr. W. Norman ; song, " Ethopian Chorus," Mr. M. Aubrey ; finale with chorus, company. Part 11. : Ballad, select, Mr. H Brown; comic song, "Return from the Battle," Mr. P. Dorau ; concertina solo, selections, Mr. C. Reynolds ; comic scene, Messrs. D. F. Pox and M. Aubrey ; song and chorus, Mr. E. o'H.are. The entertainment concluded with the farce of "The Barber of Seville," iv which the various characters j were well sustained. I