FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 25, 30 January 1932, Page 11

FIFTY YEARS AGO

ITEMS FEOM " THE POST.'?

BIG CRICKET At the end of January, 1882, Wellington was much excited over the visit of a team of English cricketers which had arrived in the Colony after playing a series of matches in Australia, Whilst ia Wellington, 'the Englishmen played a.jainst a local team, of twentytwo.-' Batting first, tho Englishmen compiled a score of 222, of which total Shrewsbury made 70.- The Wellington twenty-two fared badly. In the first inningsionly 80 , was scored, two men only Teaching double figurfes. In(:the second innings ten wickets had fallen for 54, when stumps were drawn.. An editorial commenting ,on the match remarks: "The great event of the cricketing year is over, and has left behind* two satisfactory reflections : p».flt.any, rat.e, ;; .,JFirsti, . our. men. .not, only, succeeded in averting a technical de'-. . v^tMe^w;ascalled; |;but'also made^ini-many^ respects a. very creditable show against their formidable opponents; and, although practically defeated, are by no mjejiins. disgraced. Secondly, a most marki^d^mprovement is noticeable- since the previous occasion on which i. our men pteyed^n^H England eleven^just five years/ago.*'/O.n that 'oecasi6n'> the Englishmen !-wer.e;*6ut Jot. 190j : but-1 our twenty^;wo made; only 31' in^their/first innings-; an di; 38 inytheir s^etfnd.;^'i .. These'^Tisits dff\-iri'nch goodj: apart"Cfronv their favourable influence on V cricket itself. For one thing, they help to make this rifling Colony better known' at Home. The fact that a dozen of the most renowned English playerjr of England 's great national game find it worth while to travel all the, way ;to New Zealand and play matches in half a dozen different parts of the Colony tends to direct hither the attention of,many classes;who would otherwise know nothing of New Zealand but its name. Were* this the solo benefit accruing from these friendly trials of skill, it would; be well worth securing." THEATRICAL ENTERPRISE. "In July nest something, like a revolution in theatrical matters will take place in these colonies. Mr. J. C. Williamson, the enterprising and ■genial American actor and manager; ■ Mr. Garner, the manager of the London Comedy Company; and Mr. Musgrove enter into partnership as joint lessees of the Theatres Roy^l in Melbourne and Sydney. They have also made arxangements to command Adelaide when necessary, and it is their intention to . introduce a constant succession of home novelties and stars. Among other projects entertained ■by the firm, we may mention the intention to purchase a largo steamer for. the special conveyance of their companies on the Australian and tJfew Zealand coasts, and " between thel two colonies. The posses- ' sion of a special steamer would enable companies to be; moved about with certainty as V;to dates, and with very ■ little—if any—-loss .'.of playing i time. The theatrical steamer?Iwould alsof'no doubt attract a good deal of ordinary; passenger trade and caTgo.,' When not ' required'for the use of a company, she would be available for excursion purposes. Thus, : while a company was playing here, our neighbours in Nelson, Wanganui, Picton, BJenheim, and Napier^ might all be afforded an opportunity of a^cheap trip to Wellington, including; ■ of; course, a visit to the theatre to witness ' performances which: could not well be brought to, their o^tf towns. The intension is to ftave a fast and powotjft£ ';£(&s■'■ carrying^ ift> . ,lS|'pt 100 salocin ,p'a"ssengeis. £;Tsis';is/quitd|a novelty itt: theatrical enterprise"/ ""' dAngeeous railways, w . The unfenced, condition. of v .the rail-• way linSfc .'years some (%pn^ti^v;.^esc^ing./a"ra^^i>'>t' journey near / Palmerst'bn' North,' a writer in "The Post" says: "The passengers were alarmed by the violent and continued screeching'jof the^engine. whistle, and it was/dujcovered that; a> mare and foal had-bVe'ri'-on^the^lyie,' andl had narrowly escaped- being run, over. The excitement caused by this was just beginning to subside when a thud was heard, and!.the.,iimhappy«in:, mates of the carriages were thrown off their seats. The engine had run into a huge bullock, and cut him to shreds. Fortunately the train did not leave the track, and no one was hurt. The passengers proceeded once more'to compose themselves, but' had hardly* taken their seats when - again ■ there was a sharp collision, and again' they were' thrown off their balance and shaken ... violently. The cowcatcher >had\been successful a second;.time,; and had caught another lai^ge'bullock,'throwing him off the line to die at leisure. No further collisions occurred during the . remainder of the journey, but the passengers, with blanched''faces','-'-- waited , patiently and resignedly to be sent to a happier land, where careless Governments do not exist, and where unf enced railways are unknown1. It 13 high time steps were taken to protect the railway lines from, the intrusion of cattle.. Till this is done,,we,shall not bo itrprised at any moment to hear of some terrible calamity." ■,'.//,.'.■.■ CHBISXOHUECH EXHIBITION.;^ "It is f|6lown alrea*dj|;; ,that Europe and the Australian Coldnies wilLV'be lar_ y reptesented at lih'e,; forthcoming. Inxurnatioinftj^xhibitidnf^hich iisftb bo held in .OiirWt'church i 4ri--;AT|iril^ It ia desirable that every locality in this Colony ; should do its utmost to show the best,it,can_ produce .and .manufac- ... . ture'.j^s • compar^^^yith'iptherf : :plaees. able to nold its;'own-in\Jmost 'respects with any other, but that will not be . believed unless the plain practical un- ■ deniable proof is given, by its being shown at approaching Exhibitionwhat we really can .-do. We trust,'there-: forej^that'prompt' steps/.will be taken to ensusre the worthy representation of Wellington at the Christchurch Exhibition, and thfitsa strong-local committeo will be formed-with'outvdelay-to' make 'the necessary arrangements." ; IMPBIiSBINa A MAORI. "It is riot easy to astonish a Maori, or to impress him with awe and wonder at theappliances or triumphs of modern civilisation; Even Eewi, who was introduced'to' all'the sights and scenes and 'lions' of Auckland, went away to his native home impressed by two incidents only: Mr. Superintendent Hughes throwing a column of water up in the air-frora a,city fire-plug; and Mr. Reynolds, >with. the aid " of' machinery, sawing .up .blocks of greenstone. " Hewi said that he was under the impression that only God could make rainbows, but he had seen the pakeha with his: hose making rainbows at pleasure." SOMETHING NEW. ' _"'A'"hew^ iristrument, termed ai seismometer, for the purpose of registering the force arid direction of earthquakes, is being made for the Colonial Observatory. The. invention, which is something-quite new to science, is of japa,iiese origin/ and the instrument is said to be wonderfully accurate in its returns." ■

The body of Mrs. Christina Hannah, i of 60, Bakau road, Hataitai, who was drowned on Sunday, was found floating in the water near the Day's Bay Wharf yesterday afternoon. It is thought • that- the body became caught in the p^twtiti^^^&lwatich laf tor:, the : acei-> Sunday,-and-was freed by tHei heavy seas of the past two days.' * " I