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Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 786, 11 November 1865, Page 2

There will be a good muster of sportsmen tonight at the " Empire Hotel," for the deferred drawing on the Melbourne Cup. Y/hen it is over, a Calcutta will be proposed, by 10 members, each to have four horses. We are informed by a telegram from our Port Chalmers correspondent that a young man named Henry Closs (or Close) was drowned this morning by the capsizing of a boat in the Harbor. The body has been recovered, and is now in the possession of the police awaiting a Corner's inquest. We had an opportunity last evening of witnessing the sscond portion of Miss Edith Palmerson's entertainment at the Theatre Royal. Ifc contains one or two good impersonations—those of Miss Gushington and Ophelia to wit—but, as a whole, is hardly so amusing as the

first. Still, there are certain points about it' which denote that Miss Palmerston's versatility is considerable 5 and if due effect is not always given to it, the fault must ba mainly attributed to the author of the entertainment. Miss Gushington offered an admirable constrast to Jemima Jane in the first part, and as Ophelia the artiste looked very pretty, and acted -with taste. We imagine that she would play the whole of the character very well. Objections have been made to the language and actions of some of the characters—that they are coarse and vulgar, and undoubtedly they are. But here arises the difficulty which we are inclined to think has troubled the artiste herself as much as any one. The characters of Jemima, Snacks, and Dickey —to say nothing of Meg Mavis —are essentially vulgar. Yet they are as plentiful in every city in Great Britain as blackberries in Autumn ; and as Miss Palmerston must have deeply studied the social atoms around her to be able to reproduce such vivid copies of the originals, we can no more blame her faithfulness of portraiture, than we can challenge the correctness of the vivid pictures of Dickens, or the more modern reproductions of the lower classes, by Miss Braddon. You do not go to the Theatre B/Oyal only to see representations of the " upper ten thousand," or the well-to-do respectable middle classes, but to realize some of the lower masses which form the bulk of all populations. In depicting all the peculiarities of action, speech, costume, and demeanour of this particular class, to which, probably, many residents in Dunedin are entire strangers, Miss Palmerston is highly successful ; but we think that the writer of the language has permitted his truthfulness to carry him beyond what is either pleasant to listen to, or really necessary to preserve the vraisemblance of each portrait. A Billingsgate fish-vendor may be pretty accurately represented without, of a necessity, the accompaniments of all her " parts of speech." Of the other portions of Miss Palmerston's entertainment, we may add that whenever the nature of the character permits it, they are given with a grace and elegance which contrast most refreshingly with the others we have referred to. A little pruning in each part will be advantgeous to all. The hard work for the artiste—who is comparatively unassisted—will thereby be considerably lightened, the entertainment will not be weakened ; and we are sure the audience will be more satisfied. The theatre was very well attended, the private "boxes "being full.

It is incumbent on the City Council to at once take steps for abating the dust nuisance. All to-day the dust lias whirled about in intolerable clouds, and must have caused much damage to the goods in the shops,'to say nothing of making it impossible for ladies to make their purchases in comfort. Surely a few water-carts are within the means of the Council.

Captain JSTorman, the Commander of 11. M. 's Colonial Steam Sloop Victoria, has kindly given his permission for visitors to go on board and inspect his vessel. Although not actually in commission, the Victoria has all her guns on board, and her other warlike accompaniments. Those who have never witnessed the extreme order, cleanliness, and discipline of a war vessel, have now an excellent opportunity of doing so. On Monday the steamers Golden Age and Peninsula will make special trips to Port Chalmers at' reduced fares, leaving Dunedin at 11 a.m. and 2 o'clock p.m, and returning from the port at 2 and 4 p.m.

An instance of the uncertainties of West Coast navigation was afforded a few days ago at Hokiti'ca. Mr Boner, a merchant of luokitika, accompanied by a clerk of the Bank of in ev/ South Wales, -went exit in the Bruce to pay a visit on board the Claude Hamilton in the roads. While they were enjoying the Captain's hospitality a brisk gale sprang up, and the Bru.ce thought it imprudent to lay alongside, and the two visitors accepted an invitation to remain on board the Claude Hamilton until morning. During the night, however, the weather got worse, and after losing one anchor and chain, the Captain of the steamer was compelled to put to sea, taking -with him to Sydney his unwilling passengers but welcome guests. We understand that the Assembly Ball last night was a great success, being the most numerously attended of the series. The following is an extract from a private letter received by a gentleman in Punedin from

a correspondent at the Grey j knowing both parties, we can vouch for the accuracy of the statements made :—"ln fulfilment of my promise, I have much pleasure in giving you my opinion of the district. I believe it "will prove a permanent, as it certainly is a present success. It is almost impossible to guess at the amount of the digging population, but none are leaving, and many are finding their way to this place from Hokitika, principally, I suppose, men just landed from other provinces, or from Australia. Yesterday several good new rushes up the river were reported ; while, on the Nelson side, along the beach, two miles from this, good gold was found last week. I visited the prospectors' claim, and the men good naturedly washed me a couple of shovelfuls, one from the stuff taken as it came, which showed a good paying prospect; and the other from stuff which they knew to be good, and which was certainly very handsome. The sinking i 3 3 feet. The coal will also, in time, I believe, be a good industry. You are no doubt aware of the formation of a company in Canterbury to works the seams on their side of the Grey—capital £GO,OOG ; 6d a ton royalty to be expended in improving the harbor."

It is announced that the new season at the Princess Theatre will commence on Mondayevening next. A new comedy, and burlesque, in each of which Miss Julia Mathews appears, will he presented. We observe that the monthly tickets to the Dress Circle have been reduced ta £2 10s.

It was lately announced from the altars of the Roman Catholic Churches in Melbourne that the Pope had granted a plenary indulgence " to the faithful in the Catholic world" for the space of three weeks. The conditions necessary to enable the Catholics of Melbourne to participate in the benefit of the Pope's dispensation include inter alia, a good confession, communion, a three days' fast, and the giving of alms to the Melbourne and Geelong Catholic Orphanages,, and the Magdalen Asyluin and Juvenile Reformatory at Abbotsford.