The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 27, 1865.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 824, 27 December 1865, Page 2

The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 27, 1865.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, before Jas. Fulton, Esq., JR. M., an inebriate, named Margaret "Wilson, was fined 20s, with ..the usual alternative. Three other individuals, respectively named Angus Gilbert, Chas. Jones, and Samuel Walker, -were charged with a similar offence, coupled with disorderly conduct, and fined 30s, with the alternative of three days' irns prisonment. We observe in another column that Professor Needham, the well known instructor in the caligraphio art and book-keeping, has arrived in Dunedin from Melbourne, and intends to his class to-morrow. We have for several years seen in "Victoria the good results which have invariably followed Mr Needhain's system of inistruction, and are q\iite sure that ■all who are faulty in their penmanship will experience great benefit in a very short time by placing themselves under his tuition. The second annual meebing of the New Zealand Building and Mutual Investment Society will take place on Saturday evening next. The prospectus of the English Australian and Marine Insurance Company appears in another -column, and in our next issue we shall refer to some of the most particular points which are presented by the promoters for the consideration of the public. Professor Jacobs was well patronised last night, and greatly mystified his audience by his slight-of-hand tricks. In the second portion of the entertainment he was exceedingly happy in improvising a song upon some very incongruous subjects suggested by the audience. He is , announced to repeat his performances to-night, when the programme will be varied. We notice, by our advertising columns, that a Meeting of the No. 1 Company City Guards will take place this evening at the Drill Shed, when important business will be considered. The new season of the dramatic company was inaugurated last evening by a very crowded and fashionable audience. Seats were at a premium, and we were amongst those who arrived unfortunately too late to obtain one. The performances commenced with the comedy of "The "Victims," and as the old favorites appeared upon the stage they were warml\ r welcomed by the audience, which was in a capital "Boxing Jught " humour. Miss Julia Mathews upon her entrance received a special ovation, which must have convinced her that the temporary absence from Dunedin of an old favorite does not necessarily imply that she is forgotton. Miss Mathews played the part of Mrs Merry-weather

admirably, and was ably seconded by Miss

Shepparde, who will undoubtedly be ' a great acquisition to the company. This lady's appearance is distingue' and graceful, and her acting is entirely natural and free from everything "stagy." We anticipate considerable pleasure from witnessiug her in more important characters, Our old friend Miss Cassy Mathews revelled in the part of Miss Crane, and we feel sure was as well pleased with Minerva as the audience were. Miss Polly Leake had the small part of the chambermaid, Satchel, and was pert as that section of the domestic army generally is. We understand that this lady is musical, and in future pieces hope to find it true. Mr Richardson, as Mr Merry weather, played very well, but would have done better had he assumed, as he can, a more natural style. Mr Joshua Butter by found a fair representative in Mr Wilmott, and the catastrophe with the inexpressibles was well worked up. Mr R. Roberts will be a valuable addition ; he plays easily, and combines with a good voice a gentlemanly appearance, and an appreciation of the necessity of gentlemen, even on the stage, wearing attire in good taste. A dance by Miss A. Wiseman followed the comedy, and the burlesque of '-Lallaßookh" concluded tJ Le entertainment. It will be played again to-night, and we shall defer our remarks, merely hinting to some, who, judging from last night's laches, require a reminder, that if one actress, -who has managerial cares to contend, "with., as well as the ordinary difficulty of committing a part to memory, can be letter-perfect,—there is no reason -why they should not be also ; and not, as they did last night, injure by their culpable carelessness the success of the piece they have to appear in.— Verb sap.