ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 12883, 4 August 1906, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EDISON'S PICTURES,

There were some excellent new films screened at His Majesty's Theatre last evening. This picture show has attracted a good deal of patronage, though not so much as its merits entitle it to. The best of the-new pictures were a startling, realistic film showing a railway, collision, and a train tearing through the countrv at seventy-eight miles an hour. This afternoon a successful matinee was given, and this evening the splendid pictures may be seen for the last time. SKATING RINK. A number of gentlemen have organised a skating rink for the amusement tf the public during the winter months. Iley are not working to make money out of the venture?—that is, to make more money than will keep the machinery running smoothlv. The Brydone Hall (Agricultural Hall .ladings) is the site of the rink, and there an excellent floor has been prepared. A good band, under the conductorship of Herr Paul Sonderhof, are in attendance, and skaters are catered for in every reasonable way. There are dressing rooms, a refreshment booth, and a fine smooth floor—all, in fact, that the skater needs, including skates. The rink was opened last evening in very successful fashion, some sixty skaters tak-

ing the floor. Season tickets may be ob- \ tamed, or the infrequent patron may at j will pay at the door. The rink is to be open every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. THE MUTOSCOPE. The Mutoscope Company cbntinne t: do excellent business. The pictures a r e frequently changed, and are always of a varied i nature. The stand is next Searle and lLberhardt's, in Princes street south. ' THE LOG OP A SEiA WAIF.' Prank T. Bullen has written to Mr Geo. R Hercus (of Messrs Ross and Glendining) stating that he will be in Duneoin on the 17th or 18th inst., and that it will give him pleasure to give an illustrated lecture on his own pereonal experience and recollections of sea life, or the ' Log of a Sea Waif.' Mr Bui We desire is that the proceeds of this lecture should be at the disposal of his early friend, Mr A. R. Falconer, seamen's missionary of our port. Mr Falconer haa incessant calls—many frequently in a day—for help in the way of a meal and a bed, etc., by seamen stranded in our midst. Mr Bullen and workers in connection with sailors' rests and homes can well understand the position of one like Mr Falconer, from whom a constant stream of men and youths, in deep temporal need, homeless and friendless, whatever be the cause, seek aid. To assist such until some opening occur* on shore or board ship has been part of the work of Mr Falconer for forty or more years. No fund exists for such a purpose, so the demand has often been too much of a strain on Mr Falconer. On receipt of Mr Bullen's letter Mr George Hercus at once called a private meeting of a few friends who understand the circumstances, and it was agreed to take action with the object of deriving practical benefit from Mr Bullen's offer. GYMNASTIC CONCERT. The Mornington Gymnasium Hall was well filled last evening, when the local Gymnastic Club gave an entertainment. The Mornington Brass Band kindly turned out, and besides contributing a selection, played outside the hall prior to the commencement of the concert. The Presi-. dent (Mr J. G. Moody) expressed the thanks of the club to those present for their support, and also to those who were taking part in the programme. It. was a pleasure these winter nights, he said, to enter that hall and see the young manhood of the district in their flannels busy at their athletic exercises. The captain and deputy-captain (Messrs ... Henderson and H. Naumann) were always present, and carefully coached the junior members. The new shower bath had cost £ls, and they hoped to raise the larger part of that sum by this effort. On practice nights visitors were always welcome. A feature of the evening was the exhibition of gymnastic feats by a combined team representing George street and Mornington Gymnastic Clubs. Some excellent work on the horizontal bar and parallel bars, with pyramids, was shown, and the peiiormers appealed to be in capital condition. The junior members of the local club also took part in exercises on the horse. Mr Stokes's Mandoline Band gave two enjoyable selections, and Pipe-major M'Callum, with Pipesergeant Macfie, contributed some bagpipe music. Acceptable vocal music was supElied by Mrs James Todd (' Dreams of ome' and 'At my window'), Miss J. M'Nee ('When the heart is young'), Miss E. Bentham ('Daffodil days'), Mr Wilhelmsen ('The gladiator'), and Mr J. Napier ('Werner's parting song'). Miss Moon sang a coon song, Misses A. and M. Leyland danced a sailor's hornpipe, and Miss G. Leyland executed a Highland fling. Mr E. Etheridge gave a courtship recitaL The comic element was ably supplied by Mr E. H. Black, and his songs were rewarded by vociferous applause. Mrs James Todd and Miss M. Taylor acted as accompanists. Before the members of the George street Club left the ha-i Mr J. F. Arnold, M.H.R. (vice-president), was called upon to thank them for their assistance that evening. Ho was pleased to see the friendly relations existing between the two clubs, and was sure that Mornington would be delighted to help George street in a similar manner at some future time. SOCIAL. The Dunedin Builders and Contractors' Association held their annual social at Victoria Hall last evening, and the function was an entire and complete success. There were between 140 and 150 couples present, and all entered heartily into the enjoyment of the hour. Mr James Ford, the president, accorded a warm welcome to all, and referred with gratification to the presence of so many members of the Architects' Association, which, he said, demonstrated the amicable relations which existed between the two organisations. He was pleased to say that the Builders' Association were still flourishing; in fact, they were stronger now than they had ever been. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Messrs J. A. Millar and A. R. Barclay, M.H.R.s, James Douglas (president of the Master Plumbers' Association), J. B. Thomson, J. A. Burnside, E. M. Roche, John Gray, and J. Barton. An excellent musical programme was contributed by Mrs Loring (whose really fine soprano voice was heard to distinct advantage in ' For the sake of the past'). Miss Dick, and Messrs J. Woods, G. Dick, Carter, Foster, J. Dick, and J. L. Salmond. Mr Robertson's orchestra supplied the dance music.

DRAWING ROOM ENTERTAINMENT. The Austral-Girton Club made their first public appearance in a neat little entertainment given on Thursday, in St. Paul's Schoolroom: The performance was in aid of the. building fund of the Presbyterian Women's Training Institute, and as there •was a splendid attendance the object should materially benefit. The programme submitted was selected in excellent taste, and weariness was utterly impossible, for there was enough variety in the entertainment to satisfy the most exacting. The performers had all evidently devoted espedai attention to rehearsals and general preliminary preparation, and the result as presented last evening was of the happiest description. The first item was a chorus, 'Rejoice, and frisk it o'er the lea,' rendered by Misses Beissel, Cohen (2), Gossens, Duke, Greenslade, Jones, Lorie (2), Meek, Park, Pryde, Stevenson, Simpson, Riddell, and Macdonald, and the brightness of this initiatory effort sa-MA the tojynpte to, tibe re-

mainder'of the entertainment. Illustrated verses, ' The seasons,' by Christiiui Roasetti, followed, and then cams a song,' The barley sheaves,' by Mrs A. G. Williams. Misses Stevenson and Glendining appeared in a duologue, «Cheerful and Musical.' A striking item was the coon song and chorus, ' Ma rainbow coon,' in which four courageous young ladies (Misses Stevenson? Cohen, Corbett,. and Allan) appeared blacked up before their friends. Then followed in quick succession a' pianoforte duet (Misses Pryde and N. Esthpr), tableaus and verse (Misses Ross, M. Maodonald, Park, Duke, B. Glendining, F. Brown), club solo (Miss Mowat), musical monologue (Miss Flossie Beissel), song (Miss Ruby Park), and an original play, 'The Ricochet,' written by two local ladies, Mrs W. Kirkcaldy and Miss E. Inglis; Miss M. Watson, in a violin solo, and a recitation delivered by Miss. Dutton in most fetching style, are also worthy of mention. During the evening the Rev. Mr Hewitson explained the objects of the Training Institute, and paid a tribute to the energy and enthusiasm of Miss Ross, of Girton College, who had done so much to contribute to the success of the club.

A satisfactory audience occupied the Alhambra Theatre last evening and left the building after spending an enjoyable two nours. This evening there will be a complete change of programme, and the clever Bovis Brothers will make a first appearance. Other new people to appear are Miss Winnie Wagner (comedienne), Bob Llovd, and that youthful gymnast Marvellous Syd. Amongst others of a strong company are Sam Wilson, A. L. Crbpp, Little Jackson, Aubrey Douglas, and the Bertotos.