"STOP-PRESS" NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 13003, 24 December 1906, Page 12

"STOP-PRESS" NEWS.

CEIOKET. "*'« ; , «■ (■'".' GANTERBUEY, ' Lusk, b Downes ... 8 Anthony, not out 31 Patrick, st Williams, b Dowries ... 0 Ollivier, not out 5 Extra 1 Tw> wickote for 45 Downes got his two wickets for 10,. SHIPPING* At Heads:. S.s. Waiwera, from London .(Nov, 81, \ ' tralia will take many years' travelling to lour, but wo mean to stick to it." Oddments.—Mr George Majer'oni is now playing loading parts m New York with Madame Bertha fcalioh.—Mi>s Lulu Evan's (here with the Williamson Musical Comedy Company) is among the principals in the Gilbert and .Sullivan opera revivals at London Savoy.—Mr Herbert Flemming is at Beiuligo, Victoria, recruiting his health. — Miss Ethel Clarke, daughter of the late Marcus Clarke, who figured with the Bland Holt Company in Melbourne fome two years ego, is making strides in the theatrical profession in California.—Mr Fred Clutsam, being about, tn visit England and the Continent, has resigned the conductors-hip -of the Melbourne Orpheus Socioty.—A number of American millionaires have subscribed £600,000 for tho establishment of a national theatre in Central Park, New York. The building, which will provide, seating accommodation for 2,000, is to be ready for occupation in a year. —Mr W. Anderson and Mr J. L. Sheridan have combined their musical companies to produce the pantomime ' Cinderella' at Perth on Busing Night. —Theatre Manager's Liability.— Mr Justice Grantham and a special jury, iu the. Kiug'd Bench Division, recently hid before them an action brought by Mrs Florence Burr, of Cramvorth Gardens, Brixton, to recover from tho Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Limited, damages for personal injuries alleged to have been caused through the negligence of the defendants' servants. Defendants denied the alleged injuries and damages, and set up the of common employment. Mr Hume Williams, K.C., and Mr F. R. Atkin. K.C. (instructed by Messrs Charles Russell and Co.), appeared for tho plaintiff, and the defendants were represented by Mr Clavell Salter, K.C., and Mr A. P. Longstaffo (instructed by Messrs Griffiths and Gardiner). Mr Hume Williams said the plaintiff w ; as engaged at Drury Lane Theatre in 1905 in the pantomime ' The White Cat,' as chorus girl. On January 24 she. with tho others, was leaving the stag© after a morning ])cr-fo-mnnce, when a piece of dislodged scenery fell upon the brass helmet she was wearing, injuring her head so severely that from th.it lime to this flic had been unable to follow her employment. The defence was that by her agreement tho plaintiff had contracted herself out of tho Employers' Liability Act, and that the accident, was caused by a fellow-workman, and camo under the clause

of common employment. This, ho maintained, could hardly be said of a chorus girl and a carpenter. The plaintiff related -what she know of tho accident. No orders were given to remain on the stago until the scenery was shifted. Tho girls had to hurry off because tho sceneshifters were " very inconsiderate, and ran the scenery into one, and used abusive language if one did not get out of the way." Miss Violet. Selwyn, a member of the chorus, testified to taking the plaintiff home r after the accident. She was delirious all the way there, and witness remained with her in consequence of her serious condition for a period of three months. Medical and other evidence having been called, Mr Salter at the close of the plaintiff* case argued that there was no ground of action, inasmuch as there was common employment, and the employer was not therefore liable. ■ . . ' His Lordship said ho was very sorry, but he had to support the submission that.there was common employment, and therefore in law tho plaintiff could not succeed. He was sorry'for her. but he had to enter judgment for the defendants. His Lordship expressed the hop© that the defendants would do something for the plaintiff. —The Greatest Trophy in the World.— Tho thousand guinea challenge trophy offered in connection with the great national band feto held each year in London has been described by the leading authorities on art as the most magnificent specimen of English workmanship that has ever been produced. Weighing lewt and standing nearly four feet in height, this great specimen of the workman's skilly is valued at least one thousand guineas. The style of architecture is unique, the filigree work has been described as perfection, and tho beautiful jewels, including rubies, emeralds, crystals, amethysts, etc., go to create a work of art that has no equal. The famous Besses o' the Bam Band on the occasion of their last competition in England were sneessful in carrying off this wonderful trophy. In competition against nearly two hundred bands, tho pick of the finest musical combinations from all parts of the United Kingdom, Besses achieved this great and glorious victory. After weeks of careful practice, the thorough study of the intricacies of the music set as their test, and the expense of the finest, tuition procurable in England— Besses won. The championship of Great Britain and the colonies, which Besses were then successful in winning, is the highest ambition of every bandsman in His Majesty's dominions. The scene on tho occasion of the victory was one which will never be forgotten by the 100,000 people present. The vast building almost shook as cheer after cheer was raised to the victors. The Lord Mayor of Manchester, on giving them an official reception home, remarked that England was proud of them, and the royal command received from His Majesty King Edward VII. was no doubt a manifestation of the King's pride in this celebrated body of English musicians. Tho Stage in New York.— Mr Fred. Kivenhall, tho well-known New Zealand comedian, who was with the Fuller proprietary, has written a most interesting letter to Mr Ben Fuller, of Wellington. Writing of New York, Mr Rivenhall draws a very dolorous picturo of things theatrical there. " Failure, failure, failure," seems to have been the dominane note. Regarding himself, "At present resting," he says. Speaking of artists know to New Zealanders, Mr Rivenhall writes that Tom Nawn was j doing his sketches at Boston, Wallace Brownlow was with the Madame Butterfly Company, Kyrle Bellew was a "frost" in ' Brigadier Gerard,' itself also unpopular with New Yorkers, and ho goes on : '' As regards Now York, there has been a continual stream of failures this year, an dthere are. about fonr or five pieces only that are real successes. It seems funny to see a theatre open to-night and all hands get their notice before the show is over. This has happened at nearly every theatre in New York this season. Old William Hawtrey is hero. He played in

two failures in less than a month. H. B. Irving was a failure in New York. He did no business at all. I was living in hopes of this show going on for another fifteen weeks, and then I was going to London to put in six months, and then back to Australia. You often read in _ the papers about the good feeling-that exists between England and America. Well, let me tell you that the Americans hate the sight of an Englishman, and they don't go out of their way to show you either. Of course, there are fellows here whom it is a pleasure to meet, but take tho majority, they don't love Englishmen. I met Gracie Emmett the week before last, and she is simply dying to get back to Australia. She reckons the Australian and New Zealand people are the only people who know how to live. Andrew Mack is doing well, and after his tour of the States he goes back to Australia, and then to Africa and England. He always speaks highly of Australia." —Sale of a Circus.— . It is not often that a circus and menagerie are brought "under the hammer" of an auctioneer. Therefore the announcement that Messrs Bostock and Wombwell's Australian enterprise was to be sold in Melbourne last week attracted more than ordinary attention. Tho name—" Bosto;k and Wombwell"—for five ' years was first offered as a " going concern." The opening bid was £I,OOO, and there was one advance of £SOO on that amount; but as no farther offer was forthcoming tho "lot" was withdrawn and the sal© of tl« animals was commenced. . An "adjutant bird," a crane-like creature with a huge bill <md a solemn face, realised £2, and a native companion changed bande at 15s, while two Indian eecretarv birds fetched 17s 6d each. Australian eagles, a white hawk, and a white 'possum were sold at 17s 6d, 10s, and 10s respectively. A wombat, Java and other monkeys, and a jackal sold for small amounts. When the larger stock were reached the bidding became keen. A dromedary was started at £5, and fold for £l2, while a two-humped camel realised £45 after a spirited competition. A bluefatwd mandrill was started at £2O, and run up to £SO by throe or four bidders, but it- was passed in with £6O stated as tlio lowest price. "Dot," a.n ugly-looking equinr freak, described as the smallest ponyin tho world, was sold, with harness to fit, for £U. Among tlio elephant buyers was Mr Wm. Anderson, the well-known j theatrical director. Who secured the gigantic "Alice" for £357 10s, with a view to utilising Ivcr for the amusement of I children at lb* Bondi Wonderland. Lion* were slow of sale. Mr Eroni bought throe performers for £IBO. | Tho next group were passed in, and Mr Lo Sooef secured a cage of four for £IBO. I A number of purchases were mado by tho last-named gentleman on behalf of tho Zoor, I at Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth. Tho long-tailed and double-mnned stallion. Linus I was invalided by an accident, and was not. offered. It is said thai a sum of £4,000 was refused for this horse before ho left

England. The total 6ale» at auction amounted to £2,000, a result that was regarded as satisfactory.