DRAMATIC ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5950, 22 March 1880, Page 6

DRAMATIC ITEMS.

1 Mr and Mrs Hart have been giving their entertainment in the Wanganui, Eangitikei, and Manawatn districts with inost satisfactory results, full houses being the rule. Mr J. B. Steele’s dramatic company, which includes Miss Maria Wilton, Miss Jessie Eaymond, Miss Duke, Messrs Haygarfch,, Weightman, and O’Brien, was to open at the Theatre Eoyal, Napier, on Wednesday last. The “ Herald,” in referring to the event, makes a comical blunder. After announcing that the company would open with The Flying Scud, it goes on to say t —“ Mr J. B. Steele will take the part of Fanshawe, Mr Haygarth will appear as Captain Gingah, and Mr J. O’Brien as Septimus Tootle, Mr 0. Monfceith, who is well known on the local stage, will also have a part’in the piece, Helen Gay thorns will be taken by Miss Marie Wilton, and Lillian by Miss Gertrude Duke.” This betrays a degree of ignorance in matters theatrical which is' positively charming, when we consider that the “Herald” claims to bo somewhat above the average of New Zealand journals.— The Oriental Exhibition was to close a successful season in Napier on March 6. Bachelder’s Combination is doing well at the Theatre Eoyal, Auckland, where it promises to remain some time.—Encouraged by the success of the burlesque The Sappy Land in Christchurch, Mr Cary intended to produce a localised version of it at the Academy of Music on Wednesday night. It is said to be well written, the principal characters represented being Sir George Grey, Mr Macandrew, and Mr Sheehan, The Arethnsa Company are not doing a ■very lively business ot the Princess Theatre, Dunedin. Among the pieces lately produced are Samlet and Dunedin in 1866, Mr Burford played the title role in the former, and the “Times” remarks, “ His representation was one by no means devoid of merit. There was a tendency' to exaggeration' both in speech and action,' but not to any great extent. He ; certainly bad an intelligent conception of the psrt, and his acting in several of the scenes was marked by a great deal of dignity and .force.” This sounds more like the truth .than the florid criticism which appeared in a Southland paper, when Mr Burford essayed the part of Hamlet in Invercargill. The ‘ ‘‘Times’’ praises Mrs Walter Hill’s rendering of the Queen, and says that, although Miss Arethnsa May was overweighted as Ophelia, still there was much to commend in her performance. Dunedin in 1866 was produced on March 11, but seems to be a very indifferent drama. Of course it is full of local matter, and this served to draw tolerably good houses. The Lynch Family of Bellringers and ' Vocalists are gradually making their way North. ’ When last heard from they were at Winton. —In a recent issue, the Southland “Times” says;-—lt will probably be remembered that some little time ago a number of gentlemen in Invercargill played a farce entitled Suniing a Turtle. Mr T. J. Lumsden, who acted as secretary, has been sum- __ moned by Mr Gillen, of Wellington,; for " causing the piece to be played without paying the necessary fee. The sum of £2 has been claimed, and Mr Lumsden, who defends; the action, gave his evidence before ; Mr ■'M'OaUoch. It Was as follows I! ana defendant in this action. Tharo been intomoned for causing to be played a* piece entitled Suniing the Turtle. No such piece was played. The title of our play was

Hunting a Turtle. The-proceeds from the performance did not dear tho incurred'in its production. Had- there been anv balance it would have been handed over to the Irish Relief Fund* There is no dub formed. I merely acted as secretary to the gentlemen who played. Xdid notin' cause the piece to be acted. , I did »° fct part in it. I had-nothing jith the stage management. 1 was ■ not oast in the piece at all.” The evidence will bo transmitted to Wellington. _ . . ' Dramatic affaire in Melbourne are not Tery brisk. Our latest information is datedMoroh 9. Pinafore still holds possession of tho boards at the Theatre performances have continued to be tho day at the Opera House, Pj“* 1 Comedy Company were to favour of liter's Opera Company.-Vlha Bijou Theatre*(late Academy of Musio). after undergoing considerable alterations and repair?, was to bo opened on Saturday last, with Mr William Creswick as the leading' attraction. Seeing that Mr Creswiok is shortly to proceed to England, this will probobly be his last engagement ! On Saturday, March 6, Mr B. D Orsay Ogden and Miss Beatrice made their re appearance in Melbourne at the People’s Theatre, Oliver Twist being selected for the occasion. Chiarini’s Circus closed a capital season m Melbourne on March 6, and opened at Kyneton two davs later.—Thompson s Confederate Diorama of the American War has arrived m Melbourne from South Australia. , • Mr Creswick left Sydney for Melbourne bn March 6, but prior to doing so was presented by a few of his admirers with a massive gold watch and chain, as a mark of their undying e.-teem. —The Patti concerts at the Theatre Boyal continue to draw large houses.—The • Company playing at the Victoria Theatre, under the. management of Mr J. Jj. Dali, has been strengthened by the, accession of Miss Mrra Kemble, Miss .Docy Mainwaring. Messrs H. N. Douglas and’ •H. H. Vincent (lately of. the Theatre Boyal) to its ranks. On March 2 Mr H. J. ; Byron’s excellent comedy,- Sour Qrapes, vre,B produced for the first utime in Sydney, and was running.' to good. houses when the mail loft.-rrTho Mammoth Minstrel and;Viotpria Loftus Combination are having a very able; season at the Queen’s Theatre.—Mr Dampior was to open at-this place of amnaa* - ' ■meat on March -20.—The* Kelly and ieon Troupe brought their very satisfactory season at the Opera House, to a close on March :5, and" were subsequently to proceed toMelbourne. —Les Cloches de Cornvilleocoupibd the stage to the end of the season.—Tho langards, supported by a good company, were to open at the Opera House on March 6. The Holloway Dramatic Company have: concluded their season at the Theatre Boyal, ’ Hobart Town, where Pinafore wasproduced on March 8, under the management of MesSrs Pollard and Skinners ■ 1 Mr B. Fairclough is giving entertainments at Mackay, in Queensland,—Hudson’s' Surprise Party are doing fairly well in Brisbane. —Mr Dillon opened his dramntic Company; at tho 'Queensland Theatre on - Feb; 21 with EicMieu. The Company includes Miss Edith Pender, Miss Kate Douglas, Miss Beatrice Lsster, Miss Amy Nelson, Messrs Thorpe, Tyrrell, Inglis, Hesford, and Andrews. ' ' • ‘ ~ ■ ’

PLEUEOPNEDMONIA.

tho Canterbury Times,)

The reports from Auckland since we last wrote give additional proof of the existence of pleurp-pneumonia in that district. The matter appears indeed to have passed the stage 0f... uncertainty. Those who at, the outset spoke strongly against the existence of the disease, have retired from the discussion, while their opponents have gained strength alike in evidence and individual supporters. We are told- that, judging from the appearance of some of their cattle, Messrs Ireland Bros, are likely to be still further losers; that a death, from pleuro has occurred at Ohaupo; that a calf killed at Otahuhu afforded unmistakeable proofs of being infected with the disease; and that a cow in the mob of 200 cattle recently imported from Sydney, looks exceedingly ill. Ho details are given to support the statement respecting ■the death from pleuro at Ohaupo,' but ,we ham full . , information respecting the Otahuhu calf. The. 2feto Zealand, Hera?d,-of March- 8,-referring to it, says.:— .« If any further evidence were required - to convince the minds of’ incredulous • persons' that the (breaded cattle disease, known; as. pleuro-phenmonia had 1 really broken-out' in several herds of this district, it must have been supplied during the last day or two, and particularly by the results of an official visit of inspection made on Saturday last. On that day Mr F. 0. Lewis, the local Sheep and Cattle Inspector, visited the farm of Mr Joseph Finnerty, of Otahuhu, in company with Mr G. Naden, M.E.0.5.,V.8.L., and Mr Halstead, T. 8., and instituted a thorough ’examination of the ’ herd. *"* * After carefully examining the various cattle, the inspectors selected a hine-months-old calf, which appeared to he somewhat weak and sickly, and ordered it to‘ be kept apart from thereat. The party then took their leave for Messrs Ireland Brothers’ farm, but on reaching that place a 'messenger from Mr Finnerty informed them that he was , desirous they should return and kill the calf which had been singled out. The gentlemen at once returned and the beast having been slaughtered in their presence, they proceeded to make a postmortem examination of the ch est. Indubitable proof of the existence of ’ the disease was at once afforded them. In order that other competent witnesses might be present, Messrs Banks and M'Lean were sent for, and when they arrived a more critical investigation of the affected organs was commenced. The right lung was found to adhere closely to the side of the chest,’while in size it was abnormally enlarged, besides being hepatized and characteristically marked. The left lung, however, was in a perfectly healthy condition. * * The other.animals of the herd, including the mother of the calf, were apparently healthy. The cattle of a number of other prominent settlers were also visited, bat no further symptoms of disease were discovered. The discovery of plouro-pneu-monia in several animals of the district is bad enough, and the lugubrious cries and warnings .of. agitated alarmists are hardly required to awaken the public to a sense of the serious nature of the situation should the malady spread.” These particulars, in conjunction with what we have previously recorded, appear to us very convincing, and it will fce interesting to learn whether the Government consider the

weight of evidence is still against the existence of pleuro-pneumohia. It would also be interesting to learn the grounds oh which this statement was originally based. Strange to say the Government have hot, ilp to the present time, deemed it necessary to offer any explanation. Eespeqting the sickly cow in the moh now in quarantine, we regret to learn that the Cattle; Board, though inclined to have it killed for the purpose of examination, were unable to order this to. be done through tip Government not having gazetted the necessary regulations. The, owner of the cow was applied to, but he; refused to allow it, and so the Board were

powerless to act. Under such circumstances we are not surprised |to learn, by telegram that “ pleuro-pneumonia is spreading.' * On Saturday .the Inspector, killed a cow on Ireland’s farm, Panmure ; the right lung was infected. The Cattle Board meet on Monday to consider what steps it is necessary to take.” Information as to the result of the meeting of the Board is not yet to hand.