ROTORUA NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8631, 29 July 1891, Page 6

ROTORUA NEWS.

[from our own correspondent.J ! The first performance- by the Rotorua Minstrels in the Public Hall on Thursday last was an unqualified success. The pro- i ceeds were in aid of the funds for the new I racecourse which will be benefited by an additional £7, the total takings being £9 5s j Hereunder is the programme which was gone through in the presence of an appreciative audience : — Overture, company opening chorus, "Commence Ye Darkies All,'' company; song (comic), " Dinah Duck," Bones ; song, " One by One." Mr. W. Moore; song (comic), " They Go Like This," Tambo; song, " Let Your Tears." Mr. Johnstone song, "Old Log Cabin, Mr. A. Miscall; song (comic), " Love is a Very Funny Thing," Bones; song (comic), " Duck-foot hue," Mr. W. Moore ; song (comic), " Good-bye, Sally," Tambo; cornet duet, Messrs. Samson and Macro; Indian club performance, Mr. \V. Moore; clog dance, Mr. A. Brady; speech, " Bombastic Appeal to a Jury," Mr. R. King; boneless performance, Mr. C. Manning; song, " Dreaming of Home," Mr. T. Chapman. The above concluded with a laughable farce. " Music Monomaniac," which was rendered in first-class style, and fairly brought the house down. The following were the characters:—Old Prodger (who doesn't like music), Mr. W. Moore; Mike Sniff (servant boy, a little deaf), Mr. A. Crow; Miss Lightfoot (dancer), Mr. A. Brady; squeaker and organman, Mr. T. Chapman ; policeman, Mr. A. Miscall; German band, the company. In the nigger portion of the performance Mr. Chapman as "Johnston," and Mr. C. Clarke as " Tambo," were all that could be desired, especially the latter, who undoubtedly was the life of the company, and caused much laughter. "Bones" (Mr. Croker) did not come up to expectations, and failing to appear when announced to sing a local song, was disappointing. However, with his gags and jokes he was certainly happy, and scored well in that respect. Mr. W. Moore filled his place in the chairs well, and his exhibition of the Indian club j performance fairly astonished the audience; \ and again, as " Old Prodger," in the farce, he was quite at home. " The Old Log Cabin" was well sung by Mr. Miscall, who, as policeman in the farce, was inimitable, taking hold of his men in good style and quickly ran 'em in. The " boneless performance" by Mr. C. Manning showed that he was well trained, his feats being equal to anything of the kind witnessed in circuses, with one of which, I understand, he was at one time connected. Mr. A. Brady's clog dance was well received, likewise Mr. King's delivery of a " Bombastic Appeal to a Jury." The musical part of the entertainment was carried out in-a satisfactory manner by Messrs. Samson and Joe Munro, who also played a cornet duet with much acceptance, and, assisted by Miss Hodge at the piano, played the accompaniments. The part of Mike Smiff in the farce by Mr. A. Crow was perhaps the greatest treat of the evening, his part having been gone through in a manner that showed he had entered upon the task with the intention of carrying it out successfully, which he did. Mr. A. Brady as Miss Lightfoot was good. The next performance by the minstrels is expected to take place in two months' time.

Mr. Murphy, road overseer, is at present engaged with a number of natives fixing the new outlet near the Oban channel, which, it will be remembered, was partly washed away some months ago, but nothing has been done to repair it until now, pending instructions from Wellington. These have arrived, and it is understood that sufficient money has been voted to make a substantial-job. Tauwa piles, from 20 to 30 feet long, are being driven into the embankment to a good depth, and at either sides are another row of piles from which wires are stretched across forming a network, under which fascines are placed, making a kind of weir, which will prevent the abnormal rising of the lake, and at the same time maintain a level suitable for the baths at the Government pavilion, which is a very important matter. It is understood that money has been granted to make the Ohau channel navigable. About £150, it is estimated, would do the necessary work. A groin would have to be run out in the lake at the entrance, and again at the other end something similar would have to be done.

It is expected that the steam launch will make a trip through to Rotoiti Lake to-day. One of the owners, Mr. Gilmer, arrived here from Auckland on Saturday last, and intends having her hauled up for a couple of months and thoroughly renovated for the coming season.

A number of gentlemen visited Wairoa yesterday, and with Mr. J. Mcßue as cicerone the trip was most interesting. In view of the projected visit of an Auckland football team to Tauranga during the month of September, a meeting is about to be convened here for the purpose of making arragemeuts to get the team to come this way and play a match against a combined team representing this neighbourhood, Te Puke, Maketu, and other places down the coast. It is thought that the Auckland team will readily accept the offer, as it will afford them a nice circular trip. Coming via Tauranga, they would return by Oxford or Okoroire. 1 here has been a fair sprinkling of tourists about during the past week. The weather is all that can be desired, and the result is the various side trips are much enjoyed.