AMUSEMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8887, 25 May 1892, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

There was a crowded attendance of the public at the Opera House last night, to witness the final performance of " Dr. Bill" by the Myra Kemble Company. Prior to the commencement of the play the orchestra played the National Anthem, and the occupants ot the pit. sang most enthusiastically the refrain. This evening Miss Myra Kemble and the members of her Comedy Company will produce an entirely new piece, which was first played in London in February of last year. " Sunlight and Shadow," the piece in question, is a beautiful comedy-drama, purely sympathetic and emotional, with a vein of light, refined comedy running through it, and is quite a distinct departure from the late farcical comedy production. Only last. March it was produced at the Bijou Theatre, Melbourne, and ran there for four weeks. The role of Helen Latimer, as played by Miss Myra Kemble, is spoken of as one of her best performances, it beinj; acknowledged that few if any actresses at present on the Australian stage excel Miss Kemble in emotional characters. The company supporting Miss Kemble is spoken of as being a? well fitted to their respective parts as

they were in the piece which has just closed such a successful season. As the season is now limited to only a few nights longer, and to keep faith with the public, " Jane," another farcical comedy, has yet to be produced— Sunlight and Shadow" can only be produced for two nights, namely, this and to-morrow evening. The musical burlesque " Little Bill and his Ship Amazon," an adaptation of the extravaganza, " Black Eyed Susan," was played last nieht at. the Lorne-street Hall, by Miss Amy Vuughan's Company. There was a large audience. The performance was successful of its kind, and many of the excellent songs which were introduced were received with warm applause. The scenery, painted by Mr. Neville Thornton, and the general mounting and costuming of the piece were highly creditable. Miss Amy Vaughan appeared as William, the hero of the Burlesque, and Miss May Travcrs as the lovely Susan, the heroine, whilst the wicked Doggrass was played by Mr. Cowan. The agent for the Wirth 1 ircus Company (Mr. Alexander) received a telegram yesterday that the special steamer, with the circus and company on board, would leave Napier up to time, and arrive in Auckland on Friday morning. This will give time for spreading the canvas and making arrangements for the opening performance, which is fixed for Saturday night. Special arrangements are made for the comfort of the visitors. The whole of the tents will be lighted up with gas, and the dress circle seats (separate chairs sufficient to accommodate 500 people) will be placed at elevations to five tiers high, and solid boarded footing afforded. The opening of the Columbia Skating Rink took place in the Parnell Hall last night, on which occasion there was a very fair attendance, notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather. The proceedings were enlivened by an excellent musical programme provided by a strong band. The floor was in line condition, and very suitable for skating purposes. If good management and attention to the wants of visitors can ensure success, the present winter reason of the Columbia Rink should prove a most successful one. The Devonport Musical Society held its first rehearsal in Trinity Church schoolroom on Monday evening, when there was a good 1 attendance, considering the inclemency of the weather. The work decided upon for ; practice, " Joan of Arc," not having arrived • from Dunedin, a number of Mendelssohn's part songs were taken satisfactorily. Mr. Arthur Towsey conducted, and the accompaniments were played by Airs. E. H. Queree. The next rehearsal takes place on Monday evening.

"Agricola" writes as follows :— In the Helping Hand for May there appears a somewhat lugubrious letter, written by the wife of evidently a struggling settler, though where these good people are located does not appear. The editor of the Helping Hand calls it a thrilling letter, and it certainly is thrilling, as it is doleful to think that any settlers in this fair land should have to pass through such bitter experiences. It seems that the writer of the letter wanted some monetary help from Auckland to start a mission hall in her district. The reply she received was to the effect that the city was overrun with subscription lists, and that much poverty abounded. And then she wrote thus :"lam sorry to hear that there is so much poverty in Auckland, but I happen to know that some, indeed a great deal of it, comes from drink, extravagance, and bad management. Your poor get plenty of amusement, and as soon as the husban-'s arc in work nothing less than boefsteaK for breakfast and sausages for tea will suit them. What would you say when I tell you that many of us out here do not taste meat for months, because we cannot pay for it? We work from daylight till dark all spring, summer, and autumn, and in winter we aro chained indoors as far as pleasure is concerned ; wear : sacks for drosses, flour-bags for under- '■ clothing, sell butter at 3d to 4d per pound, have wind and rain pelting in wet weather, and many other discomforts too numerous to mention. We have laid out £600 on ' our place, and cannot get 600 shillings a . year off it, and five of us work on it, and ' work hard, and fare hard. I seldom eat , eat an egg, because I can, perhaps, get a ' halfpenny or three farthings for it; and I r know people in this place who drink skimmilk in their tea, so as to have more butter to sell, and their food is ground maize." The editor of the Helping Hand states that t this woman, who has to work so hard and ' live on such humble diet, at one time—l 6 [ years ago—had a situation in Auckland at £2 per week. " She left it," he says, "to > throw in her lot with a respectable farmer; 1 and she has a happy home, but her is work 3 f all the livelong day." In what land of s Goshen can these people dwell? Is it not y a mistake and a pity that for so many years 1 ' they have worked so hard and fared so s badly?