WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10409, 6 April 1897, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[BY TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT. Wellington, Monday. THE SUBURBS ELECTION.

It is said even by those who are considered strong supporters of the Government that tho chances are in favour of Mr. A. R. Atkinson as tho new member of this district. The election is expected to take place about the 24th inst.

THE BALLANCE MEMORIAL.

The Ballance Memorial Statuo is now in its place in the Parliamentary Grounds. It will bo unveiled on Wednesday by the Premier.

RAILWAY DEPARTMENT.

The office of Undor-eecretary of Railways and Public Works hive been separated. Mr. J. J. H. Blow takes Public Works and Mr. Ronayne takes over the Secretaryship of Railways.

LANDS DEPARTMENT.

M. J, M. Batham pes to the District Land Registration Office of Gisborne.

SEAMEN'S UNION. The Arbitration Court will Bib in this :ase after the Court of Appeal.

THE RIGNOLD SEASON. " TOMMY ATKINS."

Of the several pieces given during the present season by Mr. Goorge Rignold and his

company none have proved more successful than did "Tommy Atkins" yesterday evening. The Opera House downstairs was

crowded, while upstairs, oven from the financial point of view, things' were most satisfactory. And that the pieoo made a hit was beyond question. To very many the naino of "Tommy Atkins," through caricaturists and rhymesters, conveyod an idea solely of the lighter phase of barrack life. Such had a surprise last night. And an agreeable one, too, for nob only did the flirtations and genial comradeship of the British private obtain representation, bub with it his pluck and endurance under intense strain, both in barracks at home and under fire. The villain of the pieco, Uptain Maitland, proved aboub one of the coldest blooded that cquld bo imagined. He deceived Kuth Raymond, and, himself a murderer, forced an escaped convict, who had enlisted, to get Ruth out of the way. Indirectly aided by Ruth's father, who closed his doors

against her, Maitland appeared to do well: For a liltlo while he gob a check when Mason saved Ruth from self-destruction in the river, to think liersolf an infanticide, Mason, however, saved the baby and brought ib up as his own. Ten yoars afterwards the parties met in Africa, where Maitland agreed to sell the fort to tho emissaries of the Mahdi. Mason, mortally wounded, re-united the child and Ruth (now a narse under tho Red Cross), Maitland being shob while betraying hie country and his comrades. This is the general outline. But chief of all, and without which the drama would be " Hamlet" with tho Prince of Denmark cut oub, was the part of Harold Wilson, a clergyman, who, disgusted with the want of charity evinced towards Ruth, refused to preach any more, took the Queen's shilling and becomes n "gentleman ranker," to be acoiuort as the cause of Ruth's dishonour, to rise from the ranks and carry through the desperate enterprise about to be given up by Captain Maitland. In sensationalism nothing could be better than the entire piece. But the staging was so realistic as co lift the production above the ordinary. Though very heavy, it was moat porfeob in detail, Amongst the roost noteworthy of the many scenes were the Kings' Head at Banniiuter; the .bridge and river bank at sunseb; and the Devil's drive. The exterior of St. Barnabae's Church, where the troops paraded, headed by a trained band; tho interior of the church where Maitland's marriage is interrupted in sight of the regiment; and the Malulti fort, were simply superb. Each item of detail had evidently been attended to with the ereateet care. And the acting was just as it should be. Mr. Rignold, as Harold Wilson, made quite an ideal of his part. Miss Bmilie Hughes, as Ruth, confirmed the opinion first formed of her, thab she is one of the besD emotional actresses ever seen in the colonies. She was thoroughly natural, and yeb ever consistent. Mr. Direr made a good Captain Maitlaml. Excollent comedy -was introduced by Mr. F. Crossley, as Ebenezer Skindle, the orgainst; by Mr. H. Douglas, as Corporal Paddy Molloy; and by Miss W. Phillips, as Kate Perkins. The other parts were fittingly filled. To-night " Tommy Atkins" will be reproduced.