entertainments AND MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12001, 25 June 1902, Page 6

entertainments AND MEETINGS.

ANDERSON'S DRAMATIC COMPANY. The Anderson Dramatic Company repeated their performance of " A London Arab" last night at the Opera House. The same piece eoes on again to-night, and at a special free matinee to children to-morrow afternoon. To-morrow evening there wffl be a change 01 bill hen "The World's Verdict" will be produced. The company's season terminates with next Monday night's performance.

• DIX'S GAIETY COMPANY. To-night Mr. Millar Fraser, the Scottish tenor will make his last appearance at the City Hall. One of the best turns seen at this popular place of amusement is undoubtedly that of Mr. Geiger, the wonderful violinist. Mr. Geiger gives some most remarkable imitations, for which he 13 enthusiastically applauded nightly. Messrs. Clark and Cowan, both in their sketch, The Model Prison" and in the farce '.Baffled, are entirely successful, as are Mr. Ernest Fitts, Miss Belle Ray, Miss Florrie Ranger, Miss Stella Ranger and the other members of the company. To-morrow afternoon a special matinee performance commencing at half-past two, will be presented for the sole amusement of some 1500 school children of Auckland, in commemoration of the Coronation. Intending little visitors will be admitted by ticket from the Municipal Council, as arranged by the Amusements Committee. WIRTH'S CIRCUS. There will be a complete change of programme to-night at Messrs. Wirth Broth ere' Circus and Amphitheatre. New artists will appear, including Sim Dempsey, described as " the funniest storyteller on earth." A novelty will be the football dog in a game with the clowns. A new finale of a comic description, entitled " Circus Riding Exposed," will also be given. . There will be no matinee to-day. but a special entertainment will be given " to-morrow afternoon, when children will be the guests of the City Council at the circus. To-morrow evening special features will be given in celebration of the Coronation festivt-ies. ROWLEY'S WAXWORKS. The present programme is undoubtedly the best yet put 011 at Rowley's Waxworks, and is still drawing full houses. The vote of a crowded house awarded Miss Maud Hill, of Hobson-street. the gold watch, for being the prettiest dressed lady from amongst four other competitors. Mr. Rowley announced two competitions for to-night, also a baf?oon ascent on Coronation Day. The first 500 children visiting the waxworks on that day will receive a present of toys. The waxworks will be open from ten o'clock each .morning. BIRKENHEAD RATEPAYERS. A public meeting of the ratepayers of the Birkenhead Borough was held in the Zion Hill schoolroom 011 Monday evening. Business : To consider the advisability of erecting a town hall on the town hall site. There Was only a small attendance. Mr. H. P. Taylor was voted to the chair. The town clerk read a letter from the Mayor (Mr. .T. H. Witheford, M.H.R.), apologising for his absence, and stating that he would do all he could to further the object of the meeting. The town clerk read a copy of a telegram from Sir J. G. Ward, stating that "the Government would be willing to give a subsidy of £200 towards the erection of a Coronation Hall. The Chairman said' a suitable hall could be erected for £600, that a special rate of 6id would realise £200, and a further sum of £200 could be raised on mortgage. After a long discussion, Mr. T. Hadfield moved, " That the Borough Council take the necessary steps to obtain the necessary signatures of a majority of the ratepayers, asking the Council to strike a special rate of Is in the £, so as to obtain the Government subsidy of £200." Mr. Hadfield stated he would like to see the hall paid for at once. The chairman, Messrs. Hudson, H. Day, D. Heron, J. McPhail, and Wallace opposed the motion. Mr. Wallace stated that he considered that future ratepayers ought to bear part of the cost. Mr. H. Jone3 said he quite agreed with Mr. Wallace, and drew attention to the fact that there were only 20 ratepayers present out of over 400 ratepayers on the roll, and that it was not right for a small meeting to try and pass a motion in favour of als special rate. Mr. H. Day moved an amendent in favour of the Council being asked to strike a special rate of &id, for one year only, for the erection of a hall. The amendment was carried. Mr. John Hadfield moved a further amendment,." That the Council be asked to strike a special rate of Is in the £ for a hall, such rate to extend over a period of four years." This amendment was rejected, and the amendment of asking the Council to strike a special rate of 6id for one year only, in order to secure the Government subsidy for the erection of a Coronation Hall, became the substantive motion, and was declared carried. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman, and singing " God Save the King."[Own Correspondent.]

ANGLO-ISRAEL ASSOCIATION. A social meeting of the Anglo-Israel Association was held last evening in the Central Mission Hall. Mr. Roberts (the president) gave a report of tho year's work. Mr. Dewar gave a short history. of the evidence that Britain is Israel. Mr. Ewington enlarged on the preceding paper and said the AngloSaxon race was destined to dominate the world, while other nations, Babylon and others, had crumbled and decayed. Mr. Seabrook spoke on the establishment of peace and the greatness and extension, of the Empire. Mrs. J. Steward sang very effectively " The Star of Bethlehem" and "The Shepherd of the Fold." Miss Heywood recited a Scotch piece, "Noo, Bairnies, Cuddle Doon." Miss Seabrook presided at the piano. A very enjoyable meeting came to a close after partaking of refreshments, and all joined in singing "God Save the King." ILLUSTRATED LECTURE. There was a very large gathering at the Central Mission Hall last evening when Mr. Edmund H. Buckingham delivered an illustrated descriptive lecture on Charles M. Sheldon's well-known book " In His Steps." The lecturer gave a lucid outline of the work, introducing the various characters. In concluding, he said that everyono should have an ideal in life, and although Sheldon's ideal might be considered high by some, they were all better for aiming at something high. Mr. Buckingham, in addition to being a good elocutionist, has a pleasing baritone voice, and the lecture was interspersed with the following songs: —" Toilers, " Ora Pro Nobis," " The Better Land," " The Lost Chord," and " The Holy City." He also recited " The Little Hero" with good effect. These items, as well as the lecture, were illustrated by a largo number of limelight pictures, the lantern being manipulated by Mr. Boyce. MOUNT EDEN BAPTIST SOCIAL CLUB. The first meeting of the Social and Educational Club in connection with the Mount Eden Baptist Church took place on Monday evening, and attracted a large gathering of young persons. Parlour games were indulged in, ping-pong being largely patronised. NEWTON BAND OF HOPE. The opening entertainment under the auspices of the Newton Band of Hope took place in the Foresters' Hall last night, there being a large attendance. Mr. C. B. King presided. An excellent programme of musical items was provided, all being heartily enjoyed. During the evening Mr. Arthur Rosser gave an address on " St. George and the Dragon." The following were the concert items:—Songs, "Don't Marry a Man if he Drinks," Mrs. F. A. F. Burnett; " I Could'nt, Could I?" Miss Louie Trevelyan; " The Toilers," Miss Ella Bach; "Queen of the Earth," Mr. Albert Wooley; " Clorine," Mr. J. Smithson; "The Queen's Letter," Mr. C. B. King; plantation songs, " Dat's Berry Queer" and "De Ring Tail Coon," Messrs. A. Rosser, A. and F. B. Rowe, and D. Webb; recitations, "Coming Home by the Chimney," Miss Louie Rosser; "The Last Test Match." Mr. H. Townshend; mandolin solo, Miss Robinson; whistles solo, Mr. .1. Smithson; and piano solo, Miss Ella Bach. Tho last-named lady also played the accompaniments. The singing of tho National Anthem brought a very successful and enjoyable evening to a close. PRESS PING-PONG CLUB.

A ping-pong club has been formed by employees of the New Zealand Herald and Auckland Star, which meets for play every Tuesday and Saturday night in the pingpong room attached to St. George's Hall, Newton. At last night's gathering those present held a business meeting, when officers were elected and the club was placed upon a definite footing. It was decided to call the club "The Press Ping-Pong Club," owing to its origin, though membership will not be exclusively confined to those connected with local newspapers. A motion was carried making ladies eligible as members. A committee was formed, and the members were requested to take into early consideration the question of adopting measures to extend the scope of the olub, so as to include musical evenings and other social functions. Ping-pong tournaments will also be arranged, and judging by the energetic way in which the members have taken up the preliminaries there should be a pleasant season before them. Mr. Lewis Birch was appointed secretary, and Mr. Harding captain of the new club, whilst Herr Blitz, one time of Musgrove's Grand Opera Company, accepted offioa as musical director.