ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12193, 12 February 1903, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

f OPERA HOUSE.-" FAS'* LYNNE." s Miss Fitzmatjrice Gill's Company staged • " East Lynn©" it the Opera House last night, and were rewarded with a house crowded in . every part. Such a houso to witness the production of a piece so widely-known as e " East Lynne" may be regarded as a com--8 piiment to any company, and Miss Fitzmaurice (-Jill and her company had every reason to be proud of the reception accorded to them last night. " East Lynne," familiar » as it is to every playgoer, requires to be well acted to merit the appreciation of any audir ence, and though one or two slight blemishes were detectable last night, he would be a carp- ' ing critic who would pronounce it other than e a highly meritorious production. It was quietly and sympathetically acted all through, e notably so on the part of Miss Fitzmaurico Y Gill, who in the part of Lady Isabel seemed 6 to have something admirably suited to her temperament and ability. Mr. Cbas. BJake ' made an excellent Archibald Carlyle, and ' Mr. G. Neville gave a splendid interpretation [ " of the part of Lord Mount Severn. The ■ other characters were creditably played, alT though it might be said that Miss Stella r Esdaile was not well suited in the part of s Miss Carlyle, her acting lacking at times a f certain naturalness, which would have made a the peculiarities of that elderly maiden more £ acceptable. Miss Addie Lorking took the j- part of Little Willie, and had little difficulty in winning tho sympathy of the audience. The evident popularity of the production has 8 led the management to arrange for its repet tition on Saturday afternoon. To-night the company will give a revival of " Man to Man," to be followed to-morrow night by " Harbour Lights," the season closing on Saturday evening with "Dr. Bill." [ "THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF MISS BROWN." At His Majesty's Theatre last night Mr. Frank Thornton's Comedy Company presented " The Strange Adventures of Miss Brown" before a fairly largo and wholly apr preciative_ audience. Mr. Thornton was . greeted with hearty applause when he made his appearance in the role of Captain Courte- ' nay, of the 4-lst Lancers, and each member • of the company had a good reception. Tho ' play is so well known that there is no need i to say much about the plot. Suffice it to say that it all turns upon the romantic mar- , riago of Captain Courtenay with a pretty , boarding-school miss, rejoicing in the cogI nomen of Brightwell, and known to her ' friends as Angela. The young lady is a 1 ward in chancery, and her solicitor, who • learna how matters stand just too late to avert the ceremony which makes the couple one, manages to send her back to school on tho wedding clay. Detectives are .set on tho track tho captain, but, with the help of Major O'Gallagher, a brother officer, he becomes that gallant worthy's niece and escapes. Miss Brown thus comes into the story, and obtains admission to the ladies' school, where Angela tearfully awaits her hour of freedom, and an elopement is effected. _ Mr. Frank Thornton displays groat versatility as Miss Brown, his " strange adventures" affording him ample scope for the manufacture of mirth, an art in "which he is a past master. In the second act, when he' becomes "chummy" with the girl.? at Cicero House Academy, he is extremely funny, whilst his curtseys, in tho presence of Miss Romney, the spinster head of the establishment, suggest that he might have earned a comfortable livelihood as a professor of deportment. Miss Vera Fordyce gives a delightful interpretation of the part of Angela, her girlish vivacity quite capturing the hearts of the masculine portion of tho audience. Mr. Alexander Bradley is a genial Major O'Gallagher; Mr. John Denton (Herr Von Moser) has a part which suits him capitally; Mr. Joseph Wilson impresses one favourably as Detectivo-Sergeant Tanner; Mr. Fred. Cambourne is at home in the role of Lawyer Hibbertson; and Mr. Galway Herbert does all that is required of Private O'Docherty. Of Miss Fordyce we have already spoken, and the other feminine parts are in good hands. Tho Misses Leonie Norbury, Belle D'Arcy. and Eva McDonald, are altogether charming schoolgirls, Miss Walter Hi'' (Miss Romney) is a capital schoolmistress, whilst Miss Phoebe Mercer, as Mrs. O'Gallagher, has a part which suits her exceedingly well. "Miss Brown" will be repeated tonight, and will give place on Friday to " Sweet Lavender." • TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL. The fortnightly meeting of the Auckland Trades and Labour Council was held in the Tailoresses' Hall, Cook-street, last evening, Mr. A. Rosser, president, in the chair. The question of the granting by tho City Council of a second railway crossing at the Railway Wharf Road was discussed, and it was decided to send a deputation to the next meeting of the City Council to oppose the same in the interests of public safety. The dangers of allowing any crossing to exist in a part of the town used to a great extent by vehicles and pedestrians was also raised, and it was agreed that representations be mado to the Premier to have the existing crossing removed and a bridge substituted. The system of ward representation on the Auckland City Council was introduced, and it was decided to urge upon the Council the desirability of abolishing the system in favour of general representation of the ratepayers. A sub-committee was appointed to go into the question of securing the lease of a suitable hall to be used as a trades hall. It was decided to communicate to the Premier the approval of the Council in his expressed determination to introduce a clause in the Conciliation and Arbitration Act giving preference to trades unionists, and to appoint inspectors to see that the awards of the Court are carried out in their entirety. INDEPENDENT ORDER OF RECHABITES. The half-yearly meeting of the district council of the Auckland section of the Independent Order of Rechabites was held in the Newmarket Hall on Tuesday evening. Before assembling at Newmarket the officers and brethren from the different parts of the district dined together at the Strand Arcade. Brother F. Knight, D.0.R., presided over the business meeting, which commenced shortly after eight o'clock. The roll call declared the following brethren *in attendance:—D.C.R., F. Knight: P.D.0.R., 0. Wheeler; D.D.R., S. T. Whitehouse; 'D. secretary, J. G. Carr; D.G., Brother J. Williams (acting for Brother W. J. Maodermott); D. trustee, Brother Radcliffe. The following representatives of tents were also present: Auckland, J. Stewart, J. Foster, J. Ewan and Frith; Newmarket, F. Knight ; Thames, J. Danby and M. Paul; Northern Wairoa, Jno. Stallworthy; Onehunga, W. R. Beaver; Waihi, E. Roberts; Northcote, Geo. Carter. Brother A. Smith represented the District Juvenile Committee. The district officers' report referred to the establishment of the friendly societies' dispensary and other minor matters, and the statistical report showed a steady increase of members and funds, the present membership of the district being 479 adults, 226 registered wives and 42 honorary members. The sick list for the half-year showed that 60 members had been laid up for an aggregate of 494 weeks, while the total amount paid for sick benefit claims reached £377 17s 7d. The sick funds of the' tents increased by £129, and now total £7729, the whole of which is invested and bearing an average interest of 5 per cent. In addition to this the district funeral fund amounts to £4396 (an increase of £110 for the half-year), and the contingent fund to £48 12s. The district funds are also all fully and carefully invested and bearing an average interest of 5 per cent. The funds of the district and fonts amount to £12,292, an average of £25 13s pei member. The report of juvenile tents, presented by Brother Angeio Smith, stated that a now tent had been opened in the Primitive Methodist schoolroom, Alexandra-street, Auckland, and that the membership had increased by 22, bringing the total to 197. The juvenile funds amount to close on £260. The balancesheet showed the half-year's receipts.to have been £1059, while the chief items of expenditure were as follow:—New loans, £810; , funeral claims, £51 10s: goods (chiefly new general laws), £31 8s sd. The consolida- j tion scheme, under which the sick funds of the various tents accepting the scheme be- ; came one consolidated fund, had worked j very satisfactorily, and the district sick fund ( now amounted to £1152 5s 4d. _ Tho quin- ] quennial valuation of the district is about < to be made by an English actuary, and tent ( secretaries were requested to expedite the sending in of the necessary documents. A ( vote of thanks to the members of the New- ( market tent for their entertainment of the j officers and representatives terminated the ] proceedings just before midnight. j WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. A meeting of the union was held yesterday < afternoon, the president (Mrs. Dewar) in the j chair. A discussion took place re case in Court this week of liquor being sent to the King Country as groceries from Messrs. L. D. Nathan and Co.'s Great dissatisfaction was expressed. Correspondence was read, a special letter from Mr. ' Cheal being left over fot discussion at the next meeting. Nearly all the local superintendents were re-elected. It was decided that an invitation be given for the Convention to bo held in Auckland next year. i