AMUSEMENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3863, 5 October 1899, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. The run cf "The Belle of New York” in "Wellington should be a record one. Last night the Opera House was crowded in all parts, and many person., were unable to obtain seats. It was certainly the largest audience of the season so far. The performance by Pollard’s Opera Company was as successful as its predecessors. "The Belle'’ will be repeated to-nigm. A BALLOON ASCENT. As the advertised time—4 o'clock yesterday afternoon—drew near, every street converging on the Basin Reserve was filled with a stream of pedestrians bound for that famous recreation ground, while thousands scaled the heights of Mount Victoria, where capital views wore to be had for the asking, or sought out “coigns of vantage ” on the surrounding amphitheatre of hills. Troops of children, liberated from the State schools, paraded the open spaces in idle vicinity, while scores of young scamps won their way into the enclosure by scrambling over the fences. The weather was perfect, with the exception of a somewhat fitful breeze from the west, which now and again blew in strong gusts across the grounds, causing the “ Empress ” —as the balloon is named—to plunge so heavily as to excite anxiety in the minds of those who were alive to the danger of such performances in any save a serene atmosphere. The gas used in filling the balloon was drawn from the Gas Company’s mains, and everything appeared to work satisfactorily, or would have done if the rabble of children had only refrained from, testing with their feet the impressionability of the gas-swollen ; conduit pipe feeding the balloon. However, all’s well that ends well. Captain Lorraine, who is a smart-looking, well-built young man, with a keen, alert manner and his nerves well under control, evidently leaves nothing to chance, and certainly merits his reputation of being one of the most capable as well as successful balloonists of the day. Twenty minutes after the advertised time a movement was seen in the dense crowd surrounding the starting point, the faint echo of a cry of command was heard, and immediately the huge, swaying balloon’s form, freed simultaneously from a score of moorings, sprang lightly into the air. Up it mounted, amidst profoundest silence, every eye fixed on the fast receding figure of the daring aeronaut, who sat nonchalantly on the cross-bar of the trapeze suspended from the balloon. . After reaching a height of over 1000 ft, the" captain, without any apparent preparation or warning, was seen to leap into space, clutching the long rope attached to the parachute For a couple of hundred feet he fell like ri stone. Then with a- grace impossible to describe the parachute gradually unfolded, and the terrific descent was checked. The exhibition presented a thrilling spectacle, although it was all over in a few moments, ftnowly the parachute sank earthwards until it- disappeared behind Wellington College. I Alter a brief interval Captain Lorraine ; returned -to the Basin Reserve, .where he received quite an ovation. The ] balloon was picked up at Kilbirnie. Jupp’s Band was present at the Basin | Reserve, and played a number of selecitions in an acceptable manner.

i GARRISON BAND BAZAAR. The Garrison Band bazaar and fancy fair was open at the Skating Rink yesterday afternoon and evening) There !were largo attendances, and good business was reported from all the stalls. |An exceptionally good:..programmer'was; ! provided in the afternoon, the Meister;singers (Messrs E.> J. Hill, J. W. Hill, H. Smith and Roland Boot), Messrs H. ISmith and Waters, and Misses Violet : Mount and Pender contributed items. ;A gavotte was also danced. A capital .programme was gone through last night, ixie Estudiantina Band performed, and :Miss Beere’s pupils gave their favourite maypole dance. There will be a complete change of programme this evening, when the Newtown Brass Band will play in fancy costume from Newtown ;to the Rink.

i ■ The concert given to sailors at the iMissions to Seajuen’s Hall by the memjbers of the , Wellington • city police last night is an event probably without precedent in the annals of Now Zealand. :So great an impression did the generosity of the force make in an influential quarter that the occasion was deemed worthy of a permanent memorial, which took the forin of a handsome photograph of a .symbolical character, , a framed copy of which was. presented to Constable Ryan, of the Executive Committee. Other copies were sold in the room for the benefit of the piano fund of the mission, and fetched fancy prices. The police subscribed £l2 to the piano and concert fund. The now well-known Mission Hall was beautifully decorated, and a * splendid programme was rendered by Constables J. Glass, H. D. •Armour, J. Bree, J.

Cameron and E. C. Collett, assisted by Mrs Stebbing, Mrs Bree, Miss Kate Wrigglesworth, Miss Elsie Hennah (violinist), Mrs Baker and Messrs F. Twiss and T.. Leydon. A chanty was sung by seamen present. Mr J. Moore presided, and in a stirring and humorous address told the story of the movement which resulted in the obtaining of the handsome piano which now belongs to the Mission. An apology was read from Mr Ferguson, secretary of the Harbour Board, who referred to the high regard and sincere personal respect which he had for the police force. Mr Commissioner Tunbridge thanked Mr Moore on behalf of the force, which did not; he stated, anticipate such a flattering recognition of what it had done for the Mission. ■. A memorial photograph and a bouquet of flowers was presented to Mrs Tunbridge by Mr Moore on behalf of the seamen present. Refreshments were served, during the evening, and a most enjoyable entertainment closed with the National Anthem.

The seventeenth annual concert oi the Loyal Petone Lodge of Oddfellows, was held in the. Oddfellows’ Hall, Petone, last night. There was a very fair attendance, amongst those present beino- IMr T. M. Wilford, who apologised fo: the absence of the Hon Mr Carroll. An excellent programme of music was rendered. and was followed by a dance. Mr and Mrs Bobbie and family played an overture, and Mr E. Mortimer gave a mandolin solo, for which he was recalled. Songs were rendered by Mesdames Muller (recalled) and Heed, and Messrs Kershaw, Adams, T. M. Wilford and B. H. Naylor. The Misuses Bobbie played a violin duet, and Miss Bossi contributed a violin solo. A Very pretty duet was rendered by Mrs Muller and Miss Walker. The great success of the entertainment was largely due to the cnergv of the hon secretary. Mr Em* Naylor.' There was a good house at Kowley’s Waxworks at the Criterion Theatre last night, when the London Company maintained its reputation as entertainers. There' will be a matinee performance on Saturday. “ An Evening With Tennyson” will take place .at the Sydney street Schoolroom to-night. Mrs' Adelenc Izett has soared no trouble to make the entertainment as attractive as possible. Among ■ other novelties in tho programme is a ’ comet obbligato by‘Mr M. Manthel to

the song “ The Splendour Falls,” which will be sung by Sir J. SI. Izctt. The programme to be presented tonight at the Barnett-Hoppc concert is an attractive one. and it should draw a good attendance. It includes a Sonata foi violin and piano by Gustav Jensen, Schubert’s B-flat string quartet, and the Grieg Sonata played at the last concert, and now repeated by request, Madame LveSeen Carlton will give songs by Grieg and Blumcntbal.