THE DAVENPORTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1319, 10 March 1877, Page 5

THE DAVENPORTS.

The Messrs Davenport, Fay, and Davies, gave their opening entertainment at the Princess Theatre on Monday, and had the pleasure of performing to a numerous audience. As most of our readers are doubtless aware, the principal attraction of the new entertainment consists of manifestations which are usually associated with the idea of Spiritualism. While of course the performers in this case do not pretend to call in the aid of spirits, the manifestations are mysterious in the highest degree, and appear almost impossible without the aid of supernatural agencies. In the opening part of the performance last evening, the Davenport Brothers were securely tied by Mr Job Wain and Mr J. P. Maitland in a large cabinet, which was fiist carefully examined by ths two latter gentlemen and pronounced to be perfectly simple in its construction, and incapable of concealifg any assistants. In the cabinet were placed a number of musical instruments and bells. When the Brothers were firmly tied down to their seats, Mr Maitland proceeded to lock the doors, and while doing so a tambourine was playfully thrown over hie head from the interior of the cabinet ; immediately after the closing of the doors the musical instruments were played upon, bells were rung, and through small openings at the top of the cabinet could be seen hands which apparently belonged to some human beings. On the doors being, opened the Davenports were found to be securely bound in the same position. They afterwards released themselves in a very short time, and re-tied themselves in apparently a much securer manner than before. The same manifestations were repeated, but with Mr Job Wain inside the Cabinet, between the two brothers. Mr Wain's watch was taken out of his pocket, the instruments were played upon and thrown about in a reckless fashion, and

yet Mr Wis& declared that' his companions?! never moved. It would take more space,,than we can spare to tfeseribe half the wonderfulthings exhibited in the Cabinet scene, ' bafr the manifestations in what h called Professor Pay's dark seance were still more fflyfitifying. Without going on to describe them, we will content ourselves* with recommending our readers to pay a visit ■■ ft> the' Theatre, and can guarantee that they , will get more' than their moneys worth of ' mystery during the evening. Mr E. J>. ' Davies's talents as a ventrilcquiet are well known in Dnnedin, as well as in other parts of these Colonies, and lie is justly entitled to claim the first position in his particular line. For a considerable portion of _ the evening he succeeded by his own individual efforts in' keeping the audience highly amused, and gave • d really wonderful exhibition of the , effects which can be produced by the vocal organs. This portion" of the entertainment is in itself a powerful attraction, and when there is added to it such incomprehensible, not to say, ghostly, manifestations, as those furnished by the . Davenports and ProfeSßOT Fay, we may safely predict a very successful run for the latest novelty introduced to the notfee of the public . of Dunedin.