WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2181, 19 December 1895, Page 34

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS.

- - By P. Rompter.

December 12. DEAK Pasquin,—The multitude (Bland Holt's) ■ passed on up north, and the boards of the Opera fiousa supported a Smythian one-man show, albeit that one (Mark Twain) is a host in himself. Three nights were billed, but a stay in the. country necessitated a curtailment of the season by one, so two "At homes " only resulted, and were highly «uccessful. To-morrow the humourist leaves for Sydney, and after another (short) season he goes, still under Smythe.'to Ceyldn and other places—under the More-travelled <the Much being quarantined) Carlyle Smythe. The Rev. Haskett Smith is to give two more lectures up here (Wednesday and Thursday next), unS then he goes to the Holy Laud. Big-fellow fcischer is in charge of this lecturer. Jtfr Maughan Barnett proposes to arrange far a musical festival about September next. He already has a chorus of over 200 in his society, and_ a meeting is to be "held on Thursday week to decide further.' The echeme proposes a week's performances, including two large works and three or four smaller ones. J Musically we promise well. Mr Parker's Bociety, besides giving "Acis and Galatea" and "The Messiah" thiß month, promise a repetition of "The Spectre's Bride" early next year, nnd will also give "Elijah" and "Cavalleria Rusticana." The latter must prove a big draw. Luck has been low down, of late upon our Orchestral Society. The society's new Icettla.

drums will arrive by the Mararoa to-morrow, just a day too late. Considering that the members have spent about £75 upon them, and only | gave up theFiiday night (originally fixed as the ( date of the concert) to oblige another musical society, the members may claim to have had bad luck after having waited patiently for three years. Mr Cro3bie Ward, of Wellington, and well known in other parts of New Zealand, is now playing with groat success with "The Land of the Moa" Dramatic Company in Sydney. A bit from the Bulletin on a Wellington boy : " Captain Frere (in ' His Natural Life '), as represented by Plimmer, is about the best thing in the drama, and by far the best that actor has yet done in Sydney." < The Brough and Boucicault Compauy is to reach Wellington in time to play here on the 18th and 19th inst., leaving immediately after for Sydney. # It neeras hard lines that just as Miss Frances Ross finds her feet and gets into such a good shop as Bland Bolt's someone should be mean enough to give her a set back in the shape'of a bit o' blue, and drive her into the B inkruptcy Court. Meeting of creditors here next Monday. Mr Sydney Hoben, who has been living in Napier for his health during the past few years, but who is about to remove to Wellington, was tendered a complimentary farewell concert at Napier on Monday night. The affair was a great success. Amongst the it»>ms of the concert which created the greatest interest were some new compositions' by Mr Hobsu, which are highly Spoken of. In re Mark Twain, from the Post: — "It was ■wonderfully droll, and the audience was still chuckling over it as it made its way downstairsall except one or two of thoge uuhappy -people whose sense of humour wa3-lackin», of the type of a lady who was heard to remark as &he went downstairs, ' Well, I didn't think much of it ; it was all jokes!'— and she said it in quits a hurt tone of voice. What Bhe thought it was going to be is not recorded." Charlie Hugo is to open with a variety company 15 strong in the Cri. on Saturday night. According to the bills, he has his brother with him in the show. The town is empty just now, so that the ghost should walk for a few Saturdays.