NORTHERN FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2286, 23 December 1897, Page 47

NORTHERN FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

By Svknqah. i I

Auckland, December S.. Dear Pasqitin, —The Greenwood family (seven) and company did fairly good business at the Opera House hist week. Miss Hettie Uowai-de "had a fair house at her benefit at the Opera House the other night. The Avolos passed through in the mail boat last week to '.Frisco. The secretary (Mr P. It. Dix) and committee of the Auckland Amateur Opera Club have resigned their positions owing- to some little disputes between.themselves. Mr J. M. Simpson is,, the • new secretary.' \ "• •' The famous actor, Mr Wilson Barrett, passed , through in the mail boat houud for Sydney on Wednesday- last. Miss" Maud Jeffries (leading 'lady) and MV'Norman Jeffries (her brotbe,r)-accom-pany Mr Barrett. The other,n»embers""'of the company arrive in Australia via' Suez. The Australian .season will last (about five months. The repertoire includes the opener, "The Sign of the Cros%" "Hamlet," "'Othello," " Silver King," ""Ben-ma-chree," and " Virginius," mostly all well-known dram os. Dixs "kiney" drew good crowds to the Opera House to witness the Melbourne Cup and Derby the other week. The company are now doing the suburbs. ' •» The Fredo family and company, Benard'a Circus, and others are in the country. Mess 1 s A E. Farringfcon and Co. are holding a tng-of-war competition at the Agricultural HallNew Zealand versus the world. .Exhibitions are also given on the new Hitter road skates during the season. The Saturday popular concerts at the City Hall .are doing fairly well. Bi3ide« Dixs Kinematograpu, we have Neil« son's, Whitehouse's and a few others doiug the country districts. Mr Ben Fuller left London by the Gothic iojr New Ztal«n<l, and will arrive in Wellington Rome time'this montb. A successful operation has beea performed on his throat (his principal object for going Home). II« brings out a large number of lantern slides for their limelight entertainments. Mr Collet Dobson haß started teaching -elocution here iv place of his wife (Mist Idreno Thornton), who is at present under engagement to Mr Albert Lucas, of -your city. A benefit will be tendered to Mr John Henry, one of our cleverest Scottish dancers, shortly. , Harry Baxter \va.n fined £1 at the Police Court the other day for allowing Dora Mallante, a child under .the age of 10 years, to sing in public at the Saturday '' pops." During fbe last six months a number of elocu« tion teachers have 'started bu«iues3 In Auckland, of whom two are still holding out. Tommy Hudson's Surprise Party will open hora next month. , Cclia'Damtjitsr is still receiving complimentary benefits at Whangarei and other place*. Celiaw a really clever little player, and deserves 'tin all. Mr (ireenwood, father of the Greenwood family, 'in slowly recovering. Neilson, with iiis ".kioey," opened for titfl alights at,the Hall this week. _ , . \